Census Actually Commenced by Varus

“This taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.” (Luke 2:2)

There was a certain Quirinus (Cyrenius is the Greek form of the Latin name Quirinus) who was Consul in B.C. 12, but he is not named as having been Governor of Syria before A.D. 6. He then took a census which involved taxing, and this was almost certainly the “taxing” referred to by Gamaliel (see Acts 5:37). Luke appears however, to stress that he is referring to an earlier census—if, as seems legitimate—we understand Luke 2:2 to mean, by paraphrase, “This enrolment was the first under Quirinus’ governorship of Syria.”

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Author: P. H. Adams

Keywords: Census, Quirinus, Cyrenius, Taxation, Taxing

Bible reference(s): Luke 2:2, Acts 5:37

Source: “Difficulties in the Daily Readings,” The Testimony, Vol. 22, No. 255, March 1952, pp. 91-2.

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