Matthew 1:18 - 25

18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit.

19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly.

20 But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.

21 And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”

22 So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying:

23 “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.”

24 Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife,

25 and did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn Son. And he called His name Jesus.

Joseph is described as being a just man, meaning a kind and considerate man. Being a kind man he did not want to cause her shame and embarrassment so he had determined he would break their engagement privately because he thought she had been unfaithful to him.

While he was still considering these events, an espousal was regarded as binding as a marriage in those days, an angel from God appeared to him in a dream. The angel told Joseph he should continue with the marriage because the pregnancy was caused by God, through the work of the Holy Spirit, Mary was as pure as the day she was born.

Not only did the angel inform Joseph about the cause of Mary's pregnancy but informed Joseph on the results of the pregnancy, and what this would mean to the world. The son would be named Jesus and he was to save his people from sin.

The angel also informed Joseph the event had been prophesied in the scripture.s, this was important to Joseph because he was a believer of the inspired word

This prophecy is from Isaiah 7:14, this could not happen through natural reproduction, it had to be through the power of God, by the Holy Spirit. The name Immanuel, means God with us which signifies this child is both divine and human.

Joseph woke up from the dream and did what the angel had told him to do. In ancient times used dreams and other manners to communicate with His people (Hebrews 1:1[God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, ]) Joseph did not hesitate but obeyed the word of God immediately.

Joseph immediately took Mary to be his wife, but had no sexual relations with her until after Jesus was born. The way the inspired word of God is stated, it implies she had a normal sexual relationship with Joseph as her husband after the birth of Jesus. The term of firstborn indicates there were other sons following the birth of Jesus. Mary did not remain a virgin her entire life as some teach. Joseph and Mary followed the instructions of the angel and named the baby boy, Jesus.