Luk 2:1-7 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Luke 2:1-7: 2:1-7 Having described John’s birth, Luke gives a parallel account of Jesus’ birth, with emphasis on its lowliness. Although he was the glorious Messiah, Jesus entered the world in humble circumstances. 2:1 Caesar Augustus , whose given name was Octavian, ruled the Roman Empire from 27 BC to AD 14. Prior to his time, Rome was a republic ruled by a senate. The Roman senate gave Augustus supreme authority as emperor , and the republic became an empire. Augustus secured the empire’s borders and established the Pax Romana (“Roman Peace”), a period of unprecedented stability and prosperity in the Mediterranean world. • A census registered the people for tax purposes.

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dMatt 2:1-19►

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f1 Sam 17:12►

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‏ Luke 2:1-7

Summary for Luke 2:1-7: 2:1-7 ^a Having described John’s birth, Luke gives a parallel account of Jesus’ birth, with emphasis on its lowliness. Although he was the glorious Messiah, Jesus entered the world in humble circumstances. 2:1 ^b Caesar Augustus, whose given name was Octavian, ruled the Roman Empire from 27 BC to AD 14. Prior to his time, Rome was a republic ruled by a senate. The Roman senate gave Augustus supreme authority as emperor, and the republic became an empire. Augustus secured the empire’s borders and established the Pax Romana (“Roman Peace”), a period of unprecedented stability and prosperity in the Mediterranean world.

• A census registered the people for tax purposes.
2:2 ^c Quirinius was governor of Syria: Quirinius held this post AD 6–9. In 6–4 BC, Quirinius also had authority over Judea, possibly through some kind of joint rule. He may have begun the census. Historical accounts mention three other censuses at that time (in Syria, Gaul, and Spain), and there was no reason not to have one in Judea, though it is not mentioned in secular records. Jesus was born around 6–4 BC, before Herod the Great died in 4 BC (see Matt 2:1-19 ^d).
Summary for Luke 2:3-4: 2:3-4 ^e Since Joseph was a descendant of King David, he returned to David’s hometown of Bethlehem (1 Sam 17:12 ^f, 58 ^g; 20:6 ^h), a tiny village in Judea five miles south of Jerusalem, where Mic 5:2 ⁱ predicted that the Messiah would be born.
2:5 ^j Mary, to whom he was engaged: See study note on 1:27.
2:7 ^k wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth: This common practice showed motherly love and care (see Ezek 16:4 ^l).

• A manger was a feeding trough for animals.

• no lodging available for them: This is a more accurate translation than the traditional “no room in the inn.” The word translated lodging does not mean an inn (there were no inns in tiny Bethlehem), but either a guest room in a private house or a public shelter for travelers. Since there was no normal lodging, Joseph and Mary moved to an area reserved for animals.