2:1 - Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,
Tertullian An Answer to the Jews
Let those Eastern magi be believed, dowering with gold and incense the infancy of Christ as a king;[136]Tertullian On the Flesh of Christ
and let the wise men spare their legs so long a journey;[18]Cyprian Treatise XII Three Books of Testimonies Against the Jews
Also in the Gospel according to Matthew: "And when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judah in the days of Herod the king, behold, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, Where is He who is born King of the Jews? for we have seen His star in the east, and have come to worship Him."[321]The Protevangelium of James
And having been warned by the angel not to go into Judaea, they went into their own country by another road.[51]The Gospel of Pseudo-Matthew
And when they were going to return to King Herod, they were warned by an angel in their sleep not to go back to Herod; and they returned to their own country by another road.[44]The Arabic Gospel of the Infancy of the Saviour
And in the same hour there appeared to them an angel in the form of that star which had before guided them on their journey; and they went away, following the guidance of its light, until they arrived in their own country.[11]
2:2 - Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.
Irenaeus Against Heresies Book III
But Matthew says that the Magi, coming from the east, exclaimed "For we have seen His star in the east, and are come to worship Him; "[76]The Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs III
in the fulness of days. And His star shall arise in heaven,[29]
2:3 - When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.
Tertullian An Answer to the Jews
For thus it is written in the prophet: "And thou, Bethlehem, are not the least in the leaders of Judah: for out of thee shall issue a Leader who shall feed my People lsrµl."[258]
2:9 - When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.
Hippolytus Dogmatical and Historical Fragments
I did not unfold divine grace. I was known by my mother, and I was not announced by a star.[387]
2:11 - And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense and myrrh.
Tertullian On the Flesh of Christ
let them keep their gold to themselves.[19]Peter of Alexandria Canonical Epistle
For "being warned of God in a dream," he says, "that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way."[56]Gospel of Nicodemus I The Acts of Pilate
The Jews therefore cried out, saying: We wish Caesar to be king over us, not Jesus, because Jesus received gifts[95]
2:13 - And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appears to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be you there until I bring you word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.
Origen Against Celsus Book I
and on the second, "Arise, and take the young Child, and His mother, and flee into Egypt; and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young Child to destroy Him."[134]Archelaus Acts of the Disputation with the Heresiarch Manes
here, our Lord Jesus Christ, after His birth by Mary His mother, was sent off in flight into Egypt through the instrumentality of an angel.[520]Peter of Alexandria Canonical Epistle
on account of whom no blame is attributed to Peter; for it was in their power, when they saw what was done, to escape, just as also all the infants in Bethlehem,[54]The Arabic Gospel of the Infancy of the Saviour
Then appeared an angel of the Lord to Joseph in his sleep, and said: Rise, take the boy and His mother, and go away into Egypt.[12]
2:14 - When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt:
The Gospel of Pseudo-Matthew
Now the day before this was done Joseph was warned in his sleep by the angel of the Lord, who said to him: Take Mary and the child, and go into Egypt by the way of the desert. And Joseph went according to the saying of the angel.[47]Gospel of Nicodemus I The Acts of Pilate
And Herod also heard this-that there was going to be a king-and wished to put him to death, and for this purpose sent and put to death all the infants that were in Bethlehem. And on this account also his father Joseph and iris mother fleet from fear of him into Egypt.[96]
2:15 - And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son.
Irenaeus Against Heresies Book III
Of what Lord he does himself interpret: "That it may be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, Out of Egypt have I called my son."[71]The Arabic Gospel of the Infancy of the Saviour
12. Here was fulfilled the prophecy which says, Out of Egypt have I called my son.[13]
2:16 - Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding angry, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently enquired of the wise men.
Irenaeus Against Heresies Book III
For this cause, too, He suddenly removed those children belonging to the house of David, whose happy lot it was to have been born at that time, that He might send them on before into His kingdom; He, since He was Himself an infant, so arranging it that human infants should be martyrs, slain, according to the Scriptures, for the sake of Christ, who was born in Bethlehem of Judah, in the city of David.[283]Tertullian A Treatise on the Soul
while the other, by being slaughtered, for His sake of course, knew what violence meant.[156]Archelaus Acts of the Disputation with the Heresiarch Manes
and here, at the time of the birth of Jesus, every male among the Jews suddenly perished by reason of the treachery of Herod.[529]Peter of Alexandria Canonical Epistle
Hence the bloodthirsty "Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth," he says, "and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coast thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time that he had diligently inquired of the wise men."[57]The Protevangelium of James
And when Herod knew that he had been mocked by the Magi, in a rage he sent murderers, saying to them: Slay the children[52]The Gospel of Pseudo-Matthew
But when he could not find them at all; he sent anew to Bethlehem and all its borders, and slew all the male children whom he found of two years old and under, according to the time that he had ascertained from the magi.[46]Word and Revelation of Esdras
And I said to the angels: Who is this? and what is his sin? And they said to me: This is Herod, who for a time was a king, and ordered to put to death the children from two years old and under.[20]
2:18 - In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not.
Hippolytus Refutation of All Heresies Book V
for her children, and would not," says (the prophet), "be comforted; sorrowing for them, for she knew," says he, "that they are not."[113]
2:19 - But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appears in a dream to Joseph in Egypt,
The Protevangelium of James
For it was he who had been warned by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death until he should see the Christ in the flesh.[57]
2:20 - Saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they are dead which sought the young child's life.
Cyprian Epistle LXVIII
But it is no wonder, since his brethren said of Joseph, "Behold, this dreamer cometh; come now therefore, let us slay him."[24]
2:23 - And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene.
Origen Commentary on Matthew Book X
We must therefore inquire whether, by the expression, "His own country," is meant Nazareth or Bethlehem,-Nazareth, because of the saying, "He shall be called a Nazarene,"[96]