Luke 2:1

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

At that time, Caesar Augustus made a law. He told his men to count everyone who lived in the countries that he ruled. 2This was the first time that the Romans had made a list of everyone's names. Quirinius was the Roman ruler of Syria when it happened. 3Everyone went to his own home town for the Romans to count them.

Luke 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 3:1This report is about John, the son of Zechariah. It happened when Tiberius Caesar had been the Roman ruler for 15 years. Pontius Pilate was the Roman ruler of Judea. Herod had authority over the region of Galilee. Herod's brother Philip had authority over Iturea and Trachonitis. Lysanias had authority over Abilene.
• Acts 11:28One of these men was called Agabus. The Holy Spirit gave him a message from God. He stood up and he said to the people there, ‘Soon people will be very hungry all over the world because there will be no food.’ (That happened when Claudius ruled the Roman world.)
• Acts 25:11Have I done something bad that you should kill me for it? If that is true, then I will agree to it. It is right that I should die. But these Jews are not speaking true words against me. Nobody should let them take hold of me. So now I ask you to send me to Caesar himself. I want him to be the judge.’
• Philippians 4:22All God's people here say ‘hello’ to you. The Christians who live in the king's house say a special ‘hello’ to you.
• Matthew 24:14People will tell the good news about God's kingdom to people all over the world. People in every country will hear the true message from God. Then God will cause the world to come to an end.
• Mark 14:9I tell you this: Everywhere in the world, people will speak about God's good news. At the same time, they will also tell people about the good thing that this woman has done. And so they will remember her.’
• Mark 16:15Then Jesus said to them, ‘Go to all people everywhere in the world. Tell God's good news to everyone.
• Romans 1:8First, because of what Jesus Christ has done for us, I thank my God for all of you. Everywhere in the world, people are talking about how you trust in Jesus Christ.

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

• Augustus
• Caesar
• Census
• Government
• Jesus, the Christ
• Joseph
• Roman Empire
• Tax
• Tribute (Taxes)

In the dictionaries

• Augustus
• Caesar
• Census
• Consolation
• Decree
• Depart
• Devout
• Glory
• Inn
• Lighten

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