John 10:8 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

All that ever came before me— "All those who in former times assumed the characters of teachers of religion, without commission from me, are thieves and robbers." Here, as in many other instances, our Lord's words are very elliptical, and must be filled up from what goes before. The gloss that we have ventured to give, is taken from John 10:1 and seems altogether necessary, because it does not clearly appear from history, that any one among the Jews assumed the title of Messiah before our Lord came. It is true that Theudas and Judas of Galilee are mentioned by Gamaliel as having given themselves out for persons of note; Acts 5:37. But with respect to Judas, it is evident from Josephus that he did not assume the title of Messiah: he only gave rise to a political faction, whose distinction was, that they would pay no taxes to the Romans, or any foreign power. And from the character which the Jewish doctors give of Theudas, it does not appear that he called himself the Messiah. Like Judas of Galilee, he only pretended to be some extraordinary person, who had eminent skill in the law, and taught opinions contrary to those which were commonly received. Perhaps he called himself a prophet, to give his doctrines the greater weight.