Luke 2:3 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And all went to be registered, each to his own town.

NIV: And everyone went to their own town to register.

NASB: And all the people were on their way to register for the census, each to his own city.

CSB: So everyone went to be registered, each to his own town.

NLT: All returned to their own ancestral towns to register for this census.

KJV: And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.

NKJV: So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city.

This passage establishes a time frame for Jesus' birth, based on political events in the Roman Empire. Luke ties in two names. The first is Augustus, an emperor who ruled from 27 BC to 14 AD (Luke 2:1). The other is Quirinius, who governed Syria during part of that same period (Luke 2:2). The reference to Quirinius is less clear, so scholars are not in complete agreement on what dates Luke means in his second comment.

The driving event in this section is an order for the entire Roman Empire to be counted. To participate in this census, it seems, some people were required to arrive in their ancestral hometowns. In Joseph's case, this is Bethlehem (Luke 2:4). He takes along Mary, who is engaged to be his wife (Luke 1:26–27) and pregnant via the Holy Spirit (Luke 1:30–33; 2:5). This will provide further opportunity to fulfill prophecy (Micah 5:2).

As many people were travelling into the area, lodgings are crowded. This is why Mary, after giving birth to Jesus, will find herself using a feeding trough as a cradle (Luke 2:7).

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 5/5/2024 5:55:39 AM