Luke 2:1

Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that a census should be taken of the whole empire.

2 This was the first census to take place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.

3 And everyone went to his own town to register.

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that a census should be taken of the whole empire.
KJV
And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Cæsar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.
WEB
Now in those days, a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be enrolled.
ASV
Now it came to pass in those days, there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be enrolled.
DARBY
But it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census should be made of all the habitable world.
BLB
And it came to pass in those days [that] a decree went out from Caesar Augustus to register all the world.
ÅB
Og det skjedde i de dager at det utgikk et bud fra keiser Augustus at all verden skulle innskrives i manntall.
OTB
I de dager skjedde det at det gikk ut en befaling fra keiser Augustus om at hele verden skulle innskrives i manntall.
B1930
Og det skjedde i de dager at det utgikk et bud fra keiser Augustus at all verden skulde innskrives i manntall.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Luke 3:1

    In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, while Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, Herod tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene,

    Read in context
  • Matthew 24:14

    And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

    Read in context
  • Acts 25:21

    But when Paul appealed to be held over for the decision of the Emperor, I ordered that he be held until I could send him to Caesar.”

    Read in context