Luke 2:1-2 NIV

The Pulpit Commentary - Luke 2:1-20

The Savior's birth and type angel's sermon. We now pass from the person of the forerunner to that of his greater Successor. The priest's son was great, but the Virgin's Son was greater. John was a great gift to the world, as every true reformer must be; but a Savior is God's supreme Gift to the children of men. Now, in this narrative before us we learn— I. HOW THE WILL OF EVEN HEATHEN MONARCHS IS MADE TO FULFIL THE WILL OF GOD . The Divine will, expressed... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Luke 2:2

(And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) Hostile criticism makes a still more direct attack upon the historical statement made by St. Luke here. Quirinius, it is well known, was governor (legatus or praeses) of Syria ten years later , and during his office a census or registration—with a view to taxation—which led to a popular disturbance, was made in his province. These critics say that St. Luke mentions, as taking place before the birth of Jesus, an event... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Luke 2:1

In those days - About the time of the birth of John and of Christ.A decree - A law commanding a thing to be done.Caesar Augustus - This was the Roman emperor. His first name was Octavianus. He was the nephew of Julius Caesar, and obtained the empire after his death. He took the name “Augustus - i. e., august,” or honorable - as a compliment to his own greatness; and from him the month “August,” which was before called “Sextilis,” received its name.That all the world - There has been much... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Luke 2:2

And this taxing was first made ... - This verse has given as much perplexity, perhaps, as any one in the New Testament. The difficulty consists in the fact that “Cyrenius,” or “Quirinius,” was not governor of Syria until 12 or 15 years after the birth of Jesus. Jesus was born during the reign of Herod. At that time “Varus” was president of Syria. Herod was succeeded by “Archelaus,” who reigned eight or nine years; and after he was removed, Judea was annexed to the province of Syria, and... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Luke 2:1

Luke 2:1. And it came to pass in those days That is, about the time in which John the Baptist was born, and Christ conceived, in the manner related in the preceding chapter; there went out a decree from Cesar Augustus, the Roman emperor, that all the world should be taxed the word οικουμενη , here rendered world, “means strictly the inhabited part of the earth, and therefore, πασα η οικουμενη , all the world, in the common acceptation of the phrase. But it is well known that this... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Luke 2:2

Luke 2:2. And this taxing (rather this enrolling) was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria According to the Jewish historian, Josephus, Cyrenius was not governor of Syria till ten or twelve years after our Saviour’s birth, after Archelaus was deposed, and the country brought under a Roman procurator; yet, according to our translation of Luke here, he was governor before the death of Herod, the father and predecessor of Archelaus, and in the same year when Christ was born. Now... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Luke 2:1-20

8. Shepherds visit the stable (Luke 2:1-20)Joseph and Mary lived in Nazareth in the north of Palestine (see Luke 1:26-27), but the town to which they belonged according to their ancestry was Bethlehem, the birthplace of their forefather David. When the government issued an order that all people were to return to their ancestral town for a census (probably for taxation purposes), Joseph and Mary made the journey to Bethlehem. The town was so overcrowded with travellers returning for the census... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Luke 2:1

it came to pass in those days. The seventh and last occurrence of this ominous phrase. See note on Genesis 14:1 . it came to pass. A Hebraism, frequent in Luke. Compare Luke 1:8 . in. Greek. en. App-104 . a decree = an edict, from. Greek. para. App-104 . all . Figure of speech Synecdoche (of the whole) for a part of the whole; i.e. the Roman Empire. world. Greek. oikoumene. See App-129 . Compare Acts 11:28 . taxed = enrolled, or registered. read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Luke 2:2

this taxing was first made = this was the first registration to be made. A second is recorded in Acts 5:37 . Cyrenius. Greek for the Latin Quirinus. His full name was Publius Sulpicius Quirinus. read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Luke 2:1

This chapter details the birth of Christ (Luke 2:1-7), the annunciation to the shepherds (Luke 2:8-20), ceremonies of the law of Moses observed on behalf of Jesus (Luke 2:21-24), the prophecy of Simeon (Luke 2:25-35), the thanksgiving of Anna (Luke 2:36-39), episode when Jesus was twelve years old (Luke 2:40-51), and a one-sentence summary of some eighteen years of Jesus' life (Luke 2:52).Now it came to pass in those days, there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should... read more