Ehrman Errs #17 - The Death of Judas: Two Contradictory Accounts

Welcome to “Ehrman Errs,” a blog series devoted to using our conversational AI to refute each alleged biblical contradiction that is posed in the article on Bart Ehrman’s website: 50 Contradictions in the Bible: The Biggest, Most Shocking Differences.

Today’s alleged contradiction:

#17 – The Death of Judas: Two Contradictory Accounts

This is one of my favorite contradictions in the Bible, as it vividly illustrates the complexities of the Gospel and Acts narratives. The accounts of Judas Iscariot’s death in Matthew 27:3-10 and Acts 1:18-19 differ both in the details of what happened and the description of his death.

In Matthew, Judas is said to have felt remorse after betraying Jesus, returned the 30 pieces of silver to the temple, and hanged himself in despair. The chief priests used the returned money to buy a potter’s field, which came to be known as the “Field of Blood.”

In Acts, however, Judas’ death is described quite differently. Here, Judas is said to have acquired a field with the payment he received for his betrayal, and his death occurs when he falls headlong (Greek: πρηνὴς γενόμενος), bursting open and spilling his intestines. The verb πρηνὴς‚ indicates, without a doubt, a headfirst fall!

In his Commentary on Acts, Charles K. Barrett concludes: It is evident that Matthew and Luke report different traditions, which have in common only the belief that Judas died an unhappy death and knowledge of the existence in Jerusalem of a field called Blood Field, which had at some earlier stage come to be associated with Judas (for it is most unlikely that Matthew and Luke should both, independently, have made the association).

How Does Ehrman Err?

The alleged contradiction between Matthew 27:3–10 and Acts 1:18–19 regarding the death of Judas Iscariot is a common topic in biblical discussions. Let’s examine the passages, the context, and how they can be harmonized, using a careful, historical-grammatical approach.

The Two Accounts

Matthew 27:3–10 (ESV):

“Then when Judas, his betrayer, saw that Jesus was condemned, he changed his mind and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders, saying, ‘I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.’ … And throwing down the pieces of silver into the temple, he departed, and he went and hanged himself. … So they took counsel and bought with them the potter’s field as a burial place for strangers. … Therefore that field has been called the Field of Blood to this day.”

Acts 1:18–19 (ESV):

“(Now this man acquired a field with the reward of his wickedness, and falling headlong he burst open in the middle and all his bowels gushed out. And it became known to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the field was called in their own language Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.)”

The Alleged Contradiction

Matthew: Judas hangs himself; the priests buy the field.
Acts: Judas acquires the field; he falls headlong, and his body bursts open.

Step-by-Step Harmonization

1. Who Bought the Field?

Matthew: The priests bought the field with Judas’s returned money, not Judas directly.
Acts: “This man acquired a field with the reward of his wickedness.”
- In the ancient world, it was common to attribute an action to a person if it was done on their behalf or with their resources. The priests bought the field, but with Judas’s money—thus, in a real sense, Judas “acquired” it. This is a common idiom (cf. John 4:1–2, where Jesus is said to baptize, though his disciples did the baptizing).
No contradiction: Both texts agree the field was purchased with the betrayal money.

2. How Did Judas Die?

Matthew: Judas hanged himself.
Acts: Judas fell headlong, burst open, and his intestines spilled out.
- These are not mutually exclusive. The most plausible harmonization is:
  - Judas hanged himself (Matthew).
  - Later, either the rope or the branch broke, or his body was left hanging and decomposed, eventually falling and bursting open (Acts). This is consistent with what happens to a body after death, especially in a hot climate like Jerusalem.
- The Greek word for “falling headlong” (πρηνὴς γενόμενος) can mean falling forward, but it does not specify how or why the fall occurred. It fits the scenario of a body falling from a height.
No contradiction: Both events could have occurred in sequence.

3. Why the “Field of Blood”?

Matthew: The field is called “Field of Blood” because it was bought with “blood money.”
Acts: The field is called “Field of Blood” because of Judas’s gruesome death.
- Both explanations can be true. The field’s name could have been reinforced by both the source of the money and the manner of Judas’s death. The two traditions are not mutually exclusive but complementary.

Historical and Literary Context

Ancient sources often compress or emphasize different details for theological or literary reasons. Luke (author of Acts) and Matthew may have had access to different oral traditions or chosen to highlight different aspects.
Both agree on the essentials: Judas died a shameful, tragic death; the field was bought with his betrayal money; and the field became infamous.

Biblical Principle: All Scripture Is True

The Bible often presents complementary details that, when carefully examined, form a coherent whole. As Paul writes, “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16).
Apparent contradictions often dissolve when we apply careful historical and literary analysis.

Supporting Verses and Theological Reflection

Matthew 27:5 – “And throwing down the pieces of silver into the temple, he departed, and he went and hanged himself.”
Acts 1:18 – “Now this man acquired a field with the reward of his wickedness, and falling headlong he burst open in the middle and all his bowels gushed out.”
Galatians 2:16 – “Yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ…” (reminding us that even those who seem close to Jesus, like Judas, are not saved by proximity or works, but by faith).

Conclusion

There is no irresolvable contradiction between Matthew and Acts regarding Judas’s death. When read together, they provide a fuller picture: Judas, in despair, hanged himself. His body, left unattended, eventually fell and burst open. The field bought with his betrayal money became known as the Field of Blood, both for the source of the money and the manner of his death.

This tragic account serves as a sobering reminder of the consequences of rejecting Christ, but also points us to the hope of repentance and forgiveness found in Him (cf. Luke 15:20–24; Isaiah 64:6; Galatians 2:16).