Luke 2:1-2 NIV

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Luke 2:2

This was the first enrollment made when Quirinius was governor of Syria.The second census under Quirinius was in 6 A.D. (Acts 5:37); and the words "the first" in this passage refer to the census fourteen years earlier in 8 B.C., but which was delayed in Palestine until the time coinciding with the birth of Christ in 6 B.C. Quirinius was twice governor and presided over both. Robertson said:Luke is now shown to be wholly correct in his statement that Quirinius was twice governor, and that the... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Luke 2:1

Luke 2:1. And it came to pass, &c.— At that time an edict was published by Caesar Augustus, that all the provinces of the Roman empire should be registered or enrolled,—as in the margin of our English version. Heylin. This was the enrolment of the census, first practised by Servius Tullus, the sixth king of Rome, who ordained, that the Roman people, at certain seasons, should upon oath give an account of their names, qualities, employments, wives, children, servants, estates, and places of... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Luke 2:2

Luke 2:2. And this taxing, &c.— Dr. Lardner translates this verse, This was the first enrolment of Cyrenius, governor of Syria; which is also favoured by the Vulgate. Dr. Lardner supposes, that Cyrenius came, in the latter end of Herod's reign, to tax Judea by order of Augustus; and that it is called Cyrenius's first enrolment to distinguish it from that which he made after Archelaus was banished; and on the supposition of two enrolments made by Cyrenius, the distinction was proper, the... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Luke 2:1

1. Cæsar Augustus—the first of the Roman emperors. all the world—so the vast Roman Empire was termed. taxed—enrolled, or register themselves. read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Luke 2:2

2. first . . . when Cyrenius, c.—a very perplexing verse, inasmuch as Cyrenius, or Quirinus, appears not to have been governor of Syria for about ten years after the birth of Christ, and the "taxing" under his administration was what led to the insurrection mentioned in :-. That there was a taxing, however, of the whole Roman Empire under Augustus, is now admitted by all and candid critics, even of skeptical tendency, are ready to allow that there is not likely to be any real inaccuracy in the... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Luke 2:1-3

"Those days" refer to the time of John’s birth (Luke 1:57-79). Augustus was Caesar from 44 B.C. to A.D. 14. [Note: Harold W. Hoehner, Chronological Aspects of the Life of Christ, p. 12.] The purpose of a Roman census was to provide statistical data so the government could levy taxes. [Note: Ibid., p. 13.] "All the inhabited earth" (NASB) means throughout "the entire Roman world" (NIV) or empire. This was evidently the first census taken of the whole Roman provincial system, though it was not... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Luke 2:1-7

1. The setting of Jesus’ birth 2:1-7In narrating John’s birth, Luke stressed his naming, but in his account of Jesus’ birth, he concentrated on its setting.Luke’s brief account of Jesus’ birth emphasizes three things. He described the political situation to explain why Jesus was born in Bethlehem. This set Jesus’ birth in a context of world history and anticipated His cosmic significance. Second, Luke connected Bethlehem with David to show that Jesus qualified as the Messiah. Finally, he... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Luke 2:1-52

D. The birth and early life of Jesus ch. 2Luke followed the same pattern of events with Jesus’ birth and early life as he did for those of John. His purpose was to compare and contrast these two important individuals. read more

John Darby

Darby's Synopsis of the New Testament - Luke 2:1

2:1 census (e-19) As 'registered,' Hebrews 12:23 . read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 2:1-52

Birth and Childhood of Jesus1-5. The census of Quirinius. There are two historical difficulties in connexion with St. Luke’s mention of the census of Quirinius: (1) There is no direct evidence, except St. Luke’s statement, that Augustus (31 b.c.-14 a.d.) ever held a census of the whole Roman empire. (2) Quirinius was not governor of Syria at the time of our Lord’s birth (about 7 or 6 b.c.), but either Sentius Saturninus (9-6 b.c.), or Quinctilius Varus (6-4 b.c.).As to (1), the absence of... read more

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Luke 2:2

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Luke 2:1

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Luke 2:2

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Luke 2:1

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Luke 2:2

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Luke 2:1-3

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Luke 2:1-7

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Luke 2:1-52

Darby's Synopsis of the New Testament - Luke 2:1

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 2:1-52

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