Luke 2:1-7

Expanded Bible

The Birth of Jesus

2 At that time, Augustus Caesar sent an ·order [decree] that all people in the ·countries under Roman rule [empire; Roman world] must ·list their names in a register [register for taxation]. ² ·This was the first registration; it was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria [or This was the first census while Quirinius was governor of Syria; or This census occurred before 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 [^CBethlehem was David’s hometown]. Joseph went there because he was from the ·family [^Lhouse and family line] of David. ⁵ Joseph registered with Mary, to whom he was ·engaged [pledged to be married; see 1:27] 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. She wrapped the baby ·with pieces of cloth [in cloths; ^Tin swaddling clothes] and laid him in a ·feeding trough [^Tmanger], because there ·were no rooms [was no space/room] left in the ·inn [or guest room (of a private residence); or caravan shelter].