^2:1Now¹ in those days a decree² went out from Caesar³ Augustus⁴ to register⁵ all the empire⁶ for taxes. ^2:2This was the first registration, taken when Quirinius was governor⁷ of Syria. ^2:3Everyone⁸ went to his own town⁹ to be registered.

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Footnotes

1 Grk “Now it happened that.” The introductory phrase ἐγένετο (egeneto, “it happened that”), common in Luke (69 times) and Acts (54 times), is redundant in contemporary English and has not been translated.
2 This decree was a formal decree from the Roman Senate.
3 Or “from the emperor” (“Caesar” is a title for the Roman emperor).
4 Caesar Augustus refers to Octavian, who was Caesar from 27 b.c. to a.d. 14. He was known for his administrative prowess.
5 Grk “that all the empire should be registered for taxes.” The passive infinitive ἀπογράφεσθαι (apographesthai) has been rendered as an active in the translation to improve the English style. The verb is regarded as a technical term for official registration in tax lists ( ἀπογράφω a). This census (a decree … to register all the empire) is one of the more disputed historical remarks in Luke. Josephus ( 18.1.1 [18.1–2]) only mentions a census in a.d. 6, too late for this setting. Such a census would have been a massive undertaking; it could have started under one ruler and emerged under another, to whose name it became attached. This is one possibility to explain the data. Another is that Quirinius, who became governor in Syria for the later census, may have been merely an administrator for this census. See also Luke 2:2.
6 Grk “the whole (inhabited) world,” but this was a way to refer to the Roman empire (L&N 1.83).
7 Or “was a minister of Syria.” This term could simply refer to an administrative role Quirinius held as opposed to being governor (Josephus, 18.4.2 [18.88]). See also Luke 2:1.
8 Grk “And everyone.” Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
9 Or “hometown” (so ).

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

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.

NIVNew International Version (2011)

In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to their own town to register.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that the whole empire should be registered. This first registration took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. So everyone went to be registered, each to his own town.

NLTNew Living Translation

At that time the Roman emperor, Augustus, decreed that a census should be taken throughout the Roman Empire. (This was the first census taken when Quirinius was governor of Syria.) All returned to their own ancestral towns to register for this census.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

Now it happened that in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus to register all the empire. (This first registration took place when Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to be registered, each one to his own town.

KJV 1900King James Version

And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.

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