Caesar Agustus decreed that all the world should be taxed. All went to be taxed into his own city. Joseph went into Judaea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem because Joseph was of the house and the lineage of David.
Joseph took his espoused wife, Mary, with him to be taxed. Mary was close to the time she was due to give birth to the baby Jesus. And while they were in Bethlehem she gave birth to her firstborn son.Mary wrapped her newborn son in narrow strips of cloth to soothe him. She laid him in a manger because there was no room for them in the Inn.
Near Bethlehem there were shepherds watching over their sheep. An angel of the Lord came to them and said, "Fear not, for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people, For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger."
Suddenly there appeared with the angel many heavenly host praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the Highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men." After the angels left, the shepherds decided to go to Bethlehem to see this thing which the Lord had made known to them. The shepherds found Mary, Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. After they had seen them they told many people what the angel of the Lord had told them about the child. And all they that heard wondered about what the shepherds had told them.
Mary remembered all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they saw that was just like the angel had told them.
From Luke 2: 1-20
