Amplified Bible
Luke 2:1
1Now 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].
Luke 2:1 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Cesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.
- New International Version (NIV)In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world.
- English Standard Version (ESV)In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered.
- New King James Version (NKJV)And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered.
Context of Luke 2:1
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]. 2This was the first census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3And everyone went to register for the census, each to his own city.
Read all of Luke 2Luke 2:1 word by word
Ἐγένετο δὲ ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις ἐκείναις ἐξῆλθεν δόγμα παρὰ Καίσαρος Αὐγούστου ἀπογράφεσθαι πᾶσαν τὴν οἰκουμένην.Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Andδέde · thenG1161
- it came to passγίνομαιginomai · to beG1096
- inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
- those daysὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- those daysἡμέραhēmera · dayG2250
- thatἐκεῖνοςekeinos · thatG1565
- there went outἐξέρχομαιexerchomai · to go outG1831
- a decreeδόγμαdogma · decreeG1378
- fromπαράpara · from/with/besideG3844
- CesarΚαῖσαρKaisar · CaesarG2541
- AugustusΑὔγουστοςAugoustos · AugustusG828
- that allπᾶςpas · allG3956
- the worldοἰκουμένηoikoumenē · worldG3625
- should be taxedἀπογράφωapographō · to registerG583
Cross-references for Luke 2:1
- Luke 3:1Now in the fifteenth year of [Emperor] Tiberius Caesar’s reign—when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod [Antipas] was tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip was tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias was tetrarch of Abilene—
- Acts 11:28One of them named Agabus stood up and prophesied through the [Holy] Spirit that a severe famine would come on the entire world. And this did happen during the reign of Claudius.
- Acts 25:11Therefore, if I am guilty and have committed anything worthy of death, I do not try to escape death; but if there is nothing to the accusations which these men are bringing against me, no one can hand me over to them. I appeal to Caesar (Emperor Nero).”
- Philippians 4:22All God’s people wish to be remembered to you, especially those of Caesar’s household.
- Matthew 24:14This good news of the kingdom [the gospel] will be preached throughout the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end [of the age] will come.
- Mark 14:9I assure you and most solemnly say to you, wherever the good news [regarding salvation] is proclaimed throughout the world, what she has done will be told in memory of her.”
- Mark 16:15And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.
- Romans 1:8First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith [your trust and confidence in His power, wisdom, and goodness] is being proclaimed in all the world.
Commentaries on Luke 2:1
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 1Caesar Augustus - This was Caius Caesar Octavianus Augustus, who was proclaimed emperor of Rome in the 29th year before our Lord, and died a.d. 14. That all the world should be taxed - , the whole of that empire. It is agreed, on all hands, that this cannot mean the whole world, as in the common translation; for this very sufficient reason, that the Romans had not the dominion of the whole earth, and therefore could have no right to raise levies or taxes…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1In those days - About the time of the birth of John and of Christ. A decree - A law commanding a thing to be done. Caesar Augustus - This was the Roman emperor. His first name was Octavianus. He was the nephew of Julius Caesar, and obtained the empire after his death. He took the name “Augustus - i. e., august,” or honorable - as a compliment to his own greatness; and from him the month “August,” which was before called “Sextilis,” received its name. That…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 1The birth of Christ. (1-7) It is made known to the shepherds. (8-20) Christ presented in the temple. (21-24) Simeon prophesies concerning Jesus. (25-35) Anna prophesies concerning him. (36-40) Christ with the learned men in the temple. (41-52) Verses 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. The circumstances of his birth were very mean. Christ was born at an inn; he came into the…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1Caesar Augustus was also called Octavian. He ruled the Roman Empire from 27 BC to AD 14. Before his rule, Rome was a republic governed by the Senate. The Senate gave Augustus supreme power, and Rome became an empire. Augustus protected the empire’s borders and began the Pax Romana (“Roman Peace”). This was a long period of peace and success around the Mediterranean Sea. A census was an official count of the people. Rome used a census to register people…Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-71. Cæsar Augustus--the first of the Roman emperors. all the world--so the vast Roman Empire was termed. taxed--enrolled, or register themselves.Read the comment
Topics related to Luke 2:1
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Luke 2
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Catena Aurea
- Illustrated New Testament
- Burkitt’s Expository Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Family Bible Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- John Lightfoot Commentary
- Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- The People’s New Testament
- Robertson’s Word Pictures
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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