baptism there came a voice from heaven saying, "Thou art my beloved Son,
in whom I am well pleased."[071] John is equally explicit in declaring
his belief in the Divinity of Jesus. The opening words of his Gospel
assert His Divine nature: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word
was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with
God. All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made
that was made."[072]

It is evident, therefore, that each of the Evangelists believed in the
Divine origin of Jesus, for they would not have used such language
regarding one who in their opinion was a mere man, the son of Joseph the
carpenter and of Mary his espoused wife. Matthew, who wrote for Jewish
converts, shows how fully the Old Testament prophecy was accomplished
that Christ should be born, not at Nazareth but at Bethlehem, and
especially that Isaiah's prophecy, "Behold, a virgin shall be with
child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name
Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, GOD with us,"[073] was fulfilled
in the birth of Jesus Christ. Luke, who is termed by Paul "the beloved
physician," gives the fullest account of the Nativity. His writings are
characterised by minuteness of detail and historical accuracy. Recent
investigations have shown that, even in regard to matters about which he
was long thought to have been mistaken, Luke's statements are strictly
correct.[074]

The story of the miraculous conception would not, without the strongest
corroborative evidence, have commended itself to a man of his acumen
and his calling. A physician by profession, the companion of Apostles,
and possessing singular penetration and sagacity, he tells us that he
had received the facts he narrates from eye witnesses and competent
authorities. For information as to the events connected with the birth