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The Gospel of Luke Chapter 2:1-20 The Birth of Jesus Christ 2:1 Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus to register all the empire for taxes.
In the days running up to the birth of Jesus, Caesar Augustus decreed that the entire Roman Empire should be registered, as part of his reform of Roman taxation. Caesar Augustus (Gaius Octavius) was the adopted son of his great uncle Julius Caesar, who after defeating Julius’ assassins overcame his former allies (including Mark Anthony) to establish himself as the first emperor of Rome, ruling from 29 BC to 14 AD. Every province would, of course, organise its own census; and so the decree sets in course a chain of events in a lowly village in Galilee which led to prophecies about Jesus’ birth being fulfilled. Luke apparently wants us to see how God was in charge of all these events, even influencing heathen kings to do his bidding. Luke ironically shows God is using the supreme ruler of Rome to make preparation for the birth of the supreme ruler of all things. 2:2-3 This was the first registration, taken when Quirinius was governor of Syria. Everyone went to his own town to be registered.
Most historians agree that Quirinius conducted a census upon becoming legate of Syria in roughly 6AD1. This census was a memorable one, for according to Josephus, the census was seen as being against Jewish law and gave rise to an anti-Roman revolt led by Judas of Galilee; but it does not correspond with Matthew’s account of Jesus being born during the reign of Herod the Great. However, the verse suggests that there was a census before2 the one made by Quirinius. That would place it during the reign of Herod the Great (as Matthew suggests), and that might also explain why the custom of returning to tribal homes was followed, to make the census look more Jewish than Roman. Our best estimates place the birth of Jesus around 4 BC. 2:4-5 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family line of David. He went to be registered with Mary, who was promised in marriage to him, and who was expecting a child.
1 2
H.H. Ben-Sasson, A History of the Jewish People, Harvard University Press, 1976, Protos can sometimes imply ‘before’ rather than ‘first’
So Joseph went from Nazareth to Bethlehem the home of his ancestors for he was a descendant of King David. He took Mary to whom he was engaged to be married; it was not usually a requirement for a man’s wife to accompany him during a census, but perhaps because he wanted to care for Mary himself, especially since only he and Mary knew the true identity of the child. 2:6-7 While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
Thus it was while they were in Bethlehem Mary gave birth to Jesus. Luke is careful to point this out because it was well known among the Jews that Bethlehem was the place where the Messiah should be born (Micah 5:2). Luke describes Jesus as Mary’s firstborn Son; for perhaps he knows of the four other brothers and several sisters named by Matthew (Matt. 13:55-56). Mary wrapped Jesus in swaddling clothes (strips of cloth) according to the Hebrew custom.3 Some commentators see in this an allusion to Jesus death: 2:7
“wrapped him
23:53 “wrapped [Jesus body]
in bands of cloth
and laid him in a manger”
in a linen cloth
and laid it in a… tomb”4
Joel Green has some interesting information on the phrase ‘there was no room for them in the inn’. Peasant homes would have been open for travellers to share, and in these homes animals and people shared one roof with the animals in a lower level.5 The verse implies that the only room for Mary and Joseph then was among the animals in the lower part of such a house and the only thing available to serve as a cot was the animals’ feeding trough (manger).
The Birth of the Saviour made Known 2:8-9 Now there were shepherds nearby living out in the field, keeping guard over their flock at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were absolutely terrified.
Since the days of King David, Bethlehem was known as a sheep farming area (2 Sam. 17:15). On the night that Jesus was born, shepherds in the fields near Bethlehem were visited by an angel. From him the glory of the Lord filled the night sky around them, and they were terrified. 2:10 But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid! Listen carefully, for I proclaim to you good news that brings great joy to all the people.
The angel reassured them that he had not come to harm them but brought a message of good news from God which would bring great joy to all people. 2:11 Today your Savior is born in the city of David. He is Christ the Lord.
3
“When a child among the Hebrews was born, it was washed in water, rubbed in salt, and then wrapped in swaddling clothes; that is, not garments regularly made, as with us, but bands or blankets that confined the limbs closely” (Barnes) 4 Joel B. Green, The Greek New Testament Commentary on Luke (Grand Rapids, Eerdmans, 2008), p. 124 citing Derrett, ‘Manger at Bethlehem’, pp. 43-44 5 Green, Luke, pp. 128-129
Here was awesome news! The Jews had been living under the oppression of an occupying power whose emperor called himself the saviour and lord of the world. Many Jews longed for Messiah to come and liberate them from this ungodly rule and restore Israel to God. In Bethlehem that night, this Messiah (Christ) was born, and from now on he was to be the Saviour and Lord of the world. 2:12 This will be a sign for you: You will find a baby wrapped in strips of cloth and lying in a manger.
This great ruler would be recognised not by his worldly grandeur, but by the lowly way in which he was born; they would find him wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger. 2:13-14 Suddenly a vast, heavenly army appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among people with whom he is pleased!"
Suddenly a multitude of the heavenly host appeared with the angel praising God “to honour the new-born Prince of Peace” (Clarke). This is their anthem of praise. The glory of God was manifested in His Son the Lord Jesus Christ, for through Him and by Him would God fulfil his eternal purpose to reconcile the world to Himself. The peace on earth is the peace of reconciliation that will be brought about by Christ’s death and resurrection (Eph. 2:13-15). The correct rendering is “goodwill towards all men”, for “God so loved the world that He gave His Son” (John 3:16). 2:15 When the angels left them and went back to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, that the Lord has made known to us."
After the angels had gone the shepherds consulted among themselves and decided to go to Bethlehem and see the child whose birth God had made known to them. 2:16 So they hurried off and located Mary and Joseph, and found the baby lying in a manger.
When they arrived at the house they found it exactly as the angel had said, with Mary and Joseph and the baby lying in the manger. 2:17-18 When they saw him, they related what they had been told about this child, and all who heard it were astonished at what the shepherds said.
When they had seen Jesus they witnessed to everybody the things which they had been told concerning Him. All who heard the shepherds story were amazed by it, for although they were expecting the Messiah to be born in Bethlehem they did not think that He would have parents of such low social status or be born in a peasant house. 2:19 But Mary treasured up all these words, pondering in her heart what they might mean.
But Mary treasured all the things which she had learned about Jesus in her heart and meditated upon them. 2:20 So the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen; everything was just as they had been told.
The shepherds returned to the occupation of caring for sheep praising and glorifying God for His grace which had been revealed to them. © Derek Williams & Mathew Bartlett 2013 Bible Studies Online UK www.biblestudiesonline.org.uk You may copy, print or distribute our studies freely in any form, just so long as you make no charges. Sign up today for our FREE monthly Bible study magazine “Living Word” Scriptures taken from the NET Bible www.bible.org