And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.
Parallel translations
- WEB Now in those days, a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be enrolled.
- BSB Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that a census should be taken of the whole empire.
- 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 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 Judaea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of Ituraea and of the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias the tetrarch of Abilene,
- Matt 24:14And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.
- Acts 25:21But when Paul had appealed to be reserved unto the hearing of Augustus, I commanded him to be kept till I might send him to Caesar.
- Rom 1:8First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world.
- Phil 4:22All the saints salute you, chiefly they that are of Caesar’s household.
- Acts 11:28And there stood up one of them named Agabus, and signified by the Spirit that there should be great dearth throughout all the world: which came to pass in the days of Claudius Caesar.
- Matt 22:17Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not?
- Mark 14:9Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world, this also that she hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her.
- Acts 25:11For if I be an offender, or have committed any thing worthy of death, I refuse not to die: but if there be none of these things whereof these accuse me, no man may deliver me unto them. I appeal unto Caesar.
- Mark 16:15And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
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.