JUDAS or jIIDE (jfedas), (Gr. lo135as, das, the Greek form of the Hebrew JuDAH).
1. The patriarch Judah (Matt. 1:2, 3).
2. A man who lived in Damascus, and with whom Saul lodged after his conversion (Acts ix:11), in the street, "that is called straight." No further mention of him occurs. It is far from probable that he was a Christian, as none of Saul's company were Christians, nor did they know that hc himself had become converted. The so-called "House of Judas" is still shown in an open space called "the Sheik's Place," a fcw steps out of the Street of Bazaars.
3. Judas, otherwise Jude, surnamed Barsabas, was sent from Jerusalem, with Paul and Barnabas, to the church at Antioch, to report the resolution of the Apostles at Jerusalem, concerning the non observance of the ways by the Gentiles (Acts xv : 22, 23, ), A. D. 54. Some think, that this Judas was the brother of Joseph, surnamed also Bar sabas, who was proposed, with Matthias, to fill up the place of the traitor Judas (Acts 1:23. Luke says that Judas Barsabas was a prophet, and one of the chief among the brethren; and it is also believed that he was one of thc seventy disciples.
4. Judas Gaulanitis, or thc Gaulanite, opposed the enrollment of the people made by Cyrenius in Judwa (see CVRENIUS) and raised a very great rebellion, pretending that the Jews, being free, ought to acknowledge no dominion besides that of God. His followers chose rather to suffer ex treme torments than to call any power on earth lord or master. The same Judas is named Judas the Galilean (Acts v:37) because he was a native of the city of Gamala in the Gaulanitis, which was comprised in Galilee.
5. There were two of this name among the twelve Apostles—Judas, called also Lebbmus and Thaddwus (Matt. x:3, 4; Mark iii :18, which
see), and Judas Iscariot. Judas is the name of one of our Lord's brethren, but it is not agreed whether our Lord's brother is the same with the Apostle of this name (See JANtEs). We are not informed as to the time of the calling of the Apostle Jude to that dignity. Indeed, the only circumstance relating to him which is recorded in the Gospels consists in the question put by him to our Lord (John xiv :22). 'Judas said) unto him (not Iscariot), Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself to us, and not unto the world?' Nor have we any account given of his proceed ings after our Lord's resurrection, for the tradi tionary notices which have been preserved of him rest on no very certain foundation. It has been asserted that he was sent to Edessa, to Abgarus, king of Osroene (Jerome, Annot. in Matt.), and that he preached in Syria, Arabia. Mesopotamia, and Persia; in which latter country he suffered martyrdom (Lardner's Hist. of the Apostles). Jude the Apostle is commemorated in the West ern church, together with the Apostle Simon (the name, also. of one of our Lord's brethren) on the 8th of October.
St. Luke (Acts xv :22, 27-33) speaks of Judas, the son of Barsabas, in company with Silas. both of whom he styles 'prophets,' and 'chief men among the brethren.' Schott supposcs that By sabas means the son of Sabas, or Zabas. which lie looks upon as an abridged form for Zebedee, and concludes that the Judas here mentioned was a brother of the elder James and of John.