Luke 2:1

An Understandable Version (2005 edition)

Now it happened in those days that a decree was sent out from Caesar Augustus [the Emperor of the Roman Empire] requiring [people from] the whole empire to be registered [i.e., for taxation purposes].

Cross References

Matthew 22:17

So, tell us what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?”

Matthew 24:14

And this good news concerning the kingdom [of heaven] will be preached to people throughout the world as a testimony [of God’s message] to all nations. Then, [after that] the end [i.e., of Jerusalem, the Temple, etc.] will come.

Mark 14:9

For truly I tell you, wherever the Gospel message will be preached throughout the whole world, what this woman has done [for me] will [also] be told about as a memorial of her [kindness to me].”

Mark 16:15

Then He said to them, “You [men] go into the entire world and preach the good news to every person.

Luke 2:3

And everyone went to register in his own home town.

Luke 2:5

[He went] to register, along with Mary, who was engaged to him and who was pregnant [at the time].

Luke 3:1

Now it was the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar. Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, Herod was ruler of Galilee, his brother Philip was ruler of the regions of Ituraea and Trachonitus [Note: These two men were sons of Herod the Great (See Matt. 2:1) and ruled over provinces east of the Jordan River] and Lysanias was ruler of Abilene [Note: This was a province just north of the two previously mentioned ones].

Acts 11:28

One of them, a man named Agabus, stood up and indicated by [the direction of] the Holy Spirit that there was going to be a severe worldwide famine, which [actually] took place during the time that Claudius ruled.

Acts 25:11

If then I am a criminal and have committed any crime that deserves the death penalty, I will not try to avoid being put to death. But if none of the charges I have been accused of are true, [then] no one has the right to turn me over [to the authorities]. I make my appeal to Caesar.”

Acts 25:21

But when Paul requested that his case be reviewed for a decision by Caesar, I ordered him to remain in custody until I could send him to Caesar.”

Romans 1:8

First of all, I want to thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is being told about throughout the whole world.

Philippians 4:22

All the saints [here with me] send you their greetings, especially those belonging to [Emperor] Caesar’s household.