GIUDA GALILEO. - Leader of one of the uprisings that broke out in Palestine against Roman rule, on the occasion of the census ordered by the senator P. Sulpicio Quirinio, legate in Syria (6–7 B.C.). G. was a native of Gamala in Gaulanitis, but was generally called “the Galilean.” He does not appear to have been identical with the Giuda, son of Ezechia, who led the insurrection after the death of Erode il Grande (4 B.C.).
Having joined forces with the Pharisee Saddoc, G. proclaimed disobedience to the Romans, declaring it unworthy for a Jew to tolerate “mortal masters after God” (Flavio Giuseppe, Bell. Ind., II, § 118; Antiq. Ind., XVIII, §§ 4-9, 23-25). After various clashes G. was killed; but the uprising was not without consequences. Its initial success is attested by Gamaliele’s brief recollection 25 years later (Act. 5, 37). The act of this popular leader also had a religious-messianic motive: he intended to hasten the coming of the Messiah, liberator from Roman tyranny. When his attempt failed, G. had successors among the Zealots (v.). In A.D. 46–48 the procurator Tiberio Alessandro had two sons of G. crucified (Fl. Giuseppe, Antiq. Ind., XX, § 102). Another of his sons, Menahen, was one of the principal rebels against the Romans in A.D. 66 (id., Bell. Ind., II, §§ 433-48).