JUDAS THE BETRAYER

WHY JUDAS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED

ACTS 1:18-19

Acts 1:18-19 are inserted into the narrative by Luke to explain what had happened to Judas.^[1] It is reasonable to assume that the readers were unfamiliar with Judas’ death, which was the cause of this insertion. It also may have been inserted to underscore the horrific judgment Judas experienced. This insertion presents a problem in the reconciliation of the Acts with Matthew’s account. Longenecker states the problem precisely:

The difficulty of reconciling 1:18-19 with Matthew 27:3-10 is well known and often considered the most intractable contradiction in the NT. The problem chiefly concerns how Judas died. But it also involves such questions as who bought the field? And why was it called “Field of Blood”?^[2]

Both accounts are true, yet giving different details of the same event. We need not look further than the standard harmony that dates back at least to the Latin Vulgate for an answer to the problem. Judas hanged himself and fell on his face afterward. His body burst open because of the fall. Precisely what caused the fall is unknown. It may well be that this happened when they were trying to take the body down. The Sanhedrin with the ill-gotten gain bought the field, probably in Judas’ name, seeing that the money was his (cf. Luke 22:5). Since it was with his money and in his name, it could be said he bought it. It is called the field of blood, (Aramaic Hakeldama,) because of the abdomen being torn open and blood was on the ground. Luke gives the clear meaning of the Aramaic for the benefit of the Gentile readers. Tradition says the location of the field of blood is where the Hinnom and Kidron Valleys meet southeast of Jerusalem.

It was a necessity to replace Judas. Why must he be replaced? It was because of his defection; not his death that created the vacancy. He was disqualified by his actions caused by a crisis of faith. Jesus’ promise that the Twelve Apostles would sit on twelve thrones in his earthly kingdom judging the twelve tribes of Israel made the replacement necessary (Matt. 19:28; Luke 22:28-30; cf. Rev. 21:14). The number twelve is directly linked to the nation of Israel and the Messianic kingdom. Now there were only eleven, someone needed to be added so there would be twelve again. The Apostolic number needed to be restored because the kingdom was still at hand, and was to be offered (Acts 3:19-20). The Twelve had a twofold mission: To be witnesses to the lost sheep of the house of Israel and to be the judges of Israel in the end times. The replacement had to be named before the event of Pentecost and the offer of the kingdom to Israel. 

This is a one-time event. Apostolic succession is not taught in Scripture. When the other apostles died they were not replaced. This is clearly evident at the death of James. He was a martyr in 44 AD. He was not replaced. This is because of three reasons: (1) James did not disqualify himself, as in the case of Judas. (2) James and the other Apostles will be resurrected to take his place in the kingdom and sit upon one of the twelve thrones. (3) Apostolic succession would not work past the original generation because no one outside that time period could meet the requirements.

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[1] To indicate this, modern translators have put brackets around these two verses (NASB, NIV).

[2]  Longenecker, EBC: ACTS, [Grand Rapids, Zondervan, 1981], 263.