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The Gospel of Luke Chapter 2:1-20 The Birth of Jesus Christ 2:1 Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus to register all the empire for taxes.
In the days running up to the birth of Jesus, Caesar Augustus decreed that the entire Roman Empire should be registered, as part of his reform of Roman taxation. Caesar Augustus (Gaius Octavius) was the adopted son of his great uncle Julius Caesar, who after defeating Julius’ assassins overcame his former allies (including Mark Anthony) to establish himself as the first emperor of Rome, ruling from 29 BC to 14 AD. Every province would, of course, organise its own census; and so the decree sets in course a chain of events in a lowly village in Galilee which led to prophecies about Jesus’ birth being fulfilled. Luke apparently wants us to see how God was in charge of all these events, even influencing heathen kings to do his bidding. Luke ironically shows God is using the supreme ruler of Rome to make preparation for the birth of the supreme ruler of all things. 2:2-3 This was the first registration, taken when Quirinius was governor of Syria. Everyone went to his own town to be registered.
Most historians agree that Quirinius conducted a census upon becoming legate of Syria in roughly 6AD1. This census was a memorable one, for according to Josephus, the census was seen as being against Jewish law and gave rise to an anti-Roman revolt led by Judas of Galilee; but it does not correspond with Matthew’s account of Jesus being born during the reign of Herod the Great. However, the verse suggests that there was a census before2 the one made by Quirinius. That would place it during the reign of Herod the Great (as Matthew suggests), and that might also explain why the custom of returning to tribal homes was followed, to make the census look more Jewish than Roman. Our best estimates place the birth of Jesus around 4 BC. 2:4-5 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family line of David. He went to be registered with Mary, who was promised in marriage to him, and who was expecting a child.
1 2
H.H. Ben-Sasson, A History of the Jewish People, Harvard University Press, 1976, Protos can sometimes imply ‘before’ rather than ‘first’