Luke 2:1
New International Version
In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world.

New Living Translation
At that time the Roman emperor, Augustus, decreed that a census should be taken throughout the Roman Empire.

English Standard Version
In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered.

Berean Standard Bible
Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that a census should be taken of the whole empire.

Berean Literal Bible
And it came to pass in those days, a decree went out from Caesar Augustus to register all the world.

King James Bible
And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.

New King James Version
And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered.

New American Standard Bible
Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth.

NASB 1995
Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth.

NASB 1977
Now it came about in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth.

Legacy Standard Bible
Now it happened that in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus for a census to be taken of all the inhabited earth.

Amplified Bible
Now in those days a decree went out from [the emperor] Caesar Augustus, that all the inhabited world (the Roman Empire) should be registered [in a census].

Christian Standard Bible
In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that the whole empire should be registered.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that the whole empire should be registered.

American Standard Version
Now it came to pass in those days, there went out a decree from C�sar Augustus, that all the world should be enrolled.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
But it occurred in those days that a command also went out from Augustus Caesar that every nation of his empire would be registered.

Contemporary English Version
About that time Emperor Augustus gave orders for the names of all the people to be listed in record books.

Douay-Rheims Bible
AND it came to pass, that in those days there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that the whole world should be enrolled.

English Revised Version
Now it came to pass in those days, there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be enrolled.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
At that time the Emperor Augustus ordered a census of the Roman Empire.

Good News Translation
At that time Emperor Augustus ordered a census to be taken throughout the Roman Empire.

International Standard Version
Now in those days an order was published by Caesar Augustus that the whole world should be registered.

Literal Standard Version
And it came to pass in those days, there went forth a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world be registered—

Majority Standard Bible
Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that a census should be taken of the whole empire.

New American Bible
In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that the whole world should be enrolled.

NET Bible
Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus to register all the empire for taxes.

New Revised Standard Version
In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered.

New Heart English Bible
Now it happened in those days, that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be enrolled.

Webster's Bible Translation
And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Cesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.

Weymouth New Testament
Just at this time an edict was issued by Caesar Augustus for the registration of the whole Empire.

World English Bible
Now in those days, a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be enrolled.

Young's Literal Translation
And it came to pass in those days, there went forth a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world be enrolled --

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Birth of Jesus
1Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that a census should be taken of the whole empire. 2This was the first census to take place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.…

Cross References
Matthew 22:17
So tell us what You think: Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not?"

Matthew 24:14
And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

Luke 2:3
And everyone went to his own town to register.

Luke 2:5
He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to him in marriage and was expecting a child.

Luke 3:1
In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, while Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, Herod tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene,


Treasury of Scripture

And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed.

Caesar.

Luke 3:1
Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judaea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of Ituraea and of the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias the tetrarch of Abilene,

Acts 11:28
And there stood up one of them named Agabus, and signified by the spirit that there should be great dearth throughout all the world: which came to pass in the days of Claudius Caesar.

Acts 25:11,21
For if I be an offender, or have committed any thing worthy of death, I refuse not to die: but if there be none of these things whereof these accuse me, no man may deliver me unto them. I appeal unto Caesar…

all.

Matthew 24:14
And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

Mark 14:9
Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world, this also that she hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her.

Mark 16:15
And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

taxed.

Jump to Previous
Augustus Caesar Census Cesar Decree Earth Edict Empire Enrolled Entire Forth Habitable Inhabited Issued Order Registration Roman Taxed Time Whole World
Jump to Next
Augustus Caesar Census Cesar Decree Earth Edict Empire Enrolled Entire Forth Habitable Inhabited Issued Order Registration Roman Taxed Time Whole World
Luke 2
1. Augustus taxes all the Roman empire.
6. The nativity of Jesus.
8. An angel relates it to the shepherds, and many sing praises to God for it.
15. The shepherds glorify God.
21. Jesus is circumcised.
22. Mary purified.
25. Simeon and Anna prophesy of Jesus,
39. who increases in wisdom,
41. questions in the temple with the teachers,
51. and is obedient to his parents.














II.

(1) There went out a decree.--The passage that follows has given rise to almost endless discussion. The main facts may be summed up as follows:--(1) The word "taxed" is used in its older English sense of simple "registration," and in that sense is a true equivalent for the Greek word. The corresponding verb appears in Hebrews 12:23. It does not involve, as to modern ears it seems to do, the payment of taxes. The "world" (literally, the inhabited world, ?????????, ?cumene,--the word from which we form the word "?cumenical" as applied to councils) is taken, as throughout the New Testament, for the Roman empire. What Augustus is said to have decreed, was a general census. (2) It may be admitted that no Roman or Jewish historian speaks distinctly of such a general census as made at this time. On the other hand, the collection of statistical returns of this nature was an ever-recurring feature of the policy of Augustus. We read of such returns at intervals of about ten years during the whole period of his government. In B.C. 27, when he offered to resign, he laid before the Senate a rationarium, or survey of the whole empire. After his death, a like document, more epitomised--a breviarium--was produced as having been compiled by him. There are traces of one about this time made by the Emperor, not in his character as Censor, but by an imperial edict such as St. Luke here describes. (3) Just before the death of Herod, Josephus (Wars, i. 27, ? 2; 29:2) reports that there was an agitation among the Jews, which led him to require them to take an oath of fidelity, not to himself only, but to the Emperor, and that 6,000 Pharisees refused to take it. He does not say what caused it, but the census which St. Luke records, holding out, as it did, the prospect of future taxation in the modern sense, sufficiently explains it. (4) It need hardly be said that the whole policy of Herod was one of subservience to the Emperor, and that though he retained a nominal independence, he was not likely to resist the wish of the Emperor for statistics of the population, or even of the property, of the province over which he ruled. (5) It may be noted that none of the early opponents of Christianity--such as Celsus and Porphyry--call the accuracy of the statement in question. St. Luke, we may add, lastly, as an inquirer, writing for men of education, would not have been likely to expose himself to the risk of detection by asserting that there had been such a census in the face of facts to the contrary.

Verses 1-20. - The Redeemer's birth. Verse 1. - There went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed; more accurately, that there should be a registration, etc.; that is, with a view to the assessment of a tax. On the historical note of St. Luke in this passage much discussion has arisen, not, however, of much real practical interest to the ordinary devout reader. We will glance very briefly at the main criticism of this and the following verse. Respecting this general registration it is alleged

(1) no historian of the time mentions such a decree of Augustus.

(2) Supposing Augustus had issued such an edict, Herod, in his kingdom of Judaea, would not have been included in it, for Judaea was not formally annexed to the Roman province of Syria before the death of Archelaus, Herod's son; for some years after this time Herod occupied the position of a rex socius. In answer to (1), we possess scarcely any minute records of this particular time; and there are besides distinct traces in contemporary histories of such a general registration. In answer to (2), in the event of such an imperial registration being made, it was most unlikely that Herod would have claimed exemption for his only nominally independent states. It must be remembered that Herod was an attached dependent of the emperor, and in such a matter would never have opposed the imperial will of his great patron.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
Now
δὲ (de)
Conjunction
Strong's 1161: A primary particle; but, and, etc.

in
ἐν (en)
Preposition
Strong's 1722: In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; 'in, ' at, on, by, etc.

those
ἐκείναις (ekeinais)
Demonstrative Pronoun - Dative Feminine Plural
Strong's 1565: That, that one there, yonder. From ekei; that one (neuter) thing); often intensified by the article prefixed.

days
ἡμέραις (hēmerais)
Noun - Dative Feminine Plural
Strong's 2250: A day, the period from sunrise to sunset.

a decree
δόγμα (dogma)
Noun - Nominative Neuter Singular
Strong's 1378: A decree, edict, ordinance. From the base of dokeo; a law.

went out
ἐξῆλθεν (exēlthen)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1831: To go out, come out. From ek and erchomai; to issue.

from
παρὰ (para)
Preposition
Strong's 3844: Gen: from; dat: beside, in the presence of; acc: alongside of.

Caesar
Καίσαρος (Kaisaros)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 2541: Of Latin origin; Caesar, a title of the Roman emperor.

Augustus
Αὐγούστου (Augoustou)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 828: From Latin; Augustus, a title of the Roman emperor.

that a census should be taken
ἀπογράφεσθαι (apographesthai)
Verb - Present Infinitive Middle or Passive
Strong's 583: From apo and grapho; to write off, i.e. Enrol.

of the
τὴν (tēn)
Article - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

entire
πᾶσαν (pasan)
Adjective - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3956: All, the whole, every kind of. Including all the forms of declension; apparently a primary word; all, any, every, the whole.

[ Roman ] world.
οἰκουμένην (oikoumenēn)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3625: Feminine participle present passive of oikeo; land, i.e. The globe; specially, the Roman empire.


Links
Luke 2:1 NIV
Luke 2:1 NLT
Luke 2:1 ESV
Luke 2:1 NASB
Luke 2:1 KJV

Luke 2:1 BibleApps.com
Luke 2:1 Biblia Paralela
Luke 2:1 Chinese Bible
Luke 2:1 French Bible
Luke 2:1 Catholic Bible

NT Gospels: Luke 2:1 Now it happened in those days that (Luke Lu Lk)
Luke 1:80
Top of Page
Top of Page