At that time Herod the tetrarch ¹  heard reports about Jesus,

But reports will trouble him from the east and north, and he will set out in a tremendous rage to destroy and wipe out many.

The people cry out, ¹  “We have heard reports about them! We have become helpless with fear! ²  Anguish grips us, agony like that of a woman giving birth to a baby!

¹ “You must not give ²  a false report. ³  Do not make common cause ⁴  with the wicked ⁵  to be a malicious ⁶  witness.

When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, ¹ 

like the accounts ¹  passed on ²  to us by those who were eyewitnesses and servants of the word ³  from the beginning. ⁴ 

Then people ¹  will say to you, ‘Look, there he is!’ ²  or ‘Look, here he is!’ Do not go out or chase after them. ³ 

I did not believe these things until I came and saw them with my own eyes. Indeed, I didn’t hear even half the story! ¹  Your wisdom and wealth ²  surpass what was reported to me.

I did not believe these things until I came and saw them with my own eyes. Indeed, I didn’t hear even half the story! ¹  Your wisdom surpasses what was reported to me.

You have also established prophets to announce ¹  in Jerusalem ²  on your behalf, ‘We have a king in Judah!’ Now the king is going to hear about these rumors. So come on! Let’s talk about this.” ³ 

This ought not to be, ¹  my sons! For the report that I hear circulating among the Lord’s people is not good.

The king of Babylon will become paralyzed with fear ¹  when he hears news of their coming. ²  Anguish will grip him, agony like that of a woman giving birth to a baby. ³ 

Written in it were the following words: “Among the nations it is rumored ¹  (and Geshem ²  has substantiated ³  this) that you and the Jews have intentions of revolting, and for this reason you are building the wall. Furthermore, according to these rumors ⁴  you are going to become their king.

“They are dismayed ²  and cannot answer any more; they have nothing left to say. ³ 

A lying witness ¹  will perish, ²  but the one who reports accurately speaks forever. ³ 

So ¹  the news ²  about him spread into all areas of the region. ³ 

But these words seemed like pure nonsense ¹  to them, and they did not believe them.

They caused confusion among ¹  the crowd and the city officials ²  who heard these things.

This gospel ¹  he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy scriptures,

This very day I will begin to fill all the people of the earth ¹  with dread and to terrify them when they hear about you. They will shiver and shake in anticipation of your approach.” ²