Luke 2:1
What does Luke 2:1 mean?
A plain-English look at Luke 2:1 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Luke 2:1 means
Luke begins by meticulously setting the historical stage for Jesus' birth. The decree from Caesar Augustus, mandating a census, was a political maneuver by the Roman Empire to assert its authority and facilitate taxation. However, for those with spiritual understanding, this seemingly mundane historical event was part of God's sovereign plan. It was the divinely appointed means to bring Joseph and Mary to Bethlehem, ensuring the fulfillment of ancient prophecy regarding the Messiah's birthplace.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Now it came to pass in those days, there went out a decree from Cæsar Augustus, that all the world should be enrolled.
KJV
King James Version · 1611And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Cesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Now it came to pass in those days, there went out a decree from Cæsar Augustus, that all the world should be enrolled.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Now it came about in those days that an order went out from Caesar Augustus that there was to be a numbering of all the world.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862And it came to pass in those days, there went forth a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world be enrolled--
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And it came to pass that in those days there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that the whole world should be enrolled.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890But it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census should be made of all the habitable world.
Context
This verse opens the chapter by immediately grounding the narrative in verifiable history, introducing the Roman decree that involuntarily moved Mary and Joseph. This decree is not just a historical detail but the catalyst for the entire Christmas story in Bethlehem, setting the scene for how Jesus would be born in the city of David, as prophesied by Micah.
v.1This passage
v.2This was the first enrolment made when Quirinius was governor of Syria.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Luke 3:1
Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Cæsar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judæa, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituræa and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene,
- Matthew 24:14
And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world for a testimony unto all the nations; and then shall the end come.
- Acts 25:21
But when Paul had appealed to be kept for the decision of the emperor, I commanded him to be kept till I should send him to Cæsar.
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