Luke 2:1 Commentary - Whedon's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
§ 8. JESUS’S BIRTH, Luk 2:1-7 .
1. In those days The evangelist having detailed the fact of the birth of Messiah’s forerunner gives now a narrative of the manifestation of Messiah himself. He furnishes a circle of facts obtained by him, perhaps from James, the son of Mary and Joseph, or even from the blessed mother herself, omitted by all the other evangelists.
Cesar Augustus Under the power and genius of the celebrated Julius Cesar the Roman republic fell, and the imperial government was established. He was succeeded by his nephew, Augustus Cesar, under whom the world of New Testament history was subdued. During his reign the temple of Janus was shut, in token of universal peace, and the Prince of peace made his advent.
The world The Roman world.
Should be taxed Not taxed, but the census taken, and the names of all enrolled. No contemporary historian gives any account of this census, but authentic mention is made of a breviarium, or summary of the resources of the empire, which must have been the result of something of this nature. From other sources than contemporary history also we know that there was a topographical survey made of the geographical extent of the empire.
Palestine was not indeed in form a province of the Roman empire, inasmuch as Herod was its king. But his kingdom was a gift from Augustus, who spared his life and placed him in power, although he had forfeited all by taking side with Anthony in the war for the empire against Augustus. The Jews were required to take an oath of allegiance to Augustus as well as to Herod. Augustus was little likely to hesitate to include Palestine in his census, though it is very likely that so vast an enrolment as the whole civilized world would require years, would be executed by different provinces quite separately, and completed by each in accordance with its own customs and institutions.
Consult other comments:
Luke 2:1 - Abbott's Illustrated New Testament
Luke 2:1 - The Greek Testament
Luke 2:1 - Barclay Daily Study Bible
Luke 2:1 - Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible
Luke 2:1 - Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Luke 2:1 - Expository Notes with Practical Observations on the New Testament
Luke 2:1 - Calvin's Complete Commentary
Luke 2:1 - The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Luke 2:1 - B.H. Carroll's An Interpretation of the English Bible
Luke 2:1 - Through the Bible Commentary
Luke 2:1 - Adam Clarke's Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Luke 2:1 - Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Luke 2:1 - College Press Bible Study Textbook Series
Luke 2:1 - Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Luke 2:1 - Expository Notes of Dr. Constable (Old and New Testaments)
Luke 2:1 - John Darby's Synopsis of the New Testament
Luke 2:1 - Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
Luke 2:1 - Everett's Study Notes on the Holy Scriptures
Luke 2:1 - The Expositor’s Greek Testament by Robertson
Luke 2:1 - Expositor's Dictionary of Text by Robertson
Luke 2:1 - F. B. Hole's Old and New Testaments Commentary
Luke 2:1 - F.B. Meyer's Through the Bible Commentary
Luke 2:1 - Discovering Christ In Selected Books of the Bible
Luke 2:1 - Gaebelein's Annotated Bible (Commentary)
Luke 2:1 - Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
Luke 2:1 - McGarvey and Pendleton Commentaries (New Testament)
Luke 2:1 - John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible
Luke 2:1 - Gnomon of the New Testament
Luke 2:1 - William Godbey's Commentary on the New Testament
Luke 2:1 - Godet Commentary (Luke, John, Romans and 1 Corinthians)
Luke 2:1 - Grant's Commentary on the Bible
Luke 2:1 - Henry Alford's Greek Testament
Luke 2:1 - Hawker's Poor Man's Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Luke 2:1 - Matthew Henry's Whole Bible Commentary
Luke 2:1 - International Critical Commentary New Testament
Luke 2:1 - Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
Luke 2:1 - Commentaries on the New Testament and Prophets
Luke 2:1 - Jamieson, Fausset and Brown's Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Luke 2:1 - William Kelly Major Works (New Testament)
Luke 2:1 - The Popular Commentary on the Bible by Kretzmann
Luke 2:1 - A Commentary on the Holy Scriptures, Critical, Doctrinal, and Homiletical by Lange
Luke 2:1 - Cornelius Lapide Commentary
Luke 2:1 - Lightfoot Commentary Gospels
Luke 2:1 - Neighbour's Wells of Living Water
Luke 2:1 - Heinrich August Wilhelm Meyer's New Testament Commentary
Luke 2:1 - An Exposition on the Whole Bible
Luke 2:1 - Grant's Numerical Bible Notes and Commentary
Luke 2:1 - The People's Bible by Joseph Parker
Luke 2:1 - Peake's Commentary on the Bible
Luke 2:1 - Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Luke 2:1 - English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
Luke 2:1 - The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary Edited by Joseph S. Exell
Luke 2:1 - The Complete Pulpit Commentary
Luke 2:1 - Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
Luke 2:1 - Robertson's Word Pictures in the New Testament
Luke 2:1 - Ryle's Expository Thoughts on the Gospels
Luke 2:1 - A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
Luke 2:1 - Scofield Reference Bible Notes
Luke 2:1 - Spurgeon's Verse Expositions of the Bible
Luke 2:1 - Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Luke 2:1 - John Trapp's Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Luke 2:1 - The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Luke 2:1 - You Can Understand the Bible: Study Guide Commentary Series by Bob Utley
Luke 2:1 - Vincent's Word Studies in the New Testament
Luke 2:1 - Whedon's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Whedon's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Daniel D. Whedon (1808-1885) was a prominent university professor, theologian, and author. He served as Professor of Ancient Languages at Wesleyan University in Connecticut; as Professor of Rhetoric at the University of Michigan; and as editor of the Methodist Quarterly Review from 1856 to1884. He authored numerous books including Commentary on the New Testament (New York: Carlton & Porter, 1860); Commentary on the Old Testament (New York: Nelson & Phillips, 1873); What is Arminianism? (Toronto: W. Briggs, 1879); and Essays, Reviews, and Discourses (New York: Phillips & Hunt, 1887).