Gospel of Matthew Chapter 1 Vs. 20

 The Birth of Jesus Christ

Matthew 1:20 “But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.”

angel of the... Gabriel (Luke 1:26). Four such appearances to Joseph (Mat. 1:20, 1:24; 2:13, 2:19).

This is one of only a few such angelic visitations in the New Testament, most of which are associated with Christ’s birth (for others, see 28:2; Acts 5:19; 8:26; 10:3; 12:7-10; 27:23; Rev. 1:1).

in a dream... First of six dreams in the New Testament, all in Matthew (Mat. 1:20; 2:12, 2:13, 2:19, 2:22; 27:19).

As if to underscore the supernatural character of Christ’s advent, Matthew’s narrative of the event describes 5 such revelatory dreams: verses 20; 2:12, 13, 19, and 22. Here the angel told Joseph he was to take Mary into his own home.

Then in a dream (cf. Mat. 2:13, 2:19, 2:22), an angel told Joseph that Mary’s condition was not caused by a man, but through the Holy Spirit (Mat. 1:20; cf. Mat. 1:18). The Child Mary carried in her womb was a unique Child, for He would be a Son whom Joseph should name Jesus for He would save His people from their sins. These words must have brought to Joseph’s mind the promises of God to provide salvation through the New Covenant (Jer. 31:31-37). The unnamed angel also told Joseph that this was in keeping with God’s eternal plan, for the Prophet Isaiah had declared 700 years before that the virgin will be with Child (Mat. 1:23; Isa. 7:14).