Luke 2:3 (KJV)

Passage

And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.

Nearby Context

Luke 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.

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

Luke 2:3 And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.

Luke 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:)

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

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "went", "taxed", and "city". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "went" and "taxed", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 2's "And this taxing was first made when..." into verse 4's "And Joseph also went up from Galilee...", so "went" and "taxed" belong inside that flow. In Luke context, the local focus is Christ, faith, and discipleship.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "went" and "taxed" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.