Cyrenius

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The same that is called by the Romans “Quirinus.” He was governor of Syria in A.D. 6, and then carried out a taxing, which is probably alluded to in Acts 5:3737After this man rose up Judas of Galilee in the days of the taxing, and drew away much people after him: he also perished; and all, even as many as obeyed him, were dispersed. (Acts 5:37). This for a long time created a difficulty as to the “taxing” by Cyrenius being made when the Lord was born (B.C. 4); but Prof. A. W. Zumpt of Berlin has stated with apparently good authority that Cyrenius was twice governor of Syria: the first time from B.C. 4 to B.C. 1, which agrees well with Luke 2:22(And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) (Luke 2:2). The “taxing” at that time may have been merely a census, of the population and their property; and on his second governorship the census may have been for taxation, which, being always hateful to the Jews, probably led to the insurrection in Acts 5.