“This is going just as I wanted. Look at all that has occurred! We have grown to four-hundred strong! We started as nothing but now our message is out and people are continuing to join our movement. No longer will the Sanhedrin push us around. They are nervous. They don’t know what to do with us. And the Pharisees….a bunch of pompous blow-hards. Their days are numbered. I now know that God is with us! There is no other way to explain our numbers. I have the power. I have the notoriety. I have the influence. It is time for an uprising and I am at the helm!”
So, perhaps you are trying to recall who Theudas was and what his gospel was about. Well, he never had a gospel and he really has no significance at all except……….as an illustration used by God. In the fifth chapter of the book of Acts we read of the early church gaining notoriety and growing. But with notoriety sometimes comes persecution and the apostle were indeed experiencing difficult times as they were thrown in jail for sharing about Jesus. However, after they got out, they continued to share about the Lord. Here is where we pick up the scriptures in Acts chapter 5 and are introduced to Theudas..
“27 The apostles were brought in and made to appear before the Sanhedrin to be questioned by the high priest. 28 “We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name,” he said. “Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man’s blood.”
29 Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than human beings! 30 The God of our ancestors raised Jesus from the dead—whom you killed by hanging him on a cross. 31 God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might bring Israel to repentance and forgive their sins. 32 We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”
33 When they heard this, they were furious and wanted to put them to death. 34 But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, who was honored by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered that the men be put outside for a little while. 35 Then he addressed the Sanhedrin: “Men of Israel, consider carefully what you intend to do to these men. 36 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. 37 After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and led a band of people in revolt. He too was killed, and all his followers were scattered. 38 Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. 39 But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.”
“Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. 39 But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.”
Theudas….he came to nothing.
Judas the Galilean…..he came to nothing.
Jesus Christ…..He was and is and always will be everything.
I am sure Gamaliel recognized the full wisdom and prophetic nature of his words when he first uttered them, but we do today. Indeed the religious authorities were fighting against God and the gospel of Jesus Christ was not and cannot be stopped.
The gospel of Theudas? Well….whatever his message was, it never got any traction. He was killed and that was that. Jesus was killed, and over two thousand years later we rejoice in His name! Men and women will come and go and claim to be something, but there is only one name under the heavens by which we must be saved and that is Jesus Christ. His name is above all names and the gospel of Jesus….yes that remains.
For Him,
Rob
Amen Rob- thank you for this great article.