Paragraph 1:24–25

In this paragraph, the story of Mary and Joseph resumes. It explains what Joseph did after the dream he had in 1:20–21.

1:24b

he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him: The clause as the angel of the Lord had commanded him means that Joseph did what the angel told him to do in 1:20c–21. He married Mary. Matthew states this clearly in 1:24c.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

he did what the angel of the Lord told/ordered him to do
-or-
he did that which the angel of the Lord said he must do

1:24c

and embraced Mary as his wife: This clause refers to Joseph marrying Mary and beginning married life together.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

Joseph took Mary as his wife (New Century Version)

-or-

he married Mary (Good News Translation)

A similar expression is in 1:20. You should translate these two passages in a similar way.

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