Chapter OneJesus is born
Ayoung girl named Mary lived in Nazareth, Galilee.
She was promised in marriage to a carpenter Joseph, a descendant of David.1
One summer, God sent the angel Gabriel to Mary.
“You are blessed among women.”
The angel’s words confused Mary.
“God has chosen you to have a baby.2
When the baby is born, you are to name him Jesus.3
He will be great, and his kingdom will never end.”
Mary was more confused than ever.
“How can this be?” she asked the angel.
“I’m not married yet.”
Gabriel answered, “Anything is possible for God.
Even your cousin Elizabeth will have a child soon.
She is old, and no one thought she could have a baby.”
Then Mary believed Gabriel.
“I am the Lord’s servant,” she said.
Key Words
be born: ra đời
(bear - bore - born)
named: có tên là
promise (v): hẹn ước
carpenter (n): thợ mộc
descendant (n): hậu duệ, con cháu
angel (n): thiên thần
bless (v): ban phúc
confuse (v): gây lúng túng, bối rối
choose (v): lựa chọn
(choose - chose - chosen)
name A B: đặt tên cho A là B
kingdom (n): vương quốc
than ever: hơn bao giờ hết
possible (adj): có thể
the Lord (n): Chúa trời
servant (n): bầy tôi
Key Sentences
1 She was promised in marriage to a carpenter Joseph, a descendant of David.
2 God has chosen you to have a baby.
3 When the baby is born, you are to name him Jesus.
The Lord visited Joseph as he dreamed one night.
“Take Mary as your wife,” God said to Joseph.
“She will have my child soon.
He will save my people from their wickedness.”
Soon after, Joseph married Mary, and the time for the birth of the baby drew near.1
At that time, Joseph’s town was part of the Roman Empire.
The Jewish people had to follow the rules made by the Romans.
For a new tax law, each man was to go to his birthplace and register there for the tax.2
So Joseph traveled with Mary to his hometown of Bethlehem.
When they arrived, there were no rooms at the inns.
Finally, a kind innkeeper let them sleep in his stable.3
During the night, Jesus was born.
Check up
From the text, find the word to complete the following sentence.
Bethlehem is Joseph and Jesus’___________.
Key Words
save A from B: cứu A thoát khỏi B
wickedness (n): bản tính xấu xa, độc ác
birth (n): sự ra đời
draw near: đến gần
(draw - drew - drawn)
the Roman Empire: đế quốc La Mã
Jewish (adj): (thuộc) người Do Thái
by (prep): bởi
tax (n): thuế
birthplace (n): nơi sinh
register (v): đăng ký
hometown (n): quê hương
inn (n): quán trọ
innkeeper (n): chủ quán trọ
stable (n): chuồng ngựa
Key Sentences
1 Soon after, Joseph married Mary and the time for the birth of the baby drew near.
2 For a new tax law, each man was to go to his birthplace and register there for the tax.
3 Finally, a kind innkeeper let them sleep in his stable.
The Visit of the Magi
Several months before Jesus was born, a star appeared in the night sky above Bethlehem.
This star was seen by three wise men in the East.1
For many days, they traveled west toward the star of Bethlehem.
On the way, they stopped in the city of Jerusalem, where King Herod lived.
The three wise men told King Herod that the star meant the Savior had come.2
Herod was afraid.
He did not want a new king to challenge his power.3
So Herod lied to the wise men.
“When you have found him, tell me where he is.
I want to worship him also.”
What is not true about the story?
The wise men found a star at the night of the baby Jesus’ birth.
The wise men traveled toward the star of Bethlehem.
King Herod didn’t want to worship the baby Jesus.
Key Words
magi (n) (số nhiều): các vị đạo sĩ
appear (v): xuất hiện
wise (adj): thông thái
the East (n): phía Đông
toward (prep): theo hướng, về phía
on the way: trên đường đi
stop in + place (v): dừng lại ở đâu đó
mean (v): có ý nghĩa là
(mean - meant - meant)
the Savior (n): Chúa cứu thế
challenge (v): đe dọa
lie (v): nói dối
worship (v): phục tùng
Key Sentences
1 This star was seen by three wise men in the East.
2 The three wise men told King Herod that the star meant the Savior had come.
3 He did not want a new king to challenge his power.
Now the wise men came to Bethlehem.
The star was directly over this small town.
There they found Mary and the baby Jesus.
Falling to their knees, they gave him gold and valuable spices from the East.1
That night, an angel visited each wise man in his dream.
The angel warned them not to go back to King Herod.2
Another angel visited Joseph in his dream.
This angel told Joseph to take Mary and the baby Jesus to Egypt.3
So the next day, all of them did as the angels said.
When King Herod heard nothing about Jesus from the wise men, he ordered his soldiers to kill every child in Bethlehem.
Jesus was saved because he was in Egypt.
After many years, King Herod died.
Joseph took his family to the town of Galilee.
This is where Jesus grew up.
Key Words
directly (adv): thẳng đến
fall to one’s knees: quỳ xuống
(fall - fell - fallen)
valuable (adj): quý giá
warn A not to + V: cảnh báo/ nhắc nhở
A đừng làm gì
order A to + V: ra lệnh cho A làm gì
soldier (n): quân lính
grow up (v): lớn lên
(grow - grew - grown)
Key Sentences
1 Falling to their knees, they gave him gold and valuable spices from the East.
2 The angel warned them not to go back to King Herod.
3 This angel told Joseph to take Mary and the baby Jesus to Egypt.
Jesus Is Baptized
John, Elizabeth’s son, was Jesus’ cousin.
When John became a man, he heard God calling to him.1
John decided to work only for God.
He traveled to different towns and told people about God.
“Do not do evil things,” he said.
“Make your life good for God.”2
John would baptize people in the Jordan River.
One day, a young man stood in the crowd, watching him.3
When the man stepped forward to be baptized,
John could only stare.
John said, “You are the one who should baptize me.4”
But Jesus replied, “Let it be this way.”
As Jesus was baptized, a voice from Heaven spoke:
“This is my beloved Son. I am pleased with him.”
Key Words
baptize (v): rửa tội
call to (v): gọi (ai đó)
decide to + V (v): quyết định làm gì
evil (adj): xấu xa, độc ác
would (past tense of will): sẽ
the Jordan River: dòng sông Jordan
crowd (n): đám đông
step forward: bước về phía trước
stare (v): nhìn chăm chú
reply (v): đáp lại
voice (n): giọng nói
Heaven (n): Trời
beloved (adj): được yêu quý
be pleased with: hài lòng với
Key Sentences
1 When John became a man, he heard God calling to him.
2 Make your life good for God.
3 One day, a young man stood in the crowd watching him.
4 You are the one who should baptize me.
The Temptation of Jesus
After he was baptized, Jesus went into the desert to think about the work he was to do.1
He ate no food for forty days and forty nights.
Satan saw this and came to tempt Jesus.
“If you are really the Son of God,” said Satan, “why don’t you turn those rocks into bread?”
“Man does not live by bread alone,2” replied Jesus.
“Man must also live by the word of God.”
Next, Satan led Jesus up to the roof of the temple.
“Throw yourself off the roof.
If the angels catch you, you will prove that you are the Son of God.”
Jesus replied, “Men should not test God’s power.”
Satan tried a third time.
He showed Jesus the kingdoms of the world.
“I will give you all of this if you worship me,” said the Devil.
“It is written that man should worship only God,3” said Jesus.
The Devil went away and angels came to take care of Jesus.
Key Words
the temptation (n): sự cám dỗ, sự xúi giục
desert (n): sa mạc
Satan (n): quỷ Xa tăng
tempt (v): cám dỗ, xúi giục
turn A into B: biến A thành B
live by (v): sống bằng (cái gì)
alone (adv): riêng, chỉ riêng
lead (v): dẫn, dắt
(lead - led - led)
roof (n): nóc, mái vòm
temple (n): ngôi đền
prove (v): chứng minh, chứng tỏ
test (v): thử
take care of someone (v): bảo vệ ai
Key Sentences
1 ... Jesus went into the desert to think about the work he was to do.
2 Man does not live by bread alone.
3 It is written that man should worship only God.
Comprehension Quiz
A. Complete the sentences with the verbs in the past tense.
find - draw - send - stand - mean
1. One summer, God __________ the angel Gabriel to Mary.
2. The wise men __________ Mary and the baby Jesus in Bethlehem.
3. The star __________ that the Savior had come.
4. The time for the birth of the baby __________ near.
5. One day, a young man __________ in the crowd, watching John.
B. Choose the word that does NOT indicate the same thing.
1. He will be great, and his kingdom will never end.
2. He did not want a new king to challenge his power.
3. The wise men gave him gold and valuable spices from the East.
4. You are the one who should baptize me.
5. He was saved because he was in Egypt.
C. Based on the story, mark “T” if true or “F” if false.
1. Jesus was really the son of Joseph and Mary. T...F
2. Satan told Jesus to jump off the temple roof. T...F
3. John the Baptist was the promised Savior. T...F
4. The wise men returned to King Herod and told him about Jesus. T...F
5. John and his family went to Galilee after King Herod died. T...F
D. Put the sentences in order.
1. John baptized Jesus.
2. An angel visited Mary.
3. King Herod ordered his soldiers to kill all the babies.
4. Three wise men traveled to Bethlehem.
5. Joseph, Mary, and Jesus returned to Galilee.
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