When and How Judas Iscariot Died

The general teaching concerning Judas hanging himself before Jesus' crucifixion is not substantiated by the Word of God.

I Corinthians 15:3‑5: How that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he [Christ] was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures; And that HE WAS SEEN of Cephas [Peter], then OF THE TWELVE.

According to the Scriptures, JUDAS ISCARIOT WAS STILL AMONG THE TWELVE APOSTLES AFTER CHRIST DIED AND WAS RAISED FROM THE DEAD AND WAS ALIVE DURING THE APPEARANCES OF JESUS.

The times and appearances of Jesus after the Resurrection: The accounts in both the Gospel of Luke and John are identical. This was Jesus' first appearance to His apostles that Jesus showed them His scars. The time of His appearances was the first day of the week, after the resurrection, toward the evening.

John 20:19: Then the same day at evening being the first day of the week...

Luke 24:1 and 29: Now upon the first day of the week...for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent...

Luke 24:33 and 36: And they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them.

And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.

There were "eleven" of the apostles gathered together, and those who were with them, when Jesus stood in the midst of them.

John 20:24 GIVES THE SAME ACCOUNT ONLY THIS TIME THE RECORD STATES THE NAME OF THE ABSENT DISCIPLE.

John 20:24: BUT THOMAS, one of the twelve, called Didymus, WAS NOT WITH THEM when Jesus came.

Thomas was not present during the time of Jesus' first appearance after his resurrection. THE ELEVEN THAT WERE PRESENT HAD TO INCLUDE JUDAS ISCARIOT.

According to the Gospel of John, chapter 20, verse 26: "...after eight days when his disciples were within ...." These are the same apostles who were assembled together during the first appearance as recorded in Luke 24.

Luke 24:33: The eleven [WITHOUT THOMAS] gathered together, and them that were with them.

THE TIME THAT JESUS WAS SEEN OF THE TWELVE is stated in John 20.

John 20:26: Again HIS DISCIPLES WERE WITHIN, AND THOMAS WITH THEM [eleven and Thomas made the count twelve]: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.

"Again" the disciples were within, and this time Thomas was present. JESUS STOOD IN THE MIDST OF THE TWELVE, WHICH ESTABLISHES AND CONFIRMS WHAT IS WRITTEN in I Corinthians 15:5: "...he was seen of Cephas, THEN OF THE TWELVE.

After Judas betrayed Jesus

Matthew 27:5: And he [Judas Iscariot] cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself.

Judas could not have left the temple and immediately killed himself because Judas was present during the first (excluding Thomas) and second (including Thomas) appearances of Jesus to His apostles "after" His resurrection. This account is just a summarization of the life of Judas.

Another account that confirms Judas was alive after the Resurrection

Acts 1:1‑2: The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach. UNTIL THE DAY IN WHICH HE WAS TAKEN UP, AFTER THAT HE THROUGH THE HOLY GHOST HAD GIVEN COMMANDMENTS UNTO THE APOSTLES WHOM HE HAD CHOSEN.

Verse 2 states that Jesus gave commandments to the apostles he had chosen. According to Luke 6:13, Jesus chose twelve apostles, not eleven.

Acts 1:3: To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days...

"To whom" refers back to the apostles (of verse 2) whom Jesus had chosen. He showed himself alive by many infallible proofs, being seen of them (the twelve apostles) forty days.

In order to accurately understand the rest of Acts I, it is necessary to recognize that eleven of the apostles were Galileans. JUDAS WAS FROM THE TOWN OF KERIOTH IN SOUTHERN JUDEA The Hebrew word for "Iscariot" is Iskariotes and means, "men of Kerioth" according to Strong's Concordance. Judas was from the town of Kerioth in southern Judea.

“ Jesus answered them, "Did I not choose you, the twelve, and one of you is a devil?" He spoke of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, for it was he who would betray Him, being one of the twelve. ” (John 6:70-71)

“ While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled. ” (John 17:12)

Judas Iscariot

“ Before the Betrayal: For any definite allusion to Judas during the interval lying between his call and the events immediately preceding the betrayal, we are indebted to John alone. These allusions are made with the manifest purpose of showing forth the nefarious character of Judas from the beginning; and in their sequence there is a gradual development and growing clearness in the manner in which Jesus makes prophecy regarding his future betrayer.

“ Thus, after the discourse on the Bread of Life in the synagogue of Capernaum (John 6:26‑59), when many of the disciples deserted Jesus (verse 66) and Peter protested the allegiance of the apostles (verse 69), Jesus answered, ‘ Did not I choose you the twelve, and one of you is a devil ’ (verse 70).

“ Then follows John's commentary, ‘ Now he spake of Judas the son of Simon Iscariot, for he it was that should betray him, being one of the twelve ’ (verse 71), implying that Judas was already known to Jesus as being in spirit one of those who ‘ went back, arid walked no more with him ’ (verse 66). But the situation, however disquieting it must have been to the ambitious designs which probably actuated Judas in his acceptance of the apostleship (compare below), was not sufficiently critical to call for immediate desertion on his part.

“ Instead, he lulled his fears of exposure by the fact that he was not mentioned by name, and continued ostensibly one of the faithful. Personal motives of a sordid nature had also influence in causing him to remain. Appointed keeper of the purse, he disregarded the warnings of Jesus concerning greed and hypocrisy (compare Matt 6:20; Luke 12:1‑3) and appropriated the funds to his own use. As a cloak to his avarice, he pretended to be zealous in their administration, and therefore, at the anointing of Jesus' feet by Mary, he asked ‘ Why was not this ointment sold for 300 shillings, and given to the poor? NOW THIS HE SAID, NOT BECAUSE HE CARED FOR THE POOR; BUT BECAUSE HE WAS A THIEF, AND HAVING THE BAG TOOK AWAY WHAT WAS PUT THEREIN ’ (John 12:5‑6; compare also Matt 26:7‑13; Mark 14:3‑8).

“ The Betrayal: Yet, although by this craftiness Judas concealed for a time his true nature from the rest of the disciples, and fomented any discontent that might arise among them (compare Mark 14:4), he now felt that his present source of income could not long remain secure. The pregnant words of his Master regarding the day of his burial (compare Matt 26:12; Mark 14:8; John 12:7) REVEALED TO HIS BETRAYER THAT JESUS ALREADY KNEW WELL THE EVIL POWERS THAT WERE AT WORK AGAINST HIM; AND IT IS SIGNIFICANT THAT, ACCORDING TO MATTHEW and MARK, who alone of the syncopists mention the anointing, Judas departed immediately afterward and made his compact with the chief priests (compare Matt 26:14‑15; Mark 14:10‑11; compare also Luke 22:3‑6).

“ But his absence was only temporary. He was present at the washing of the disciples' feet, there to be differentiated once more by Jesus from the rest of the Twelve (compare ‘ Ye are clean, but not all ’ and ‘ HE THAT EATETH MY BREAD LIFTED UP HIS HEEL AGAINST ME, ’ John 13:10,18), BUT AGAIN WITHOUT BEING NAMED. It seemed as if Jesus wished to give Judas every opportunity, even at this late hour, of repenting and making his confession. For the last time, when they had sat down to eat, Jesus appealed him thus with the words, ‘ ONE OF YOU SHALL BETRAY ME. ’ (Matt 26:21; Mark 14:18; Luke 22:21; John 13:21).

“ And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and THOU SHALT BRUISE HIS HEEL. ” (Genesis 3:15)

“ He was present at the washing of the disciples' feet, there to be differentiated once more by Jesus from the rest of the Twelve (compare ‘ YE ARE CLEAN, BUT NOT ALL ’ and ‘ HE THAT EATETH MY BREAD LIFTED UP HIS HEEL AGAINST ME, ’ John 13:10,18), but again without being named. It seemed as if Jesus wished to give Judas every opportunity, even at this late hour, of repenting and making his confession. For the last time, when they had sat down to eat, Jesus appealed him thus with the words, ‘ One of you shall betray me ’ (Matt 26:21; Mark 14:18; Luke 22:21; John 13:21). And at the end, in answer to the anxious queries of His disciples, ‘ Is it I? ’

“‘ HE INDICATED HIS BETRAYER, NOT BY NAME, BUT BY A SIGN: ‘ HE IT IS, FOR WHOM I SHALL DIP THE SOP, AND GIVE IT HIM. ’ (John 13:26). Immediately upon its reception, Judas left the supper room; the opportunity which he sought for was come (compare John 13:30; Matt 26:16). There is some doubt as to whether he actually received the eucharistic bread and wine previous to his departure or not, but most modern commentators hold that he did not. On his departure, Judas made his way to the high priests and their followers, and coming upon Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, he betrayed his Master with a kiss (Matt 26:47‑50; Mark 14:43,44; Luke 22:47; John 18:2‑5).

“ Character and Theories: Joined the Apostles to Betray Jesus: Much discussion and controversy have centered, not only around the discrepancies of the Gospel narratives of Judas, but also around his character and the problems connected with it. That the betrayer of Jesus should also be one of the chosen Twelve has given opportunity for the attacks of the foes of Christianity from the earliest times (compare Orig., Con. Cel., ii.12); and the difficulty of finding any proper solution HAS PROVED SO GREAT THAT SOME HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO REGARD JUDAS AS MERELY A PERSONIFICATION OF THE SPIRIT OF JUDAISM...

“ According to one, JUDAS was a strong patriot, WHO SAW IN JESUS THE FOE OF HIS RACE AND ITS ANCIENT CREED, AND THEREFORE BETRAYED HIM IN THE INTERESTS OF HIS COUNTRY... ” (from International Standard Bible Encyclopaedia, Electronic Database Copyright (c)1996 by Biblesoft)

Acts 1:4‑6, 9‑11: And, being assembled together with them, [referring back to verse two, apostles whom He had chosen which were twelve] that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father...For John truly baptized with water; but ye [refers to the twelve apostles] shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.

Whey they [THE TWELVE] therefore were come together asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?

And when he [Jesus] had spoken these things, while they [THE TWELVE APOSTLES] beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their [THE TWELVE APOSTLES] sight.

And while they [the twelve apostles] looked steadfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them [the twelve] apostles in white apparel; Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven?...

It is interesting to note that in verse 11, the words "ye men of Galilee" are stipulated. THIS COULD NOT BE REFERRING TO JUDAS BECAUSE JUDAS WAS NOT A GALILEAN. WHENEVER ANY REFERENCE IS MADE TO “ MEN OF GALILEE ” OR GALILEANS, JUDAS IS LEFT OUT FOR HE WAS A JEW.

What caused these two angels to specify "men of Galilee?" What happened to Judas? It was some time "after" Jesus ascended toward heaven that Judas Iscariot went and hung himself. Verse 12 of this same chapter: "Then returned they [the eleven] unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet...." They, the "men of Galilee" returned unto Jerusalem. Verse 13: "And when they [the men of Galilee] were come in, they [eleven apostles] went up into an upper room, where abode..." Eleven men of Galilee are then all named one by one, Judas Iscariot is never heard of again. Peter tells what happened to Judas in verse

18.

Acts 1:18: Now this man [Judas Iscariot] purchased [provided for himself] a field with the reward of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out.

Judas Iscariot betrayed the Son of God, but afterwards was still with the other eleven apostles. He was with them during Christ's several appearances and at the place of the ascension. Later on he left and hanged himself.

THE TERM “ HANGED HIMSELF ” IS NOT THE TYPICAL PICTURE VIEWED BY THE WESTERN MIND, WHICH IS A ROPE TIED AROUND A PERSON ’ S NECK AND DANGLING FROM A TREE OR HIGH PLACE OF SOME KIND. ACCORDING TO THE EASTERN CULTURE, THE METHOD OF HANGING ONESELF DRAWS AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT PICTURE.

King Saul fell upon his own sword. This was the method of hanging or committing suicide for government or military personnel. JUDAS WAS A COMMON MAN WHO FELL UPON A STAKE. THE TERM “ HANGING ” IS USED FOR THIS TYPE OF SUICIDE BECAUSE THE VICTIMS SUSPENDED THEMSELVES ON POINTED OBJECTS. BY SUCH ACTION, THE ABDOMEN WAS PUNCTURED AND THE BOWELS GUSHED OUT, AS IS DESCRIBED.

Discrepancy Regarding Judas' Death As Recorded In Matthew 27:3‑10 And Acts 1:15‑19

Acts 1:15: And in those days [the days between the ascension and the day of Pentecost] Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples, and said, (the number of names together were about an hundred and twenty).

This event had occurred some time after the ascension and before Pentecost. Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples to elect a replacement for Judas Iscariot who hanged himself after the ascension ‑ Acts 1:26: "And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles."

Verses 16‑18: [Peter said], Men and brethren, this scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake before concerning Judas, which was guide to them that took Jesus.

For he was numbered with us, and had obtained part of the ministry. Now this man purchased a field with the reward of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out.

In verse 18, Judas purchased a field with the reward of iniquity. The word "purchased" is the word "provided." This word is used in Matthew 10:9: "Provide neither gold...." Judas had purchased or provided for himself a field. The word "field" in this verse is the Greek word chorion and means "property." Judas provided for himself a property which he purchased with the reward of iniquity. It is generally believed by most Christians that the "reward of iniquity" is referring to the thirty pieces of silver. This cannot be accurate because he cast them down in the temple. (Matthew 27:5)

Judas Was A Thief

According to John 12:6: "This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein." Judas was a "thief." Judas was the treasurer or caretaker of the money of the apostles. Judas, being a thief, stole money from the treasury and provided for himself a property. This stolen money, which Judas took for himself, is called the "reward of iniquity."

Judas had returned to his own property which he had obtained with money stolen from the bag "...and falling, headlong, he burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out." Judas hanged himself on his own property sometime after the ascension and before Pentecost because after the ascension the "about a hundred and twenty" elected Matthias as a replacement for Judas Iscariot.

Acts 1:19: And it was known unto all the dwellers at Jerusalem; insomuch as that field is called in their proper tongue, Aceldama, that is to say, the field of blood.

This property which Judas had provided for himself is called Aceldama, "the field of blood." It was given this name after Judas killed himself on his own property.

Matthew 27 gives us information concerning the chief priests and what they did with the thirty pieces of silver Judas returned and cast back in the temple.

Matthew 27:6: And the chief priests took the silver pieces, and said, It is not lawful for to put them into the treasury, because it is the price of blood.

The chief priests, who paid Judas for the betrayal of Jesus, called the thirty pieces of silver the "price of blood" Some time after Judas was paid, the priests had Jesus crucified.

Matthew 27:7: And they [the chief priests] took counsel [They got together in a discussion as to what to do with the thirty pieces of silver since it was not lawful for them to be put back into the treasury, because they were the price of blood], and bought [purchased in the open market place where the sales of properties and fields were made] with them [the thirty pieces of silver] the potter's field, to bury strangers in.

The word "field" in Matthew 27:7 is not the same word chorion used for "field" in Acts 1:18. The word "field" in Matthew is the Greek word agros meaning a large area than the chorion, property, purchased by Judas.

The chief priests did not buy the property on which Judas hanged himself because it was Judas' own property. The chief priests took the thirty pieces of silver and purchased a field in which to bury strangers that were criminals, poor people and those who had no place to be buried. This field was called "the potter's field."

Matthew 27:8: Wherefore that field was called, The field of blood, unto this day.

This field was called the "field of blood" after it was purchased by the chief priest because they bought it with the thirty pieces of silver that betrayed the innocent blood of Jesus. This is an entirely different field from the one recorded in Acts. The field in Acts was the "property of blood" (Aceldama) and in Matthew it is called "the field of blood" (agros haimatos).

There are no contradictions to be found between these two accounts regarding Matthew 27:3‑10 and Acts 1:15‑20, when we carefully and diligently study the Scriptures according to II Timothy 2:15.

The Word of God simply states that Judas Iscariot, a Jew, betrayed the Lord Jesus Christ for thirty pieces of silver. The Bible clearly stipulates that Judas was present and alive after Jesus was crucified and resurrected. Jesus was seen by Judas along with the other eleven apostles; once without Thomas, and at another time when Thomas was present with the other apostles.

Judas was also present with the eleven apostles and had witnessed Jesus' ascension to His Father. Some time after the ascension Judas went to the property (afterwards named "the property of blood"), which he had purchased with the money he stole from the apostle's treasury, and deliberately thrust himself on the sharp point of a stake and died.

God bless you. (Taken from http://www.biblestudyplus.com/whenjudasdied.htm)