Judas Iscariot was one of the twelve apostles who betrayed Jesus, leading to His arrest and crucifixion.
Judas Iscariot was one of the twelve apostles of Jesus Christ, known for his betrayal of Jesus, which led to His arrest and crucifixion. He is consistently identified as "Judas Iscariot" or "Judas, the one who betrayed Him" throughout the Gospels (Mat.10.4; 26.14; Mrk.3.19; Luk.6.16; Jhn.6.71).
Judas is first mentioned in the lists of the twelve apostles (Mat.10.4; Mrk.3.19; Luk.6.16). He served as the treasurer for the group, but he was also described as a thief who would take money from the common purse (Jhn.12.4-6).
During the Last Supper, Jesus predicted that one of His disciples would betray Him (Mat.26.21; Mrk.14.18; Luk.22.21; Jhn.13.21). Judas was identified as the betrayer when Jesus handed him a piece of bread (Jhn.13.26-27). After this, Judas left to carry out his plan (Jhn.13.30).
Judas approached the chief priests and offered to betray Jesus for thirty pieces of silver (Mat.26.14-16; Mrk.14.10-11; Luk.22.3-6). He then led a group of armed men to the Garden of Gethsemane, where he identified Jesus with a kiss, leading to His arrest (Mat.26.47-50; Mrk.14.43-46; Luk.22.47-48; Jhn.18.2-5).
After Jesus' condemnation, Judas, filled with remorse, tried to return the money to the chief priests and elders, but they refused to accept it. He then threw the money into the temple and went out and hanged himself (Mat.27.3-5). The chief priests used the money to buy a potter's field, which became known as the Field of Blood (Mat.27.6-10; Act.1.18-19).
The apostles later recognized Judas' betrayal as a fulfillment of prophecy (Act.1.16) and chose Matthias to replace him among the twelve (Act.1.23-26).
Judas' betrayal of Jesus played a crucial role in the events leading to Jesus' crucifixion and the ultimate fulfillment of God's plan of salvation. His actions serve as a tragic example of the consequences of greed, deceit, and turning away from God.
Jesus chooses the Twelve
RoleStated in the textJesus selected twelve from his wider group of disciples and named them apostles. The four lists (Matthew, Mark, Luke, Acts) agree on twelve names with one variation in the tenth to twelfth positions (Thaddaeus or Judas of James).
Where the text shows it: Mark 3:13-19 — Jesus appoints twelve and the list follows.Luke 6:12-16 — Chosen after a night of prayer and named apostles.Matthew 10:2-4 — The list as sent out on mission.Acts 1:13 — The list after the ascension, without Judas Iscariot. Sources: Matthew 10:2-4 · Mark 3:13-19 · Luke 6:12-16 · Acts 1:13
Judas Iscariot, son of Simon
FamilyStated in the textJohn twice names the father of Judas Iscariot as Simon. The other Gospels do not give his father.
Where the text shows it: John 6:71 — Judas the son of Simon Iscariot.John 13:26 — Jesus gives the morsel to Judas the son of Simon Iscariot. Sources: John 6:71 · John 13:26
Judas Iscariot: the only Judean?
HometownDebatedIscariot is often read as Hebrew "man of Kerioth", a place in Judah, which would make Judas the only apostle from Judea. The Gospels never explain the word.
Ways people read this (4)
- Ish-Kerioth: "man of Kerioth" in Judah, most widely held.
- Sicarius: from Latin for a dagger-man, implying a link with violent nationalists.
- Other derivations are proposed (Aramaic for "liar" or "deliverer"). Since Iscariot also stands after the father's name, it may be a family name.
- "Only non-Galilean" also assumes the origins of Thomas, Thaddaeus, James of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot are Galilean, which is not stated.
Sources: John 6:71 · Joshua 15:25
Pairings in the apostle lists
RoleDebatedMatthew's list arranges the Twelve in six apparent pairs, and Mark says Jesus sent them out two by two. Some see these as mission pairs; the texts do not say the list order gives partners.
Where the text shows it: Matthew 10:2-4 — Pairs joined by "and": Simon and Andrew, James and John, Philip and Bartholomew, Thomas and Matthew, James and Thaddaeus, Simon and Judas.Mark 6:7 — Sent out two by two. Ways people read this (3)
- For: mission pairs, with the brothers together.
- Against: Luke and Mark use different orders; the pairing is not stated.
- Relevant to family claims: it places Matthew with Thomas, not with James.
Sources: Matthew 10:2-4 · Mark 6:7
23 verses in 5 books · English text: BSB (change it from the menu at the top) · Strong’s G2455