1
At that time the Roman emperor, Augustus, decreed that a census should be taken throughout the Roman Empire.
2
(This was the first census taken when Quirinius was governor of Syria.)
3
All returned to their own ancestral towns to register for this census.
4
And because Joseph was a descendant of King David, he had to go to Bethlehem in Judea, David’s ancient home. He traveled there from the village of Nazareth in Galilee.
5
He took with him Mary, his fiancée, who was now obviously pregnant.
6
And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born.
7
She gave birth to her first child, a son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them.
8
That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep.
9
Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified,