It is not clear exactly who Theudas was. The Jewish historian Josephus mentions an individual by this name who led a revolt around 44–46 AD. This would be around ten years after the events of Acts 5. Seeing as Theudas was a relatively common name at the time, it is very possible that Gamaliel was referring to another individual, someone unknown to Josephus.1 The order in which Theudas and Judas are mentioned also suggests that Theudas’s rebellion took place prior to that of Judas.2
36 For before these days Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and a number of men, about four hundred, joined him. He was killed, and all who followed him were dispersed and came to nothing.