Now in those days, a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be enrolled.
Parallel translations
- 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.
- BSB Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that a census should be taken of the whole empire.
- ESV In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered.
- NKJV And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered.
- NASB Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth.
- NLT At that time the Roman emperor, Augustus, decreed that a census should be taken throughout the Roman Empire.
Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
A census decree from Caesar Augustus sets the stage for Jesus' birth in Bethlehem. It matters because God uses even imperial politics to fulfill His prophetic plan.
Overview
Luke roots the nativity in real history under the Roman emperor Augustus. The empire-wide registration would bring Joseph to Bethlehem, fulfilling Micah 5:2. The sovereign God orchestrates the decisions of the world's most powerful ruler to accomplish the promised birthplace of the Messiah.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 10
- Luke 3:1Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene,
- Matt 24:14This Good News of the Kingdom will be preached in the whole world for a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.
- Acts 25:21But when Paul had appealed to be kept for the decision of the emperor, I commanded him to be kept until I could send him to Caesar.”
- Rom 1:8First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, that your faith is proclaimed throughout the whole world.
- Phil 4:22All the saints greet you, especially those who are of Caesar’s household.
- Acts 11:28One of them named Agabus stood up, and indicated by the Spirit that there should be a great famine all over the world, which also happened in the days of Claudius.
- Matt 22:17Tell us therefore, what do you think? Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?”
- Mark 14:9Most certainly I tell you, wherever this Good News may be preached throughout the whole world, that which this woman has done will also be spoken of for a memorial of her.”
- Acts 25:11For if I have done wrong, and have committed anything worthy of death, I don’t refuse to die; but if none of those things is true that they accuse me of, no one can give me up to them. I appeal to Caesar!”
- Mark 16:15He said to them, “Go into all the world, and preach the Good News to the whole creation.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Luke shows Jesus the Savior for all — outsiders, the poor, the nations — the one who, on the Emmaus road, opened all the Scriptures to show they were about himself.
How Luke 2:1 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.