1
At that time, Augustus Caesar sent an order that all people in the countries under Roman rule must list their names in a register.
2
This was the first registration; it was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria.
3
And all went to their own towns to be registered.
4
So Joseph left Nazareth, a town in Galilee, and went to the town of Bethlehem in Judea, known as the town of David. Joseph went there because he was from the family of David.
5
Joseph registered with Mary, to whom he was engagedn and who was now pregnant.
6
While they were in Bethlehem, the time came for Mary to have the baby,
7
and she gave birth to her first son. Because there were no rooms left in the inn, she wrapped the baby with pieces of cloth and laid him in a box where animals are fed.
8
That night, some shepherds were in the fields nearby watching their sheep.
9
Then an angel of the Lord stood before them. The glory of the Lord was shining around them, and they became very frightened.