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Mary Gives Birth In Bethlehem, Where She And Joseph Went Because of The Roman Census

Now it came about during those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus[a] that all the world should be registered[b]. This first[c] registration took place while Quirinius was being-governor of Syria. And they were all going to register-themselves[d] each one to his own city[e]. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem— because of his being from the house and family of David— so as to register himself with Mary, the one having been promised-in-marriage to him, being pregnant. And it came about during their being there that the days were fulfilled that she might give-birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son. And she wrapped Him in swaddling-cloths[f], and laid Him in a manger[g], because there was not a place for them in the inn.

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Footnotes

  1. Luke 2:1 This Roman emperor, also known as Octavian, ruled from 27 b.c to a.d. 14.
  2. Luke 2:1 Or, enrolled, listed on a census roll.
  3. Luke 2:2 Or, This was the first registration while. This was in about 4 b.c. A second, or a finishing of this first one, took place in a.d. 6, and is mentioned in Act 5:37.
  4. Luke 2:3 Or, be registered.
  5. Luke 2:3 This indicates Herod was conducting the census according to Jewish customs.
  6. Luke 2:7 That is, bands of cloth.
  7. Luke 2:7 That is, an animal feeding trough in a stall or stable, as in 13:15.

The Birth of Jesus

In those days Caesar Augustus(A) issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world.(B) (This was the first census that took place while[a] Quirinius was governor of Syria.)(C) And everyone went to their own town to register.

So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem(D) the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him(E) and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

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Footnotes

  1. Luke 2:2 Or This census took place before