God’s Word Translation
Acts 5:36
36Some time ago Theudas appeared. He claimed that he was important, and about four hundred men joined him. He was killed, and all his followers were scattered. The whole movement was a failure.
Acts 5:36 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)For before these days rose up Theudas, boasting himself 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 scattered, and brought to nought.
- New International Version (NIV)Some time ago Theudas appeared, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men rallied to him. He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing.
- English Standard Version (ESV)For before these days Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and a number of men, about four hundred, joined him. He was killed, and all who followed him were dispersed and came to nothing.
- New King James Version (NKJV)For some time ago Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody. A number of men, about four hundred, joined him. He was slain, and all who obeyed him were scattered and came to nothing.
Context of Acts 5:36
34But a Pharisee named Gamaliel stood up. He was a highly respected expert in Moses’ Teachings. He ordered that the apostles should be taken outside for a little while. 35Then he said to the council, “Men of Israel, consider carefully what you do with these men. Some time ago Theudas appeared. He claimed that he was important, and about four hundred men joined him. He was killed, and all his followers were scattered. The whole movement was a failure. 37“After that man, at the time of the census, Judas from Galilee appeared and led people in a revolt. He, too, died, and all his followers were scattered. 38“We should keep away from these men for now. We should leave them alone. I can guarantee that if the plan they put into action is of human origin, it will fail.
Read all of Acts 5Acts 5:36 word by word
πρὸ γὰρ τούτων τῶν ἡμερῶν ἀνέστη Θευδᾶς λέγων εἶναί τινα ἑαυτόν, ᾧ προσεκλίθη ἀνδρῶν ἀριθμὸς ὡς τετρακοσίων· ὃς ἀνῃρέθη, καὶ πάντες ὅσοι ἐπείθοντο αὐτῷ διελύθησαν καὶ ἐγένοντο εἰς οὐδέν.Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Forγάρgar · forG1063
- beforeπρόpro · beforeG4253
- theseοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
- daysὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- daysἡμέραhēmera · dayG2250
- rose upἀνίστημιanistēmi · to ariseG450
- TheudasΘευδᾶςTheudas · TheudasG2333
- boastingλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
- himselfἑαυτοῦheautou · themselfG1438
- to beεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
- somebodyτιςtis · oneG5100
- to whomὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
- a numberἀριθμόςarithmos · numberG706
- of menἀνήρanēr · manG435
- aboutὡσείhōsei · like/as/aboutG5616
- four hundredτετρακόσιοιtetrakosioi tetrakosia · four hundredG5071
- joined themselvesπροσκολλάωproskollaō · to joinG4347
- was slainἀναιρέωanaireō · to killG337
- andκαίkai · andG2532
- allπᾶςpas · allG3956
- as many asὅσοςhosos · just as/how muchG3745
- obeyedπείθωpeithō · to persuadeG3982
- himαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
- were scatteredδιαλύωdialuō · to disperseG1262
- broughtγίνομαιginomai · to beG1096
- toεἰςeis · towardG1519
- noughtοὐδείςoudeis · noneG3762
Cross-references for Acts 5:36
- Acts 8:9A man named Simon lived in that city. He amazed the people of Samaria with his practice of magic. He claimed that he was great.
- Matthew 24:24False messiahs and false prophets will appear. They will work spectacular, miraculous signs and do wonderful things to deceive, if possible, even those whom God has chosen.
- 2 Thessalonians 2:3Don’t let anyone deceive you about this in any way. ⌞That day cannot come unless⌟ a revolt takes place first, and the man of sin, the man of destruction, is revealed.
- 2 Peter 2:18They arrogantly use nonsense to seduce people by appealing to their sexual desires, especially to sexual freedom. They seduce people who have just escaped from those who live in error.
- Jude 1:16These people complain, find fault, follow their own desires, say arrogant things, and flatter people in order to take advantage of them.
- Revelation 17:3Then the angel carried me by his power into the wilderness. I saw a woman sitting on a bright red beast covered with insulting names. It had seven heads and ten horns.
- Acts 21:38Aren’t you the Egyptian who started a revolution not long ago and led four thousand terrorists into the desert?”
- 2 Peter 2:2Many people will follow them in their sexual freedom and will cause others to dishonor the way of truth.
- Matthew 24:26So if someone tells you, ‘He’s in the desert!’ don’t go out ⌞looking for him⌟. And don’t believe anyone who says, ‘He’s in a secret place!’
Commentaries on Acts 5:36
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 36Rose up Theudas - Josephus, Ant. lib. xx. cap. 4, sect. 1, mentions one named Theudas who was the author of an insurrection; about whom there has been much controversy whether he were the person spoken of here by Gamaliel. Every circumstance, as related by Josephus agrees well enough with what is referred to here, except the chronology; for the Theudas mentioned by Josephus made his insurrection when Fadus was governor of Judea; which was at least ten…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 36For before those days - The “advice” of Gamaliel was to permit these men to go on. The “arguments” by which he enforced his advice were: (1)That there were cases or precedents in point Acts 5:36-37; and, (2)That if it should turn out to be truly of God, it would be a solemn affair to be involved in the consequences of opposing him. How long before “these days” this transaction occurred, cannot now be determined, as it is not certain to what case Gamaliel…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 34-42Verses 34-42 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 tells us to be cautious, while experience and observation show that the success of frauds in matters of religion has been very short. Reproach for Christ is true preferment, as it makes us conformable to his pattern, and serviceable to his interest. They rejoiced in it. If we suffer ill for doing…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 36-37This Theudas is otherwise unknown, although the Jewish historian Josephus mentions a different man with the same name who led a revolution some years later (see Josephus, Antiquities 20.5.1). Theudas was a common Jewish name. Judas of Galilee appears in Josephus as a rebel who opposed paying taxes to Caesar around AD 6 or 7, following the census of Quirinius (see Josephus, Antiquities 20.5.2; compare Luke 2:2). His resistance was stopped by the Roman…Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 35-3935-39. Theudas--not the same with a deceiver of that name whom Josephus mentions as heading an insurrection some twelve years after this [Antiquities, 20.5.1], but some other of whom he makes no mention. Such insurrections were frequent.Read the comment
Topics related to Acts 5:36
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Acts 5
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Illustrated New Testament
- Burkitt’s Expository Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Family Bible Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- The People’s New Testament
- Robertson’s Word Pictures
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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