1In those days Caesar
Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman
world. 2(This was the first census that took place while
Quirinius was governor of Syria.)3And everyone went to his own town
to register.
4So Joseph also went
up from the town of Nazareth in Galileeto Judea,
to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and
line of David. 5He went there to register with Mary, who was
pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6While
they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7and
she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed
him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
8And there were
shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at
night. 9An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of
the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10But the
angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that
will be for all the people. 11Today in the town
of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the
Lord. 12This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby
wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
13Suddenly a great
company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in the
highest,
and on
earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.”
15When the angels had
left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go
to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has
told us about.”
16So they hurried off
and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17When
they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them
about this child, 18and all who heard it were amazed at what
the shepherds said to them. 19But Mary treasured up all these
things and pondered them in her heart. 20The shepherds
returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and
seen, which were just as they had been told. Luke chapter 2
Merry Christmas Everyone!