Luke 2:1 - Printer Friendly

ESV: In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered.

NIV: In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world.

NASB: Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth.

CSB: In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that the whole empire should be registered.

NLT: At that time the Roman emperor, Augustus, decreed that a census should be taken throughout the Roman Empire.

KJV: And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.

NKJV: And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered.

As part of his "orderly account," Luke establishes a timeframe for the events of Jesus' birth. He ties this to the general time of the birth of John the Baptist (Luke 1:57). This begins by referring to Augustus, the Roman Emperor from 27 BC to AD 14. The order is a census: a counting of people. As in modern times, this was used for taxes, military conscription, and other government purposes. This verse uses the common metaphorical sense of "the earth," in this case meaning the entire Roman Empire.

The following verse will refer to Quirinius, governing Syria, leading to some questions about the best interpretation of Luke's Greek phrasing.

Readers of Scripture should keep in mind that the BC / AD dating system is not directly taken from the Bible. Although it is based on the birth of Christ, the year "AD 1" was originally placed using inaccurate information. Most likely, Jesus was born several years prior to then. Ironically, that would mean Jesus was born in a year secular calendars label as "before Christ."

Luke 2:1–7 gives a brief explanation of Jesus' unusual birth. Some traditional details of this event are just that: traditional, and not necessarily given in Scripture itself. Luke establishes a historical timeframe, when Joseph and Mary travel to Bethlehem to participate in a taxed census. Due to the number of travelers, lodgings are crowded. Mary gives birth and lays Jesus in an animal's feeding trough.

The early part of this chapter is famously read at Christmas, while celebrating the birth of Jesus. Luke gives a relatively brief description of how Mary came to give birth in a stable, laying Jesus in a feeding trough. Nearby shepherds are informed of the news by multiple angels. Two people speak in praise of God at Jesus' circumcision. Years later, Joseph and Mary lose track of Jesus on the way back from Jerusalem, only to find Him astounding teachers in the temple with His wisdom.

Luke began his well-organized account by explaining the conceptions of Jesus Christ and John the Baptist, in chapter 1. In chapter 2, he briefly summarizes Jesus' birth and the arrival of shepherds directed by angels. Prophecies and prayers celebrate His dedication at the temple. After briefly losing track of a twelve-year-old Jesus in the temple, Jesus' parents take Him home to Nazareth. There, He grows up relatively normally. Chapter 3 leaps forward many years to the beginning of John the Baptist's preaching. This is followed by Jesus' genealogy. Chapter 4 relates Jesus' temptations by Satan and the start of His public ministry.

Luke was a traveling companion of Paul (Acts 16:10) and a physician (Colossians 4:14). Unlike Matthew, Mark, and John, Luke writes his gospel as an historian, rather than as a first-hand eyewitness. His extensive writings also include the book of Acts (Acts 1:1–3). These are deliberately organized, carefully researched accounts of those events. The gospel of Luke focuses on the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ. Luke's Gentile perspective presents Christ as a Savior for all people, offering both forgiveness and direction to those who follow Him.

Accessed 5/2/2024 12:41:50 AM