Luke 2:1

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

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

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

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

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

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

Group of Brands