“In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that the whole empire should be registered,” wrote Luke in Luke 2:1. He continued: “This first registration took place while Quirinius was governing Syria” (v. 2). This official’s full name was Publius Sulpicius Quirinius. He is called Cyrenius in the King James Version; modern translations typically use Quirinius. He served Rome in several different capacities, including governor, or legate, of Syria, during his career.
At one point, some historians raised questions about the accuracy of Luke’s account. It had been established from extra-biblical (nonbiblical) sources that Quirinius served as legate of Syria from A.D. 6-9. This tenure clearly occurred after Jesus’ birth. The most accurate estimates for the year of Jesus’ birth range from about 6-4 B.C. (When it was adopted, the Gregorian calendar was “off” a few years.) Extra-biblical sources also indicated that Quinctilius Varus governed Syria from 6-4 B.C., and Sentius Saturninus governed the area from 9-7 B.C. Thus, according to these sources, Varus, or even possibly Saturninus, was more likely to be Syria’s legate when Jesus was born.
Sir William Mitchell Ramsay (1851-1939), a New Testament scholar and archaeologist from Glasgow, Scotland, discovered an ancient inscription that provides the answer. This inscription shows Quirinius actually governed Syria twice. Jesus was born when Quirinius was governing Syria the first time, a tenure in which he was responsible for military matters. During this same period, Varus also governed; he provided leadership for civil affairs. Later, in A.D. 6-9, Quirinius was legate of Syria a second time. Luke was proven to be accurate, after all—no surprise for Bible-believing Christians. Quirinius died in A.D. 21.
Copyright © 2015 B. Nathaniel Sullivan. All rights reserved.
Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations in this article are taken from the Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Holman CSB®, and HCSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers.