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 be enrolled. (Luke 2:1)

Augustus ... "This is the title given by the Roman Senate on January 17,27 B.C., to Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus (63 B.C.-14 A.D.)."[1]

All the world ... was "a technical term used freely to refer to the Roman Empire,"[2] which was indeed, at that time, the whole civilized world.

Should be enrolled ... Critical allegations denying that such enrollments were made have been proved false. As Barclay said:

Such censuses were taken every fourteen years; and from 20 A.D. to 270 A.D., we possess actual documents from every census taken ... Here is an instance where further knowledge has shown the accuracy of the New Testament.[3]

[1] Encyclopedia Britannica, 1961, Vol. 2, p. 686.

[2] Ray Summers, Commentary on Luke (Waco, Texas: Word Books, Publisher, 1974), p. 36.

[3] William Barclay, The Gospel of Luke (Philadelphia: The Westminster Press, 1953), p. 15. 47