Luke 2:2

Luke 2:2 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)(And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)
• New International Version (NIV)(This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.)
• English Standard Version (ESV)This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria.
• New King James Version (NKJV)This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria.

Context of Luke 2:2

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]. This was the first census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3And everyone went to register for the census, each to his own city. 4So Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David,

Luke 2:2 word by word

αὕτη ἀπογραφὴ πρώτη ἐγένετο ἡγεμονεύοντος τῆς Συρίας Κυρηνίου.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• thisοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
• taxingὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• taxingἀπογραφήapographē · censusG582
• wasγίνομαιginomai · to beG1096
• firstπρῶτοςprōtos · firstG4413
• CyreniusΚυρήνιοςKurēnios · QuiriniusG2958
• was governorἡγεμονεύωhēgemoneuō · to governG2230
• of SyriaΣυρίαSuria · SyriaG4947

Cross-references for Luke 2:2

• Acts 5:37After this man, Judas the Galilean rose up, [and led an uprising] during the time of the census, and drew people after him; he was also killed, and all his followers were scattered.
• 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 13:7who was [closely associated] with the proconsul [of the province], Sergius Paulus, an intelligent and sensible man. He called for Barnabas and Saul and wanted to hear the word of God [concerning eternal salvation through faith in Christ].
• Acts 18:12But when Gallio was proconsul of Achaia (southern Greece), the Jews made a united attack on Paul and brought him before the judgment seat,
• Acts 23:26“Claudius Lysias, to the most excellent governor Felix, greetings.
• Acts 26:30Then the king stood up, and [with him] the governor and Bernice, and those who were sitting with them;

Commentaries on Luke 2:2

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 2This taxing was first made when Cyrenius, etc. - The next difficulty in this text is found in this verse, which may be translated, Now this first enrolment was made when Quirinus was governor of Syria. It is easily proved, and has been proved often, that Caius Sulpicius Quirinus, the person mentioned in the text, was not governor of Syria, till ten or twelve years after the birth of our Lord. St. Matthew says that our Lord was born in the reign of Herod…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 2And this taxing was first made … - This verse has given as much perplexity, perhaps, as any one in the New Testament. The difficulty consists in the fact that “Cyrenius,” or “Quirinius,” was not governor of Syria until 12 or 15 years after the birth of Jesus. Jesus was born during the reign of Herod. At that time “Varus” was president of Syria. Herod was succeeded by “Archelaus,” who reigned eight or nine years; and after he was removed, Judea was annexed…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 2Quirinius was governor of Syria: He held this position from AD 6 to AD 9. Earlier, from 6 to 4 BC, he also had authority in Judea, perhaps through a form of joint rule. He may have begun the census (an official count of people for taxes). Historical records mention three other censuses at that time in Syria, Gaul, and Spain. It would not be unusual to have one in Judea, even though no non-biblical record mentions it. Jesus was born around 6 to 4 BC…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 22. first ... when Cyrenius, &c.--a very perplexing verse, inasmuch as Cyrenius, or Quirinus, appears not to have been governor of Syria for about ten years after the birth of Christ, and the "taxing" under his administration was what led to the insurrection mentioned in Ac 5:37. That there was a taxing, however, of the whole Roman Empire under Augustus, is now admitted by all; and candid critics, even of skeptical tendency, are ready to allow that there…Read the comment

Topics related to Luke 2:2

• Census
• Cyrenius (Quirinius)
• Jesus, the Christ
• Joseph
• Quirinius
• Syria
• Tax
• Tribute (Taxes)

In the dictionaries

• Syria
• Syria, Ashur
• Consolation
• Cyrenius
• Decree
• Depart
• Devout
• Glory
• Governor
• Inn

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