11 Bible Verses about Advent
Most Relevant Verses
Now the manner of Christ's birth was this: his mother Mary being promised in marriage to Joseph, before they came together, she became pregnant by the holy Spirit. but Joseph her husband, being a good-natur'd man, and unwilling to expose her to publick shame, he designed to put her away privately. but while he was revolving this in his mind, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, Joseph, the off-spring of David, don't make any difficulty of taking Mary for thy wife: for her pregnancy is from the holy Spirit.read more.
and she shall be deliver'd of a son, to whom you shall give the name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins. now by these events, that divine prediction of the Prophet had its full accomplishment, when he said, "Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel," that is to say, God our Saviour. Then Joseph being awak'd out of sleep, did as the angel of the Lord directed, and took his wife home, but did not cohabit with her as a wife, before she had-brought forth her first-born son; whom he named JESUS.
In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, to a virgin contracted to a man; whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. and the virgin's name was Mary. the angel, upon his arrival, said to her; "Hail, favorite of heaven, the Lord is with thee: thou happiest of thy sex."read more.
Mary was surpriz'd at the voice of such an appearance, and wonder'd what the meaning of this salutation should be. but the angel said to her, "Mary, be not afraid: for you are the object of divine favour. you shall be now pregnant, and be delivered of a son, whom you shall name JESUS. he shall be great, he shall be the son of the most high. the Lord God shall give him the throne of his father David. he shall reign over the house of Jacob, and of his kingdom there shall be no end." Then said Mary to the angel, what shall this be without any intercourse with man? the angel answered her, "the holy spirit shall descend upon thee, and the power of the most high shall over-shadow thee: wherefore thy holy offspring shall be called the son of God. even your cousin Elizabeth, as old as she is, is become pregnant with a son: she, who was stiled barren, is now in her sixth month; for nothing is impossible to God." then said Mary, "behold the servant of the Lord, be it unto me according to thy word." upon which the angel disappeared.
At that time, Cesar Augustus published an edict, to make a register of the Roman empire. (this register was made before Quirinus was prefect of Syria.) all went to be registred, every one to his native city.read more.
so Joseph departed from Nazareth in Galilee, and went into Judea to the city of David, called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and linage of David, in order to be registred with Mary, his espoused wife, who was then big with child. now while they were there, the time came for her to be delivered. and being brought to bed of her first born, she swathed him, and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. In that country there were shepherds lying in the open fields, taking their turns to watch the stock in the night; when all of a sudden an angel of the Lord appear'd to them, and a heavenly light shone about them, at which they were greatly affrighted. but the angel said to them, be not afraid, I am only come to bring you great news, which will be matter of joy to you and to the whole world. for the Lord Messiah your saviour is this day born, in the city of David: and by this sign shall you know him; you will find the babe swathed, lying in a manger. All of a sudden an army of celestial beings join'd the angel, singing praises to God, and saying, "glory to God in the heavens, and to men on earth felicity in the divine favour." As soon as the angels retired back to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, let us go to Bethlehem, to see the fact, of which the Lord inform'd us. accordingly they hasted thither, and found Mary and Joseph with the babe lying in the manger. when they had seen him, they divulged what the angel had told them concerning this child. and all that heard of it, were surprized at what the shepherds related. but Mary considered these things very attentively, and weigh'd every circumstance in her mind, while the shepherds return'd, glorifying and praising God, for having heard and seen every thing exactly as the angel inform'd them.
now while they were there, the time came for her to be delivered. and being brought to bed of her first born, she swathed him, and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the reign of king Herod, certain eastern Magi came to Jerusalem, with this enquiry, Where is this king of the Jews who is now born? for we have seen his rising star, and are come to pay him homage.
besides Esaias saith, "there shall be a root of Jesse, and he that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles; in him shall the Gentiles hope." Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope through the power of the holy spirit.
now whatever was heretofore writ, was writ for our instruction; that we through patience and the comfortable promises of the scriptures might have hope. May the God of patience and consolation, make you equally concern'd for one another, according to the example of Christ Jesus, that ye may unanimously with one voice glorify God, even the father of our Lord Jesus Christ.read more.
wherefore be kindly affected to one another, as Christ was to you, that you might glorify God. for I tell you, that Jesus Christ was a minister to the Jews, to manifest the veracity of God in fulfilling the promises made to the fathers: and you Gentiles ought to glorify God for his mercy; as it is written, "for this cause I will confess to thee among the Gentiles, and sing unto thy name ." and again the scripture saith, "rejoice, ye Gentiles, with his people." and elsewhere, praise the Lord, all ye Gentiles, and laud him, all ye people." besides Esaias saith, "there shall be a root of Jesse, and he that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles; in him shall the Gentiles hope." Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope through the power of the holy spirit.
At that time appeared John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, and saying, "Repent ye: for the kingdom of the Messiah draws nigh." for it is of John the prophet Esaias spoke, when he said, "The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths clear."read more.
now John wore a coat made of camels hair, with a leathern girdle about his waist; and his food was locusts and wild hony. Then the inhabitants of Jerusalem, of all Judea, and the whole country about Jordan, came to him: and having confess'd their sins, they were baptized by him in Jordan. but when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadduces come to his baptism, he said to them, "Ye brood of vipers, who has warned you to fly from the wrath to come? Let your actions then show your repentance: and don't pretend to say within your selves, We have Abraham for our father: for I tell you, that God is able out of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham: the ax is already laid to the root of the trees: every tree then which does not produce good fruit, will be hewn down, and cast into the fire. I indeed baptize you with water to lead you to repentance; but he that cometh after me, is my superiour, whose shoes I am not worthy to carry: he shall baptize you with the effusion of the holy Ghost, in the appearance of fire: and with the fan in his hand, he will throughly cleanse his floor, and gather the wheat into his grainery, but the chaff will he burn with unquenchable fire."
In that country there were shepherds lying in the open fields, taking their turns to watch the stock in the night; when all of a sudden an angel of the Lord appear'd to them, and a heavenly light shone about them, at which they were greatly affrighted. but the angel said to them, be not afraid, I am only come to bring you great news, which will be matter of joy to you and to the whole world.read more.
for the Lord Messiah your saviour is this day born, in the city of David: and by this sign shall you know him; you will find the babe swathed, lying in a manger. All of a sudden an army of celestial beings join'd the angel, singing praises to God, and saying, "glory to God in the heavens, and to men on earth felicity in the divine favour." As soon as the angels retired back to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, let us go to Bethlehem, to see the fact, of which the Lord inform'd us. accordingly they hasted thither, and found Mary and Joseph with the babe lying in the manger. when they had seen him, they divulged what the angel had told them concerning this child. and all that heard of it, were surprized at what the shepherds related. but Mary considered these things very attentively, and weigh'd every circumstance in her mind, while the shepherds return'd, glorifying and praising God, for having heard and seen every thing exactly as the angel inform'd them.
All of a sudden an army of celestial beings join'd the angel, singing praises to God, and saying, "glory to God in the heavens, and to men on earth felicity in the divine favour."
Consider likewise the present season, that now it is high time to rouse out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we first believed. the night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore throw off the habits of darkness, and be invested with the ornaments of light. let us behave with decency as in open view; not with rioting and drunkenness, not with lewdness and brutality, not with strife and envy.read more.
but imitate the Lord Jesus Christ, and by no means indulge any sensual desires.