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[Most recently updated June 12, 2003]
Edition: 10
Language: English
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*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK, ALL FOUR GOSPELS FOR READERS ***

THE GOSPEL
All Christian Free Edition
www.PracticeGodsPresence.com/gospel/

THE GOSPEL is offered freely and may be freely printed, copied,
translated, and distributed. It may not be offered for sale in any
manner whatsoever.

Abraham became the father of Isaac; Isaac became the father of Jacob;
Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers; Judah the father of Perez
and Zerah, whose mother was Tamar; and Perez became the father of
Hezron; Hezron became the father of Ram; Ram became the father of
Amminadab; and Amminadab the father of Nahshon; and Nahshon the father
of Salmon; Salmon became the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab;
and Boaz became the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth; Obed the
father of Jesse; Jesse the father of David the king; David the king
became the father of Solomon whose mother had been the wife of Uriah.

Solomon became the father of Rehoboam; and Rehoboam the father of Abia;
and Abia the father of Asa; Asa became the father of Jehosaphat; and
Jehosaphat the father of Joram; and Joram the father of Ozias; And
Ozias became the father of Joatham; and Joatham the father of Achaz;
and Achaz the father of Hezekiah; And Hezekiah became the father of
Manasseh; and Manasseh the father of Amos; and Amos the father of
Josiah; And Josiah the father of Jechoniah and his brothers at the time
they were exiled to Babylon.

After they were in Babylon, Jechoniah became the father of Shealtiel;
and Shealtiel the father of Zorobabel; And Zorobabel became the father
of Abiud; and Abiud the father of Eliakim; and Eliakim the father of
Azor; And Azor became the father of Zadoc; Zadoc the father of Achim;
and Achim the father of Eliud; And Eliud became the father of Eleazar;
and Eleazar the father of Matthan; and Matthan the father of Jacob; And
Jacob became the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born
Jesus, the Christ.

The generations from Abraham to David are fourteen, from David until
the exile to Babylon are fourteen; and from the exile to Babylon until
the birth of Christ are fourteen generations.

The birth of Jesus Christ was thus: When Mary, His mother, was espoused
to Joseph, and before they came together, she was found with child of
the Holy Spirit. Joseph, a just man, not willing to make her a public
example, decided to put her away privately. But while he thought about
these things an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said,
Joseph, thou son of David, do not fear to take Mary as thy wife. The
one who is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. She shall bring
forth a son and thou shall call Him Jesus. He will save His people from
their sins.

All this was done so that what was spoken of the Lord by the prophet
might be fulfilled: Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall
bring forth a son, and they shall call His name Emmanuel, God with us.
Then Joseph awoke and did as the angel of the Lord told him and took

When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea, in the days of
King Herod, wise men, magi, from the east went to Jerusalem. They said,
One is born King of the Jews. We have seen His star in the east and we
are going to worship Him. When Herod heard this, he was troubled as was
all Jerusalem. Herod gathered all the chief priests and scribes
together and demanded to know where Christ would be born. They said, In
Bethlehem of Judaea. It is written by the prophet: And thou Bethlehem,
in the land of Juda, the least among the princes of Juda, yet out of
thee shall come a Governor that shall rule my people.

Herod called the magi to find out the time the star would appear. He
sent them to Bethlehem and said, Go and search diligently for the young
child. When you have found Him, bring word to me so I may also go to
worship Him. After they met with the king they departed; and, lo, the
star that they saw in the east went before them until it stood over the
young child.

When they saw the star they rejoiced. The magi went to the place and
saw the young child with Mary, His mother. They bowed down and
worshipped Him. They presented Him with gifts of gold, and
frankincense, and myrrh. Since they were warned by God in a dream that
they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country
by another way.

After they departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in
a dream and said, Arise and take the young child and His mother and
flee into Egypt. Stay there until I bring thee word, for Herod will
seek the young child to destroy Him. Joseph took the young child and
His mother, by night, and departed into Egypt. They remained there
until the death of Herod. This was so it might be fulfilled what was
spoken of the Lord by the prophet: Out of Egypt have I called my son.

Herod realized he was deceived by the magi and became exceedingly
wrathful. He ordered that all the children in Bethlehem and the
surrounding coasts who were aged two years old and under be slayed.
This was based on the timing he was given by the magi. Then the saying
of Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled: In Ramah there was heard the
sound of lamentation, weeping, and great mourning. Rachel was weeping
for her children and would not be comforted because they are no longer.

When Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in
Egypt. The angel said, Arise and take the young child and His mother
and go into the land of Israel. They are now dead who sought the young
child's life. Joseph took the young child and His mother and started
toward Israel. Along the way Joseph heard that Archelaus reigned in
Judaea in the place of his father, Herod. Joseph was afraid to go
there. Despite being warned by God in a dream, he turned toward
Galilee. He came to dwell in a city called Nazareth that it might be
fulfilled what was spoken by the prophets: He shall be called a
Nazarene.

In those days John the Baptist preached in the wilderness of Judaea. His message was, Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. John is the one that was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah: The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord. Make His