Both Matthew and Luke say Jesus was born in Bethlehem, but only Luke explains that Joseph and heavily pregnant Mary had to travel there from Nazareth to be present for a census ordered by Herod.

In the Gospel of Luke, Mary and Joseph travel through the national territory, from Nazareth in Jewish Galilee to Bethlehem in Jewish Judea. In Matthew’s Gospel, the travel is international.

This means that Joseph has to go from Galilee south to Judea—from Nazareth to the root system of his family tree, Bethlehem—to register. Mary, in her very pregnant state, has to travel the rutted ...

In Luke, however, Mary and Joseph travel to Bethlehem as a family going about the business of life. The shepherds go to Bethlehem by dramatic, heavenly revelation.” * So, it is with great ...

According to the Gospel of Luke, Mary and Joseph travel to Bethlehem from Nazareth during Mary’s pregnancy in order to be enrolled in a census in Joseph’s ancestral home. The census had been ordered ...