Luke, the author, establishes the facts of Jesus’ birth. He establishes when Jesus was born with other events that can be easily dated. Numbering years as we do now was invented by a monk in 525 AD and adopted officially in the 9th century. So, antiquity authors used well-documented and known people and events to date other important events.
First, Luke mentions Caesar Augustus, declared Rome’s first emperor in 27 B.C., thus ending the Roman Republic. He reigned until 14 A.D. when he was murdered. Next, Luke mentions a Roman wide census, used to determine how much taxes and men for the army can be taken from an area. Third, Luke brings up that Quirinius was governor of Syria, who ruled from 51 B.C. to 21 A.D. With these and other facts mentioned by Luke (like shepherds in Bethlehem), Luke establishes that Jesus was born in the spring of 5 or 6 B.C.
Through the rulers and authorities mentioned, Luke establishes that the Roman environment was oppressive and impoverished for most Jews. By mentioning that Joseph, Jesus’ stepfather, was of the line of David (as was Mary), I learn that though born with royal blood does not guarantee all generations wealth and power.
Bible study and meditation can help one to see that its accuracy, though challenged, is infallible. God gives what is needed to determine if Jesus is the promised Messiah, Son of David and Son of God who died to remove mankind’s sin and rose from death to free us from the fear of death. God freely gives and establishes the evidence. We only need to place it as a priority to learn.
