because he thought they would contribute to the security of the place.
They increased in number and influence; and we are thus prepared for the
frequent references to them in connection with the early history of
Christianity. Simon, who bore our Lord’s cross, was a native of this place
(Matthew 27:32; Mark 15:21). Jews from Cyrene were in Jerusalem at
Pentecost (Acts 2:10); and Cyrenian Jews had a synagogue at Jerusalem
(6:9). Converts belonging to Cyrene contributed to the formation of the
first Gentile church at Antioch (11:20). Among “the prophets and
teachers” who “ministered to the Lord at Antioch” was Lucius of Cyrene
(13:1).
- CYRENIUS the Grecized form of Quirinus. His full name was Publius
Sulpicius Quirinus. Recent historical investigation has proved that
Quirinus was governor of Cilicia, which was annexed to Syria at the time
of our Lord’s birth. Cilicia, which he ruled, being a province of Syria, he is
called the governor, which he was de jure, of Syria. Some ten years
afterwards he was appointed governor of Syria for the second time. During
his tenure of office, at the time of our Lord’s birth (Luke 2:2), a “taxing”
(R.V., “enrolment;” i.e., a registration) of the people was “first made;” i.e.,
was made for the first time under his government. (See TAXING.) - CYRUS (Hebrews Ko’resh), the celebrated “King of Persia” (Elam) who
was conqueror of Babylon, and issued the decree of liberation to the Jews
(Ezra 1:1, 2). He was the son of Cambyses, the prince of Persia, and was
born about B.C. 599. In the year B.C. 559 he became king of Persia, the
kingdom of Media being added to it partly by conquest. Cyrus was a great
military leader, bent on universal conquest. Babylon fell before his army
(B.C. 538) on the night of Belshazzar’s feast (Daniel 5:30), and then the
ancient dominion of Assyria was also added to his empire (cf., “Go up, O
Elam”, Isaiah 21:2).
Hitherto the great kings of the earth had only oppressed the Jews. Cyrus
was to them as a “shepherd” (Isaiah 44:28; 45:1). God employed him in
doing service to his ancient people. He may posibly have gained, through
contact with the Jews, some knowledge of their religion.
The “first year of Cyrus” (Ezra 1:1) is not the year of his elevation to
power over the Medes, nor over the Persians, nor the year of the fall of
Babylon, but the year succeeding the two years during which “Darius the
Mede” was viceroy in Babylon after its fall. At this time only (B.C. 536)