A Harmony of the Gospels for Students of the Life of Christ / Based on the Broadus Harmony in the Revised Version

§ 7. THE MAGNIFICAT OF MARY

46                                          And Mary said,

56    And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned unto her house.

¹ Gr. bondmaiden.

² Or, by.

§ 8. THE BIRTH AND CHILDHOOD OF THE BAPTIST, AND HIS DESERT LIFE

57    Now Elisabeth's time was fulfilled that she should be delivered; and she brought forth a son. 58 And her neighbours and her kinsfolk heard that the Lord had magnified his mercy toward her; and they rejoiced with her. 59 And it came to pass on the eighth day, that they came to circumcise the child; and they would have called him Zacharias, after the name of his father. 60 And his mother answered and said, Not so; but he shall be called John. 61 And they said unto her, There is none of thy kindred that is called by this name. 62 And they made signs to his father, what he would have him called. 63 And he asked for a writing tablet, and wrote, saying, His name is John. And they marvelled all. 64 And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue loosed, and he spake, blessing God. 65 And fear came on all that dwelt round about them: and all these sayings were noised abroad throughout all the hill country of Judea. 66 And all that heard them laid them up in their heart, saying, What then shall this child be? For the hand of the Lord was with him.

67    And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied, saying,

80    And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his shewing unto Israel.^a

¹ Or, heart of mercy.

² Or, Wherein.

³ Many ancient authorities read hath visited us.

^a Dwell on this summary statement as to John's retired life in the wild regions of Judea, whence he will come forth thirty years later.

§ 9. THE ANNUNCIATION TO JOSEPH OF THE BIRTH OF JESUS

18    Now the ¹birth ²of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found with child of the ³Holy Ghost. 19 And Joseph her husband, being a righteous man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily. 20 But when he thought on these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is ⁴conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. 21 And she shall bring forth a son; and thou shalt call his name JESUS; for it is he that shall save his people from their sins. 22 Now all this is come to pass, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying,

which is, being interpreted, God with us. 24 And Joseph arose from his sleep, and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took unto him his wife; 25 and knew her not till she had brought forth a son: and he called his name JESUS.

§ 10. THE BIRTH OF JESUS

1    Now it came to pass in those days, there went out a decree from Cæsar Augustus, that all the ¹world should be enrolled. 2 This was the first enrolment made when Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And all went to enrol themselves, every one to his own city.^a 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David; 5 to enrol himself with Mary, who was betrothed to him, being great with child. 6 And it came to pass, while they were there, the days were fulfilled that she should be delivered. 7 And she brought forth her firstborn son; and she wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

¹ Gr. inhabited earth.

§ 11. THE PRAISE OF THE ANGELS AND THE HOMAGE OF THE SHEPHERDS

8    And there were shepherds in the same country abiding in the field, and keeping ¹watch by night over their flock. 9 And an angel of the Lord stood by them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. 10 And the angel said unto them, Be not afraid; for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all the people: 11 for there is born to you this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is ²Christ the Lord. 12 And this is the sign unto you; Ye shall find a babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, and lying in a manger. 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising^a God, and saying,

15    And it came to pass, when the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this ⁵thing that is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. 16 And they came with haste, and found both Mary and Joseph, and the babe lying in the manger. 17 And when they saw it, they made known concerning the saying which was spoken to them about this child. 18 And all that heard it wondered at the things which were spoken unto them by the shepherds. 19 But Mary kept all these ⁶sayings, pondering them in her heart. 20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, even as it was spoken unto them.

¹ Or, night-watches.

² Or, Anointed Lord.

³ Many ancient authorities read peace, good pleasure among men.

⁴ Gr. men of good pleasure.

⁵ Or, saying.

⁶ Or, things.

^a The Gloria in Excelsis.

§ 12. THE CIRCUMCISION OF JESUS

21    And when eight days were fulfilled for circumcising him [see Gen. 17:12; Lev. 12:3], his name was called JESUS, which was so called by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

§ 13. THE PRESENTATION IN THE TEMPLE WITH THE HOMAGE OF SIMEON AND ANNA

22    And when the days of their purification according to the law of Moses were fulfilled, they brought him up to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord) [see Ex. 13:2, 12, 15; Lev. 12:1-8], 24 and to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons. 25 And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and this man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 And it had been revealed unto him by the Holy Spirit, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ. 27 And he came in the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, that they might do concerning him after the custom of the law, 28 then he received him into his arms, and blessed God, and said,^a

33 And his father and his mother were marvelling at the things which were spoken concerning him; 34 and Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the falling and rising up of many in Israel; and for a sign which is spoken against; 35 yea and a sword shall pierce through thine own soul; that thoughts out of many hearts may be revealed. 36 And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher (she was ⁴of a great age, having lived with a husband seven years from her virginity, 37 and she had been a widow even for fourscore and four years), which departed not from the temple, worshipping with fastings and supplications night and day. 38 And coming up at that very hour she gave thanks unto God, and spake of him to all them that were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.

¹ Gr. bondservant.

² Gr. Master.

³ Or, the unveiling of the Gentiles.

⁴ Gr. advanced in many days.

§ 14. MAGI VISIT THE NEW-BORN KING OF THE JEWS

1    Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, ¹wise men from the east [see Num. 24:17] came to Jerusalem, saying, 2 ²Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we saw his star in the east, and are come to worship him. 3 And when Herod the king heard it, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 And gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ should be born. 5 And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judea: for thus it is written ³by the prophet,

7 Then Herod privily called the ¹wise men, and learned of them carefully ⁴what time the star appeared. 8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search out carefully concerning the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word, that I also may come and worship him. 9 And they, having heard the king, went their way; and lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. 10 And when they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. 11 And they came into the house and saw the young child with Mary his mother; and they fell down and worshipped him; and opening their treasures they offered unto him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. 12 And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.

¹ Gr. Magi. Compare Esther 1:13; Dan. 2:12.

² Or, Where is the King of the Jews that is born?

³ Or, through.

⁴ Or, the time of the star that appeared.

§ 15. THE CHILD JESUS CARRIED TO EGYPT, AND THE CHILDREN AT BETHLEHEM SLAIN

13    Now when they were departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I tell thee: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him. 14 And he arose and took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt; 15 and was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt did I call my son [see Hos. 11:1]. 16 Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the ¹wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the male children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the borders thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had carefully learned of the ¹wise men. 17 Then was fulfilled that which was spoken ²by Jeremiah the prophet, saying [see Jer. 31:15],

¹ Gr. Magi.

² Or, through.

§ 16. THE CHILD BROUGHT FROM EGYPT TO NAZARETH

¹ Or, through.

^a Cf. Isa. 11:1 where the Messiah is called Netzer, a Branch, though Nazareth is not mentioned in the Old Testament.

§ 17. THE CHILDHOOD OF JESUS AT NAZARETH

40    And the child grew, and waxed strong, ¹filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him.^a

¹ Gr. becoming full of wisdom.

^a This simple statement of Luke tells more in one sentence than all the apocryphal Gospels of the Infancy, with their silly legends about the miraculous prowess of the child Jesus.

§ 18. THE VISIT OF THE BOY JESUS TO JERUSALEM WHEN TWELVE YEARS OLD

41    And his parents went every year to Jerusalem at the feast of the passover [see Ex. 23:14-17; Deut. 16:1-8]. 42 And when he was twelve years old, they went up after the custom of the feast; 43 and when they had fulfilled the days, as they were returning, the boy Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and his parents knew it not; 44 but supposing him to be in the company, they went a day's journey; and they sought for him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance: 45 and when they found him not, they returned to Jerusalem, seeking for him. 46 And it came to pass, after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the ¹doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions: 47 and all that heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. 48 And when they saw him, they were astonished: and his mother said unto him, ²Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I sought thee sorrowing. 49 And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be ³in my Father's house? 50 And they understood not the saying which he spake unto them.

¹ Or, teachers.

² Gr. Child.

³ Or, about my Father's business.

§ 19. THE EIGHTEEN YEARS^a AT NAZARETH

51    And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth; and he was subject unto them: and his mother kept all these ¹sayings in her heart.

52    And Jesus advanced in wisdom and ²stature, and in ³favour with God and men [see 1 Sam. 2:26].

¹ Or, things.

² Or, age.

³ Or, grace.

PART V
THE BEGINNING OF THE BAPTIST'S MINISTRY

§ 20. THE TIME OF THE BEGINNING

¹ Some ancient authorities omit the son of God.

§ 21. THE MESSAGE AND THE MESSENGER

¹ Some ancient authorities read in the prophets.

² Or, through.

§ 22. A SPECIMEN^a OF JOHN'S PREACHING

¹ Or, your repentance.

² That is, collectors or renters of Roman taxes.

³ Or, Teacher.

⁴ Gr. soldiers on service.

⁵ Or, accuse any one.

^a Here we see Matthew and Luke preserving a non-Markan section, as so frequently hereafter, an example of the so-called Logia (Discourses).