Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version And everyone went to their own town to register. New Living Translation All returned to their own ancestral towns to register for this census. English Standard Version And all went to be registered, each to his own town. Berean Standard Bible And everyone went to his own town to register. Berean Literal Bible And all were going to be registered, each to his own city. King James Bible And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. New King James Version So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city. New American Standard Bible And all the people were on their way to register for the census, each to his own city. NASB 1995 And everyone was on his way to register for the census, each to his own city. NASB 1977 And all were proceeding to register for the census, everyone to his own city. Legacy Standard Bible And everyone was going to be registered for the census, each to his own city. Amplified Bible And everyone went to register for the census, each to his own city. Christian Standard Bible So everyone went to be registered, each to his own town. Holman Christian Standard Bible So everyone went to be registered, each to his own town. American Standard Version And all went to enrol themselves, every one to his own city. Contemporary English Version Everyone had to go to their own hometown to be listed. English Revised Version And all went to enroll themselves, every one to his own city. GOD'S WORD® Translation All the people went to register in the cities where their ancestors had lived. Good News Translation Everyone, then, went to register himself, each to his own hometown. International Standard Version So all the people went to their hometowns to be registered. NET Bible Everyone went to his own town to be registered. New Heart English Bible All went to enroll themselves, everyone to his own city. Webster's Bible Translation And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. Weymouth New Testament and all went to be registered--every one to the town to which he belonged. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleAnd everyone went to his own town to register. World English Bible All went to enroll themselves, everyone to his own city. Literal Translations Literal Standard Versionand all were going to be registered, each to his proper city, Berean Literal Bible And all were going to be registered, each to his own city. Young's Literal Translation and all were going to be enrolled, each to his proper city, Smith's Literal Translation And all went to be enrolled, each in his own city. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd all went to be enrolled, every one into his own city. Catholic Public Domain Version And all went to be declared, each one to his own city. New American Bible So all went to be enrolled, each to his own town. New Revised Standard Version All went to their own towns to be registered. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleAnd every man went to be registered in his own city. Aramaic Bible in Plain English And everyone was going to be registered in his own city. NT Translations Anderson New TestamentAnd all went to be enrolled, each one to his own city. Godbey New Testament And all were going forth to enroll, each one into his own city. Haweis New Testament And all went to be registered, every one to his own city. Mace New Testament all went to be registred, every one to his native city. Weymouth New Testament and all went to be registered--every one to the town to which he belonged. Worrell New Testament And all were going to be enrolled, each to his own city. Worsley New Testament every one to his own city: Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context The Birth of Jesus…2This was the first census to take place while Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3And everyone went to his own town to register. 4So Joseph also went up from Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, since he was from the house and line of David.… Cross References Matthew 2:1-6 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, / asking, “Where is the One who has been born King of the Jews? We saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him.” / When King Herod heard this, he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. ... Micah 5:2 But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come forth for Me One to be ruler over Israel—One whose origins are of old, from the days of eternity. Matthew 1:18-25 This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged in marriage to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. / Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and was unwilling to disgrace her publicly, he resolved to divorce her quietly. / But after he had pondered these things, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to embrace Mary as your wife, for the One conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. ... John 7:42 Doesn’t the Scripture say that the Christ will come from the line of David and from Bethlehem, the village where David lived?” Acts 5:37 After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and drew away people after him. He too perished, and all his followers were scattered. 1 Samuel 16:1 Now the LORD said to Samuel, “How long are you going to mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and go. I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem, for I have selected from his sons a king for Myself.” 2 Samuel 7:12-16 And when your days are fulfilled and you rest with your fathers, I will raise up your descendant after you, who will come from your own body, and I will establish his kingdom. / He will build a house for My Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. / I will be his Father, and he will be My son. When he does wrong, I will discipline him with the rod of men and with the blows of the sons of men. ... Isaiah 9:6-7 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government will be upon His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. / Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish and sustain it with justice and righteousness from that time and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of Hosts will accomplish this. Jeremiah 23:5 Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and He will reign wisely as King and will administer justice and righteousness in the land. Romans 1:3 regarding His Son, who was a descendant of David according to the flesh, Galatians 4:4 But when the time had fully come, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, Philippians 2:7 but emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in human likeness. Hebrews 7:14 For it is clear that our Lord descended from Judah, a tribe as to which Moses said nothing about priests. Genesis 49:10 The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the staff from between his feet, until Shiloh comes and the allegiance of the nations is his. Ruth 4:11-22 “We are witnesses,” said the elders and all the people at the gate. “May the LORD make the woman entering your home like Rachel and Leah, who together built up the house of Israel. May you be prosperous in Ephrathah and famous in Bethlehem. / And may your house become like the house of Perez, whom Tamar bore to Judah, because of the offspring the LORD will give you by this young woman.” / So Boaz took Ruth, and she became his wife. And when he had relations with her, the LORD enabled her to conceive, and she gave birth to a son. ... Treasury of Scripture And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. Jump to Previous Belonged Census City Enrol Enroll Enrolled Inscribed Numbered Proper Register Registered Roll Taxed Themselves WayJump to Next Belonged Census City Enrol Enroll Enrolled Inscribed Numbered Proper Register Registered Roll Taxed Themselves WayLuke 2 1. Augustus taxes all the Roman empire.6. The nativity of Jesus. 8. An angel relates it to the shepherds, and many sing praises to God for it. 15. The shepherds glorify God. 21. Jesus is circumcised. 22. Mary purified. 25. Simeon and Anna prophesy of Jesus, 39. who increases in wisdom, 41. questions in the temple with the teachers, 51. and is obedient to his parents. And everyone went This phrase indicates a universal compliance with the decree issued by Caesar Augustus for a census. The Roman Empire was known for its administrative efficiency, and censuses were conducted for taxation and military purposes. The decree would have been enforced throughout the empire, demonstrating the far-reaching influence of Roman authority. This also sets the stage for the fulfillment of prophecy, as it orchestrates the movement of people, including Joseph and Mary, to specific locations. to his own town to register Persons / Places / Events 1. Caesar AugustusThe Roman Emperor at the time, who issued the decree for a census. 2. Joseph and Mary Residents of Nazareth who traveled to Bethlehem to register, as Joseph was of the house and lineage of David. 3. Bethlehem The town where Joseph and Mary traveled to register, fulfilling the prophecy of the Messiah's birthplace. 4. Census The event decreed by Caesar Augustus, requiring everyone to return to their ancestral towns for registration. 5. Roman Empire The ruling authority over Judea, under which the census was conducted. Teaching Points God's Sovereignty in World EventsThe decree by Caesar Augustus, a secular ruler, was used by God to fulfill His divine plan. This reminds us that God is in control of all events, even those orchestrated by earthly authorities. Obedience to Authority Joseph and Mary's compliance with the Roman decree demonstrates the importance of obeying governmental laws, as long as they do not conflict with God's commands. Fulfillment of Prophecy The journey to Bethlehem highlights the precision of God's promises. Believers can trust that God will fulfill His Word in His perfect timing. The Humble Beginnings of Jesus The circumstances of Jesus' birth, initiated by the census, reflect His humility and willingness to enter into the human condition. This challenges us to embrace humility in our own lives. God's Use of Ordinary People Joseph and Mary were ordinary individuals used by God for extraordinary purposes. This encourages us to be faithful in our everyday lives, knowing God can use us for His plans. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Luke 2:3?2. How does Luke 2:3 illustrate God's sovereignty in historical events and human decisions? 3. What can we learn from Joseph's obedience to the decree in Luke 2:3? 4. How does Luke 2:3 connect to Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah's birth? 5. In what ways can we trust God's plan when facing governmental mandates today? 6. How can Luke 2:3 encourage us to fulfill our civic duties faithfully? 7. Why did everyone need to register in their own town according to Luke 2:3? 8. How does the census in Luke 2:3 align with historical records of Roman censuses? 9. What theological significance does the census in Luke 2:3 hold for the birth of Jesus? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Luke 2? 11. Why do different Gospels place Jesus' birth in different timeframes (Matthew under Herod, Luke under Quirinius)? 12. Why does the census in Luke (which led Joseph and Mary to Bethlehem) not align with known Roman census practices? 13. (Luke 2:1) Where is the historical evidence for a census of the entire Roman Empire under Caesar Augustus as stated here? 14. In what year was Jesus born? What Does Luke 2:3 Mean And everyone• Luke reports a sweeping participation: “everyone.” No one slipped through the cracks. Just as Romans 13:1–2 reminds that “there is no authority except from God,” the entire population submits to the governing decree. • The inclusiveness echoes Acts 17:26—God “has made every nation of men” and oversees their movements. • The phrase also hints at our common standing before God (Romans 3:23). If all were summoned by Caesar, how much more should all heed God’s call of salvation (Luke 14:16-17). went • Obedience moved from intention to motion. Like Abraham who “obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going” (Hebrews 11:8), these citizens packed up and traveled. • Action verifies submission; James 2:17 notes that faith “without deeds is dead.” • God steers steps: “A man’s heart plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps” (Proverbs 16:9). Their going looked like a secular errand, yet every mile advanced God’s prophetic design. to his own town • Each family returned to its ancestral city. For Joseph—and therefore Mary—this meant Bethlehem, “the town of David,” fulfilling the promise of Micah 5:2 and confirmed in John 7:42. • Genealogies mattered (Matthew 1:1); lineage tied them to covenant history (Ruth 4:17). • The journey underlines God’s precision: a global empire issues a decree, yet the real aim is to place the Messiah in the exact village foretold centuries earlier (2 Samuel 7:12-13). to register • Registration served Rome’s census for taxation and military purposes, referenced in Luke 2:1. God, however, had higher purposes. • From Numbers 1:2 forward, counting people often precedes fresh chapters in God’s plan. • Records also point to eternal books: Revelation 20:12 speaks of “books… opened,” and Philippians 4:3 celebrates names “in the Book of Life.” Earthly ledgers dimly mirror God’s perfect register. • Even pagan bureaucracy bows to divine sovereignty: “The king’s heart is a watercourse in the hand of the LORD; He directs it where He pleases” (Proverbs 21:1). summary Luke 2:3 shows universal compliance, decisive action, ancestral roots, and civic duty—all orchestrated by God to position His Son precisely where prophecy demanded. A simple census line becomes a testament to the Lord’s meticulous governance of history and His faithful fulfillment of promise. (3) All went to be taxed.--As a rule the practice in a Roman census was to register people in their place of residence; but this was probably modified in Palestine, in deference to the feelings of the people. After the death of Herod and the division of his kingdom, such a method as that implied hero could hardly have been feasible, as the subjects of one tetrarchy would not have been registered as belonging to another, so that here again we have not an error, but a special note of accuracy.Greek Andκαὶ (kai) Conjunction Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely. everyone πάντες (pantes) Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural Strong's 3956: All, the whole, every kind of. Including all the forms of declension; apparently a primary word; all, any, every, the whole. went ἐπορεύοντο (eporeuonto) Verb - Imperfect Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Plural Strong's 4198: To travel, journey, go, die. to εἰς (eis) Preposition Strong's 1519: A primary preposition; to or into, of place, time, or purpose; also in adverbial phrases. his own ἑαυτοῦ (heautou) Reflexive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular Strong's 1438: Himself, herself, itself. town πόλιν (polin) Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular Strong's 4172: A city, the inhabitants of a city. Probably from the same as polemos, or perhaps from polus; a town. to register. ἀπογράφεσθαι (apographesthai) Verb - Present Infinitive Middle or Passive Strong's 583: From apo and grapho; to write off, i.e. Enrol. Links Luke 2:3 NIVLuke 2:3 NLT Luke 2:3 ESV Luke 2:3 NASB Luke 2:3 KJV Luke 2:3 BibleApps.com Luke 2:3 Biblia Paralela Luke 2:3 Chinese Bible Luke 2:3 French Bible Luke 2:3 Catholic Bible NT Gospels: Luke 2:3 All went to enroll themselves everyone (Luke Lu Lk) |