Probably December 25, ^a 749 A.U.C., or 5 B.C., to  761 A.C.U., or 8 B.C.

Lk 2:51, 52

¹Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod ^b the king, behold, wise men[1] from the east came to Jerusalem, saying,

[1]2:1 The word for “wise men” (magoi) can also mean teachers, scientists, physicians, astrologers, seers, interpreters of dreams, or sorcerers.

¹Now it happened in those days, that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus ^c  that all the world should be enrolled. ²This was the first enrollment made when Quirinius was governor of Syria. ^{d  3}All went to enroll themselves, everyone to his own city. ⁴Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David; ⁵to enroll himself with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him as wife, being pregnant.

⁶It happened, while they were there, that the day had come that she should give birth. ⁷She brought forth her firstborn son, and she wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a feeding trough, because there was no room for them in the inn.

⁸There were shepherds in the same country staying in the field, and keeping watch by night over their flock. ^{e 9}Behold, an angel of the Lord stood by them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. ¹⁰The angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be to all the people. ¹¹For there is born to you, this day, in the city of David, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. ¹²This is the sign to you: you will find a baby wrapped in strips of cloth, lying in a feeding trough.” ¹³Suddenly, there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly army praising God, and saying,

¹⁵It happened, when the angels went away from them into the sky, that the shepherds said one to another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem, now, and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” ¹⁶They came with haste, and found both Mary and Joseph, and the baby was lying in the feeding trough. ¹⁷When they saw it, they publicized widely the saying which was spoken to them about this child. ¹⁸All who heard it wondered at the things which were spoken to them by the shepherds. ¹⁹But Mary kept all these sayings, pondering them in her heart. ²⁰The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, just as it was told them.

²¹When eight days were fulfilled for the circumcision of the child, his name was called Jesus, which was given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

²²When the days of their purification according to the law of Moses were fulfilled, they brought him up to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord ²³(as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every male who opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”),[1] ²⁴and to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, “A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.”[2]

²⁵Behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. This man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. ²⁶It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.[3] ²⁷He came in the Spirit into the temple. When the parents brought in the child, Jesus, that they might do concerning him according to the custom of the law, ²⁸then he received him into his arms, and blessed God, and said,

³³Joseph and his mother were marveling at the things which were spoken concerning him, ³⁴and Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary, his mother, “Behold, this child is set for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which is spoken against. ³⁵Yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul, that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”

³⁶There was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher (she was of a great age, having lived with a husband seven years from her virginity, ³⁷and she had been a widow for about eighty-four years), who didn’t depart from the temple, worshipping with fastings and petitions night and day. ³⁸Coming up at that very hour, she gave thanks to the Lord, and spoke of him to all those who were looking for redemption in Jerusalem.

[1]2:23 Exodus 13:2,12

[2]2:24 Leviticus 12:8

[3]2:26 “Christ” (Greek) and “Messiah” (Hebrew) both mean “Anointed One”

 ¹Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men[1] from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, ²“Where is he who is born King of the Jews? For we saw his star ^g in the east, and have come to worship him.” ³When Herod the king heard it, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. ⁴Gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he asked them where the Christ would be born. ⁵They said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written through the prophet,

⁷Then Herod secretly called the wise men, and learned from them exactly what time the star appeared. ⁸He sent them to Bethlehem, and said, “Go and search diligently for the young child. When you have found him, bring me word, so that I also may come and worship him.”

⁹They, having heard the king, went their way; and behold, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, until it came and stood over where the young child was. ¹⁰When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. ¹¹They came into the house and saw the young child with Mary, his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Opening their treasures, they offered to him gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. ¹²Being warned in a dream that they shouldn’t return to Herod, they went back to their own country another way.

[1]2:1 The word for “wise men” (magoi) can also mean teachers, scientists, physicians, astrologers, seers, interpreters of dreams, or sorcerers.

[2]2:6 Micah 5:2

¹³Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, “Arise and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and stay there until I tell you, for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.”

¹⁴He arose and took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt, ¹⁵and was there until the death of Herod; that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, “Out of Egypt I called my son.”[1]

¹⁶Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked by the wise men, was exceedingly angry, and sent out, and killed all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all the surrounding countryside, from two years old and under, according to the exact time which he had learned from the wise men. ¹⁷Then that which was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled, saying,

[1]2:15 Hosea 11:1

[2]2:18 Jeremiah 31:15

¹⁹But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying, ²⁰“Arise and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel, for those who sought the young child’s life are dead.”

²¹He arose and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel. ²²But when he heard that Archelaus ⁱ  was reigning over Judea in the place of his father, Herod, he was afraid to go there. Being warned in a dream, he withdrew into the region of Galilee, ²³and came and lived in a city called Nazareth; that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through the prophets: “He will be called a Nazarene.”

    ³⁹When they had accomplished all things that were according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city, Nazareth. ⁴⁰The child was growing, and was becoming strong in spirit, being filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon him.

⁴¹His parents went every year to Jerusalem at the feast of the Passover.

⁴²When he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem according to the custom of the feast, ⁴³and when they had fulfilled the days, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. Joseph and his mother didn’t know it, ⁴⁴but supposing him to be in the company, they went a day’s journey, and they looked for him among their relatives and acquaintances. ⁴⁵When they didn’t find him, they returned to Jerusalem, looking for him. ⁴⁶It happened after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them, and asking them questions. ⁴⁷All who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. ⁴⁸When they saw him, they were astonished, and his mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us this way? Behold, your father and I were anxiously looking for you.”

⁴⁹He said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Didn’t you know that I must be in my Father’s house?” ⁵⁰They didn’t understand the saying which he spoke to them.

⁵¹And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth. He was subject to them, and his mother kept all these sayings in her heart. ⁵²And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.

a) Ever since Pope Julius I (336-352) the traditional date for Christmas in the Western Church.

b) 37-4 B.C.

c) 30 B. C. - 14 A. D. Augustus inaugurated the principle of systematic, periodic enrolments, to take place every fourteen years. The first enrolment was originally decreed for 8 B.C., but the actual carrying out of this decree in Judea seems to have been delayed on account of the peculiar local troubles under the rule of Herod.

d) Cyrenius or Quirinius was governor of Syria twice. 11-8 B.C. and 6-10 AD. The second term is referred to in Acts 5:37.

e) There were frequently dry seasons between December and February In Judea when the keeping of sheep in the open was possible. According to rabbinical references, Temple-herds, destined for Temple-sacrifices, lay out the year around.

f) We do not know who the Magi were or where they came from. At any rate, we do not consider them astrologers or soothsayers, nor do we hold that a delusion was used by Providence to lead them to the light. That would be ascribing to a pseudo-science a reality which it does not possess.

g) It seems best to admit the occurrence of a miracle, an astral phenomenon as a sign, and a revelation which betokened the birth of a Jewish Messiah King, Nothing is gained by way of an explanation based upon astrological superstition. There is no Scriptural evidence that a planetary conjunction or any other astronomical configuration ran be drawn upon to foretell anything. As to Balaam’s prophesy (Num. 24:17), this was not a prediction of a literal star, but a promise of the King. An Old Testament reference or prophecy would certainly have been mentioned by Matthew according to his usual practice.

h) Herod died ,a few days before the Passover 4 B.C. The time of the sojourn in Egypt was not probably of long duration.

i) 4 B.C. to 6 A.D. 

j) Luke passes from the presentation immediately to Nazareth. We must bear in mind the respective purpose of the two evangelistic accounts: of Luke (from the standpoint of Mary), to explain how Jesus, whose home was Nazareth, was born in Bethlehem, of Matthew. to show how it came about that Jesus, who was born in Bethlehem, lived in Nazareth.

k) April 8-14 in 8 AD.  

Bible References taken from:
The World English Bible (WEB) is a Public Domain (no copyright) Modern English translation of the Holy Bible, based on the American Standard Version of the Holy Bible first published in 1901, the Biblia Hebraica Stutgartensa Old Testament, and the Greek Majority Text New Testament.