The Epiphany, or The Manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles

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"We have seen his star in the east,
and have come to worship him."

The Collect

O God, who by the leading of a star didst manifest thy only-begotten Son to the Gentiles; Mercifully grant that we, who know thee now by faith, may after this life have the fruition of thy glorious God-head; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.


The Epistle

Ephesians iii. 1.
For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles,
   ²If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:
   ³How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,
   ⁴Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)
   ⁵Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;
   ⁶That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:
   ⁷Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.
   ⁸Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;
   ⁹And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:
   ¹⁰To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,
   ¹¹According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:
   ¹²In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.

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The Gospel

St. Matthew ii. 1.   ¹Now 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,
   ²Saying, 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.
   ³When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.
   ⁴And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born.
   ⁵And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet,
   ⁶And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.
   ⁷Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared.
   ⁸And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.
   ⁹When 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.
   ¹⁰When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.
   ¹¹And 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.
   ¹²And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.