Matthew 24:4,5 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Take heed that no man deceive you— Our Saviour mentions false Christs as the first sign of his coming. He begins with this inall the evangelists, and in all uses almost the same words: only in St. Luke 21:8 he adds, the time draweth near; and indeed within a little time this part of the prophesy began to be fulfilled. Very soon after our Saviour's decease, appeared Simon Magus, who boasted himself among the Jews as the son of God, and gave out among the Samaritans, that he was some great one, Acts 8:9-10. Of the same stamp and character was Dositheus the Samaritan, who pretended that he was the Christ foretold by Moses. In the reign of Claudius, about twelve years after the death of our Saviour, an impostor, named Theudas, persuaded a great multitude to follow him, with their best effects, to the river Jordan; for he said that he was a prophet, and promised to divide the river for their passage; and saying these things, he deceived many, says Josephus: but Fadus sent a troop of horse against them, who, falling unexpectedly upon them, killed many, and made many prisoners; and, having taken Theudas himself alive, they cut off his head, and brought it to Jerusalem. A few years afterwards, in the reign of Nero, these impostors rose so frequently, that many of them were apprehended and killed every day. They seduced great numbers of the people, still expecting the Messiah. Our Saviour therefore might well caution his disciples against them. See the note on Matthew 24:24. Bishop Newton, and Archbishop Tillotson's Discourse on this subject.