burning flames

Acts 1
16 "Men and brethren, this Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke before by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus; 17 for he was numbered with us and obtained a part in this ministry." 18 (Now this man purchased a field with the wages of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst open in the middle and all his entrails gushed out.

Who bought the potter;s field? How did Judas die?

Now compare that to:

Matthew 27
3 Then Judas, His betrayer, seeing that He had been condemned, was remorseful and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, 4 saying, "I have sinned by betraying innocent blood." And they said, "What is that to us? You see to it!" 5 Then he threw down the pieces of silver in the temple and departed, and went and hanged himself. 6 But the chief priests took the silver pieces and said, "It is not lawful to put them into the treasury, because they are the price of blood." 7 And they consulted together and bought with them the potter's field, to bury strangers in. 8 Therefore that field has been called the Field of Blood to this day.

Unbeliever

And why was it called "the field of blood"?

Act 1:18-19 Or compare

Matthew 27:7-8

jbarntt

Looks to me like Luke and Matthew had two different sources for the fate of Judas. They agree that he died shortly after the betrayal and was buried in a field bought with the blood price. They differ on the details only. Either account could be correct, or neither.

fta

Not forgetting Papias's account that Judas was killed in a chariot accident. :huh:

Chili

Because the very religion (called Judaism) that should have brougth life killed Jesus who was a stranger to them and not a Jew. Jesus was a 'precinct man' as the reborn Joseph who's sins were the cross that Jesus carried and upon which they nailed the old sinner identity to die.

The words "Field of Blood" belong to the inhabitants of Jerusalem who have been there and done that and are happy to leave it behind as a thing of the past.

In Catholicism Judas is replaced by Matthias who becomes their villian in the same was a Judas betrayed Jesus. Joseph is our patron saint of the family because he is Barsabbas and Just while Matthias is not.

In a very dramatic way you can see the field of blood as the cemetary for the elect (excluding Luther and Calvin, of course ).

yummyfur

The source for the story in Acts, is the OT, notice how it starts out talking about David speaking about Judas. this is a reference to 1 Chronicles 12

"16 Then some of the sons of Benjamin and Judah came to the stronghold to David. 17 David went out to meet them, and said to them, "If you come peacefully to me to help me, my heart shall be united with you; but if to betray me to my adversaries, since there is no wrong in my hands, may the God of our fathers look on it and decide." 18 Then the Spirit came upon Amasa, who was the chief of the thirty, and he said, "We are yours, O David, And with you, O son of Jesse! Peace, peace to you, And peace to him who helps you; Indeed, your God helps you!" Then David received them and made them captains of the band. "


Amasa then betrays David, also if you read the previous section in 1 Chronicles 12, Amasa leads the men from the tribe of Judah. He becomes the main general for David's rebellious son Absalom. Amasa and all of Judah are the last to return to the King, once Absalom is defeated, Amasa seems to be forgiven by David. But then there is another revolt and David ask Amasa to gather the men of Judah in three days, but Amasa delays and doesn't have the men. Joab, another general is sent out to quell the revolt, and when he meets Amasa, kills him (Joab also killed Absalom, Davids rebellious son, even though David specifically ordered that Absalom not be killed). This is the description of Amasa's death in 2 Samuel 20

"8 When they were at the large stone which is in Gibeon, Amasa came to meet them. Now Joab was dressed in his military attire, and over it was a belt with a sword in its sheath fastened at his waist; and as he went forward, it fell out. 9 Joab said to Amasa, "Is it well with you, my brother?" And Joab took Amasa by the beard with his right hand to kiss him.

10 But Amasa was not on guard against the sword which was in Joab's hand so he struck him in the belly with it and poured out his inward parts on the ground, and did not strike him again, and he died. Then Joab and Abishai his brother pursued Sheba the son of Bichri. 11 Now there stood by him one of Joab's young men, and said, "Whoever favors Joab and whoever is for David, let him follow Joab." 12 But Amasa lay wallowing in his blood in the middle of the highway. And when the man saw that all the people stood still, he removed Amasa from the highway into the field and threw a garment over him when he saw that everyone who came by him stood still."