Short answer
No. Matthew and Luke tell two stories that cannot both be true. In Matthew, Jesus is born while Herod is king. The family flees to Egypt and stays there until Herod dies. On the way back they avoid Judea, because Herod's son Archelaus rules there, and settle in Nazareth. In Luke, the family already lives in Nazareth. They travel to Bethlehem for a Roman census taken when Quirinius governed Syria. About forty days after the birth, they go home to Nazareth. There is no flight to Egypt. The dates clash too. Josephus, a Jewish historian of the first century, says Quirinius took that census after Archelaus was removed. That was about ten years after Herod died. The Qur'an affirms that Jesus was born of a virgin. It is the Gospel writers' details that disagree.
Full explanation
Matthew: Herod, Egypt, then Nazareth
Matthew says Jesus was born in Bethlehem in the days of Herod the king. An angel tells Joseph to flee into Egypt and stay there, because Herod will seek to kill the child. The family stays until Herod is dead. When Joseph hears that Herod's son Archelaus rules Judea, he is afraid to go there. He turns aside into Galilee and comes to live in a town called Nazareth.
“Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,”
“And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.”
“When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt:”
“But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, Saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they are dead which sought the young child’s life. And he arose, and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus did reign in Judea in the room of his father Herod, he was afraid to go thither: notwithstanding, being warned of God in a dream, he turned aside into the parts of Galilee: And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene.”
Luke: Nazareth, a census, and home again
Luke says a decree went out from Caesar Augustus to tax all the world, when Quirinius (Cyrenius in the King James Version) was governor of Syria. Joseph goes up from Nazareth to Bethlehem to be taxed, and Jesus is born there. When the days of Mary's purification are over, they present the child at the temple in Jerusalem. The Law of Moses sets those days at forty for a son. Then they return to "their own city Nazareth".
“And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Cesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)”
“And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.”
“And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord;”
“Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If a woman have conceived seed, and born a man child: then she shall be unclean seven days; according to the days of the separation for her infirmity shall she be unclean. And in the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised. And she shall then continue in the blood of her purifying three and thirty days; she shall touch no hallowed thing, nor come into the sanctuary, until the days of her purifying be fulfilled. But if she bear a maid child, then she shall be unclean two weeks, as in her separation: and she shall continue in the blood of her purifying threescore and six days.”
“And when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city Nazareth.”
Two journeys that do not fit together
In Matthew the family is in Egypt until Herod dies. In Luke they are back in Nazareth about forty days after the birth, and Luke has no flight to Egypt. In Luke, Nazareth is their home from the start. In Matthew they make it their home only after Egypt, because they fear Archelaus.
“But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, Saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they are dead which sought the young child’s life. And he arose, and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus did reign in Judea in the room of his father Herod, he was afraid to go thither: notwithstanding, being warned of God in a dream, he turned aside into the parts of Galilee: And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene.”
“And when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city Nazareth.”
| Point | Matthew | Luke |
|---|---|---|
| When | In the days of Herod the king | At a Roman census, when Quirinius governed Syria |
| The family's home | Nazareth, only after Egypt | Nazareth, from the start |
| After the birth | Flight to Egypt, until Herod dies | The temple after forty days, then home |
| Why Nazareth | Fear of Archelaus in Judea | It was their own city |
Josephus dates Quirinius' census to about 6 CE, some ten years after Herod died.
When Quirinius took his census
Josephus says Herod died thirty-seven years after the Romans declared him king. His son Archelaus then ruled Judea. In the tenth year of his rule Archelaus was banished, and his country was added to the Roman province of Syria. Only then was Quirinius sent to take account of the people's property. Josephus says these taxings were finished in the thirty-seventh year after the battle of Actium, about 6 CE. Raymond Brown, a Catholic priest and scholar, dates the census the same way: a good ten years after Herod's death.
Records the death of Herod the king, five days after he had his son Antipater killed. Herod had reigned thirty-four years since he had Antigonus killed, and thirty-seven since the Romans declared him king.
In the tenth year of his rule, Archelaus, Herod's son, was accused before Caesar by his brothers and the leading men of Judea and Samaria, and banished to Vienne in Gaul. His country was added to the province of Syria, and Quirinius (Cyrenius), a former consul, was sent by Caesar to take account of people's property in Syria and to sell Archelaus' house.
Quirinius came to Syria, sent by Caesar to take an account of the people's property, and came himself into Judea, which was now added to the province of Syria. Most Jews gave an account of their estates, but Judas, a Gaulonite from Gamala, urged the people to revolt against the taxation.
Says that Quirinius's taxings came to a conclusion in the thirty-seventh year after Caesar's victory over Antony at Actium (31 BCE), that is, about 6 CE.
A Catholic priest and New Testament scholar's commentary on the birth stories in Matthew and Luke. In an appendix on the census, Brown dates the only census Quirinius took as governor of Syria to 6-7 CE, a good ten years after Herod's death, and explains why many scholars find the attempts to harmonise Luke with it unconvincing.
Luke disagrees with himself
Luke opens his story "in the days of Herod, the king of Judea", when the angel promises John the Baptist to Zacharias. Six months into Elisabeth's pregnancy, the angel comes to Mary. So Luke's own story puts the birth of Jesus in Herod's time. Yet he ties it to Quirinius' census. In Acts, written by the same author, "the taxing" is the census of Judas of Galilee's revolt. Josephus ties that revolt to the census of Quirinius, after Archelaus was removed.
“There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth.”
“And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren.”
“And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Cesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)”
“After this man rose up Judas of Galilee in the days of the taxing, and drew away much people after him: he also perished; and all, even as many as obeyed him, were dispersed.”
Quirinius came to Syria, sent by Caesar to take an account of the people's property, and came himself into Judea, which was now added to the province of Syria. Most Jews gave an account of their estates, but Judas, a Gaulonite from Gamala, urged the people to revolt against the taxation.
How Christians join the stories
Many Christians say Matthew and Luke tell different parts of one story. On this view the family went home to Nazareth after the forty days, came back to Bethlehem later, and only then fled to Egypt. Others read Luke 2:2 as a census taken before Quirinius governed, or suggest that Quirinius held an earlier post in Syria.
“And when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city Nazareth.”
“And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.”
“And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Cesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)”
What the Qur'an says
The Qur'an tells of the birth of Jesus with honour. Mary asks how she can have a son when no man has touched her, and the answer is that Allah (﷾) creates what He wills. The Qur'an also gives a test for any scripture: a book from other than God (﷾) would contain much contradiction.
“She said: "O my Lord! How shall I have a son when no man hath touched me?" He said: "Even so: Allah createth what He willeth: When He hath decreed a plan, He but saith to it, 'Be,' and it is!”
“He said: "So (it will be): Thy Lord saith, 'that is easy for Me: and (We wish) to appoint him as a Sign unto men and a Mercy from Us': It is a matter (so) decreed."”
“Do they not consider the Qur'an (with care)? Had it been from other Than Allah, they would surely have found therein Much discrepancy.”
The usual answers
Luke 2:39 — Gospel of Luke, chapter 2, verse 39
“And when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city Nazareth.”
Cited for
Luke skips the time in Egypt. The family went back to Nazareth for a while, returned to Bethlehem, and fled from there.
The response
Luke says that when they had done all the Law required, they returned to "their own city Nazareth". Matthew says they came to live in Nazareth only after Egypt, because they feared Archelaus. Each writer gives a different reason for Nazareth.
Where it lands — The two Gospels give two different routes to Nazareth, and neither leaves room for the other.
Luke 2:1-2 — Gospel of Luke, chapter 2, verses 1-2
“And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Cesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)”
Cited for
Luke's Greek can mean the census "before" Quirinius governed, so it fits Herod's reign.
The response
Luke names Quirinius to date the census, not to say who it came before. In Acts he speaks of "the taxing" as the census of Judas of Galilee's revolt, which Josephus places after Archelaus was removed.
Where it lands — Luke's census is Quirinius' census, about ten years after Herod died.
Perspectives
Christian harmonisation
Many Christians hold that Matthew and Luke tell different parts of one true story. They hold that the census can be dated to Herod's reign.
After the forty days the family went home to Nazareth. Later they came back to Bethlehem, and only then fled to Egypt.
Rebuttal
Neither Gospel mentions a return to Bethlehem. Matthew has the family turn to Nazareth only on the way back from Egypt, out of fear of Archelaus. Luke has them living there before the birth.
Luke 2:2 can be read as a census taken before Quirinius governed Syria.
Rebuttal
Luke names Quirinius to date the census, and in Acts he speaks of "the taxing" of Judas of Galilee's revolt. Josephus ties that revolt to Quirinius' census, after Archelaus was removed.
Quirinius may have held an earlier post in Syria and taken an earlier census in Herod's time.
Rebuttal
Josephus records Quirinius' census in Judea after Archelaus was banished, and no other ancient writer records one in Herod's time. Raymond Brown, a Catholic scholar, dates it to 6-7 CE.
The Islamic perspective
Matthew and Luke give two journeys and two dates that cannot both be right. The Qur'an affirms the virgin birth and offers freedom from contradiction as the test of a book from God (﷾).
Matthew sets the birth in Herod's reign and keeps the family in Egypt until Herod died.
Luke ties the birth to Quirinius' census and takes the family home to Nazareth after the days of purification.
Josephus places Quirinius' census after Archelaus was removed, about ten years after Herod died.
The Qur'an affirms the virgin birth, and says a book from other than God (﷾) would contain much contradiction.