21-2 There was a world-wide census in the days of Caesar Augustus, while Cyrenius was governor of Syria. 3 Everyone had to go to their home city.
4 So Joseph and Mary traveled from Nazareth in Galilee to Bethlehem in Judea since he was descended from David.
5 Mary was pregnant at the time and gave birth to her firstborn son while they were in Bethlehem.
7 She wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger, since there was no room at the inn.
The shepherds (that's what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown)
8-9 An angel appeared to nearby shepherds, saying,
10-12 Don't be afraid. I have good news for you. A baby was born today in Bethlehem, who is Christ the Lord. You'll find him wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
13 Suddenly a large group of heavenly beings appeared and said,
14 Glory to God in the highest, peace on earth, good will toward men
15-16 The shepherds went to Bethlehem and saw Mary, Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger.
The Circumcision of Jesus
21 When Jesus was eight days old, he was circumcised and named Jesus.
The presentation in the temple
22 When Mary's days of purification were over, they brought Jesus to Jerusalem to present him to God. 24 They sacrificed two doves, according to God's law.
The Canticle of Simeon (The Nunc Dimittis)
25 There was a just man in Jerusalem named Simeon. The Holy Ghost was upon him.
26 The Holy Ghost told him he wouldn't die before seeing God's Christ.
27 When he saw Jesus in the temple, he took him in his arms and said,
29-30 Now you can let me die in peace, because I've seen your salvation.
32 A light to the Gentiles, and glory to your people in Israel.
34-35 Simeon said to Mary, "A sword will pierce your soul."
39-40 When they finished doing these things, they returned to their home in Nazareth, where Jesus grew up.
I baptize you with water, but someone's coming who's mightier than I, whose shoes I'm not worthy to untie, who'll baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire.
17 He'll gather the wheat and burn the chaff with a fire that will burn forever.
19-20 But Herod imprisoned John for criticizing him for marrying his brother Philip's wife.
The baptism of Jesus
21 When Jesus was baptized, heaven opened, the Holy Ghost came down on him in the form of a dove, and a voice cried out which said, “You are my beloved son. I'm well pleased with you.”
The genealogy of Jesus Joseph
23 Jesus was about thirty years old when he was baptized. He was (supposed to be) the son of Joseph, who was the son of Heli. …
38 who was the son of Adam, who was the son of God.
A few more words about this episode
There was a world-wide census in the days of Caesar Augustus. (2:1)
There was no world-wide census while Gaius Octavius (or Caesar Augustus) was the Roman emperor, nor was there one at any other time in the Roman Empire.
While Cyrenius was governor of Syria. (2:1)
Quirinius became the military governor of Syria in 6 CE. Since Jesus was supposedly born during the reign of Herod the Great (Lk 1:5, Mt 2:1), and Herod died in 4 BCE, Jesus must have been born before 4 BCE and after 6 CE, which would would make not only miraculous but impossible.
Everyone had to go to their home city. (2:3)
Everyone in the Roman Empire had to return to the place their ancestors lived 1000 years before they were born. Must have been hard ro manage.
Joseph and Mary traveled from Nazareth in Galilee to Bethlehem (2:4)
Bethlehem is about 150 kilometers north of Bethlehem. So the trip would have taken them at least four days.
Since Mary had a baby boy, she would be unclean for seven days. On the eighth day, Jesus would be circumcised. Then Mary would be unclean for another thirty days (Leviticus 12:2-4)
