A.T. Robertson Commentary Acts 5:37

"After this man rose up Judas of Galilee in the days of the enrolment, and drew away [some of the] people after him: he also perished; and all, as many as obeyed him, were scattered abroad." — Acts 5:37 (ASV)

Of the enrolment (της απογραφης). Described by Josephus (Ant. XV. 1, 1). The same word used by Luke of the first enrolment started by Augustus B.C. 8 to 6 (Luke 2:2). See the discussion on Lu 2:2. This is the second enrolment in the fourteen year cycle carried on for centuries as shown by numerous dated papyri. Ramsay (The Bearing of Recent Discovery on the Trustworthiness of the N.T.) has produced proof from inscriptions that Quirinius was twice in Syria as Luke reports (Robertson, Luke the Historian in the Light of Research).

Drew away (απεστησε). Causative sense of the first aorist active indicative of αφιστημ, made people (λαον, no need of "some of the") to revolt (apostatize) with him.

He also (κακεινος, crasis for κα εκεινος). That one, also.

Were scattered abroad (διεσκορπισθησαν). First aorist (effective) passive indicative of διασκορπιζω, old verb to disperse. Used of sheep , of property (Luke 15:13). Aorist here after imperfect (επειθοντο) as in verse 36.