Keraia
Matthew 27

Matthew 27:4

Judas Hangs Himself · Matthew 27:3–10
Read Matthew 27

Translations

Modern
“I have sinned by betraying innocent blood,” he said. “What is that to us?” they replied. “You bear the responsibility.”
Traditional
Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that.
Literal
…saying, “I sinned, having betrayed innocent blood.” But they said, “What is it to us? You will see.”
Latin
…dicens: Peccavi, tradens sanguinem justum. At illi dixerunt: Quid ad nos? tu videris.

Original

Greek
English
“I have sinned by betraying innocent blood,” he said. “What is that to us?” they replied. “You bear the responsibility.”

Notes

Matthew 27:4

innocent blood: The innocence of Jesus is a key theme in the story of his suffering (see Matthew 23:35; 26:55–56, 59–60; 27:18–19, 24; see also Luke 23:47).

Matthew 27:3–10

There are two stories about Judas's death. This one and the one found in Acts 1:18–19. There are differences between the two stories:

  1. Matthew says the priests bought the field (Matthew 27:6–7), but Acts suggests Judas bought it (Acts 1:18).

  2. Matthew says Judas hanged himself by hanging (Matthew 27:5). Acts says he fell and his body burst open (Acts 1:18).

  3. Matthew says the field of blood was named for its use as a burial place (Matthew 27:7–8). Acts says it was named because of Judas’s violent death (Acts 1:19).

The stories can align if Acts describes the results of Matthew's events.

Matthew 26:57–27:26

The Gospels describe Jesus having five legal hearings:

  1. an informal hearing with Annas (John 18:13–24);

  2. a night hearing with the Sanhedrin (Matthew 26:59–66);

  3. a morning hearing with the Sanhedrin (Matthew 27:1–2);

  4. a hearing with Herod Antipas (Luke 23:6–12); and

  5. a two-part trial with Pilate (Matthew 27:11–31; see Luke 23:6–12).

These hearings form two main trials, a Jewish trial and a Roman trial.

Theme notes and profiles

Judas Iscariot

Events

Parallels

Zechariah 11:10–17

Glossary

Blood Elder Gospel of Matthew Judas Passion Procurator Sinlessness of Christ Suicide

Topics

Apostasy: Judas Blood is the Life Bribery: Chief Priests Bribe Judas Character of Christ: Innocent Christian Minister: Inconsistent Christian Minister: Judas Iscariot Committing Suicide Conscience Money: General Scriptures Concerning Conscience of Judas, After Betraying the Lord Jesus Conscience: Guilty Conviction: Judas, After his Betrayal of Jesus Fear of God: Guilty Fear: Judas Government: Mosaic: Corrupt Impenitence: General Scriptures Concerning Injustice: Judas Jesus, the Christ: Perfections of not Classified Under Foregoing Topics Jesus, the Christ: Unclassified Prophecies Concerning the Kingdom of Judas (Jude): Surnamed |Iscariot|: Returns the Money to the Rulers of the Jews Judas Hanging Himself Mortification: Judas Iscariot Murder: Judas Remorse: Judas Repentance: False: Judas Repentance: Judas