Archaeological /Ancient Historians Evidence for Quirinius as Governor of Syria between 9BCE-6BCE

Examination of the Lapis Venetus artifact along with comments from historians Josephus, Tacitus and Strabo

By Anton Williams, Founder

Quirinius was governor (Legate) of Syria twice: the first included the time between 9BCE and 5BCE; the second after 6CE

Luke mentions two different census

Some bible commentators have assumed that Luke was in error when he stated that while Quirinus was governor of Syria there was a census that took place that led was instrumental in Jesus birth in Bethlehem.

Luke refers to two different census and differentiates them by using the word first when talking about the first one. (Luke 2:2 and Acts 5:37)

Lapis Venetes inscription shows Quirinius was a Governor (Legate) of Syria between 9BCE-7BCE

The Lapis Venetes artifact is a Latin inscription which is a dedication to the Roman Official Q. Aemlilus Secundus.

Lapis Venetus, Corpus Inscriptionum Latinarum Vol III 6687

It states that Secundus was ordered to conduct a census of the city-state of Apamea in Syria by Quirinius who was the Legate of Caesar in Syria. The inscription notes that Quirinius had also ordered Secondus to fight the Itureans on Mount Lbenon, which is an area north of the region of Galilee.

THIS INSIGHT IS IMPORTANT AS BOTH JEWISH HISTORIAN JOSPEPHUS AND HISTORICAL WRITER STRABO GIVE INFORMATION ON WHEN THE ITUREAN CITADEL WAS CAPTURED ON MT LEBANON. BOTH MENTION THIS OCCURRED WHILE SATURNIUS WAS GOVERNOR OF SYRIA (9BCE-7BCE)

STRABO 16.2.20
JOSEPHUS - ANTIQUITIES 16.271-285

Saturnius was governor of Syria about 9BCE-7BCE and Secundus inscription informs us that Quirnius was legate (governor) of Caesar in Syria at this time as well. This aligns with Josephus comments on multiple governors of Syria at the time (Antiquities 16.280, 285, 357, 361)

The inscription of Secundus and the historical info from Josephus and Strabo are evidence that Quirinus was a governor of Syria between 9BCE- 7BCE.

The Secundus inscription date for a census between 9BCE-7BCE aligns with Caesar Augustus own comments in Res Gestae 8 (Deeds of Augustus) that he ordered a worldwide imperial census when Gaius Asinius and Gaius Censorinus were consuls of Rome which was 8BCE.

Caesar Augustus census that Quirinius implemented for Syria region (that included Judea by Roman administration division) was 8BCE but the text does not say Jesus was born at that time

"And it come to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be (registered)

And this (registration) was first made when (Quirinius) was governor of Syria.

So all went to be (registered), everyone into his own city" Luke 2:1-3

Luke merely states that all went to be registered in their hometowns but he does not state WHEN they all went in regards to the amount of time. It could be one month, one year or several years. Luke doesn't mention a specific time.

Thus the text and data from historians cannot be used to imply that Jesus was born in 8BCE. He was likely born between 5BCE-1BCE as He was about 30 years old when Tiberius Caesar was in his 15th year (Luke 3:1) This would be 15 years from his co-regency which began about 11 CE or his sole rule which began about 14 CE

Page updated

Google Sites

Report abuse