"Go ahead and marry her."

This is how Jesus Christ was born.  A young woman named Mary was engaged to Joseph from King David's family.  But before they were married, she learned that she was going to have a baby by God's Holy Spirit.  Joseph was a good man and did not want to embarrass Mary in front of everyone.  So he decided to quietly call off the wedding.

While Joseph was thinking about this, an angel from the Lord came to him in a dream.  The angel said, "Joseph, the baby that Mary will have is from the Holy Spirit.  Go ahead and marry her.  Then after her baby is born, name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins."

So the Lord's promise came true, just as the prophet had said, "A virgin will have a baby boy, and he will be called Immanuel," which means "God is with us."

After Joseph woke up, he and Mary were soon married, just as the Lord's angel had told him to do.  But they did not sleep together before her baby was born.  Then Joseph named him Jesus.

                                                                                         Matthew 1:18-24

Contemporary English Version The Holy Bible (New York , NY: American Bible Society 1995)