a carpenter named joseph and his wife mary, who is about to give birth, arrive in bethlehem for the census. not having found accommodation for the night, they take refuge in a stable, where the child, jesus, is born. the shepherds, who have followed the magi from the east, gather to worship him. however, herod, informed of the birth of a child-king, orders the centurion lucius to take his men to bethlehem and kill all the newborn male children.