| Event | Reference |
| Gabriel visits Mary, predicts Jesus’ birth, tells her about Elizabeth/John’s birth | Luke 1:26-38 |
| Mary visits Elizabeth for 3 months, returns home | Luke 1:39-56 |
| Joseph discovers Mary is pregnant, decides to divorce her, angel visits him, tells him to marry her, and name the baby Jesus | Matthew 1:20-25 |
| Caesar Augustus decree, Joseph and Mary travel to Bethlehem | Luke 2:1-5 |
| Jesus is born in a feeding trough, no room in the inn (Jesus is born in Matthew 1:25 offstage-no description) | Luke 2:6-7 |
| Angels announce birth to shepherds | Luke 2:8-14 |
| Shepherds visit holy family, spread the news | Luke 2:15-18 |
| Mary treasures these things in her heart | Luke 2:19 |
| Jesus is circumcised on 8th day, Simeon and Anna prophesy | Luke 2:21-38 |
| Wise men from east arrive in Jerusalem, ask where to find King of the Jews, are told Bethlehem and to report back. They see star which leads them to house, they worship him and give him gifts. They’re warned in a dream not to return to Herod (Herod the Great), they go home. | Matthew 2:1-12 |
| Flight to Egypt. | Matthew 2:13-15 |
| Herod massacres the innocents in and around Bethlehem. | Matthew 2:16-18 |
| Angel tells Joseph Herod is dead, they return to Israel, to Nazareth in Galilee | Matthew 2:19-23/Luke 2:39 |
Download the chart as a word document: Harmony Chart
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The time between the birth of Jesus and the temple dedication was longer than the eight day circumcision which probably happened at Bethlehem.
A woman who gave birth was required by Leviticus 12 to be ceremonially unclean until 7 days after birth, circumcise on the eight day but “wait thirty-three days to be purified from her bleeding. She must not touch anything sacred or go to the sanctuary until the days of her purification are over.” Depending on whether you use the eight day circumcision or not to figure the time, you come up with either 40 or 41 days between the birth and the dedication at the temple. I am so glad that I do not have to live under the Law but am under grace. Very complicated to live by. Grace to you and yours in this new year…David
I’m learning…
David is quite correct in his time line at the time of birth. However, between Matthew’s account and Luke’s is a period of almost TWO years – the time needed for the Magi to journey from “the east” over the northern trade route to Jerusalem. Jesus would be two years old at the Magi’s arrival in the Fall of the second year, and living in a “house” for the yearly festival time in the Fall (harvest time) which all Jews observed. They had three yearly “holyday” festivals which all had to attend – Passover, Pentecost, and Tabernacles. This explains why the Magi were absent in Luke but mentioned by Matthew, who was a Levite and wrote from a Jewish mindset, whereas Luke was a Gentile and related the birth story in details unknown to the Gentile mind. Caesar’s decree was not the main reason for Joseph to journey to Bethlehem, God’s command to “appear three times a year” was. This too clarifies when Jesus was actually born – not in Dec.25! Sorry about that. Hope this will spur more studying by all interested….Jerry
And learning some more! So to correct the chart:
Jesus is circumcised on 8th day, as all Jewish male babies were. This was probably in Bethlehem.
Jesus is dedicated at the temple when he’s about six weeks old. Simeon and Anna prophesy Luke 2:21-38
Wise men from east arrive in Jerusalem when Jesus is around 2 years old, ask where to find King of the Jews, are told Bethlehem and to report back. They see star which leads them to house, they worship him and give him gifts. They’re warned in a dream not to return to Herod (Herod the Great), they go home. Matthew 2:1-12
Thanks for your input, gentlemen.