Luke 2:6 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth.

NIV: While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born,

NASB: While they were there, the time came for her to give birth.

CSB: While they were there, the time came for her to give birth.

NLT: And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born.

KJV: And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.

NKJV: So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered.

Mary and Joseph (Luke 1:26–27) arrived in Joseph's ancestral hometown of Bethlehem (Luke 2:4). They came in obedience to a government order (Luke 2:1–3) while Mary is very near to giving birth. Despite the unusual circumstances, it's likely Joseph, Mary, and their families thought it best for her to be with Joseph to deliver, even though this was not his child (Luke 1:30–35).

That Jesus' birth occurs in Bethlehem is also a fulfillment of a prophecy about Messiah (Micah 5:2). Later, Jesus' critics will misunderstand that He grew up in Nazareth but wasn't born there (John 7:42).

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 5/8/2024 4:15:37 PM