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- History Magazine
- Feature
Biblical stories of Jesus' birth reveal intriguing clues about his times
In their differing accounts of the first Christmas, the Gospels of Matthew and Luke provide important historical details about where and when Jesus was born.
Sacred origins
With its shepherds and wise men, the Christmas story inspires wonder. Although many parts of the story of Jesus’ birth are historically unverifiable, certain pieces can be tied to the events sweeping the world at the time. One is the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, which is believed to house the site where Mary gave birth to Jesus. Tradition holds that the silver star in the niche marks the exact location.
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