The Seleucid empire, founded by Seleucus, a general of Alexander the Great, ended with the murder of Antiochus XIII, by agents of Pompey in 64 B.C. Shortly, Greater Syria came under Roman hegemony and eventually became a Roman territory. 

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Syria’s initial proconsul was Aulus Gabinius, a longtime supporter of Pompey. During his tenure—57-55 B.C.—he reduced the Sanhedrim’s power by dividing Judea into five districts, each with its own capital. He returned to Rome in 54 B.C. to face charges from his political enemies in the Senate. He died in battle in 49 B.C. 

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Following Aulus Gabinius, there is a six-year gap between his governorship and that of Metellus Scipio. Syria was still under Roman rule during that period however. During this time, it was the base camp for Marcus Licinius, as he attempted to invade Persia. Apparently, his motivation for the conquest was fame as a world conqueror, since he was already a member of the First Triumvirate and the wealthiest man in Rome. Still, while camped in Syria, he plundered the Temple in Jerusalem. Though Persia was divided along tribal loyalties, this outside attack solidified them. At Carchemish, he attacked with tired troops against the advice of his generals and was defeated.  

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By 49 B.C., Syria was again ruled by Roman governors. These included Metellus Scipio (49-47 B.C.,) a supporter of Pompey. Upon the murder of Pompey, by supporters of Julius Caesar, the dictator replaced him with Sextus Caesar (47-46 B.C.,) his nephew. Sextus Caesar was killed by mutinying troops, led by Cecilius Bassus, a former aide to Pompey. 

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Cecilius Bassus gained control of the Roman forces in Syria by organizing those opposed to the rule of Julius Caesar. As commandant of the Roman forces, he became the de facto ruler of Syria. The chaos following the assassination of Caesar gave him cover in his move for power in the Eastern Mediterranean. It ended, however, when Cassius, one of Caesar’s assassins arrived in Syria. He took command of the troops and thus, Syria. Cassius ruled in Syria, from 43-42 B.C., building his military forces. He joined forces with Brutus at Philippi, Macedonia, but when they were defeated by Marc Antony, he committed suicide.

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Rather than looking eastward to consolidate his power over Syria in 41 B.C., Marc Antony turned his attention to Egypt. There, he became the lover of Cleopatra VII. Though her influence increased, Antony made Herod the king of Judea, rather than moving it under her control. In this time of inattention to the Roman eastern provinces, the Parthians took Syria and occupied it from 40-38 B.C. 

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Marc Antony soon followed Marcus Crassus’ dream of conquering the Persians. It would end as an equal disaster. His forces, retreating from defeat, were met just north of Tabriz by Cleopatra who supplied them with food and clothing. 

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In 34 B.C., Antony proclaimed Cleopatra “Queen of kings,” which Octavian saw as the prelude to transferring the capital from Rome to Alexandria. Octavian’s fleet defeated the Egyptian navy and Antony and Cleopatra committed suicide. 

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Again, Syria was in a time of flux as the politics of the Eastern Mediterranean changed. After Octavian secured Egypt, he initially appointed Herod the governor of Greater Syria in 30 B.C. Herod would be replaced by Marcus Agrippa in 17 B.C., who would serve as vice-regent over the Eastern Mediterranean until he died in 12 B.C. His replacement, Volusius Saturninus, would arrive at an unknown date and only serve as legate (“governor”) over Syria until 6 B.C. Varus would serve as legate from 6-4 B.C. He was followed by Quirinius, the governor listed in Luke 2:2. 

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It seems Quirinius served twice in Syria in offices that we can correctly translate “governor”—ten years apart. Critics have concentrated on his later service (as legatus) when a local registration for taxation caused a public uprising. Most likely the missing ten years were also under the administration of Quirinius, but with a lower grade designation than legate. He was either praesus or quaestor (imperial commissioner.) Both Greek words are rendered governor in English. The “taxation” referenced by Luke would fit the census that was empire wide in preparation for declaring Caesar Augustus, “Father of the Nation.” Quirinius returned to Rome in 12 A.D., to serve as an advisor to Tiberius until he died in 21 A.D. 

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We have a four-year blank between Quirinius and Calpurnius Piso. During these last years of Caesar Augustus and the assuming of power by Tiberius, the rule of Syria probably fell to the existing Roman administration Quirinius left in place. In 16 A.D., Calpurnius Piso was appointed governor of Syria. Later, in 17 A.D., the appointment of Germanicus, the adopted heir of Tiberius, as vice-regent of the East placed him in conflict with Piso. Upon the death of Germanicus, Piso was recalled to Rome to stand trial for the murder of Germanicus in 20 A.D. Though he proclaimed his innocence, he committed suicide. 

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The next sixteen years are blank, as far as governors of the province of Syria are concerned. Perhaps the growing influence of the army and the retirement of Tiberius to Capri left the position open. The next governor we have recorded is Vitellius, who served in the transition period between Tiberius and Caligula. 

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