Sermon Series: The Gospel of Luke
A Season of Promise
Promised Savior
Pastor George Stephens | December 15, 2024
“In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.” (Luke 2:1–7, ESV)
First. Some History
“In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria.” (Luke 2:1–2, ESV)
- Augustus was one of the first Ceasars to use regular censuses to tax the entire empire usually on a 12 to 14 year cycle
- Judah was generally exempted from these because of Herod, but Herod’s favor was waning in the latter years of his monarchy
“And all went to be registered, each to his own town.” (Luke 2:3, ESV)
- Herod, apparently covered up the Roman tax by making everyone return to their generational home, making the tax look Jewish and not Roman
- The Census of Quirinius in ad 6 was odious to Israel because it was the first census where they were lumped together with every other Roman province.
- The Quirinius census creates a lot of nationalist backlash with an uprising and the rise of the Zealots
“After him Judas the Galilean rose up in the days of the census and drew away some of the people after him. He too perished, and all who followed him were scattered.” (Acts 5:37, ESV)
- Jesus is born in the first census – a time of peace.
Followed by Some Family
“And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child.” (Luke 2:4–5, ESV)
Concluding with Some Prophecy
“And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.” (Luke 2:6–7, ESV)
