Scripture Spot Logo

Verse of the Day

WEB

Author Spotlight

Loading featured author...

Report Issue

See a formatting issue or error?

Let us know →

For before these days Theudas rose up, making 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 nothing.

Verse Takeaways

1

A Historical Puzzle Solved

Nearly all commentators address an apparent historical discrepancy: the historian Josephus mentions a rebel named Theudas decades after this speech. However, scholars conclude Luke is not in error. They explain that Theudas was a common name and Gamaliel is referring to a different, earlier rebel whose uprising was not recorded by Josephus. This detail reinforces confidence in Luke's care as a historian.

See 3 Verse Takeaways

Book Overview

Acts

Author

Audience

Composition

Teaching Highlights

Outline

+ 5 more

See Overview

Commentaries

7

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes

On Acts 5:36

18th Century

Theologian

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

AT Robertson

AT Robertson

On Acts 5:36

Theudas (Θευδας). Luke represents Gamaliel here about A.D. 35 as speaking of a man who led a revolt before that of Judas the Galil…

Charles Ellicott

Charles Ellicott

On Acts 5:36

19th Century

Bishop

Before these days rose up Theudas. An insurrection, headed by a leader of this name, is mentioned by Josephus (Ant.

Premium

Go Ad-Free

Go ad-free and create your own bookmark library

Expositor's Bible Commentary

Expositor's Bible Commentary

On Acts 5:36

Many have seen a problem in Gamaliel’s reference to the Jewish revolutionaries Theudas and Judas the Galilean in this speech. According to Josephus…

John Calvin

John Calvin

On Acts 5:36

16th Century

Theologian

There arose one Theudas. If we credit Josephus, Gamaliel alters in this place the true course of the history. For he reports that Judas Ga…

John Gill

John Gill

On Acts 5:36

17th Century

Pastor

For before these days rose up Theudas. There is one of this name JosephusF4 speaks of, who set up for a prophe…

Subscriber

Join Our Newsletter

Get curated content & updates

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry

On Acts 5:34–42

17th Century

Minister

The Lord still has all hearts in His hands, and sometimes directs the prudence of the worldly wise, so as to restrain the persecutors. Common sense…