5:36a
This verse in Greek begins with the word that is usually translated as “for.” It introduces two examples of why the Jewish leaders should be careful about what they do to the apostles (5:35b). For example:
For (Revised Standard Version)
Some time ago: This phrase is more literally “before these days.” Here it refers to an event that probably occurred about thirty years prior to this time. Do not say how many years in your translation. For example:
Some years ago
-or-
A number of years ago
Theudas: The Bible does not mention this man anywhere else.
rose up: The Greek is more literally “arose/stood.” It indicates that Theudas became a leader. Here are some other ways to translate this:
appeared (New International Version)
-or-
came forward (Revised English Bible)
claiming to be somebody: These words indicate that Theudas was telling people that he was an important person. It is not known what he said, but probably it was political or religious or both. For example:
saying he was great/important
-or-
and was telling people that he was an important man/person
5:36b
and about four hundred men joined him: The Greek is more literally “to whom a number of men, about four hundred, associated.” These men liked what Theudas said, so they stayed with him. Here are some other ways to translate this:
and a number of men, about four hundred, joined him (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
and about four hundred men joined him (God’s Word)
-or-
There were four hundred men who became his followers.
5:36c
He was killed: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as killed is the same word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as “put…to death” in 5:33. Here it probably has the same meaning: “kill as a punishment for a crime.”
This clause is passive. Some languages must translate this as an active clause. For example:
⌊they/authorities/others⌋ executed/killed him
See how you translated the phrase “put…to death” in 5:33b.
all his followers were dispersed: The Berean Standard Bible does not start this clause with “and” because the next clause starts with “and,” following the English rule for the use of “and.” But it is more natural in many languages to begin this clause with “and.” For example:
and all his followers were dispersed
This clause is passive. Some languages must use an active clause. For example:
⌊they⌋ dispersed all his followers
all his followers: The Greek is more literally “all, as many as obeyed him.” It indicates that these 400 men followed the rules that Theudas made for anyone who wanted to be a part of this group. Other ways to translate it are:
all those who obeyed him
-or-
every man of his
dispersed: This word refers to causing a group to scatter. Whoever killed Theudas probably also scattered his followers. Here are some other ways to translate this word:
scattered (Good News Translation)
-or-
separated completely
5:36d
and it all came to nothing: The Greek is more literally “and they became nothing.” It indicates that all of Theudas’ followers stopped doing anything related to Theudas or the things he said. They became of no importance to the Romans or the Jews. Here are some other ways to translate this:
and came to nothing (English Standard Version)
-or-
and they became of no consequence
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