Quirinius (the governor during the census)
Roman governor of Syria
Publius Sulpicius Quirinius was a Roman governor of Syria mentioned in the Bible in connection with the census that brought Joseph and Mary to Bethlehem. His administration of the census provided the historical backdrop for Jesus' birth in the city of David.
Key events
The Census under Quirinius
Quirinius conducted a census while he was governor of Syria, which led Joseph and Mary to travel to Bethlehem where Jesus was born.
1In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that the entire Roman world should be registered.
Ἐγένετο δὲ ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις ἐκείναις ἐξῆλθεν δόγμα παρὰ Καίσαρος Αὐγούστου ἀπογράφεσθαι πᾶσαν τὴν οἰκουμένην·
2This was the first registration, made while Quirinius was governor of Syria.
(⸀αὕτη ἀπογραφὴ πρώτη ἐγένετο ἡγεμονεύοντος τῆς Συρίας Κυρηνίου·)
3So everyone went to be registered, each to his own town.
καὶ ἐπορεύοντο πάντες ἀπογράφεσθαι, ἕκαστος εἰς τὴν ⸀ἑαυτοῦ πόλιν.
4Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he belonged to the house and family of David.
Ἀνέβη δὲ καὶ Ἰωσὴφ ἀπὸ τῆς Γαλιλαίας ἐκ πόλεως Ναζαρὲθ εἰς τὴν Ἰουδαίαν εἰς πόλιν Δαυὶδ ἥτις καλεῖται Βηθλέεμ, διὰ τὸ εἶναι αὐτὸν ἐξ οἴκου καὶ πατριᾶς Δαυίδ,
5He went to be registered with Mary, who was pledged to be his wife and was expecting a child.
ἀπογράψασθαι σὺν Μαριὰμ τῇ ⸂ἐμνηστευμένῃ αὐτῷ⸃, οὔσῃ ἐγκύῳ.
Emperor Augustus' Decree
The census was ordered by Emperor Augustus and carried out by Quirinius, requiring everyone to travel to their hometown to be registered.
1In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that the entire Roman world should be registered.
Ἐγένετο δὲ ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις ἐκείναις ἐξῆλθεν δόγμα παρὰ Καίσαρος Αὐγούστου ἀπογράφεσθαι πᾶσαν τὴν οἰκουμένην·
2This was the first registration, made while Quirinius was governor of Syria.
(⸀αὕτη ἀπογραφὴ πρώτη ἐγένετο ἡγεμονεύοντος τῆς Συρίας Κυρηνίου·)