a sect of the Jews. Their founder was one Judas a native of Galilee, from which place they derived their name. Their chief, effecting it an indignity for the Jews to pay tribute to strangers, raised up his countrymen against the edict of the emperor Augustus, which had ordered a taxation or enrolment of all the subjects of the Roman empire.

They pretended that God alone should be owned as Master and Lord, and in other respects were of the opinion of the Pharisees; but, as they judged it unlawful to pray for infidel princes, they separated themselves from the rest of the Jews, and performed their sacrifices apart.

As our Saviour and his apostles were of Galilee, they were suspected to be of the sect of Galileans; and it was on this principle, as St Jerome observes, that the Pharisees laid a snare for him; asking, Whether it was lawful to give tribute to Caesar; that in case he denied it, they might have an occasion of accusing him.