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Acts 5 · a question people ask

Who were Theudas and Judas of Galilee?

In the text

Acts gives only what Gamaliel says of them. "For before these days Theudas rose up, making himself out to be somebody; to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves. He was slain; and all, as many as obeyed him, were dispersed and came to nothing. After this man, Judas of Galilee rose up in the days of the enrollment, and drew away some people after him. He also perished, and all, as many as obeyed him, were scattered abroad." (5:36-37). Acts says nothing more about either man, or about which enrollment Gamaliel means, and these notes add nothing from outside the Bible. Nor do they make this Judas one with any other Judas in Acts.

The verses

“For before these days Theudas rose up, making himself out to be somebody; to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves. He was slain; and all, as many as obeyed him, were dispersed and came to nothing. After this man, Judas of Galilee rose up in the days of the enrollment, and drew away some people after him. He also perished, and all, as many as obeyed him, were scattered abroad.”
Acts 5:36-37 · World English Bible

From Favor's study of Acts 5

Acts 5: All the words of this life

The angel said, "Go stand and speak in the temple" (5:20). The officers found "the guards standing before the doors" (5:23) and no one inside; then someone came and said the apostles were in the temple, "standing and teaching the people" (5:25): in Acts's Greek, one verb all three times.

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Last reviewed October 7, 2026. Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain. Every answer cites the verses it rests on. What we believe · All Bible questions