Who Was Judas in the Bible? The Disciple Who Betrayed Jesus

Judas Iscariot was one of the twelve apostles chosen by Jesus, and he is the one who betrayed Jesus to the chief priests for thirty pieces of silver (Matthew 10:4; 26:14-16). He led an armed crowd to Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane and identified him with a kiss (Matthew 26:47-49). After Jesus was condemned, Judas returned the money and hanged himself (Matthew 27:3-5).

Several other men named Judas appear in the New Testament. This article focuses on Judas Iscariot, and the others are covered briefly below.

Quick Facts About Judas Iscariot

Fact	Details
Name meaning	Judas is the Greek form of Judah, "praise." Iscariot is commonly understood as "man of Kerioth," a town name, though the meaning is debated
Testament	New Testament
Key books	Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Acts
Time period	First century AD; died about AD 30 or 33
Known for	Betraying Jesus for thirty pieces of silver, the kiss in Gethsemane

Judas as One of the Twelve

Jesus spent a night praying on a mountainside and then chose twelve disciples, whom he designated apostles (Luke 6:12-13). Judas Iscariot appears in each Gospel list of the Twelve, always last, and always identified as the one who betrayed Jesus (Matthew 10:4; Mark 3:19; Luke 6:16).

John identifies him as the son of Simon Iscariot (John 6:71; 13:26). He was sent out with the other apostles to preach and heal (Mark 6:7-13). Peter later said Judas had been counted among the apostles and had shared in their ministry (Acts 1:17).

Keeper of the Money Bag

Judas was responsible for the disciples' money bag (John 13:29). When Mary of Bethany poured expensive perfume on Jesus' feet, Judas objected that it should have been sold and the money given to the poor. John explains that he did not care about the poor. He was a thief who used to help himself from the bag (John 12:4-6).

Jesus Knew in Advance

After many followers left Jesus, he said that one of the Twelve was a devil, and John notes that he meant Judas (John 6:70-71). John also writes that Jesus had known from the beginning who would betray him (John 6:64).

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Who Was Judas in the Bible During Holy Week?

The Agreement With the Chief Priests

Two days before the Passover, the chief priests and elders were looking for a way to arrest Jesus quietly (Matthew 26:3-5). Matthew records what Judas did next:

"Then one of the Twelve—the one called Judas Iscariot—went to the chief priests and asked, 'What are you willing to give me if I deliver him over to you?' So they counted out for him thirty pieces of silver." (Matthew 26:14-15, NIV)

Luke says that Satan entered Judas before he went to the chief priests (Luke 22:3-4). Mark records that the chief priests were delighted and promised him money (Mark 14:10-11). From then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand Jesus over when no crowd was present (Luke 22:6).

The Last Supper

Jesus washed the disciples' feet, including Judas's, and said that not every one of them was clean (John 13:5, 10-11). During the meal he announced that one of them would betray him. The disciples each asked if it was them (Matthew 26:21-22).

Jesus said it was the one to whom he would give a piece of bread dipped in the dish, and he gave it to Judas (John 13:26). Satan entered Judas, and Jesus told him to do quickly what he was about to do. The others thought Jesus was sending him to buy supplies or give to the poor. Judas went out, and John notes that it was night (John 13:27-30).

Jesus said it would be better for the betrayer if he had not been born (Matthew 26:24). He also said the betrayal fulfilled Scripture, quoting Psalm 41:9 about a close friend who shared bread and then turned against him (John 13:18).

The Betrayal in Gethsemane

Judas knew the place in the garden because Jesus often met there with his disciples (John 18:2). He arrived with a detachment of soldiers and officials from the chief priests and Pharisees, carrying torches, lanterns, and weapons (John 18:3).

Judas had arranged a signal: the man he kissed would be the one to arrest (Matthew 26:48). He greeted Jesus as Rabbi and kissed him (Matthew 26:49). Jesus answered by calling him friend and telling him to do what he came for (Matthew 26:50). In Luke's account, Jesus asked Judas whether he was betraying the Son of Man with a kiss (Luke 22:48).

The Death of Judas

Matthew's Account

When Judas saw that Jesus was condemned, he was seized with remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders. He said he had sinned by betraying innocent blood. They told him that was his responsibility (Matthew 27:3-4). Judas threw the money into the temple, left, and hanged himself (Matthew 27:5).

The chief priests could not put blood money into the treasury, so they used it to buy a potter's field as a burial place for foreigners. It became known as the Field of Blood (Matthew 27:6-8). Matthew connects this with prophecy (Matthew 27:9-10; see Zechariah 11:12-13).

Luke's Account in Acts

In Acts, Peter says the field was bought with Judas's reward, that Judas fell headlong there and his body burst open, and that the place was called Akeldama, meaning Field of Blood (Acts 1:18-19).

Traditional harmonizations understand the two accounts as complementary. The priests bought the field with Judas's money, so it can be described as his purchase, and his fall happened after the hanging. The texts themselves do not describe the exact sequence.

Replaced by Matthias

Peter cited Psalm 69:25 and Psalm 109:8 and said another must take Judas's place (Acts 1:20). The believers proposed two men, prayed, and cast lots. The lot fell to Matthias, who was added to the eleven apostles (Acts 1:23-26).

Other People Named Judas in the Bible

• Judas son of James: another of the Twelve, listed in Luke 6:16 and Acts 1:13. John distinguishes him from Judas Iscariot (John 14:22). He is usually identified with Thaddaeus (Matthew 10:3).
• Judas, brother of Jesus: named among Jesus' brothers (Matthew 13:55; Mark 6:3). The author of the Letter of Jude, who calls himself a brother of James, is traditionally identified with him (Jude 1).
• Judas of Damascus: the man on Straight Street whose house Saul stayed in after his conversion (Acts 9:11).
• Judas Barsabbas: a leader and prophet sent with Paul, Barnabas, and Silas to Antioch (Acts 15:22, 32).
• Judas the Galilean: a rebel mentioned by Gamaliel (Acts 5:37).

A work called the Gospel of Judas, written in the second century, is not part of the Bible and was rejected by early church leaders.

Key Lessons From Judas's Life

• Closeness to Jesus is not the same as faith. Judas traveled with Jesus and shared in the apostles' ministry but still betrayed him (Acts 1:17; John 6:64).
• Love of money is dangerous. John records that Judas stole from the common purse, and he asked what the priests would pay (John 12:6; Matthew 26:15).
• Remorse is not repentance. Judas admitted his sin but did not turn back to Jesus. Peter also failed that night but was restored (Matthew 26:75; John 21:15-17).
• God's plan was not defeated. Jesus described the betrayal as fulfilling Scripture (John 13:18; Acts 1:16).

Where Judas Iscariot Appears in the Bible

• Matthew: 10:4; 26:14-16, 20-25, 47-50; 27:3-10
• Mark: 3:19; 14:10-11, 18-21, 43-46
• Luke: 6:16; 22:3-6, 21-23, 47-48
• John: 6:64, 70-71; 12:4-6; 13:2, 18-30; 18:2-5
• Acts: 1:16-20, 25

For the apostle who denied Jesus that same night and was restored, read about Peter. Matthew, another of the Twelve, is identified by church tradition as the author of the Gospel that records Judas returning the silver (Matthew 27:3-10). The prisoner released in place of Jesus is covered in our profile of Barabbas.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How much was Judas paid to betray Jesus?

Judas was paid thirty pieces of silver by the chief priests (Matthew 26:15). He later threw the money back into the temple (Matthew 27:5).

How did Judas die?

Matthew records that Judas hanged himself after returning the silver (Matthew 27:5). Acts adds that he fell headlong in the field and his body burst open (Acts 1:18).

Who replaced Judas as an apostle?

Matthias replaced Judas. The believers chose him by casting lots after prayer, and he was added to the eleven apostles (Acts 1:23-26).

Why did Judas betray Jesus?

The Gospels record that Judas asked the chief priests what they would pay him and that he had stolen from the money bag (Matthew 26:15; John 12:6). Luke and John also state that Satan entered him (Luke 22:3; John 13:27).

Is Jude the same as Judas Iscariot?

No. The author of the Letter of Jude is traditionally identified as Judas, a brother of Jesus and of James (Jude 1; Matthew 13:55). Judas Iscariot died before the church began (Acts 1:18).