Biblical account Judas Iscariot

a 16th-century fresco depicting judas being paid 30 pieces of silver



the betrayal peter raises sword; judas hangs himself. illumination western manuscript, c. 1504

judas mentioned in synoptic gospels, gospel of john, , @ beginning of acts of apostles. judas common name in new testament times. judas iscariot should not confused judas thomas (saint thomas apostle), or judas thaddaeus (saint jude thaddaeus), among twelve apostles.

the gospels of matthew, mark, , luke state jesus sent out twelve (including judas) power on unclean spirits , ministry of preaching , healing: judas played active part in apostolic ministry alongside other eleven. origen of alexandria, in commentary on john s gospel, reflected on judas s interactions other apostles , jesus confidence in him prior betrayal. however, in john s gospel, judas s outlook differentiated - many of jesus disciples abandoned him because of difficulty of accepting teachings, , jesus asked twelve if leave him. simon peter spoke twelve: lord, whom shall go? have words of eternal life, jesus observed although judas 1 of twelve whom had chosen, devil.

matthew directly states judas betrayed jesus bribe of thirty pieces of silver identifying him kiss – kiss of judas – arresting soldiers of high priest caiaphas, turned jesus on pontius pilate s soldiers.

mark s gospel states chief priests looking way arrest jesus. decided not during feast [of passover], since afraid people riot; instead, chose night before feast arrest him. according luke s account, satan entered judas @ time.

according account in gospel of john, judas carried disciples money bag or box (greek: γλωσσόκομον, glōssokomon), john s gospel makes no mention of thirty pieces of silver fee betrayal. evangelist comments in john 12:5-6 judas spoke fine words giving money poor, reality not cared poor, [that] thief, , had money box; , used take put in it. however, in john 13:27-30, when judas left gathering of jesus , disciples betrayal in mind, [of disciples] thought judas might have been leaving buy supplies or on charitable errand.

death of judas in biblical accounts

judas iscariot tarzhishte monastery, strupets, bulgaria, 16th-century fresco

there several different accounts of death of judas, including 2 in modern biblical canon:

matthew 27:3–10 says judas returned money priests , committed suicide hanging himself. used buy potter s field. gospel account presents fulfillment of prophecy.
the acts 1:18-19 says judas himself used money buy field (lit: acquire), fell headfirst, , burst asunder in midst, , bowels gushed out. field called akeldama or field of blood.
the non-canonical gospel of judas says judas had vision of disciples stoning , persecuting him.
another account preserved christian leader, papias: judas walked in world sad example of impiety; body having swollen such extent not pass chariot pass easily, crushed chariot, bowels gushed out.

the existence of conflicting accounts of death of judas has caused problems scholars have seen them threatening reliability of scripture. problem 1 of points causing c. s. lewis, example, reject view every statement in scripture must historical truth.

various attempts @ harmonization have been suggested. have followed literal interpretations such of augustine, suggest these describe different aspects of same event – judas hanged himself in field, , rope snapped , fall burst body open, or accounts of acts , matthew refer 2 different transactions. have taken descriptions figurative: falling prostrate judas in anguish, , bursting out of bowels pouring out emotion.

modern scholars tend reject these approaches stating matthew account midrashic exposition allows author present event fulfillment of prophetic passages old testament. argue author adds imaginative details such thirty pieces of silver, , fact judas hangs himself, earlier tradition judas s death.

matthew s description of death fulfilment of prophecy spoken through jeremiah prophet has caused difficulties, since not correspond known version of book of jeremiah appear refer story book of zechariah describes return of payment of thirty pieces of silver. writers such jerome , john calvin concluded error.

more recently, scholars have suggested gospel writer may have had passage jeremiah in mind, such chapters 18:1–4 , 19:1–13 refers potter s jar , burial place, , chapter 32:6–15 refers burial place , earthenware jar. raymond brown suggested, plausible [explanation] matthew 27:9–10 presenting mixed citation words taken both zechariah , jeremiah, , ...he refers combination 1 name. jeremiah 18–9 concerns potter (18:2–; 19:1), purchase (19:1), valley of hinnom (where field of blood traditionally located, 19:2), ‘innocent blood’(19:4), , renaming of place burial (19:6, 11); , jer 32:6–5 tells of purchase of field silver. randel helms gives example of fictional , imaginative use christians of old testament: matthew s source has blended jeremiah s buying of field , placing deed in pot zechariah s casting of thirty pieces of silver down in temple , purchase of potter s field.