Comparative Theology · Internal Contradictions
The Death of Judas
Handle with care. Both writings are attributed to different authors, so this is a canon-level inconsistency rather than an author contradicting himself. State that accurately.
In short
- 1.Matthew: Judas returns the money and hangs himself; the priests buy the field
- 2.Acts: Judas keeps the money, buys the field himself, and falls headlong
- 3.One account has him repent; the other does not
The claim being examined
Matthew and Acts, both in the New Testament, describe the death of Judas and the purchase of the field in irreconcilable terms.
The Islamic position
The Qur'an says nothing about Judas. The card is included because the two accounts are a clean, checkable case within a single canon.
Analysis
Matthew has Judas throw the silver into the temple and hang himself, after which the chief priests use the money to buy the potter's field as a burial ground for strangers. Acts has Judas himself acquire a field with the reward of his wickedness and die there by a fall that bursts him open. The two texts differ on who bought the field, with what intent, how Judas died, and why the field carries its name. Harmonisations that string the accounts together — a rope that broke, for instance — are not stated in either text.
Side by side
| Matthew | 27:3-8 | Judas returns the money, hangs himself. The priests buy the field. It is called the Field of Blood because it was bought with blood money. |
|---|---|---|
| Acts | 1:18-19 | Judas buys the field himself, falls headlong and bursts open. It is called the Field of Blood because of his death there. |
From the Bible
Matthew 27:5-7
ἀπελθὼν ἀπήγξατο
He went and hanged himself. The chief priests bought with them the potter's field.
Read it in their BibleActs 1:18
ἐκτήσατο χωρίον ἐκ μισθοῦ τῆς ἀδικίας
He acquired a field with the reward of his wickedness, and falling headlong he burst open.
Read it in their BibleSources
Bart D. Ehrman, Jesus, Interrupted
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