{"def":{"lit":"warrior","short":"Cyrenius (i.e., Quirinus), a Roman","long":["Publius Sulpicius Quirinus, a governor over Syria at the time of Christ's birth"]},"deriv":"of Latin origin","pronun":{"ipa":"kyˈre.ni.os","ipa_mod":"cjuˈre̞.ni.ows","sbl":"kyrēnios","dic":"koo-RAY-nee-ose","dic_mod":"kyoo-RAY-nee-ose"},"comment":"He was consul in 12 BC and was made governor of Syria after the banishment of Archelaus in AD 6. He was probably twice governor of Syria; his first governorship extended from 4 BC (the year of Christ's birth) to 1 BC. It was during this time that he was sent to make a census which caused Joseph and Mary to visit Bethlehem. The second census is mentioned in Acts 5:37. \"Cyrenius\" is the Greek form of the Roman name \"Quirinus.\""}