2.1 KiB
General Information:
This gives background to show why Mary and Joseph have to move at the time of Jesus' birth.
Now
This word marks the beginning of a new part of the story. (See: rc://en/ta/man/translate/writing-newevent)
it came about that
This phrase is used to show that this is the beginning of an account. If your language has a way of showing the start of an account, you may use that. Some versions do not include this phrase.
Caesar Augustus
"King Augustus" or "Emperor Augustus." Augustus was the first emperor of the Roman Empire. (See: rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-names and rc://en/ta/man/translate/writing-participants)
sent out a decree ordering
This command was probably carried by messengers throughout the empire. AT: "sent messengers with a decree ordering" (See: rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom)
that a census be taken of all the people living in the world
This can be stated in active form. AT: "that they register all the people living in the world" or "that they count all the people in the world and write down their names" (See: rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive)
the world
Here the word "world" represents only the part of the world that Caesar August ruled. AT: "the Empire" or "the Roman world" (See: rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-synecdoche)
Quirinius
Quirinius was appointed to be the governor of Syria. (See: rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-names)
everyone went
"everyone started off" or "everyone was going"
his own city
This refers to the cities where people's ancestors lived. People may have lived in a different city. AT: "the city in which his ancestors lived" (See: rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit)
to be registered for the census
"to have their names written in the register" or "to be included in the official count"