Josephus
Mentions both Judas of Galilee and Theudas
"Now it came to pass, while Fadius was
procurator of Judea, that a certain magician,
whose name
was Theudas, persuaded
a great part of the people to take their effects
with them, and
follow him
to the river Jordan; for he told them he was
a prophet and that he would, by his own command,
divide the river, and afford them an easy passage
over it; and many were deluded by his words.
Fadius slew many of them and also took Theudas alive,
and cut off his head, and carried it to Jerusalem."
Josephus
- Antiquities of the Jews - Book
20 Chapter 5:1
Acts 5:36 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. Judas of Galilee, Cyrenius and
the Taxing
"The Sons of Judas
of Galilee were now
slain; I mean of that Judas who caused the
people
to revolt, when Cyrenius came
to take an account of the estates of the
Jews."
Josephus - Antiquities of the Jews - Book
20 Chapter 5:2
Acts 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.
"But the fourth sect of Jewish philosophy,
Judas the Galilean was the author"
Josephus - Antiquities of
the Jews - Book 18 Chapter 1:6
Cyrenius is Governor of Syria
During the Census -Taxing
"So Archelaus's country was
laid to the province of Syria; and
Cyrenius,
one that
had been consul,
was sent by Caesar to take account
of people's effects in Syria.Cyrenius
came himself into Judea, which
was now added to the province of
Syria, to take
an account of their substance."
Josephus - Antiquities of
the Jews - Book 18
"That had been consul" - This lends credibility
to the fact of Cyrenius possibly ruling as
governor of Syria on more than one occasion. Luke 2:1 And it came to pass in those
days, that there went out a decree from Caesar
Augustus, that all the world should be
taxed. And this taxing was first made when
Cyrenius was governor of Syria.
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