Luke 2:3

KJV

And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.

KJV (with Strong's)

And {G2532} all {G3956} went {G4198} to be taxed {G583}, every one {G1538} into {G1519} his own {G2398} city {G4172}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Everyone went to be registered, each to his own town.

Berean Standard Bible

And everyone went to his own town to register.

American Standard Version

And all went to enrol themselves, every one to his own city.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Luke 2:3 details the widespread compliance with Caesar Augustus's decree for a Roman census, requiring every individual to travel to their ancestral city for registration. This seemingly bureaucratic and inconvenient command, impacting the entire Roman world, served as the providential means by which God orchestrated the fulfillment of ancient prophecy, ensuring Jesus' birth in Bethlehem, the city of David.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Luke 2:3 is the immediate follow-up to the grand pronouncement of the census in [Luke 2:1-2](/luke/2-1-2 "Luke 2:1-2 - Caesar Augustus's Decree"). While the preceding verses establish the global scope and imperial authority behind the decree, verse 3 narrows the focus to the practical, personal impact: everyone's required movement. This sets the stage for the specific journey of Joseph and Mary, described in [Luke 2:4-5](/luke/2-4-5 "Luke 2:4-5 - Joseph and Mary's Journey to Bethlehem"), which directly leads to Jesus' birth in Bethlehem, as narrated in [Luke 2:6-7](/luke/2-6-7 "Luke 2:6-7 - The Birth of Jesus"). The verse thus functions as a crucial narrative bridge, explaining *why* Joseph and Mary were in Bethlehem at that precise time.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The Roman Empire regularly conducted censuses (Latin: *census*, Greek: *apographē*) for various administrative purposes, including taxation, military conscription, and population management. While the specific "first enrollment when Quirinius was governor of Syria" mentioned in [Luke 2:2](/luke/2-2 "Luke 2:2 - Quirinius's Governorship") has been a point of historical discussion, the general practice of Roman censuses is well-attested. The requirement for individuals to return to their "own city" (likely their ancestral hometown or the place where their family property was registered) was a Roman administrative method to ensure accurate registration and prevent evasion. For Jews, this often meant returning to the city of their tribal or family lineage. This journey, often arduous and inconvenient, highlights the pervasive reach of Roman authority and the practical realities of life under occupation.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes in Luke's Gospel and the broader biblical narrative. It underscores **Divine Sovereignty**, demonstrating how God uses the decrees of powerful earthly rulers, even pagan emperors like Caesar Augustus, to accomplish His divine purposes. The census, intended for Roman administrative control, becomes the very mechanism by which the Messiah is born in Bethlehem, fulfilling the prophecy of [Micah 5:2](/micah/5-2 "Micah 5:2 - Prophecy of Bethlehem"). It also highlights the theme of **Obedience to Authority**, as Joseph and Mary, devout Jews, comply with the Roman decree despite the personal hardship. This foreshadows the New Testament teaching on submission to governing authorities found in passages like [Romans 13:1-7](/romans/13-1-7 "Romans 13:1-7 - Submission to Governing Authorities"). Finally, the verse is central to the theme of **Fulfillment of Prophecy**, as the forced journey to Bethlehem directly facilitates the precise geographical location foretold for the Messiah's birth.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **to be taxed (Greek, _apográphō'_):** This verb means "to write off (a copy or list), i.e., enrol." It signifies a formal public registration or enrollment, often for census purposes, which could indeed lead to taxation. The term emphasizes the official, bureaucratic nature of the decree, requiring physical presence for a formal listing of citizens or subjects.
* **all (Greek, _pâs'_):** This word encompasses "all, any, every, the whole." Its use here emphasizes the universal scope of the decree within the Roman Empire, indicating that no one was exempt. This highlights the immense logistical undertaking and the pervasive reach of Roman authority, setting the stage for the global significance of the event it facilitates.
* **city (Greek, _pólis'_):** This refers to a "town (properly, with walls, of greater or less size)." In this context, it specifically refers to the ancestral or registered hometown of each individual. The requirement to return to one's *pólis* was crucial for the fulfillment of prophecy, as it mandated Joseph and Mary's journey to Bethlehem.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And all went to be taxed":** This clause describes the widespread and compulsory compliance with the Roman decree. The term "all" (Gk. *pâs*) emphasizes the universal nature of the command, affecting every subject within the Roman dominion. The purpose of this movement was "to be taxed" or, more broadly, "to be enrolled" (*apográphō*), indicating a formal registration process for administrative purposes, which would typically include assessment for taxation.
* **"every one into his own city":** This specifies the destination for each individual's journey. The phrase "every one" (*hékastos*) reiterates the individual obligation, while "into his own city" (*eis ídios pólis*) clarifies that people were required to return to their ancestral or registered hometown. This detail is crucial for the narrative, as it explains why Joseph, being "of the house and lineage of David" ([Luke 2:4](/luke/2-4 "Luke 2:4 - Joseph's Lineage")), had to travel to Bethlehem, the city of David, despite residing in Nazareth.

#### Literary Devices
Luke's concise statement in [Luke 2:3](/luke/2-3 "Luke 2:3 - The Universal Census") masterfully employs **Historical Narrative** to ground the sacred events of Jesus' birth in verifiable historical and political realities. This grounds the miraculous in the mundane, lending credibility to the extraordinary claims. Furthermore, there is a profound sense of **Divine Irony** at play. The powerful Roman emperor, Caesar Augustus, issues a decree for his own imperial purposes, yet this very decree becomes the unwitting instrument of God's sovereign plan. The human act of a census, intended for earthly control, is divinely orchestrated to fulfill ancient prophecy and bring about the Incarnation. This also subtly employs **Foreshadowing**, as the seemingly inconvenient journey to Bethlehem directly sets the stage for the pivotal event of the Messiah's birth in the prophesied location, a detail that will be expanded upon in subsequent verses.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Luke 2:3 serves as a powerful testament to God's meticulous and overarching sovereignty, demonstrating His ability to weave His divine purposes into the fabric of human history, even through the decrees of secular powers. The seemingly mundane and inconvenient act of a Roman census becomes the precise mechanism for the fulfillment of ancient prophecy regarding the Messiah's birthplace. This highlights that God is not merely reacting to human events but actively orchestrating them, often using the ordinary and even the oppressive circumstances of life to advance His redemptive plan. It reminds us that no human authority, no matter how vast, operates outside the ultimate control of the Almighty, who "works all things according to the counsel of His will" ([Ephesians 1:11](/ephesians/1-11 "Ephesians 1:11 - God Works All Things According to His Will")).

* [Micah 5:2](/micah/5-2 "Micah 5:2 - Prophecy of Bethlehem as Messiah's Birthplace")
* [Romans 13:1](/romans/13-1 "Romans 13:1 - Submission to Governing Authorities")
* [Acts 17:26-28](/acts/17-26-28 "God's Sovereignty Over Nations")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Luke 2:3 offers profound comfort and challenge for contemporary believers. It reminds us that God's providence is at work even in the most ordinary, bureaucratic, or inconvenient aspects of life. Just as a Roman census, a seemingly mundane administrative task, became the stage for the most significant event in human history—the incarnation of God—so too can God be working in the seemingly insignificant details of our own lives or in the larger, often complex and chaotic events of the world. We are called to trust that God is always purposeful, guiding all things towards His perfect plan, even when His methods seem circuitous, challenging, or beyond our comprehension. This verse encourages us to look for God's hand in unexpected places and to remain faithful and obedient even when circumstances are difficult or inconvenient, knowing that our submission can be part of His greater design.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does Luke 2:3 challenge your perspective on the mundane or inconvenient aspects of your own life?**
* **In what ways can you discern God's sovereign hand at work in current global or national events that seem purely secular?**
* **What does Joseph and Mary's obedience to the census decree teach us about our own submission to earthly authorities, even when it is difficult?**

### FAQ
**Was this census truly "worldwide" as Luke states?**

Answer: Luke's phrase "all the world" (Gk. *pasan tēn oikoumenēn*) refers to the entire Roman Empire, which was indeed a vast and dominant power in the ancient world. While not literally every single person on the planet, it encompassed the known and governed world from a Roman perspective. Historical records confirm that the Romans regularly conducted censuses for administrative, taxation, and military purposes across their provinces. The specific census mentioned by Luke in connection with Quirinius has been a subject of scholarly debate regarding its precise timing and nature, but the general practice of such enrollments is historically well-attested, and Luke's account fits within the known Roman administrative framework.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Luke 2:3, detailing the forced journey of "all" to their "own city" for registration, serves as a remarkable testament to the pre-ordained humility and sovereign orchestration surrounding Christ's advent. The Son of God, who "though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men" ([Philippians 2:6-7](/philippians/2-6-7 "Philippians 2:6-7 - Christ's Humiliation")), enters the world not in a grand imperial procession, but as a result of a bureaucratic decree. This census, a symbol of earthly power and control, ironically becomes the vehicle for the King of Kings to be born in the humble town of Bethlehem, fulfilling the ancient prophecy of [Micah 5:2](/micah/5-2 "Micah 5:2 - Bethlehem, the Birthplace of the Ruler"). Jesus, the true "Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world" ([John 1:29](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God")), is registered among humanity, identifying with their earthly circumstances and submitting to human authority, even before His birth. This foreshadows His ultimate submission to the Father's will, leading Him to the cross for the redemption of all who would believe, proving that even the most mundane human decrees serve the greater, glorious purpose of God's redemptive plan in Christ.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.