In the Gospels, it says Judas hanged himself in a field. In Acts, it says he fell and his insides burst open?

Question

Which is the more accurate account?

PS
I'm not an atheist. I'm a devout Christian with questions that sometimes puzzle me too. I'm a son of a clergyman. And my uncle (my mom's brother-in-law, as in my aunt's husband) is also a clergyman. (Though he used to be a U.S. Marine Corps guy.)

PS
I'm not an atheist. I'm a devout Christian with questions that sometimes puzzle me too. I'm a son of a clergyman. And my uncle (my mom's brother-in-law, as in my aunt's husband) is also a clergyman. (Though he used to be a U.S. Marine Corps guy.)

PS
I'm not an atheist. I'm a devout Christian with questions that sometimes puzzle me too. I'm a son of a clergyman. And my uncle (my mom's brother-in-law, as in my aunt's husband) is also a clergyman. (Though he used to be a U.S. Marine Corps guy.)

Answer 1

Don't believe all that you read!
Your question just highlights the discrepencies of the various man made, written by man - BOOKS of faith and confusion.

Answer 2

Its one of those pesky Bible contradictions. Apologists say it was a combination of both ways. Anyone can make up excuses to continue to believe what they want though. Apologetics seem intellectually dishonest to me. It seems to say if we can invent a plausible scenerio than it all must be true. It seems unlikely that if the Bible were inerrant and God made it so that two different stories would exist like this without explanation. The account is also inconsistent with how the money Judas had was used. In one he buys a field and in another he casts the money in a temple and the clergy from there use it buy land.

Answer 3

How did Judas die, by hanging or falling down?
Matthew 27:3-8 and Acts 1:16-19


1. By hanging (Matthew 27:3-8) - "Then when Judas, who had betrayed Him, saw that He had been condemned, he felt remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, 4saying, "I have sinned by betraying innocent blood." But they said, "What is that to us? See to that yourself!" 5And he threw the pieces of silver into the sanctuary and departed; and he went away and hanged himself. 6And the chief priests took the pieces of silver and said, "It is not lawful to put them into the temple treasury, since it is the price of blood." 7And they counseled together and with the money bought the Potter’s Field as a burial place for strangers. 8For this reason that field has been called the Field of Blood to this day."
2. By falling (Acts 1:16-19) - "Brethren, the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit foretold by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus. 17"For he was counted among us, and received his portion in this ministry." 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 bowels gushed out. 19And it became known to all who were living in Jerusalem; so that in their own language that field was called Hakeldama, that is, Field of Blood.)"

There is no contradiction here at all because both are true. A contradiction occurs when one statement excludes the possibility of another. In fact, what happened here is that Judas went and hung himself and then his body later fell down and split open. In other words, the rope or branch of the tree probably broke due to the weight and his body fell down and his bowels spilled out.
Also, notice that Matt. 27:3-8 tells us specifically how Judas died, by hanging. Acts 1:16-19 merely tells us that he fell headlong and his bowels gushed out. Acts does not tell us that this is the means of his death where Matthew does.

Answer 4

He hanged himself, and after a few days, the rope broke, he fell and kablooey!
No outside historical account for this, so there's no real way to know if it even happened.

Answer 5

You have found yet another Biblical contradiction--the Bible is riddled with them--so don't worry about it.If you pump the word "contradictions" into Google,or Yahoo, you'll come across literally millions of sites listing the myriad of Biblical contradictions. Here's a couple to get you started--:]
http://www.infidels.org/library/modern/jim_meritt/bible-contradictions.htm
http://www.skepticsannotatedbible.com/l

Answer 6

He did both. If you try to hang yourself, and you screw up and the rope breaks, then you fall and burst yourself upon on the rocks.


===edit===

Sorry if I insulted you. Most people who ask these types of questions often don't bother to read the answer, because they are not really interested in hearing an honest explanation, they are simply trying to prove that Christians are stupid; or that we cannot read.

Answer 7

You must take both accounts into consideration, with the one occurring after the other. He hung himself, and afterwards the weight of the body caused him to fall, thus causing his insides to burst. There is no contradiction.

Answer 8

Jesus warned you about reading and believing someone else's words. Jesus said; I come in my Father's name and you believe me not, some one else will come in his own name and him you will believe.

Not all scripture is the inspired word of God, Jesus said just it by it's fruit. but if you do not measure it against the Living Word of God, how can you tell is the tree is good or bad.

Answer 9

I can believe that both accounts are true. He hanged himself and then fell from that and burst open.

Answer 10

theres scientific reports and proofs on this question and answer partner...instead of Me giving you the results Id rather you find out by the scientists that way theres no misinterpretation on it God bless