Luke 2:3 - All went to enroll themselves, everyone to his own city.
Select Bible Verse
Filter Categories
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
R
S
T
U
V
W
What does "Luke 2:3" mean?
This verse from Luke 2:3 refers to a census decreed by Caesar Augustus throughout the Roman Empire. Let's break it down:
"All went to enroll themselves...": This refers to the people who were subject to Roman taxation. Caesar Augustus wanted a comprehensive record of the population for administrative and tax purposes. This was a formal process of registration.
"...everyone to his own city.": This is the crucial part. People were required to register in their ancestral or family city, rather than where they currently resided. This explains why Joseph and Mary, who lived in Nazareth in Galilee, traveled to Bethlehem in Judea. Bethlehem was Joseph's ancestral home, being of the lineage of David.
Why this was significant:
Logistical Nightmare: This census caused massive travel and crowding, as people journeyed to their ancestral homes.
Fulfillment of Prophecy: The seemingly arbitrary decree had a profound effect. It was because of this census that Mary and Joseph traveled to Bethlehem, allowing the prophecy from Micah 5:2 to be fulfilled: "But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.” Jesus was born in Bethlehem precisely because of this census.
Taxation and Control: The census allowed Rome to more effectively collect taxes and maintain control over its vast empire.
In short, the verse describes the beginning of a widespread Roman census that required people to return to their ancestral cities to register, a situation that ultimately led to the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem.
Luke 2:3 - All went to enroll themselves, everyone to his own city.
What does "Luke 2:3" mean?
This verse from Luke 2:3 refers to a census decreed by Caesar Augustus throughout the Roman Empire. Let's break it down:
"All went to enroll themselves...": This refers to the people who were subject to Roman taxation. Caesar Augustus wanted a comprehensive record of the population for administrative and tax purposes. This was a formal process of registration.
"...everyone to his own city.": This is the crucial part. People were required to register in their ancestral or family city, rather than where they currently resided. This explains why Joseph and Mary, who lived in Nazareth in Galilee, traveled to Bethlehem in Judea. Bethlehem was Joseph's ancestral home, being of the lineage of David.
Why this was significant:
Logistical Nightmare: This census caused massive travel and crowding, as people journeyed to their ancestral homes.
Fulfillment of Prophecy: The seemingly arbitrary decree had a profound effect. It was because of this census that Mary and Joseph traveled to Bethlehem, allowing the prophecy from Micah 5:2 to be fulfilled: "But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.” Jesus was born in Bethlehem precisely because of this census.
Taxation and Control: The census allowed Rome to more effectively collect taxes and maintain control over its vast empire.
In short, the verse describes the beginning of a widespread Roman census that required people to return to their ancestral cities to register, a situation that ultimately led to the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem.