Geoff Hudson

JAMES BUYS THE AKELDAMA – Acts 4.36 to 5.10 – A Reconstruction

With some of the money he got from the believers, James the lord, had bought the Akeldama, that is Field of Blood, from the Temple, to use for the Rechabite’s burial ground. James’ brother John paid for the piece of land, with his brother’s full knowledge. Now Annas the High Priest kept the money for himself. Everyone in Jerusalem heard about this. So when they called in James again, he said to Annas, “Annas, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself the money you received for the Akeldama? Didn’t it belong to God before it was sold? And after it was sold wasn’t the land still for God’s use? What made you think of keeping the money? You have not lied to men but to God.” When Annas heard this he fell into a rage. Then the temple guards came in, bound James up, took him out and imprisoned him. About three hours later, his brother John was brought in, knowing what James had said. John asked Annas, “Tell me he said, “Is this the price you got for the Akeldama? Annas said to him, “How could you agree to test the High Priest of God? Look! The feet of the guards who imprisoned your brother are at the door, and they will imprison you also. Then the temple guards came in, bound him up, and imprisoned him beside his brother. Great fear seized the whole assembly and all who heard about these events.

NOTES:
1. After previously questioning Peter (imo James) and John, the Sanhedrin could not decide how to punish them (Acts 4.21), in which verse the editor appears to have the two released, for fear of the public reaction. I think the questioning continued.
2. If James and John bought the Akeldama to use as a burial ground (Mat. 27.7) for members of their assembly, they would both know the price paid. If it was public knowledge that the money had gone into Annas’ pocket, they would also know that the Sanhedrin would be aware of the sale and that the Temple treasurer had not received the money. So during further questioning, the two disciples decided to challenge and embarrass the High Priest in front of the Sanhedrin.
3. The Akeldama was thought to be at the southern end of the Kidron valley where it joined the Valley of Hinnom. I was possibly called the Field of Blood, because adjacent to it in the Kidron valley, the blood of sacrifices washed out of the Temple drains down the brook Kidron made the water become thickened. On page 118 of his Judaism, E. P. Sanders states: “According to the Mishnah, the thickened water was sold to farmers as fertilizer, but since it was sacred the temple received the proceeds (Yoma 5.6; Middot 3.2; Meilah 3.3).”

Geoff