According to Luke's Gospel, Augustus Caesar had ordered a census of all the Roman Empire, for the taxation of its people. If there was such an empire-wide census during the time of Augustus, historians would expect to find mention of it from various sources throughout the empire, but there is nothing known. The author of Matthew's Gospel apparently knew nothing of the census, and the Jewish historian, Josephus, says that the census conducted in the year 6 CE under the Syrian governor Quirinius, was the first Roman census in the eastern Mediterranean area. This census was taken more than ten years after the death of King Herod.
Before going to Bethlehem, Joseph was living in Nazareth, a town in Galilee. He was engaged to Mary, who was also from Nazareth. Their journey to Bethlehem was prompted by a census ordered by the Roman authorities, which required them to return to their ancestral town for registration.
Joseph and Mary traveled to Bethlehem because of a decree issued by Caesar Augustus that required everyone to return to their ancestral towns for a census. Since Joseph was of the lineage of David, he went to Bethlehem, the city of David, to register. Mary, who was pregnant, accompanied him on this journey. This trip ultimately led to the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem.
Bethlehem was crowded during Mary and Joseph's arrival due to a census ordered by the Roman Empire, which required people to return to their ancestral towns for registration. Many families traveled to Bethlehem to comply with this decree, leading to an influx of visitors. As a result, accommodations were scarce, contributing to the difficulties Mary and Joseph faced upon their arrival.
Mary and Joseph went to Bethlehem to register for taxes, as mandated by the Roman emperor Caesar Augustus. This journey fulfilled the prophecy that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem, as Jesus was born there.
To be taxed according to the commandment of Caesar Augustus, (Luke 2.1-5)
In Matthew's Gospel, Mary and Joseph were returning with Jesus from Egypt to their hometown of Bethlehem, when God warned Joseph in a dream to turn aside and travel to Nazareth instead. The reason for the warning was that one of Herod's sons had become king of Judea, including Bethlehem. Another son was king of Galilee, which included Nazareth, but for some reason Matthew did not see this as an issue. So, to Matthew, it was God who was responsible for the family making this fortunate move.
Jesus escaped to Egypt from Bethlehem, not Nazareth. King Herod, who wanted to kill him, ordered the massacre of all infant boys in Bethlehem, prompting Joseph and Mary to flee to Egypt with Jesus to keep him safe.
Luke 2:1-7 tells the story of the Birth of Christ in Bethlehem. Bethlehem was known as the City of David because it was the hometown of King David, Joseph's ancestor. Because Caesar Augustus had demanded a census, all men had to take their families to register in their ancestral cities (this was simply how they organized the information). While they were registering in the census at Bethlehem, Jesus was born in the city of his ancestor David, whose reign as king Jesus would fulfill.
Joseph and Mary traveled to Bethlehem , as it was told to go to their respective hometowns for the census.
She traveled there with her husband Joseph, whose family was from Bethlehem.
Mary traveled to Bethlehem by riding on a donkey with Joseph.
Caesar Octavian/Augustus ruled at the time of Jesus Christ of Nazareth's birth. Octavian's stepson was Tiberius Caesar, whom ruled at Jesus' death. Jesus was executed under the Authority of Pontius Pilate, Roman Governor of Judea. Caesar Augustus ordered a census to be taken throughout the Roman Empire. (Luke 2:1) This census, although abhorrent to the Jews, forced Joseph to leave Nazareth and take Mary to Bethlehem (House of Bread).