The priests and elders of Jerusalem were not as ignorant concerning the birth of Christ as they pretended. The report of the angels' visit to the shepherds had been brought to Jerusalem, but the rabbis had treated it as unworthy of their notice. They themselves might have found Jesus, and might have been ready to lead the magi to His birthplace; but instead of this, the wise men came to call their attention to the birth of the Messiah. "Where is He that is born King of the Jews?" they said; "for we have seen His star in the East, and are come to worship Him."

Nu indbød Herodes vismændene til en privat sammenkomst. Et uvejr af vrede og frygt rasede i hans sjæl, men i det ydre bevarede han roen og modtog de fremmede med høflighed. Han spurgte, på hvilket tidspunkt stjernen havde vist sig, og foregav at hilse muligheden for Kristi fødsel med glæde. Han pålagde sine gæster: "Gå hen og forhør jer nøje om barnet; og når I har fundet det, så lad mig det vide, for at også jeg kan komme og tilbede det." Med disse ord sendte han dem af sted ad vejen til Betlehem.