THE

TESTIMONY

OF

MATTHEW LEVI,

THE APOSTLE.

[FIRST PUBLISHED IN JUDEA, A. D. 38.]

MATTHEW'S PREFACE.

The history of Jesus Christ, Son of David, Son of Abraham.

SECTION I.

The Nativity.

Sal

ABRAHAM begot Isaac. Isaac begot Jacob. Jacob begot Judah and his brothers. Judah had Pharez and Zarah by Tamar. Pharez begot Ezrom. Ezrom begot Aram. Aram begot Aminidab. Aminidab begot Nashon. Nashon begot Salmon. mon had Boaz by Rahab. Boaz had Obed by Ruth. Obed begot Jesse. Jesse begot David the king. David the king had Solomon, by her who had been the wife of Uriah. Solomon begot Rehoboam. Rehoboam begot Abia. Abia begot Asa. Asa begot Jehoshaphat. Jehoshaphat begot Joram. Joram begot Uzziah. Uzziah begot Jotham. Jotham begot Ahaz. Ahaz begot Hezekiah. Hezekiah begot Manasseh. Manasseh begot Amon. Amon begot Josiah. Josiah had Jeconiah and his brothers, about the time of the migration into Babylon. After the migration into Babylon, Jeconiah begot Salathiel. Salathiel begot Zerubbabel. Zerubbabel begot Abiud. Abiud begot Eliakim. Eliakim begot Azor. Azor begot Zadoc. Zadoc begot Achim. Achim begot Eliud. Eliud begot Eleazar. Eleazar begot Matthan. Matthan begot Jacob. Jacob begot Joseph, the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ. So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen; from David till the migration into Babylon, fourteen; and from the migration into Babylon to the Messiah, fourteen.

18.-Now the birth of Jesus Christ happened thus: Mary his mother had been espoused to Joseph; but before they came together, she proved to be with child by the Holy Spirit. Joseph her husband being a virtuous man, and unwilling to expose her, intended to divorce her privately. But while he was thinking

upon this, an angel of the Lord appearing to him in a dream, said, Joseph, son of David, scruple not to take home Mary your wife; for her pregnancy is from the Holy Spirit. And she shall bear a son, whom you shall call Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins. In all this what the Lord had spoken by the Prophet was verified, "Behold the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, who shall be called Immanuel;" which signifies, God with us. When Joseph awoke, he did as the messenger of the Lord had commanded him, and took home his wife; but knew her not, till she had brought forth her first born son, whom he named Jesus.

II.—After the birth of Jesus, at Bethlehem of Judea, in the reign of King Herod, certain eastern magians came to Jerusalem, and inquired, Where is the new-born King of the Jews; for we have seen his star in the east country, and are come to do him homage? King Herod hearing this, was alarmed, and all Jerusalem with him. And having assembled all the chief priests and the scribes of the people, he demanded of them where the Messiah should be born. They answered, at Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the Prophet, "And thou Bethlehem, in the canton of Judah, art not the least illustrious among the cities of Judah; for out of thee shall come a ruler, who will govern my people Israel."

7.-Then Herod having secretly called the magians, procured from them exact information concerning the time of the star's appearing. And sending them to Bethlehem, he said, Go, make an exact inquiry about the child; and when you have found him bring me word, that I may also go, and pay him homage. Having heard the King, they departed; and lo! the star which had appeared to them in the east country, moved before them, till it came, and stood over the place, where the child was. When they again saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly. And being come into the house, they found the child with Mary his mother; and, prostrating themselves, did him homage. Then opening their caskets, they offered, as presents to him, gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they went home another way.

13. When they were gone, lo! a messenger of the Lord appearing to Joseph in a dream, said, Arise, take the child with his mother, and flee into Egypt; and remain there till I order you; for Herod will seek the child to destroy him. Accordingly he arose, took the child with his mother, and withdrew by night into Egypt, where he continued until the death of Herod; so that, what the Lord had spoken by the Prophet, was verified, "Out of Egypt I called my Son."

16.—Then Herod, finding that he had been deceived by the magians, was highly incensed, and despatched emissaries, who slew, by his order, all the male children in Bethlehem, and in all it

territory, from those entering the second year, down to the time of which he had procured exact information from the magians. Then was the word of Jeremiah the Prophet verified, "A cry was heard in Ramah, lamentation, and weeping, and bitter complaint: Rachel bewailing her children, and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more."

19. When Herod was dead, an angel of the Lord appearing in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, said, Arise, take the child with his mother, and go into the land of Israel; for they are dead who sought his life. Accordingly, he arose, took the child with his mother, and came to the land of Israel; but hearing that Archelaus had succeeded his father Herod in the throne of Judea, he was afraid to return thither; and being warned in a dream, retired into the district of Galilee, and resided in a city named Nazareth; in this verifying the declaration of the Prophet concerning Jesus, that he should be called a Nazarene.

SECTION II.

The Immersion.

III.-IN those days appeared John the Immerser, who proclaimed in the wilderness of Judea, saying, Reform, for the Reign of Heaven approaches. For this is he, of whom the Prophet Isaiah speaks in these words, "The voice of one proclaiming in the wilderness, Prepare a way for the Lord, make for him a straight passage." Now John wore raiment of camel's hair with a leather girdle about his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey. Then Jerusalem, and all Judea, and all the country along the Jordan, resorted to him, and were immersed by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins.

7.-But he seeing many Pharisees and Sadducees coming to him to receive immersion, said to them, Offspring of vipers, who has prompted you to flee from the impending vengeance? Produce, then, the proper fruit of reformation; and presume not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham for our father, for I assure you, that of these stones God can raise children to Abraham. And even now the axe lies at the root of the trees; every tree, therefore, which produces not good fruit, is cut down, and turned into fuel. I, indeed, immerse you in water, into reformation; but he who comes after me, is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to carry. He will immerse you in the Holy Spirit, and in fire. His winnowing shovel is in his hand, and he will thoroughly cleanse his grain; he will gather his wheat into the granary, and consume the chaff in unquencheable fire.

13.-Then came Jesus from Galilee to the Jordan, to be immersby John. But John excused himself, saying, It is I who need

to be immersed by you; and you come to me! Jesus answering, said to him, Permit this at present; for thus ought we to ratify every institution. Then John acquiesced. Jesus being immersed, no sooner arose out of the water, than heaven opened to him; and the Spirit of God appeared, descending like a dove, and lighting upon him; while a voice from heaven proclaimed, This is my Son, the beloved, in whom I delight.

IV. Then was Jesus conducted by the Spirit into the wilderness, to be tempted by the devil. And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. Then the tempter accosting him, said, If thou be God's Son, command that these stones become loaves. Jesus answering, said, It is written, "Man lives not by bread only, but by every thing which God is pleased to appoint." Then the devil conveyed him into the holy city, and having placed him on the battlement of the temple, said to him, If thou be God's Son, throw thyself down; for it is written, "He will give his angels the charge of thee: they shall uphold thee in their arms, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone." Jesus again answered, It is written, "Thou shalt not put the Lord thy God to the proof." Again the devil took him up a very high mountain, whence he showed him all the kingdoms of the world in their glory, and said to him, All these will I give thee, if thou wilt prostrate thyself, and worship me. Jesus answered, Satan, begone; for it is written, "Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and shalt serve him only." Then the devil leaving him, angels came and ministered to him.

12.-Now Jesus, hearing that John was imprisoned, retired into Galilee, and having left Nazareth, resided at Capernaum, a seaport in the confines of Zebulun and Naphtali, thereby verifying the words of Isaiah the Prophet; "The canton of Zebulun and the canton of Naphtali, situate on the Jordan near the sea, Galilee of the nations; the people who abode in darkness, saw a great light, and on those who inhabited a region of the shades of death, light has arisen." From that time Jesus began to proclaim, saying, Reform, for the Reign of Heaven approaches.

18.—Then walking by the sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon named Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a drag into the sea, for they were fishers. And he said to them, Come with me, and I will make you fishers of men. Immediately they left the nets and followed him. Passing on he saw other two brothers, James son of Zebedee and John his brother, in the bark with their father Zebedee, mending their nets, and he called them. They immediately, leaving the bark and their father, followed him.

23. Then Jesus went over all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and proclaiming the glad tidings of the Reign, and curing every sort of disease and malady among the people. And his fame

spread through all Syria, and they brought to him all their sick, seized and tormented with various distempers, demoniacs, and lunatics, and paralytics, and he healed them. And vast multitudes followed him from Galilee, Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and from the banks of the Jordan.

SECTION III.

The Sermon on the Mount.

V.-JESUS, seeing so great a confluence, repaired to a mountain, and having sat down, his disciples came to him. Then breaking silence, he taught them, saying:

3. Happy the poor who repine not; for the kingdom of Heaven is theirs! Happy they who mourn; for they shall receive consolation! Happy the meek; for they shall inherit the land! Happy they who hunger and thirst after righteousness; for they shall be satisfied! Happy the merciful; for they shall obtain mercy! Happy the pure in heart; for they shall see God! Happy the peace-makers; for they shall be called sons of God! Happy they who suffer persecution on account of righteousness; for the kingdom of heaven is theirs! Happy shall you be, when men shall revile and persecute you; and, on my account, accuse you falsely of every evil thing! Rejoice and exult, for great is your reward in heaven; for thus the Prophets were persecuted, who were before you.

13.-You are the salt of the earth. If the salt become insipid, how shall its saltness be restored? It is thenceforth fit only to be cast out, and trod under foot. You are the light of the world. A city situate on a mountain must be conspicuous. A lamp is lighted to be put, not under a vessel, but on a stand, that it may shine to all the family. Thus, let your light shine before men, that they, seeing your good actions, may glorify your Father, who is in heaven.

17.-Think not that I am come to subvert the law or the prophets. I am come not to subvert, but to ratify. For, indeed, I say to you, heaven and earth shall sooner perish, than one iota, or one tittle of the law shall perish, without attaining its end. Whosoever, therefore, shall violate, or teach others to violate, were it the least of these commandments, shall be in no esteem in the Reign of Heaven. For I tell you, that unless your righteousness excel the righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees, you shall never enter the kingdom of heaven.

21.-You have heard that it was said to the ancients, "You shall not commit murder; for whosoever commits murder shall be obnoxious to the judges." But I say to you, whosoever is angry with his brother unjustly, shall be obnoxious to the judges; who