Luke 2:1-3

Amplified Bible

Jesus’ Birth in Bethlehem

2 Now in those days a decree went out from [the emperor] ^[a]Caesar Augustus, that all the inhabited world (the Roman Empire) should be ^[b]registered [in a census]. ²This was the first census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. ³And everyone went to register for the census, each to his own city.

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Footnotes

Luke 2:1 Augustus, Rome’s first and possibly greatest emperor was born Gaius Octavius in 63 b.c. He was the great-nephew, adopted son and heir of the dictator, Julius Caesar. Under Augustus’ intelligent leadership (27 b.c.-a.d. 14) Rome entered the period of peace and prosperity known as the Pax Romana.
Luke 2:1 This was the first general census conducted outside Rome that included the people of the Roman provinces.