Bible Lexicons

Θευδᾶς

(perh. contr. from Θεόδωρος , but v. MM, Exp., xv), -ᾶ , ὁ ,

Theudas: Acts 5:36.†

The name occurs in a sepulchral inscr. from Hierapolis, Syll 872, where Flavius Zeuxis, ἐργαστής (? a frumentarius : he speaks of his seventy-two voyages past Cape Malea to Italy. His name suggests a late date in i/A.D., or not far on in ii/A.D.), has two sons, Flavius Theodorus and Flavius Theudas. On the ordinary assumption (Blass-Debrunner Gr. § 125, 2) this would be like having a Theodore and a Teddy as baptismal names of brothers. Are we to infer that Theudas is short for something else, say Theodotus? To judge without an exhaustive study, the abbreviated names were used together with the full forms much as they are with us : thus Acusilaus in P Tebt II. 409 (A.D. 5) is Acûs on the back of the letter, and in P Oxy I. 119 (ii/iii A.D.) (= Selections, p. 102 f.) young Theon calls himself Theonas in the address. In P Oxy X. 1242i. 14 (early iii/A.D.) we hear of Θεύδης as one of the members of a Jewish embassy to Trajan.