There was no census when Jesus was born

[Angrboda]

@GC:

I have something to add on the star of Bethlehem, but it's been a long time since I read the literature which prompted it, so I cannot properly source my theory, and it is just that, a personal theory.

The word magi in the bible actually refers to a certain class of court diviners in the regions/countries northeast of Bethlehem (in the direction of Akkadia, Babylon, etc, but I forget the specifics). The reason the magi enter into the story is that these magi in real life used astrology as their primary means of divination and prophecy. Their predictions were predicated on the stars. Thus, I think — and granted it's something of a stretch — that the mention of "magi" being led to the baby Jesus by "a star" is a subtle suggestion that even the prophesies of the heathen diviners to the east are led to the baby Jesus by their very own magics. Sort of a "hoist on their own petard" reference for anyone of the time, familiar with the practices of the magi, and another example of Christ fulfilling prophecy, only this time the prophecy of foreign pagans. (And note that the account of the Magi occurs only in Matthew, a gospel well known for its extensive references to prophesy fulfillment, more so than any other gospel.)