Luke 2:1

Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 2:1-20

Luke 2:1-Proverbs : . The Birth of Jesus. Lk. only. In obedi ence to a decree of the Emperor Augustus, ordering a general census (the first, during the Syrian governor ship of Quirinius), every man went to his own city. Thus Joseph, being of Davidic lineage, journeys from Nazareth to Bethlehem, and with him Mary his betrothed (according to the Syr. Sin. “ his wife” ), though far advanced in pregnancy. At Bethlehem her son is born, in a stable, for Joseph had been unable to find a better... read more

Matthew Poole

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible - Luke 2:1-3

Octavius Caesar (called Augustus, for his prosperous achievements) was the first Roman emperor properly so called, (for Julius Caesar had but the title of perpetual dictator), in the forty-second year of whose reign Christ was born, (Josephus saith, in the one and thirtieth year, Antiq. cap. 10.), Herod the Great being at that time king of Judea, being so declared by the senate of Rome near forty years before. It was the custom of the Romans to take a particular account of the numbers and... read more

Joseph Exell

Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary - Luke 2:1-20

CRITICAL NOTESLuke 2:1. All the world.—I.e. the Roman world (orbis terrarum). Taxed.—Rather, “enrolled,” something like a modern census, but with a view to taxation.Luke 2:2. This was the first enrolment made when Quirinius was governor of Syria (R.V.).—As Quirinius was governor of Syria in A.D. 6, ten years later than this, and then carried out a census, some have supposed that St. Luke made a mistake in referring to him here. This can scarcely be, as St. Luke himself mentions this second... read more

William Nicoll

Sermon Bible Commentary - Luke 2:1-7

Luke 2:1-7 The Child and the Emperor. I. "It came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Cæsar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed." In the original meaning of these words, they express the fact that it is by the vast network, so to speak, of the Imperial Government at Rome, reaching to every corner of the Empire, that the humble family at Nazareth were drawn from their home in the Galilean hills to the birthplace, or city, of David at Bethlehem. But there are a... read more

C.I. Scofield

Scofield's Reference Notes - Luke 2:1

world (Greek - οἰκουμένη = "inhabited earth)." This passage is noteworthy as defining the usual N.T. use of oikoumene as the sphere of Roman rule at its greatest extent, that is, of the great Gentile world-monarchies Daniel 2:7. That part of the earth is therefore peculiarly the sphere of prophecy. read more

Chuck Smith

Chuck Smith Bible Commentary - Luke 2:1-52

Now it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. (And the taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syra.) And all went to be taxed, every one to his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, and unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, (because he was of the house and the lineage of David,) to be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, who at this point was... read more

Joseph Sutcliffe

Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments - Luke 2:1-52

Luke 2:1 . It came to pass in those days, when John was born, and when the Roman emperor, Augustus Cæsar, filled the throne, and was in the thirty first year of his reign, that, a decree was issued for a general taxation according to men’s property. This emperor, after the battle of Actium, became so popular, that the senate invited him to take the reins of government into his hands, which laid, properly speaking, the foundation of the imperial monarchy of Rome. Augustus, as a man of... read more

Joseph Exell

The Biblical Illustrator - Luke 2:1-7

Luke 2:1-7A decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxedThere is no grand reason, you see, given why Mary and Joseph should go to Judaea.The angel who is said to have announced the coming birth does not appear again to tell them that they must travel, since otherwise the Son of David will not be connected with His ancestral dwelling-place. They go because every one else is going. A decree of the Caesar obliges the man to register himself in the village, whatever it is, to... read more

John Trapp

John Trapp Complete Commentary - Luke 2:1

2 ( And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) Ver. 2. When Cyrenius, &c. ] Quirinus, the Latin writers call him. Now that the sceptre was departed, Shiloh came. read more

Samuel Bagster

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge - Luke 2:1

Caesar: Luke 3:1, Acts 11:28, Acts 25:11, Acts 25:21, Philippians 4:22 all: Matthew 24:14, Mark 14:9, Mark 16:15, Romans 1:8 taxed: or, enrolled Reciprocal: Genesis 41:45 - Zaphnathpaaneah Esther 10:1 - laid a tribute Daniel 7:23 - the fourth Zechariah 14:2 - gather Matthew 22:17 - Caesar Luke 15:10 - there Luke 20:24 - Caesar's Acts 5:37 - Judas Revelation 3:10 - all Revelation 13:3 - all Revelation 16:14 - the whole Revelation 17:18 - the woman read more