Gamaliel, addressing the Sanhedrin (around 32 AD), mentioned a man named Theudas, who gathered four hundred men to maintain his claims, and who was killed.
The great Pharisee doctor next mentioned another rebellious leader, Judas the Galilean, who died miserably (Acts 5:36, 37). This Judas has been indisputably identified with Judas of Gamala in Gaulanitis, and whom Josephus calls Julian the Gaulonite and also the Galilean (Ant. 18:1, 1; Wars 2:8, 1).
The Theudas of whom Gamaliel speaks arose around the year 6 AD. However, Josephus tells the story of a magician named Theudas who, during the rule of the procurator Fado in Judea (44-46 AD), posed as a prophet, persuading many to follow him, dying with them at the order of the procurator. (Ant. 20:5, 1).
It is evident that these are two different characters called Theudas, who lived about forty years from each other. The one mentioned by Gamaliel was one of the leaders who provoked seditions in the time of Herod the Great.
Meaning of TEUDAS
Gamaliel, addressing the Sanhedrin (around 32 AD), mentioned a man named Theudas, who gathered four hundred men to maintain his claims, and who was killed.
