Why were Mary and Joesph in Bethlehem at the time of Jesus's birth?
Wasn't there a census for Tax purposes?
Thank you, that is what I was looking for.
Bob Pursley is right. This is in Luke: http://bibleresources.bible.com/passagesearchresults.php?passage1=Luke+2&version=45
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Yes, you are correct. Mary and Joseph were in Bethlehem at the time of Jesus's birth because there was a census that required people to return to their ancestral homes for registration and taxation purposes. This census was ordered by the Roman Emperor, Caesar Augustus, and it required everyone to be counted and taxed in their place of ancestral origin.
To find this information, you can refer to the Gospel of Luke in the Bible. In Luke 2, it explains that "In those days, Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. And everyone went to their own town to register" (Luke 2:1-3). Mary and Joseph were both descendants of King David, so Joseph had to go to Bethlehem, the town of David, to register for the census.
You can also find more details about this event by reading Luke 2:1-7. It describes how Mary and Joseph had to travel to Bethlehem, where Jesus was born in a stable because there was no room for them in the inn.