Luke 2:1-20

Jesus Is Born
In those days, Caesar Augustus made a law. It required that a list be made of everyone in
the whole Roman world. It was the first time a list was made of the people while Quirinius
was governor of Syria. All went to their own towns to be listed.

So Joseph went also. He went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea. That is where
Bethlehem, the town of David, was. Joseph went there because he belonged to the family
line of David. He went there with Mary to be listed. Mary was engaged to him. She was
expecting a baby.

While Joseph and Mary were there, the time came for the child to be born. She gave birth to
her first baby. It was a boy. She wrapped him in large strips of cloth. Then she placed him in
a manger. There was no room for them in the inn.

Angels Appear to the Shepherds
There were shepherds living out in the fields nearby. It was night, and they were looking after
their sheep. An angel of the Lord appeared to them. And the glory of the Lord shone around
them. They were terrified.

But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy. It is for all
the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you. He is Christ the Lord.
Here is how you will know I am telling you the truth. You will find a baby wrapped in strips
of cloth and lying in a manger.”

Suddenly a large group of angels from heaven also appeared. They were praising God. They said,

The angels left and went into heaven. Then the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to
Bethlehem. Let’s see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph and the baby. The baby was lying in the manger.
After the shepherds had seen him, they told everyone. They reported what the angel had said
about this child. All who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.

But Mary kept all these things like a secret treasure in her heart. She thought about them
over and over.

The shepherds returned. They gave glory and praise to God. Everything they had seen and
heard was just as they had been told.

from the NIrV (New International Reader's Version)