Bible Strands
Matthew 1:24
When Joseph woke up, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him and embraced Mary as his wife.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The narrator records Joseph’s immediate physical response after an angel of the Lord delivers a command regarding Mary’s pregnancy. This moment closes the introductory genealogy and precedes the birth narrative in Matthew 1.
The words — The aorist passive participle Ἐγερθεὶς (Egertheis) literally translates to "having been awoken," establishing the chronological trigger for the action. The verb ἐποίησεν (epoiēsen) means "he did," directly linking Joseph’s waking state to his concrete compliance.
The thread — Obedience to direct divine instruction appears in Genesis 22:2 where God commands Abraham to take Isaac to Moriah, and James 2:21 cites that act as the basis for Abraham’s justification. Jesus later defines his followers as friends in John 15:14 based on their doing what he commands.
Why it lands — The text states that Joseph woke and acted immediately, establishing obedience as a direct response to revelation rather than a delayed deliberation. It requires the reader to prioritize immediate compliance with received instruction over personal preference or social convention.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife:
Cross-references
- John 15:14 You are My friends if you do what I command you.
- James 2:21 Was not our father Abraham justified by what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar?
- Genesis 22:2 “Take your son,” God said, “your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah. Offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains, which I will show you.”
- Exodus 40:16 Moses did everything just as the LORD had commanded him.
- Exodus 40:27 and he burned fragrant incense on it, just as the LORD had commanded him.
- Exodus 40:32 They washed whenever they entered the Tent of Meeting or approached the altar, just as the LORD had commanded Moses.
- John 2:5 His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever He tells you.”
- Hebrews 11:7 By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in godly fear built an ark to save his family. By faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.
- Genesis 6:22 So Noah did everything precisely as God had commanded him.
- Genesis 7:5 And Noah did all that the LORD had commanded him.