Lexical Summary apographé: Census, enrollment, registration Original Word: ἀπογραφή Strong's Exhaustive Concordance taxing. From apographo; an enrollment; by implication, an assessment -- taxing. see GREEK apographo NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom apographó Definition a register, enrollment NASB Translation census (2). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 582: ἀπογραφήἀπογραφή, ἀπογραφῆς, ἡ (ἀπογράφω); a. a writing off, transcript (from some pattern). b. "an enrolment (or registration) in the public records of persons together with their property and income," as the basis of an ἀποτίμησις (census or valuation), i. e. that it might appear how much tax should be levied upon each one: Luke 2:2; Acts 5:37; on the occurrence spoken of in both passages, compare Schürer, Ntl. Zeitgesch. § 17, pp. 251, 262-286, and books there mentioned; (McClellan 1:392-399; B. D. under the word Topical Lexicon Scope of the Term ἀπογραφή denotes an official registration or census conducted for purposes such as taxation, military conscription, or legal verification. In Scripture it functions as the backdrop for two key events—Christ’s birth in Bethlehem and the failed revolt of Judas the Galilean—each illustrating divine sovereignty over civil affairs. Use in the Lukan Nativity Narrative (Luke 2:1-7) Caesar Augustus’ decree for “all the world to be registered” (Luke 2:1) drives Joseph and the expectant Mary from Nazareth to Bethlehem. Luke comments, “This was the first census to take place while Quirinius was governor of Syria” (Luke 2:2). By tying the Messiah’s birthplace to a Roman administrative act, Luke highlights: Historical Context: Roman Censuses Rome regularly ordered provincial enrollments to update tax rolls and draft lists. Provinces such as Syria (which included Judea after 6 B.C.) were subject to these audits. Sign-up required heads of households to appear in ancestral towns where land holdings and genealogies were recorded—explaining Joseph’s journey to “the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David” (Luke 2:4). Archaeological discoveries (e.g., edicts from Gaius Vibius Maximus, A.D. 104) corroborate the practice of returning to one’s origin for census registration. Acts 5:37 and the Galilean Revolt Gamaliel’s speech references “Judas the Galilean” who “appeared in the days of the census and drew away people after him” (Acts 5:37). The same administrative measure that brought Jesus to Bethlehem incited Judas to rebellion. Contrasting responses to civil authority are thus set side by side: Luke thereby underlines the futility of political messianism compared with the true, redemptive mission of Christ. Theological Implications 1. Divine sovereignty over governments (Daniel 2:21; Romans 13:1): even imperial decrees serve God’s redemptive timeline. Ministry Applications • Apographē reminds believers that God works through ordinary civic processes; Christian vocation within public administration can thus be honored. Related Biblical Themes and Passages • Old Testament enumerations (Numbers 1; 2 Samuel 24) reveal both practical and spiritual dimensions of registration. Through its two occurrences, ἀπογραφή underscores how the God of Scripture orchestrates global events for His saving purposes while exposing the limitations of human rebellion. Forms and Transliterations απογραφη απογραφή ἀπογραφὴ απογραφης απογραφής ἀπογραφῆς apographe apographē apographḕ apographes apographês apographēs apographē̂sLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Luke 2:2 N-NFSGRK: αὕτη ἀπογραφὴ πρώτη ἐγένετο NAS: was the first census taken KJV: ([And] this taxing was first INT: this census first took place when Acts 5:37 N-GFS Strong's Greek 582 |
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