World English Bible · Under Rome
Luke 2
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Now in those days, a went out from that all the world should be enrolled. This was the first enrollment made when Quirinius was governor of . 3All went to enroll themselves, everyone to his own city. also went up from , out of the city of , into , to city, which is called , because he was of the house and family of , to enroll himself with , who was pledged to be married to him as wife, being pregnant. While they were there, the day had come for her to give birth. She gave birth to her son. She wrapped him in bands of cloth and laid him in a feeding trough, because there was no room for them in the inn. There were in the same country staying in the field, and keeping watch by night over their flock. Behold, of stood by them, and shone around them, and they were terrified. said to them, "Don't be afraid, for behold, I bring you of great joy which will be to all the people. For there is born to you today, in city, a , who is . This is the sign to you: you will find a baby wrapped in strips of cloth, lying in a feeding trough." Suddenly, there was with a multitude of the praising and saying, " to in the highest, on earth peace, good will toward men." When the went away from them into , the said to one another, "Let's go to , now, and see this thing that has happened, which has to us." They came with haste and found both and , and the baby was lying in the feeding trough. When they saw it, they publicized widely the saying which was spoken to them about this child. All who heard it wondered at the things which were spoken to them by the . But kept all these sayings, pondering them in her . The returned, glorifying and praising for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them. When eight days were fulfilled for the of the child, his name was called , which was given by before he was conceived in the . When the days of their purification according to of were fulfilled, they brought him up to to present him to (as in of , "Every male who opens the shall be called to "), and to offer a according to that which is said in of , "A pair of , or two ." Behold, there was a man in whose name was . This man was and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel, and was on him. It had been to him by that he should not see before he had seen . He came in into . When the parents brought in the child, , that they might do concerning him according to the custom of , then he received him into his arms and , and said, "Now you are releasing , Master, according to your word, in peace; for my eyes have seen your , which you have prepared before the of all peoples; a for to the nations, and the of your people Israel." and his mother were marveling at the things which were spoken concerning him. them, and said to , his mother, "Behold, this child is appointed for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which is spoken against. Yes, a will pierce through your own , that the of many may be ." There was one , a , the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher (she was of a great age, having lived with a husband seven years from her virginity, and she had been a for about eighty-four years), who didn't depart from , worshiping with fastings and petitions night and day. Coming up at that very hour, she gave thanks to , and spoke of him to all those who were looking for in . When they had accomplished all things that were according to of , they returned into , to their own city, . The child was growing, and was becoming strong in , being filled with , and the of was upon him. His parents went every year to at the feast of . 42When he was twelve years old, they went up to according to the custom of the feast; and when they had fulfilled the days, as they were returning, the boy stayed behind in . and his mother didn't know it, but supposing him to be in the company, they went a day's journey; and they looked for him among their relatives and acquaintances. 45When they didn't find him, they returned to , looking for him. After three days they found him in , sitting in the middle of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions. All who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. When they saw him, they were astonished; and his mother said to him, "Son, why have you treated us this way? Behold, your and I were anxiously looking for you." He said to them, "Why were you looking for me? Didn't you know that I must be in house?" They didn't understand the saying which he spoke to them. And he went down with them and came to . He was subject to them, and his mother kept all these sayings in her . And increased in and stature, and in with and men.
A public domain modern English translation, free to read and share. Notes and cards are EKLI’s own.
The world at this moment · Under Rome, 63 BC to AD 100 ›
Judea as a client kingdom and then a province. Roads, garrisons, taxes, crucifixion, and a common Greek language that let a message travel the empire faster than any before it.
- Rome
- The republic tears itself apart in civil war and comes out as an empire under Augustus. What follows is two centuries of relative peace across the whole Mediterranean, enforced by legions and paid for by taxes, with safe roads and safe sea lanes. Every one of Paul's journeys depends on that.
- Judea
- Governed first through Herod the Great, a client king of enormous ability and enormous brutality who rebuilds the temple into one of the wonders of the ancient world, then directly by Roman prefects. Crucifixion is the standard penalty for sedition and is used often and publicly.
- The wider world
- Greek is spoken from Spain to Syria, which means a letter written in Corinth can be read in Rome without translation. Jewish communities already exist in most major cities, which is where the first Christian preaching lands. Mystery religions, imperial cult, and philosophy all compete in the same marketplace.
- Further afield
- The Han dynasty rules China and trades silk westward along routes that touch the Roman world at second hand. In Britain the Roman conquest begins within a decade of the crucifixion.