Chapter 2:1-20 Birth of Christ

2:1 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.

Caesar Augustus - This was Caius Caesar Octavianus Augustus, who was proclaimed emperor of Rome in the 29th year before our Lord, and died a.d. 14.
That all the world should be taxed - Πασαν την οικουμενην, the whole of that empire.

Little did any idea enter into Caesar’s head that he was accomplishing the purpose of God by bringing Mary to Bethlehem, at that particular time, 

so that her child might be born there.

2:2 (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)

And this taxing was first made - Or "this was the first enrolment, or taxing" in the Jewish nation; for there was another afterwards, when Judas the Galilean arose, and drew many after him.
When Cyrenius was governor of Syria; or "of Cyrenius" "governor of Syria"; that is, it was the first that he was, concerned in; who not now, but afterwards was governor of Syria; and because he had been so before Luke wrote this history, and this being a title of honor, and what might distinguish him from others of that name, it is given him; for as Tertullian says, Sentius Saturninus was now governor of Syria, when Cyrenius was sent into Judea, to make this register, or taxing; and which is manifestly distinguished from that, which was made during his being governor of Syria, when Archelaus was banished from Judea, ten or eleven years after Herod's death; which Josephus gives an account of, and Luke refers to. This Cyrenius is the same whom the Romans call Quirinius, and Quirinus; a governor of Syria had great power in Judea, to which it was annexed, when Cyrenius was governor there.

2:3 And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.
And all went to be taxed - Throughout Judea, Galilee, and Syria; men, women, and children.

2:4 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:)

And Joseph also went up from Galilee - Where he now lived, and worked at the trade of a carpenter; having for some reasons, and by one providence or another, removed hither from his native place:
out of the city of Nazareth; unto the city of David; which is called Bethlehem: the place where, according to Micah 5:2 the Messiah was to be born, and was born; and 

---which signifies "the house of bread": a very fit place for Christ, the bread which came down from heaven, and gives life to the world, to appear first in.

2:5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.

To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife - Whom also he had married, though he had not known her in a carnal way; she came along with him to be taxed and enrolled also, because she was of the same family of David, and belonged to the same city:
being great with child; very near her time, and yet, though in such circumstances, was obliged by this edict, to come to Bethlehem; and the providence in it was, that she might give birth there, and so the prophecy in Micah 5:2 have its accomplishment: this was an instance, and an example, of obedience to civil magistrates.

2:6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.

the days were accomplished that she should be delivered; her reckoning was up, the nine months of her going with child were ended, and her full time to bring forth was come.

2:7 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.

---He was born in a stable; so some think the word signifies which we translate a manger, a place for cattle to stand to be fed in. 

Because there was no room in the inn, and for want of conveniences, nay for want of necessaries, he was laid in a manger, instead of a cradle. 

---The word which we render swaddling clothes some derive from a word that signifies to rend, or tear, and these infer that he was so far from having a good suit of child-bed linen, that his very swaddles were ragged and torn.

2:8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

Keeping watch - by night - Or, as in the margin, keeping the watches of the night, i.e. each one keeping a watch (which ordinarily consisted of three hours) in his turn.

2:9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

The meanest circumstances of Christ's humiliation were all along attended with some discoveries of His glory, to balance them, and take off the offence of them; 

for even when He humbled Himself God did in some measure exalt Him and give Him earnests of his future exaltation.

2:10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

Q: What the message was which the angel had to deliver to the shepherds?
for behold, I bring you good tidings; tidings, that were both wonderful and amazing.... the work of man's salvation, his peace, pardon, righteousness, was about to be accomplished, and so matter great joy: not carnal, but spiritual; not feigned, but real; not temporary, but lasting; even such as cannot be taken away, nor intermeddled with; and not small, but great, even joy unspeakable, and full of glory:

2:11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.
A Savior, which is Christ the Lord - A Savior, σωτηρ, the same as Jesus from σωζειν, to make safe, to deliver, preserve, to make alive.

2:12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
This shall be a sign (or token) unto you - You shall find this glorious person, however strange it may appear, wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a stable!

2:13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
The angels' doxology to God, and congratulations of men, upon this solemn occasion, the message was no sooner delivered by one angel (that was sufficient to go express) than suddenly there was with that angel a multitude of the heavenly hosts; sufficient, we may be sure, to make a chorus, that were heard by the shepherds.

2:14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
Here was the peace proclaimed with great solemnity; It is on earth peace, to men of good-will (so some copies read it), en anthrōpois eudokias; to men who have a good-will to God, and are willing to be reconciled;

2:15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.
Let us now go even unto Bethlehem - Διελθωμεν, let us go across the country at the nearest, that we may lose no time, that we may speedily see this glorious reconciler of God and man. 

All delays are dangerous: 

but he who delays to seek Jesus, when the angels, the messengers of God, bring him glad tidings of salvation, risks his present safety and his eternal happiness.

2:16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.
And they came with haste - In the night, leaving their flocks, to see their incarnate Lord, as Zacchaeus hastened down from the tree to receive the Savior.

2:17 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.
They made known abroad the saying - These shepherds were the first preachers of the Gospel of Christ: 

Q: and what was their text? 

Why, 

---Glory to God in the highest heavens, 

---and on earth peace and good will among men.

2:18 And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.
And all they that heard it - What the shepherds related of what they had heard from the angel, and from Joseph and Mary, and what they had seen themselves, wondered at those things that were told them by the shepherds: for though they expected the Messiah, and that he would be born at Bethlehem, 

---yet they did not imagine that he would be born of such parents, 

---and appear in such circumstances,  

---and that shepherds, and not the princes of Israel, should have the first notice of it;

2:19 But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.
.....and pondered them in her heart; or compared them in her mind, with what had been said to herself by the angel, and also by her husband, as well as what was said by Elisabeth at the time she made her a visit; but she said nothing of them to others, lest she should be thought an enthusiast, or a vain boaster; and therefore left things, till time should make a discovery of them in a proper way, and in the best season.

2:20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

For all the things that they had heard - From Mary; as it was told them - By the angels.