Matthew 2:1-12 - Wise Men Visit Jesus

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. ¹⁰ When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. ¹¹ And after entering the house, they saw the Child with Mary His mother; and they fell down and worshiped Him. Then, after opening their treasure chests, they presented to Him gifts [fit for a king, gifts] of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. ¹² And having been warned [by God] in a dream not to go back to Herod, the magi left for their own country by another way.