Probably the most difficult apparent historical contradiction having to do with the Gospels concerns Luke's report about a census taken while Quirinuis governed Syria (Luke 2:2). Ian Wilson castigates Luke as follows:
And after telling us that the announcement of the births of Jesus and John the Baptist took place in the reign of Herod the Great, who is known to have died in 4 BC, the Luke author tries to offer a piece of impressive historical detail:
Now at this time Ceasar Augustus issued a decree for a census of the whole world to be taken. This census-the first-took place while Quirinuis was governor of Syria, and everyone went to his home town to be registered (Luke 2:1-3).
While the first-ever census among Jews did indeed take place during Quirinuis governorship, this did not and could not have happened until at least 6 AD, the first year that Judea came under direct Roman rule, and it was reliably recorded by Josephus as an unprecedented event of that year. To put it bluntly, Luke has resorted to invention. (WiLJTE 55)
The census caused Joseph and Mary to travel to Bethlehem just prior to Jesus' birth. On some points Wilson is correct. Both Matthew and Luke agree that Jesus was born before the end of the reign of Herod the Great. It has been established with reasonable certainty that Herod's death took place in March of April of 4 BC. A census, not necessarily the first, was taken by Quirinuis in AD 6. But there is other evidence Wilson has ignored.
Fact #1 In Acts 5:37, Luke refers to the AD 6 census, indicating that he is conscious of where it fits in the chronology of the period. Luke calls this census the census, the well known one of AD 6.
Fact #2 The Greek text of Luke 2:2 suggests a lesser known census prior to that of AD 6. The New American Standard Version translates Luke 2:2. "This was the first census taken while Quirinuis was governor of Syria." It seems to us to be a faithful rendering of the sense of the Greek text which most literally reads: "This census, a first one, coming to pass when Quirinuis is ruling, leading Syria." Since the Greek language often leaves out the word "is," it needs to be inserted and most naturally fits the word "census." The sentence literally reads, "This census is a first one coming to pass when Quirinuis is ruling Syria." If there had been only the one very well-known census AD 6 under Quirinuis, Luke would have said simply, "This is the census coming to pass when Quirinuis..." We have no knowledge of any census taken after AD 6. Therefore, the grammar of Luke 2:2 seems most definitely to indicate that Luke wants his readers to disregard the AD 6 census and think of an earlier, lesser known census of approximately 5 BC.
Fact #3 Josephus confirms that the rebellion AD 6 was a response to an enrollment (census) probably carried out rather heavy-handedly. In contrast, the Luke 2:2 census seems to have appealed to the custom of the Jews. At that time, about 5 BC, the Romans would have had two problems:
1. Herod ruled Judea, not Quirinuis
2. The people didn't like the Romans messing in their affairs
From the standpoint of the Romans, the most Diplomatic solution would be for Quirinuis to negotiate a census carried out under Herod's auspices and according to Jewish practice of registration by tribes. Thus Joseph and Mary traveled to Bethlehem, the city of David, and Joseph's "own city." The Romans' negotiating for this arrangement is indicated by the fact that they normally conducted censuses based on land ownership, not on hometowns. Occasionally, however, the Romans did make exception. An Egyptian papyrus of AD 104 indicates that the Egyptians were required to return to their home city for the Roman census in Egypt.
But would Herod have been willing to acquiesce to such an arrangement? Most definitely, for Josephus records that he fell into disfavor with Ceaser Augustus, being demoted from "friend" to "subject." He would have needed to do whatever the Romans wanted him to do in order to regain Ceasar's favor. Herod was close to death and having problems deciding on a successor. He changed his will three times and killed three sons before deciding on Archelaus five days before his death. The imminent death of Herod was further incentive for the the Romans to have a census taken in preparation for a change of rulers.
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