§ 23. Sketch of the different canonical and apocryphal accounts 119 24. Disagreements of the canonical gospels in relation to the form of the annunciation 121 25. Import of the angel’s message. Fulfilment of the prophecy of Isaiah 126 26. Jesus begotten of the Holy Ghost. Criticism of the orthodox opinion 130 27. Retrospect of the genealogies 132 28. Natural explanation of the history of the conception 137 29. History of the conception of Jesus viewed as a mythus 140 30. Relation of Joseph to Mary. Brothers of Jesus 143 31. Visit of Mary to Elizabeth 148 CHAPTER IV. BIRTH AND EARLIEST EVENTS OF THE LIFE OF JESUS. § 32. The census 152 33. Particular circumstances of the birth of Jesus. The circumcision 156 34. The Magi and their star. The flight into Egypt, and the murder of the children in Bethlehem. Criticism of the supranaturalistic view 162 35. Attempts at a natural explanation of the history of the Magi. Transition to the mythical explanation 169 36. The purely mythical explanation of the narrative concerning the Magi, and of the events with which it is connected 173 37. Chronological relation between the visit of the Magi, together with the flight into Egypt, and the presentation in the temple recorded by Luke 178 38. The presentation of Jesus in the temple 181 39. Retrospect. Difference between Matthew and Luke as to the original residence of the parents of Jesus 184 CHAPTER V. THE FIRST VISIT TO THE TEMPLE, AND THE EDUCATION OF JESUS. § 40. Jesus, when twelve years old, in the temple 191 41. This narrative also mythical 196 42. On the external life of Jesus up to the time of his public appearance 198 43. The intellectual development of Jesus 201 SECOND PART. HISTORY OF THE PUBLIC LIFE OF JESUS. CHAPTER I. RELATIONS BETWEEN JESUS AND JOHN THE BAPTIST.