Judea · Town

Bethlehem

Editorial summary

Both Matthew and Luke place the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem of Judea, called David’s city.

What happened here

The wise men find the child
Led by the star, the wise men found the young child with Mary in a house, worshiped him and offered gold, frankincense and myrrh. Warned in a dream, they went home another way.
Matthew says Herod sent the wise men to Bethlehem, where the star stopped over the place where the child was.
Birth of Jesus · Stop 7
Herod’s order
Angry that the wise men had not returned, Herod ordered the killing of all the boys two years old and under in Bethlehem and the surrounding countryside.
Birth of Jesus · Stop 9
Birth in Bethlehem
An enrollment ordered by Caesar Augustus brought Joseph and Mary from Nazareth to Bethlehem, David’s city. There Mary gave birth to her firstborn son and laid him in a feeding trough, because there was no room in the inn.
Birth of Jesus · Stop 2
Shepherds hear the news
An angel announced the birth to shepherds keeping watch over their flock at night. They hurried to Bethlehem and found Mary, Joseph and the baby lying in the feeding trough.
Luke places the shepherds in the fields of the same countryside; the fields are not further identified.
Birth of Jesus · Stop 2