The birth-place of the Messiah had been indicated [Matt.

2.5, 6.] by the prophecy of Micah (v.

2, Bethlehem not the least among the princes of Judah).

There He was born, as the Romans might learn from the census taken by Cyrenius the first _procurator_ [Greek: [Luke 2.1, 2.] epitropou] _of Judaea_.
His life extended from Cyrenius to Pontius Pilate.

So, in consequence of this the first census in Judaea, Joseph went up from Nazareth where he dwelt to [Luke 2.4.] Bethlehem _whence he was_, as a member of the tribe of Judah.
The parents of Jesus could find no lodging in Bethlehem, so it [Luke 2.7.] came to pass that He was born _in a cave near the village_ and laid in a manger.