Luke 2 1

Luke 2:1 kjv

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

Luke 2:1 nkjv

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

Luke 2:1 niv

In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world.

Luke 2:1 esv

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

Luke 2:1 nlt

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

Luke 2 verses

Luke 2 1 Meaning

Luke 2:1 historically grounds the birth of Jesus Christ, detailing that His arrival occurred during a specific, divinely ordained period of Roman imperial rule. It highlights the decree issued by Caesar Augustus for a census, which providentially led Joseph and Mary to Bethlehem, fulfilling Old Testament prophecy. The verse juxtaposes the vast human authority of the Roman Empire with God's supreme sovereignty, demonstrating how God utilizes even secular edicts to accomplish His redemptive purposes.

Luke 2 1 Context

Luke 2:1 is the immediate introduction to the narrative of Jesus' birth. It follows Luke 1, which details the annunciation to Mary, the conception of John the Baptist, Mary's Magnificat, and the Benedictus of Zechariah. The previous verse, Luke 1:80, describes John's growth in the desert before his public appearance, signifying the transition to the Messiah's immediate advent. Historically, this verse places Jesus' birth within the precise political and administrative context of the Roman Empire under Caesar Augustus, whose reign marked a period of relative peace and extensive administrative reorganization known as the Pax Romana. For Luke's original audience, both Jewish and Gentile Christians, this historical anchoring validated Jesus' reality, countering any notion that He was a mythical figure. It also subtly reinforces that God, not the mighty Roman emperor, ultimately governs the course of history, using human decrees to fulfill His divine promises, particularly the prophetic birth of the Messiah in Bethlehem (Mic 5:2).

Luke 2 1 Word analysis

• In those days (Ἐγένετο δὲ ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις ἐκείναις, Egeneto de en tais hēmerais ekeinais):
  • Ἐγένετο (Egeneto): "It came to pass" or "it happened." This phrase is characteristic of Luke-Acts, often used to transition to new events or signify divine activity in human history.
  • ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις ἐκείναις (en tais hēmerais ekeinais): "In those days." This refers back generally to the time surrounding the birth of John the Baptist and the preparations for the Messiah, indicating the continuation of God's unfolding plan. It emphasizes the historical progression.
• a decree went out (ἐξῆλθεν δόγμα, exēlthen dogma):
  • ἐξῆλθεν (exēlthen): "Went out," implying a public proclamation or issuance.
  • δόγμα (dogma): A formal public decree, an imperial edict, or ordinance. In this context, it is a legal command from an authoritative source. This word is also used elsewhere for Mosaic law (Eph 2:15, Col 2:14) or apostolic decrees (Acts 16:4).
• from Caesar Augustus (παρὰ Καίσαρος Αὐγούστου, para Kaisaros Augoustou):
  • Καίσαρος (Kaisaros): "Caesar." A title for the Roman Emperor, derived from the family name of Julius Caesar, signifying supreme authority.
  • Αὐγούστου (Augoustou): "Augustus." The given name/title of Octavian, the first Roman Emperor (ruled 27 BC – 14 AD). "Augustus" means "revered," "majestic," or "venerable," implying divine or semi-divine status in Roman ideology. Luke's mention of this powerful pagan ruler implicitly highlights God's superior authority and control, even over those claiming divine honor.
• that all the world (πᾶσαν τὴν οἰκουμένην, pasan tēn oikoumenēn):
  • πᾶσαν (pasan): "All" or "the whole."
  • οἰκουμένην (oikoumenēn): Literally "the inhabited earth," but commonly used in Roman contexts to refer to the Roman Empire—the "known" and "inhabited" world under Roman control (e.g., Acts 11:28, 17:6, 24:5). This emphasizes the vast geographical scope of the decree, yet implicitly limited to Rome's imperial reach, within which God was acting.
• should be registered (ἀπογράφεσθαι, apographesthai):
  • ἀπογράφεσθαι (apographesthai): An infinitive meaning "to be registered," "to be enrolled," or "to be recorded." It refers to a census, an official count and listing of people for purposes of taxation or conscription into military service. Luke 2:2 specifies this as the "first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria," providing additional historical precision.
• "a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered": This entire phrase reveals the sovereign control of God over human empires. Caesar Augustus, with his imperial power and self-proclaimed majesty, issues a decree that, unbeknownst to him, serves God's eternal purpose by forcing Joseph and Mary to Bethlehem, thereby fulfilling Micah's prophecy (Mic 5:2) and precisely dating the Messiah's entrance into human history. The "world" of Caesar is used by God for the "world" of His redemption.

Luke 2 1 Bonus section

• The Specific Census (Luke 2:2 context): While Luke 2:1 introduces the general decree, Luke 2:2 clarifies it as "this was the first census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria." This particular detail has been the subject of much scholarly debate regarding its exact dating and nature. It is widely understood that Luke, known for his historical accuracy, likely refers to a specific local or regional enrollment rather than a universal simultaneous registration across the entire Roman Empire, or part of a series of such registrations. Such censuses for fiscal or administrative reasons were common under Augustus.
• Divine Orchestration: The core theological truth in this verse lies in the irony that the mightiest emperor of the most powerful empire unknowingly became an agent in God's divine drama of salvation. His motivations were imperial; God's purpose was redemptive. This concept illustrates that God does not just intervene in history but often directs it through the very actions of those who do not acknowledge Him.
• Historical Validation: Luke's meticulous inclusion of specific historical figures (Caesar Augustus, Quirinius) and imperial policies underscores the historical grounding of Christianity, distinguishing it from mythical narratives prevalent at the time. The birth of Jesus was not an abstract tale but an event firmly rooted in time and space, verifiable through imperial records.

Luke 2 1 Commentary

Luke 2:1 precisely dates the pivotal moment of Jesus' birth within concrete historical events, emphasizing the real, physical entrance of the Messiah into human history. It establishes the temporal setting as the reign of Caesar Augustus, the first Roman emperor, and identifies his universal decree for registration as the direct catalyst for Joseph and Mary's journey to Bethlehem. This decree, driven by Roman imperial goals of taxation and administration, inadvertently became the divinely appointed means to fulfill ancient prophecies about the Messiah's birthplace. The verse thus subtly yet profoundly asserts God's ultimate sovereignty: the seemingly omnipotent decree of Caesar, intended to consolidate Roman power, was providentially used by God to align human history with His redemptive plan, ensuring Christ was born in the "City of David." This underscores that no human authority or earthly plan can thwart God's will; instead, all things ultimately serve His purposes, often in ways unseen by human actors. It serves as a reminder that even chaotic or challenging circumstances in our lives can be instruments in God's perfect plan.