Cyrenius

AI summary: Cyrenius matters because his single cross reference anchors the birth account of Jesus in a recognizable administrative and political setting. The entry helps show that Luke intends the story to be read within public history, not outside it. Taken together, the material presents Cyrenius as an imperial official marking the historical context of Jesus' birth.¹

The Grecized form of Quirinus. His full name was Publius Sulpicius Quirinus. Recent historical investigation has proved that Quirinus was governor of Cilicia, which was annexed to Syria at the time of our Lord’s birth. Cilicia, which he ruled, being a province of Syria, he is called the governor, which he was de jure, of Syria. Some ten years afterwards he was appointed governor of Syria for the second time. During his tenure of office, at the time of our Lord’s birth (Luke 2:2), a “taxing” (R.V., “enrolment;” i.e., a registration) of the people was “first made;” i.e., was made for the first time under his government. (See TAXING.) ³