Matthew 2:1-9 ▼

1 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king (Herod the Great), magi (wise men) from the east came to Jerusalem, asking,

2 “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the east and have come to worship Him.”

3 When Herod the king heard this, he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him.

4 So he called together all the chief priests and scribes of the people and [anxiously] asked them where the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed) was to be born.

5 They replied to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for this is what has been written by the prophet [Micah]:

6 ‘AND YOU, BETHLEHEM, IN THE LAND OF JUDAH, ARE NOT IN ANY WAY LEAST AMONG THE LEADERS OF JUDAH; FOR FROM YOU SHALL COME A RULER WHO WILL SHEPHERD MY PEOPLE ISRAEL.’”

7 Then Herod secretly sent for the magi and learned from them the [exact] time the star [had first] appeared.

8 Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search carefully for the Child; and when you have found Him, report to me, so that I too may come and worship Him.”

9 After hearing the king, they went their way; and behold, the star, which they had seen in the east, went on before them [continually leading the way] until it came and stood over the place where the young Child was.