CHAPTER II

Outline of Chapter 2

Theme: The Work Thou Gavest Him to Do

2:1–7 The Birth of Jesus

2:8–21 Shepherds and Angels

The Circumcision and Naming of Jesus

2:22–38 The Presentation of Jesus in the Temple:

Simeon’s “Nunc Dimittis”

Anna’s Thanksgiving and Testimony

2:39, 40 The Return to Nazareth

2:41–52 The Boy in the Midst of the Teachers

2:1–7 The Birth of Jesus

Cf. Matt. 1:18–25⁹⁷

2 1 In those days a decree was issued by Caesar Augustus that a census should be taken of the entire [Roman] world. 2 This, the first census, took place while Quirinius was governor of⁹³ Syria.⁹⁴ 3 And all went on their way to be registered, each going to his own town. 4 So from Galilee, out of the town of Nazareth, Joseph too went up, into Judea, to the town of David, which is called Bethlehem. It was because he was of the house and family of David that he went there, 5 to be registered⁹⁵ with Mary, his betrothed, who was pregnant. 6 And while they were there the days were fulfilled⁹⁶ for her to give birth. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him in strips of cloth and laid him down in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

1. In those days a decree was issued by Caesar Augustus that a census should be taken of the entire [Roman] world.

Luke 1:5 made mention of Herod, the king; 2:1 refers to Augustus, the emperor. Malevolent Herod and Benevolent Augustus, to a certain extent how different they were! To be sure, they had in common that they were heathen, and men of superior ability, but that is about where the similarity ended. At the time of the census, mentioned here in Luke 2:1, 2, Herod the Great (or Herod I) was still alive. He must have died shortly afterward.

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