Joseph

Joseph was the husband of Mary and the earthly father of Jesus Christ. He was a descendant of David (Matthew 1:16, 20;Luk.1.27; 2.4) and lived in Nazareth (Luke 2:4). Joseph was betrothed to Mary when she was found to be pregnant by the Holy Spirit (Matthew 1:18;Luke 1:27). Being a righteous man, he planned to divorce her quietly, but an angel appeared to him in a dream, telling him to take Mary as his wife and name the child Jesus (Matthew 1:19-21, 24-25). Joseph obeyed and took care of Mary and Jesus. He was present at Jesus' birth in Bethlehem (Luke 2:4-7, 16) and later took his family to Egypt to escape Herod's persecution (Matthew 2:13-15, 19-23). Joseph is last mentioned in the Gospels when Jesus was 12 years old, and the family visited Jerusalem for the Passover (Luke 2:41-51). He is referred to as Jesus' father (Luk.2.33, 48; 4.22;Jhn.1.45; 6.42) and was a carpenter by trade (Matthew 13:55). Joseph is not mentioned during Jesus' adult ministry, suggesting he may have died before that time.