John Calvin 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)

There arose one Theudas. If we credit Josephus, Gamaliel alters in this place the true course of the history. For he reports that Judas Gaulanites, who was born in Gamala, when Quirinius, or Cyrenius, was proconsul, raised a tumult with his adherents because they did not want their goods taxed; and that Theudas, when Cuspius Fadus was procurator, boasted that he was a prophet of God. And Fadus was sent into Judea by Claudius Caesar. The former history is recorded in the Eighteenth Book of Antiquities, and the other in the Twentieth. But I think that when Luke says, After him was there one Judas, he did not mean to note the course of time, as if he were the latter; but because Gamaliel brought in two similar examples, he might put one in place of the other, without regard to time. Therefore the word post means moreover, or besides.

Furthermore, even these examples with which Gamaliel confirms his opinion do not sufficiently agree with the present cause. For, because they did not immediately resist Judas, the sedition which he had raised was the occasion of many murders, and at length he was defeated by hand and weapon. Theudas also would have done far more harm if he had not been put to flight in time by Cuspius Fadus.

But Gamaliel considers only this: that men have unfortunate outcomes when they advance themselves unadvisedly, and that happens by the just judgment of God. But because the priests refuse to listen when God gives them good counsel, they deserve to be confounded by men with frivolous reasons, wavering here and there through foolish perplexity.

Furthermore, if we calculate the time, we will find that it was at least twelve years after the death of Christ before the apostles were beaten. For to the five years which remained of the government of Tiberius, we must add the three and a half years Caligula reigned. Fadus was not sent by Claudius into Judea before the second or third year of his reign.

Gamaliel did not recount the event within a day or two after. Therefore, that space of time of which I spoke is complete. For this reason, the constancy of the apostles was the more excellent, who, though they were so poorly rewarded for those long sufferings which they had endured, yet are not discouraged, nor do they cease to hold on as they had begun.

That he was some great man. Some books have, "Saying that he was somebody"; yet both have the same meaning. For he boasted that he was such a prophet that he could dry up the Jordan, so that those who were with him might go over with dry feet. Nevertheless, we see how far Gamaliel is from true knowledge, who compares the holy ministers of Christ to seducers and robbers; although he mitigates his words afterward, and, inclining toward the better part, leaves it an open question whether they have undertaken this matter with God as their author or not. Yet he speaks doubtfully, because he is concerned only with quietness, setting aside all inquiry. The only commendable part of his speech is that he deters the wicked from wicked boldness, because there is nothing more to be feared than striving against God.