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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Luke 2:1-7

The fulness of time was now come, when God would send forth his Son, made of a woman, and made under the law; and it was foretold that he should be born at Bethlehem. Now here we have an account of the time, place, and manner of it. I. The time when our Lord Jesus was born. Several things may be gathered out of these verses which intimate to us that it was the proper time. 1. He was born at the time when the fourth monarchy was in its height, just when it was become, more than any of the three... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Luke 2:1-7

2:1-7 In these days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that a census should be taken of all the world. The census first took place when Quirinius was governor of Syria; and everyone went to enroll himself, each man to his own town. So Joseph went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judaea, to David's town, which is called Bethlehem, because he belonged to the house and the line of David, to enrol himself with Mary who was betrothed to him and she was with child. When they... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Luke 2:5

To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife ,.... Whom also he had married, though he had not known her in a carnal way; she came along with him to be taxed and enrolled also, because she was of the same family of David, and belonged to the same city: being great with child; very near her time, and yet, though in such circumstances, was obliged by this edict, to come to Bethlehem; and the providence in it was, that she might give birth there, and so the prophecy in Micah 5:2 have its... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Luke 2:6

And so it was, that while they were there ,.... At Bethlehem, waiting to be called and enrolled in their turn, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered; her reckoning was up, the nine months of her going with child were ended, and her full time to bring forth was come. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Luke 2:7

And she brought forth her firstborn son ,.... At Bethlehem, as was predicted; and the Jews themselves own, that the Messiah is already born, and born at Bethlehem. They have a tradition, that an Arabian should say to a Jew F11 T. Hieros. Berncot, fol. 5. 1. . "Lo! the king Messiah is born; he said to him, what is his name? Menachem: he asked him, what is his father's name? he replied to him, Hezekiah; he said unto him, from whence is he? he answered, from the palace of the king of... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 2:5

With Mary his espoused wife - There was no necessity for Mary to have gone to Bethlehem, as Joseph's presence could have answered the end proposed in the census as well without Mary as with her; but God so ordered it, that the prophecy of Micah should be thus fulfilled, and that Jesus should be born in the city of David; Micah 5:2 . read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 2:7

Laid him in a manger - Wetstein has shown, from a multitude of instances, that φατνη means not merely the manger, but the whole stable, and this I think is its proper meaning in this place. The Latins use praesepe , a manger, in the same sense. So Virgil, Aen. vii. p. 275. Stabant ter centum nitidi in praesepibus altis "Three hundred sleek horses stood in lofty stables." Many have thought that this was a full proof of the meanness and poverty of the holy family, that they were... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 2:7

Verse 7 7.Because there was no room for them in the inn We see here not only the great poverty of Joseph, but the cruel tyranny which admitted of no excuse, but compelled Joseph to bring his wife along with him, at an inconvenient season, when she was near the time of her delivery. Indeed, it is probable that those who were the descendants of the royal family were treated more harshly and disdainfully than the rest. Joseph was not so devoid of feeling as to have no concern about his wife’s... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Luke 2:1-7

The birthplace and the birth. Two travelers, coming up from Galilee, approach the city of David. The knowledge they possessed of the event in which the glories of David's house were to culminate must have invested every feature with a peculiar sacredness of interest. Note Dean Stanley's description of Bethlehem, on the crest of a ridge of black hills terraced with vineyards. As beheld by Joseph and Mary, what a stream of patriotic memories, mixed with the inspirations which spring from the... read more

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