Commentary on a Harmony of the Evangelists Matthew Mark and Luke John Calvin
Luke 2:1-7
LUKE 2:1-7
Luke 2:1-7
1. Now it happened in those days, an edict came out from Augustus Caesar, that the whole world should be registered. 116 2. This first registration 117 was made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria. 3. And all went to make the return, 118 each in his own city. 4. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, into the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, (because he was of the house and lineage of David,) 5. To make the return with Mary 119 his betrothed wife, who was pregnant. 6. And it happened while they were there, the days of bringing forth were fulfilled. 120 7. And she brought forth her first-born son, and wrapped him in bandages, 121 and laid him in a manger; 122 because there was no room for them in the inn.
Luke relates how it happened, that Christ was born in the city of Bethlehem, as his mother was living at a distance from her home, when she was approaching to her confinement. And first he sets aside the idea of human contrivance,123 by saying, that Joseph and Mary had left home, and came to that place to make the return according to their family and tribe. If intentionally and on purpose124 they had changed their residence that Mary might bring forth her child in Bethlehem, we would have looked only at the human beings concerned. But as they have no other design than to obey the edict of Augustus, we readily acknowledge, that they were led like blind persons, by the hand of God, to the place where Christ must be born. This may appear to be accidental, as everything else, which does not proceed from a direct
116"Mis par escrit;" — "put in writing." 117"Ceste premiere description." 118"Ut profiteretur." 119"Pour estre enroule avec Marie;" — "to be enrolled with Mary." 120"Et comme ils estoyent la, advint que les jours d'icelle furent accom-. plis pour enfanter." — "And as they were there, it happened that her days were accomplished for bringing forth."
121"Fasciis;" — "Bandelettes." 122"Une creiche." 123"Il monstre que cela ne s'est point fait par advis ou conseil humain." —"He shows that this was not by human advice or plan."
124"Data opera et consulto;" — "de propos delibere;" — "of deliberate purpose."