Joseph of Nazareth was the earthly guardian of Jesus Christ and the husband of the Virgin Mary. A carpenter of Nazareth, he appears in the Gospel accounts of Jesus's infancy and early childhood as a just and faithful man, obedient to God's will. Though he plays no public role in Jesus's ministry, the Gospel accounts present him as the protector of the holy family, guiding them through the perils of the Nativity, the visit of the Magi, and the flight to Egypt. His death, which occurred before Jesus's public ministry, is not recorded in Scripture.