How did Judas die?

Scripture records two accounts: Matthew 27:3–10 states that Judas, remorseful over betraying Jesus, returned the thirty pieces of silver and hanged himself. Acts 1:18 describes Judas acquiring a field and falling headlong so that he burst open. Traditional Christian exegesis reconciles these by suggesting Judas hanged himself and later fell, causing his body to rupture.

Deeper Insights

Two New Testament passages give different images: Matthew 27:3–10 reports that Judas, seized with remorse after betraying Jesus, returned the thirty pieces of silver and then hanged himself; the chief priests used the money to buy the potter’s field. Acts 1:18 describes Judas obtaining a field, falling headlong, and his body bursting open.

Christian commentators and theologians have long reconciled these accounts by suggesting that Judas first hanged himself and that, when his body later fell, it ruptured. Some also note differences in focus and genre between the Gospel narrative and Luke’s account in Acts. Early church interpreters such as Jerome offered similar harmonizations, treating both passages as complementary rather than contradictory.

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