Halley's Bible Handbook Luke 2:2.

The Handbook has an interesting note on Luke 2:2.

". . . ancient papyri have been found that show that Quirinius was governor of Syria twice. Luke expressly says that this was the first census. . . ."

Not merely a papyrus but papyri, it says.

I have never found them referenced anywhere else.

 

The NKJV is one of the few translations which correctly translated a verb as a verb in Luke 2:2, ". . . This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. . . ."

Most translations of Luke 2:2 translation the verb as a noun, governor.

Quirinius: An Archaeological Biography

 

Who was, was what when?

Where is the evidence that Quirinius was the Syrian governor in Luke 2:2?

 

"F.F. Bruce (1910–1990), Ryland professor of Biblical Criticism at the University of Manchester, suggested that the passage should be translated, ‘This enrollment (census) was before that made when Quirinius was governor of Syria.’"
It does seem to be a plausible solution.
The that Greek word is translated as "before" twice. Re: John 1:15 and John 1:30. ". . . for he was before me."