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Acts 5:37

in Acts 5

After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and drew away people after him. He too perished, and all his followers were scattered.

BSB

The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾

ASV

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.

KJV

After this man rose up Judas of Galilee in the days of the taxing, and drew away much people after him: he also perished; and all, even as many as obeyed him, were dispersed.

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This verse in Acts 5

Commentary

12 notes on this verse

A commentator

Oecumenius

Commentary on Acts · Written before 550.

Then, bringing examples of those who have acted thoughtlessly in such matters and to their own ruin, he adduces Theudas and Judas the Galilean, who did not reach a favorable end for themselves. The examples are not old but recent, and many eyewitnesses to them …

This site's exposition

Some time ago Theudas rose up

on Acts 5:36-39

Gamaliel cites two failed movements, Theudas with about four hundred men and Judas the Galilean, both scattered once their leaders died. His test is that if the work is from God, the council will not be able to stop them.

This site's exposition

Judas the Galilean appeared

Barnes cites Josephus, who calls Judas a Galilean and later a Gaulonite from the town of Gamala. Bede adds that Judas, with a Pharisee named Sadduc, urged the people to keep their freedom by refusing Roman taxes. Chrysostom notes that Gamaliel stresses how each movement scattered.

The record, by era

The Church Fathers3 voices

A commentator

John Chrysostom

Homily on Acts 14 · Written before 407.

proposed

He might also have mentioned another instance, that of the Egyptian, but what he has spoken is fully sufficient. And he closes his speech with an alarming topic: "Lest haply," etc. And he does not pronounce upon it, lest he should seem to be pleading their cause; but he reasons by way of syllogism from the issue of the matter. And he does not venture to pronounce that it is not of men, nor yet that it is of God; for had he said that it was of God, they would have gainsaid him: but had he said that it was of men, they would again have taken prompt measures. Therefore he bids them wait for the end, saying, "Refrain." But they once more threaten knowing indeed that they avail nothing, but doing after their manner. Such is the nature of wickedness: it attempts even impossibilities.

A commentator

John Chrysostom

Homily on Acts 14 · Written before 407.

proposed

He would dissuade them both by the consideration that the thing is impossible, and because it is not for their good. And he does not say by whom these people were destroyed, but that there they "were scattered," and their confederacy fell away to nothing. For if, says he, it be of man, what needs any ado on your part? but if it be of God, for all your ado you will not be able to overcome it. The argument is unanswerable.

A commentator

Oecumenius

Commentary on Acts · Written before 550.

proposed

It appears that the Galileans had risen up in the time of Pilate, following the teachings of Judas of Galilee. Judas's teaching, as Josephus shows in the final books of his Jewish Antiquities, was a teaching that sent forth much imagination under the guise of …

The Medieval Church2 voices

A commentator

Bede

Retractions on Acts · Written before 735.

proposed

After this arose Judas the Galilean in the days of the registration. In Greek, it is written, In the days of ἀπογραφῆς, that is, in the days of the census registration, as we also have interpreted in ecclesiastical history in Latin.

A commentator

Theophylact of Ohrid

Commentary on Acts · Written before 1107.

proposed

During the time of Pilate's rule, it seems there occurred a revolt of the Galileans who had been carried away by the teaching of Judas the Galilean. The teaching of Judas consisted of the following. He said that no one should be called "lord," neither …
4 more voices on this verse

The Medieval Church1 voice

A commentator

Bede

Commentary on Acts · Written before 735.

proposed

After him rose up Judas the Galilean. Josephus also writes about this man from the city of Gamala, who, taking up with a certain Pharisee named Sadduc, urged the people not to lose their freedom by paying taxes to the Romans, citing the law that …

The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice

After this man rose up, Judas of Galilee,....

The Nineteenth Century2 voices

Judas of Galilee - Josephus has given an account of this man (Antiq., xvii. 10, section 5), and calls him a “Galilean.” He afterward calls him a “Gaulonite,” and says he was of the city of “Gamala” (Antiq., 18:1:1).

A commentator

Adam Clarke

1762–1832

Commentary on the Bible · Written before 1832.

proposed

Judas of Galilee - Concerning Judas of Galilee, Rabbi Abraham, in Jucasin, fol. 139, writes thus: “In this time there were three sects: for, besides the Pharisees and Sadducees, Judas of Galilee began another sect, which was called Essenes. They caused the Jews to rebel against the Romans, by asserting that they should not obey strangers; nor call any one Lord (or Governor) but the holy blessed God above.” Rabbi Abraham makes a mistake here: the Essenes existed long before the days of Judas of Galilee; but it is very possible that he might have been one of that sect. Josephus mentions the insurrection made by Judas of Galilee, Ant. lib. xviii. cap. 1, and says it was when Cyrenius was governor of Syria: see the note on Luk 2:2. Bp. Pearce supposes that there were two απογραφαι, taxations or enrolments; and that the one mentioned here took place ten years after that mentioned in Luk 2:1-5. He observes also, in conformity with the note on the preceding verse, that the Judas mentioned here, was not only different from that Judas or Theudas spoken of before, but that his pretense for rebellion was different; the former wished to have the empire of Judea; the latter only maintained that it was base and sinful to obey a heathen governor.

The words behind it

24 Greek words

Every Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.

A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.

Related verses

11 in all, six open

The number beside each verse is how many compiled reference works tie it to this one. The strongest six stand open.

Luke 2:1–2Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that a census should be taken of the whole empire.4 worksMatthew 26:69Meanwhile, Peter was sitting out in the courtyard, and a servant girl came up to him. “You also were with Jesus the Galilean,” she said.3 worksMatthew 26:52“Put your sword back in its place,” Jesus said to him. “For all who draw the sword will die by the sword.2 worksPsalms 7:14–15Behold, the wicked man travails with evil; he conceives trouble and births falsehood.2 worksPsalms 9:15–16The nations have fallen into a pit of their making; their feet are caught in the net they have hidden.2 worksLuke 13:1–2At that time some of those present told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices.2 works
The other 5 cross-references, with their words ▾
Job 20:5–9the triumph of the wicked has been brief and the joy of the godless momentary?2 worksLuke 20:22Is it lawful for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”2 worksLuke 23:6When Pilate heard this, he asked if the man was a Galilean.2 worksMatthew 22:17So tell us what You think: Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”1 worksLuke 2:2This was the first census to take place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.0 works

The walk

5 stops

Each card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.

  • Through

    Matthew 26:52

    “Put your sword back in its place,” Jesus said to him. “For all who draw the sword will die by the sword.

    it leads to

    • Genesis 9:6

      Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man his blood will be shed; for in His own image God has made mankind.

    • Revelation 13:10

      “If anyone is destined for captivity, into captivity he will go; if anyone is to die by the sword, by the sword he must be killed.” Here is a call for the perseverance and…

    • Romans 12:19

      Do not avenge yourselves, beloved, but leave room for God’s wrath. For it is written: “Vengeance is Mine; I will repay, says the Lord.”

    • 1 Peter 2:21–23

      For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in His footsteps:

    • 1 Peter 3:9

      Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.

Where this verse is studied

About Acts

The Pentecost, El Greco, about 1600, Museo del Prado. Public domain.
The Pentecost, El Greco, about 1600, Museo del Prado. Public domain.
Acts: the study guide →Read Acts 5 →
This page draws on 9 works. Open the list of works

This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on Acts; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Bede, Commentary on Acts; Bede, Retractions on Acts; John Chrysostom, Homily on Acts 14; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Oecumenius, Commentary on Acts and Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Acts.

Read on in Acts 5 →