1 At that time the Emperor Augustus ordered a census to be taken throughout the Roman Empire.
2 When this first census took place, Quirinius was the governor of Syria.
3 Everyone, then, went to register himself, each to his own town.
4 Joseph went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to the town of Bethlehem in Judea, the birthplace of King David. Joseph went there because he was a descendant of David.
5 He went to register with Mary, who was promised in marriage to him. She was pregnant,
6 and while they were in Bethlehem, the time came for her to have her baby.
7 She gave birth to her first son, wrapped him in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger — there was no room for them to stay in the inn.