Bible Encyclopedias
Judas of Galilee

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

( ὁ Γαλιλαίος , ho Galilaı́os ): Mentioned in Acts 5:37 as the leader of an insurrection occasioned by the census of Quirinius in 7 AD (see QUIRINIUS ). He, and those who obeyed him, it is said, perished in that revolt. Josephus also repeatedly mentions Judas by this same name, "the Galilean," and speaks of his revolt (Ant. , XVIII , i, 6; XX, v, 2; BJ , II, viii, 1; xviii, 8; VII, viii, 1), but in Ant ., XVIII , i, names him a Gaulonite, of the city of Gamala. As Gamala was in Gaulonitis, not far from the eastern shore of the Sea of Galilee, it may be regarded as belonging to that province. The party of Judas seems to have been identified with the Zealots.