# Theudas — Barlaam and Ioasaph character guide

> Theudas in Barlaam and Ioasaph by Anonymous.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Hereupon Theudas

**First appearance:** 0018-xii

## Snapshot

A magician summoned to out-argue a hermit and reclaim a prince's soul, armed with rhetoric but not with truth.

## Who they are

Theudas is Abenner's chosen weapon in the war of ideas, a debater who knows how to flatter a court and twist a text. His confrontation with Nachor — who poses as Barlaam — becomes a public spectacle where the kingdom's philosophers are routed by a single disguised monk. His defeat matters less for what it costs him than for what it reveals: that the court's pagan learning cannot withstand a faith argued with humility and Scripture.

## Relationships

### [Ioasaph](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/barlaam_and_ioasaph_se/characters/ioasaph)

_rivalry_

Theudas is a pagan magician who opposes Ioasaph's Christian faith and attempts to undermine him.

### [Nachor](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/barlaam_and_ioasaph_se/characters/nachor)

_professional_

Nachor and Theudas are both pagan agents employed to oppose Ioasaph's faith, though Nachor later converts.

### [Ioasaph](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/barlaam_and_ioasaph_se/characters/ioasaph)

_rivalry_

Theudas is a pagan magician who opposes Ioasaph's Christian faith and attempts to undermine him.

### [Ioasaph](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/barlaam_and_ioasaph_se/characters/ioasaph)

_rivalry_

Theudas is a pagan magician who opposes Ioasaph's Christian faith and attempts to undermine him.

## In the story

### [The Apologues](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/barlaam_and_ioasaph_se/chapters/the-apologues)

Narrates the final apologue in the chapter.

### [Chapter XXIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/barlaam_and_ioasaph_se/chapters/xxix)

The magician Theudas is summoned by the priests, boasts of his power, and devises a plan to use women to seduce Ioasaph away from Christianity.

### [The Temptation of Ioasaph and the Vision of Heaven and Hell](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/barlaam_and_ioasaph_se/chapters/xxx)

The magician Theudas is mentioned as having given orders to the devil to tempt Ioasaph.

### [XXXI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/barlaam_and_ioasaph_se/chapters/xxxi)

Theudas, the magician, questions Ioasaph and attempts to mock the Gospel, but is rebuked by the prince.

### [XXXII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/barlaam_and_ioasaph_se/chapters/xxxii)

Initially challenges Ioasaph, but is converted after hearing his arguments; he burns his magical books and is baptized.

### [Chapter XXXIII: Ioasaph's Kingship and the Triumph of Christianity](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/barlaam_and_ioasaph_se/chapters/xxxiii)

Mentioned as a magician who challenges Ioasaph in a later chapter, but not present in this excerpt.

### [Chapter XXXVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/barlaam_and_ioasaph_se/chapters/xxxvii)

Not present in this chapter.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/barlaam_and_ioasaph_se/characters/theudas
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/barlaam_and_ioasaph_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/barlaam_and_ioasaph_se/characters