* **Now** - This word shows that the author is introducing another subject.
* **it came about that** - This phrase is used to show that this is the beginning of an account. If your language has a way of showing the start of an account, you may use that. Some versions do not include this phrase.
* **Caesar Augustus** - "King Augustus" or "Emperor Augustus." Augustus was the first emperor of the Roman Empire. (See: [[en:ta:vol1:translate:translate_names]])
* **sent out a decree ordering** - A decree is an order or command. This could be translated as "decreed" or "ordered" or "gave the command."
* **that a census be taken of all the people living in the Roman world ** - This could be translated as "that they register all the people living in the Roman world" or "that they count all the people in the Roman world and write down their names."
* **the Roman world** - This could be translated as "the part of the world controlled by the Roman government" or "the countries ruled by the Roman emperor" or "the Roman empire."
* **Quirinius** - Quirinius was appointed to be the governor of Syria. (See: [[en:ta:vol1:translate:translate_names]])