Judea becomes a Roman province; Judas the Galilean revolts
Augustus deposed Archelaus and put Judea under a Roman governor. When Quirinius took a census for taxation, Judas the Galilean led a revolt, teaching that God alone was Israel's master.
After this man, Judas of Galilee rose up in the days of the enrollment, and drew away some people after him. He also perished, and all, as many as obeyed him, were scattered abroad.
Acts 5:37 (World English Bible)
The revolt was crushed, but Josephus says Judas founded a movement that fed the bitterness against Rome for the next sixty years. Gamaliel recalled it in the Sanhedrin when he advised leaving the apostles alone (Acts 5:34–39). The question of paying taxes to Caesar, which Jesus' enemies later used to trap him (Mark 12:13–17), grew out of this time.
Places
Ancient witnesses outside the Bible
Historical sources, not Scripture.
- Antiquities 18.1.1 — the census under Cyrenius (Quirinius) and Judas's revolt
- War 2.8.1
Dating notes
Ussher: Archelaus was banished in AD 6, and the first governor, Coponius, arrived with Quirinius in AD 6/7.