Luke 2:1-3

[clark thompson]

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Luke 2:1-3King James Version (KJV)
2 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed.
2 (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)
3 And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.

Luke 2:1-3
MSTC 1 And it chanced, in those days, that there went out a commandment from Augustus the Emperor, that all the world should be taxed. 2 And this taxing was the first executed, and when Quirinius was leftenant in Syria. 3 And every man went unto his own city, there to be taxed.

These are my thoughts, please share yours.

1 This was a common thing it is like today cense being taken it is done so you know how many people there are under your empire or in your country. This is something even Israel did we have the records they are in Numbers and 1 Chronicles as well as parts of Ezra.

2 Quirinius was a Roman who had control over Syria given to him by Cesar. Thins gives a time frame because He was by some 6-7 AD and others 4-1 BC which now history is found to back up the bible saying that he was governing Syria at that time a time Herod was ruler.

3 Every one had to go to the town they were from the home of their ancestors. This would not just mean the Jewish people. At this time knowing your ancestry was more common.



Better to be a servant of the King than to be a king in hell.

[macuser]

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I remember John MacArthur saying that this was not a call for taxes but a census and the modern translations bare that out. This census occured every 14 years.

HCS
1 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus 14; also known as Octavian, he established the peaceful era known as the Pax Romana; Caesar was a title of Roman emperors. that the whole empire should be registered. 2 This first registration took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. 3 So everyone went to be registered, each to his own town.

Bible in Basic English
1 Now it came about in those days that an order went out from Caesar Augustus that there was to be a numbering of all the world. 2 This was the first numbering, which was made when Quirinius was ruler of Syria. 3 And all men went to be numbered, everyone to his town.

NAS
1 Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth. 2 This was the first census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And everyone was on his way to register for the census, each to his own city.

YLT
1 And it came to pass in those days, there went forth a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world be enrolled -- 2 this enrollment first came to pass when Cyrenius was governor of Syria -- 3 and all were going to be enrolled, each to his proper city,