Jesus Is Born
1 In those days, Caesar Augustus made a law. It required that a list be made of everyone in the whole Roman world.
2
It was the first time a list was made of the people while Quirinius was governor of Syria.
3
All went to their own towns to be listed.
4
So Joseph went also. He went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea. That is where Bethlehem, the town of David, was. Joseph went there because he belonged to the family line of David.
5
He went there with Mary to be listed. Mary was engaged to him. She was expecting a baby.
6
While Joseph and Mary were there, the time came for the child to be born.
7
She gave birth to her first baby. It was a boy. She wrapped him in large strips of cloth. Then she placed him in a manger. There was no room for them in the inn.
Angels Appear to the Shepherds
8 There were shepherds living out in the fields nearby. It was night, and they were looking after their sheep.