Cyrenius (sî-rç'ni-ŭs). Luke 2:2, A. V., but Quirinius in R.V. The transliteration of a Greek name, which is itself the Greek form of the Roman name of Quirinius. The full name is Publius Sulpicius Quirinius. He was consul b.c. 12, and made governor of Syria after the banishment of Archelaus in a.d. 6. He was sent to make an enrolment of property in Syria, and made accordingly, both there and in Judea, a census. But the census in Luke 2:2 seems to be identified with one which took place at the time of the birth of Christ. There is good reason for believing that Quirinius was twice governor of Syria, and that his first governorship extended from b.c. 4—the year of Christ's birth—to b.c. 1, when he was succeeded by M. Lollius.