After him Judas the Galilean rose up in the days of the census and drew away some of the people after him. He too perished, and all who followed him were scattered.
English Standard Version (ESV)
What's easily missed here is that "Judas the Galilean" represents a pivotal, fanatical religio-political movement that viewed Roman taxation as outright slavery. He rallied people not just for political freedom, but on the principle that God alone should be their ruler, sparking a rebellion that would echo through subsequent Jewish history.
After him Judas the Galilean rose up in the days of the census and drew away some of the people after him. He too perished, and all who followed him were scattered.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Gamaliel is referencing past uprisings to support his argument, and after mentioning Theudas, he points to Judas the Galilean who led a rebellion during a Roman census. This Judas, a fervent nationalist, incited people to resist Roman authority, ultimately perishing himself with his followers scattered.
Gamaliel’s counsel in the previous verses offers a moment of pause, but the narrative quickly pivots to another figure who refused to heed it. Judas the Galilean represents a powerful, albeit destructive, force in first-century Judea.
Judas the Galilean, also known as Judas the Gaulonite, was a leader who emerged during a Roman census – a moment that stirred deep resentment among many Jews. His core belief, echoed by his followers, was that paying any tribute to Rome was a form of subjugation and a violation of their covenant with God.
Gamaliel’s warning about standing against God speaks volumes when we see the fate of Judas and his followers. Their path, though fueled by conviction, ended in ruin.
The trajectory of Judas the Galilean and his movement serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of violent resistance against established powers, especially when divorced from God's timing and methods.
Ask a follow-up
This verse highlights Judas the Galilean's revolt, a pivotal moment of Jewish resistance against Roman taxation and rule. His actions and ideology directly fueled the Zealot movement, contributing to the escalating tensions that ultimately led to the catastrophic First Jewish-Roman War.
c. 8 BC - 4 BC
Reign of Herod the Great
Herod the Great ruled Judea under Roman authority. His reign saw periods of relative stability but also significant political maneuvering and occasional unrest among the Jewish population.
c. 6 AD— this verse
Quirinius' Census of Judea
Publius Sulpicius Quirinius, the Roman governor of Syria, conducted a census in Judea to assess property for taxation. This event, deeply resented by many Jews, sparked the significant revolt led by Judas the Galilean.
c. AD 6
Revolt of Judas the Galilean
Judas the Galilean, a zealot, incited a rebellion against the Roman census, viewing it as a sign of subjugation. He, along with his followers, was suppressed by the Romans, but his movement laid the foundation for future resistance.
c. AD 40s
Crucifixion of Judas' Sons
The sons of Judas the Galilean, Jacob and Simon, continued their father's rebellious legacy. They were eventually apprehended and crucified by the Roman governor Tiberius Alexander.
c. AD 66 - 73
First Jewish-Roman War
The fervent nationalism and resistance inspired by figures like Judas the Galilean culminated in the major First Jewish-Roman War, which led to the destruction of Jerusalem and its Temple.
This passage also speaks of a violent uprising during Jesus' ministry that was met with severe judgment, highlighting a pattern of rebellion against Roman authority that often ended in destruction.
Acts 5:38Gamaliel's counsel immediately follows this mention of Judas, providing a stark contrast between earthly, political rebellion and the potential divine origin of the apostles' movement.
John 18:36Jesus' declaration that His kingdom is not of this world directly opposes the earthly, nationalistic fervor that drove Judas of Galilee and his followers.
Matthew 24:6-8Jesus forewarns of 'wars and rumors of wars' and 'famines and earthquakes' as signs of the end, which includes the kind of political unrest and upheaval exemplified by Judas' rebellion.
ellicottActs 5:37: "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."
(37) Judas of Galilee. —In one passage Josephus ( Ant. xviii. 1) calls him a Gaulonite— i.e., of the country east of Galilee. Had this stood alone, St. Luke might have been charged here also with inaccuracy; but in other passages ( Ant. xx. 5, § 2; Wars, ii. 8, § 1) he is described as a Galilean. On the taxing…
jfbActs 5:37: "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."
- Judas of Galilee—(See on [1956]Lu 2:2, and Lu 13:1-3) [Josephus, Antiquities, 13.1.1].
What's easily missed here is that "Judas the Galilean" represents a pivotal, fanatical religio-political movement that viewed Roman taxation as outright slavery. He rallied people not just for political freedom, but on the principle that God alone should be their ruler, sparking a rebellion that would echo through subsequent Jewish history.
Gamaliel is referencing past uprisings to support his argument, and after mentioning Theudas, he points to Judas the Galilean who led a rebellion during a Roman census. This Judas, a fervent nationalist, incited people to resist Roman authority, ultimately perishing himself with his followers scattered.
Gamaliel is referencing past uprisings to support his argument, and after mentioning Theudas, he points to Judas the Galilean who led a rebellion during a Roman census. This Judas, a fervent nationalist, incited people to resist Roman authority, ultimately perishing himself with his followers scattered.
"After him Judas the Galilean rose up in the days of the census and drew away some of the people after him. He too perished, and all who followed him were scattered." — What's easily missed here is that "Judas the Galilean" represents a pivotal, fanatical religio-political movement that viewed Roman taxation as outright slavery. He rallied people not just for politi…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026