Albert Barnes Commentary Acts 5:36

"For before these days rose up Theudas, giving himself out to be somebody; to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves: who was slain; and all, as many as obeyed him, were dispersed, and came to nought." — Acts 5:36 (ASV)

For before these days. The advice of Gamaliel was to let these men alone. The arguments by which he enforced his advice were:

1. that there were cases or precedents in point (Acts 5:36–37); and

2. that if it should turn out to be of God, it would be a solemn affair to be involved in the consequences of opposing him.

How long before those days this transaction occurred cannot now be determined, as it is not certain to what case Gamaliel refers.

Rose up. That is, commenced or excited an insurrection.

Theudas. This was a name quite common among the Jews. Of this man, nothing more is known than is recorded here. Josephus (Antiquities, Book 20, Chapter 5) mentions one Theudas, in the time of Fadus the procurator of Judea, during the reign of the emperor Claudius (A.D. 45 or 46), who persuaded a great part of the people to take their effects with him and follow him to the river Jordan.

He told them he was a prophet and that he would divide the river and lead them over. Fadus, however, came suddenly upon them and killed many of them. Theudas was taken alive, conveyed to Jerusalem, and there beheaded. But this occurred at least ten or fifteen years after this discourse of Gamaliel.

Many efforts have been made to reconcile Luke and Josephus, on the assumption that they refer to the same man. Lightfoot supposed that Josephus had made an error in chronology. But there is no reason to suppose that there is reference to the same event; and the fact that Josephus has not recorded the insurrection referred to by Gamaliel does not at all conflict with the account in the Acts. For:

1. Luke, for anything that appears to the contrary, is quite as credible a historian as Josephus.

2. The name Theudas was a common name among the Jews, and there is no improbability that there were two leaders of an insurrection of this name. If it is improbable, the improbability would affect Josephus's credit as much as that of Luke.

3. It is altogether improbable that Gamaliel would refer to a case that was not well authenticated, and that Luke would record a speech of this kind unless it was delivered, when it would be so easy to detect the error.

4. Josephus has recorded many instances of insurrection and revolt. He represented the country as in an unsettled state and by no means professes to give an account of all that occurred. Thus he says (Josephus, Antiquities, Book 17, Chapter 10, Section 4) that "at this time ten thousand other disorders in Judea;" and (Josephus, Antiquities, Book 17, Chapter 10, Section 8) that "Judea was full of robberies." When this Theudas lived cannot be ascertained; but as Gamaliel mentions him before Judas of Galilee, it is probable that he lived not far from the time that our Savior was born—at a time when many false prophets appeared, claiming to be the Messiah.

Boasting himself to be somebody. Claiming to be an eminent prophet, probably, or the Messiah.

Obeyed him. The word used here is the one commonly used to denote belief. As many as believed on him, or gave credit to his pretensions.