How did Judas die?

Question

In the book of Matthew it says he went out and hung himself, but in Acts it says he fell and literally busted his guts open.

Now, I don't want to point out another Biblical contradiction (Okay, maybe I do) but I would really like to hear some answers and see what people think of this.

I think the people who say "The rope broke" are assuming too much. Acts doesn't mention anything about him hanging himself or a rope breaking. All it says is that he bought himself land and that he fell headfirst/headlong and spilled his guts out. And anyway, if someone's rope broke while they were hanging themselves they wouldn't fall headfirst, would they? No, they would fall feet first. Seems to me like the Bible is made up of mostly hearsay.

I would still like to hear some explanations, though.

Sorry mister Bradley T, but you're wrong. I found no website with a list of Bible contradictions, this one came directly from my head. I have wanted to ask it for a while but I just never got around to it.

Answer 1

he hung himself , branch broke , guts fell out.

head long doesn't necessarily mean mean head first

http://www.answers.com/headlong&r=67

NEXT!




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 2

According to Matthew 27:5, Judas hanged himself. But Acts 1:18 says, “pitching head foremost he noisily burst in his midst and all his intestines were poured out.” Matthew seems to deal with the mode of the attempted suicide, while Acts describes the result. Combining the two accounts, it appears that Judas tried to hang himself over some cliff, but the rope or tree limb broke so that he plunged down and burst open on the rocks below. The topography around Jerusalem makes such an event conceivable.

No contradiction here.

Answer 3

You have found a website with a list of biblical contradictions, good. Since you are good at research, do your own research into learning the source of this "contradiction". Not important in the long run, Judas died.

Google your question and see how many sites you see with lists. Thought of it yourself? Any more you wish to share or just this one?

Answer 4

Considering that the terrain around Jerusalem is rocky, it it very possible for both accounts to be true. Most scholars hold that when Judas hanged himself (over a cliff), the rope or branch broke and he fell, bursting onto the rocks below.

Answer 5

The books were written by different authors.

Act 1:18 Judas used the money to buy a field and he died there spilling his guts.

That is one of the many contradictions in the Bible. Atheists also read the Bible.

Answer 6

The story about Judas the Apostle isn't the true story.
Why would Jesus choose someone who would betray him? Was he such a bad judge of character?
The answer, is that that was another man, also named Judas - see 'The Talmud Jmmanuel' text.
www.tjresearch.info/overview.htm

This is one of the sore points about the Jesus story by Christianity - the other, is the resurrection. See also above...

Answer 7

Actually, the Book of Acts features Peter explaining Judas' death. Maybe Peter got some of the details wrong (as he, presumably, didn't witness it).

Answer 8

He hung himself on a tree, but the limb broke and he splattered all over the sidewalk where he was eaten by dogs.

Answer 9

both, he hung himself and then (probably after the rope broke) his guts opened when he fell

Answer 10

I wonder if anyone ever found the body of Judas?