Theudas is mentioned only here in the New Testament. Although there are certain questions of chronology raised by the mention of Theudas in this verse and by the mention of Judas the Galilean in the following verse, the details of these questions are not important for the translator, and so they will not be dealt with here. The temporal expression some time ago is perhaps best translated as “a few years ago.” One should avoid giving the impression of a long period of time.

Claiming that he was somebody great may be of necessity shifted into direct discourse, for example, “said, I am a great leader.”

The expression joined him may be translated variously, for example, “became his helpers,” “followed him,” “became his henchmen.”

The passive construction was killed may be shifted into an active in two forms, either “died violently” or “died by violence” (implying some agent who killed him), or one may say “some people killed him” not specifying precisely the agent. The passive were scattered may simply be shifted to “went in all directions.”

In many languages movements cannot die out. They can, however, “stop,” “cease,” or “become nothing.”

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on The Acts of the Apostles. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1972. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .