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Did Caesar Augustus Decree “that All the World Should be Taxed”?
The Taxation Census of Luke 2
During my childhood, it was my role to read the Christmas story before our family opened presents. We would do this on Christmas Eve. And I would dutifully read Luke 2:1–7 in the classic King James Version every year.
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. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
(Luke 2:1–7, KJV)
Years later, I learned that many people don’t believe this account.
No such tax edict ever came from Caesar Augustus!
Cyrenius was governor of Syria in A.D. 6 — too late for the birth of Jesus!
Why would the Romans require people to the city of their birth? It makes no sense!
And so on.
Indeed, there are no extant Roman records from that period to corroborate Luke’s version of events. All we have is Luke’s word. For skeptics and critics of the Bible, that’s not enough.
And perhaps that’s where we should park for a moment.
Why isn’t it?
Even if you reject the supernatural claims found within the Bible, many of the Bible’s other claims have been corroborated by non-biblical ancient records or by archaeology.
When it comes to the Gospel of Luke, we have — at the very, very least — a document written in the first century A.D. that says such a tax decree was issued.
Historians are quite often prepared to accept the reality of many people and events in ancient history based on very…
