InthosedaysCaesarAugustusissuedadecreethatacensusshouldbetakenof
theentireRomanworld.
(ThiswasthefirstcensusthattookplacewhileQuiriniuswasgovernorofSyria.)
Andeveryonewenttohisowntowntoregister.
SoJosephalsowentupfromthetownofNazarethinGalileetoJudea,toBethlehem
thetownofDavid,becausehebelongedtothehouseandlineofDavid.
HewenttheretoregisterwithMary,whowaspledgedtobemarriedtohimandwas
expectingachild.
Whiletheywerethere,thetimecameforthebabytobeborn,
andshegavebirthtoherfirstborn,ason.Shewrappedhiminclothsandplacedhiminamanger,becausetherewasnoroomforthemintheinn.
Andtherewereshepherdslivingoutinthefieldsnearby,keepingwatchover
theirflocksatnight.
AnangeloftheLordappearedtothem,andthegloryoftheLordshonearound
them,andtheywereterrified.
Buttheangelsaidtothem,"Donotbeafraid.Ibringyougoodnewsofgreatjoy
thatwillbeforallthepeople.
TodayinthetownofDavidaSaviorhasbeenborntoyou;heisChristtheLord.
Thiswillbeasigntoyou:Youwillfindababywrappedinclothsandlyinginamanger."
Suddenlyagreatcompanyoftheheavenlyhostappearedwiththeangel,praisingGodandsaying,
"GlorytoGodinthehighest,andonearthpeacetomenonwhomhisfavorrests."
Whentheangelshadleftthemandgoneintoheaven,theshepherdssaidtooneanother,"Let’sgotoBethlehemandseethisthingthathashappened,whichtheLordhastoldusabout."
SotheyhurriedoffandfoundMaryandJoseph,andthebaby,whowaslyinginthe
manger.
Whentheyhadseenhim,theyspreadthewordconcerningwhathadbeentoldthem
aboutthischild,
andallwhohearditwereamazedatwhattheshepherdssaidtothem.
ButMarytreasuredupallthesethingsandponderedtheminherheart.
Theshepherdsreturned,glorifyingandpraisingGodforallthethingstheyhadheard
andseen,whichwerejustastheyhadbeentold.
