Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, suddenly wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying,

Then Herod secretly called the wise men, and learned from them exactly what time the star appeared.

Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked by the wise men, was exceedingly angry, and sent out, and killed all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all the surrounding countryside, from two years old and under, according to the exact time which he had learned from the wise men.

Therefore take notice, I send to you prophets, wise men, and scribes. Some of them you will kill and crucify; and some of them you will scourge in your synagogues, and persecute from city to city;

I speak as to wise men. Judge what I say.

not in the way of service only when eyes are on you, as men pleasers; but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart;

Servants, obey in all things those who are your masters according to the flesh, not just when they are looking, as men pleasers, but in singleness of heart, fearing the Lord.

So speak, and so do, as men who are to be judged by a law of freedom.

For to this end the Good News was preached even to the dead, that they might be judged indeed as men in the flesh, but live as to God in the spirit.