Acts 1:18-20

 

Rachel Workman: 18 (Judas had bought a field with the money he received for his treachery. Falling headfirst there, his body split open, spilling out all his intestines. 19 The news of his death spread to all the people of Jerusalem, and they gave the place the Aramaic name Akeldama, which means “Field of Blood.”)

20 Peter continued, “This was written in the book of Psalms, where it says, ‘Let his home become desolate, with no one living in it.’ It also says, ‘Let someone else take his position.’[e]

 

Peter’s account of the purchase of the land and the death of Judas appears to contradict the record in Matthew 27:3–10, but actually it complements it. Judas did not buy the field personally, but since it was his money that paid for it, in that sense, he was the buyer. And, since the thirty pieces of silver were considered “blood money,” the field was called “the field of blood” (Matt. 27:8). It was not Judas’s blood that gave the field its name, for the Jews would not use as a sacred cemetery a place that had been defiled by a suicide. Judas hanged himself, and apparently the rope broke and his body (possibly already distended) burst open when it hit the ground.

 

Interesting that no one even bothered to cut the body down but instead left it hanging until it deteriorated. Hated by all I'm sure. God chose Judas to carry out his plan. Remember that next time hate is surging.

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John Burnett:  18 (Now this man acquired a field with the price of his wickedness and falling headlong, he burst open in the middle and all his intestines gushed out. 19 And it became known to all the residents of Jerusalem; as a result, that field was called Hakeldama in their own language, that is, Field of Blood.) 20 “For it is written in the book of Psalms:

‘May his residence be made desolate,
And may there be none living in it’;

and,

‘May another take his office.’

This passage has some controversy tied to it as it describes how Judas died.  There is also a description of how Judas died in Matthew 27.  It is believed that the Priests bought the field in Judas's name using the money they paid Judas when he betrayed Jesus.  Through God's providence the tree Judas hung himself from was in the field the Priest purchased in his name and Judas's bloated body fell from the tree and burst open as described here in Acts 1.

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Tomorrow’s reading for Acts 1:21-26

²¹ “So now we must choose a replacement for Judas from among the men who were with us the entire time we were traveling with the Lord Jesus— ²² from the time he was baptized by John until the day he was taken from us. Whoever is chosen will join us as a witness of Jesus’ resurrection.”

²³ So they nominated two men: Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias. ²⁴ Then they all prayed, “O Lord, you know every heart. Show us which of these men you have chosen ²⁵ as an apostle to replace Judas in this ministry, for he has deserted us and gone where he belongs.” ²⁶ Then they cast lots, and Matthias was selected to become an apostle with the other eleven.