Gary Hartzel Presentation: Who Were Augustus, Quirinius and Herod

The story of the first Christmas starts with these familiar words: “In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria.” Endless pageants have told and retold the story of Mary, Joseph, Jesus and the wise men, but who was Quirinius? Why would Augustus issue such a decree? Why was Herod so “exceedingly wroth” that he “slew all the children that were in Bethlehem from two years old and under”? They may seem to be minor characters in a much larger drama, but these historical figures actually were essential to the Christmas story as we know it.