2 ¹ IN THOSE DAYS a decree was issued by the Emperor Augustus for a general registration throughout the Roman world. 2 ² This was the first registration of its kind; it took place when Quirinius was governor of Syria. 2 ³ For this purpose everyone made his way to his own town; 2 ⁴ (4-5) and so Joseph went up to Judaea from the town of Nazareth in Galilee, to be registered at the city of David, called Bethlehem, because he was of the house of David by descent; 2 ⁵ and with him went Mary who was betrothed to him. She was pregnant, 2 ⁶ and while they were there the time came for her child to be born, 2 ⁷ and she gave birth to a son, her first-born. She wrapped him round, and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them to lodge in the house.