Judas Iscariot was one of the twelve original apostles of Jesus Christ and is infamously known for betraying Jesus to the Jewish religious authorities. The name “Iscariot” is believed to be derived from the Hebrew word “ish-Kerioth,” which means “man of Kerioth.” Judas Iscariot was born circa 1st century AD, and his father is traditionally named as Simon Iscariot.
Early Life of Judas Iscariot
Little is known about the early life of Judas Iscariot. The Bible does not provide details about his upbringing or how he came to follow Jesus as one of his twelve apostles.
Biblical Timeline
Calling of Judas Iscariot
Judas Iscariot was chosen by Jesus to be one of his twelve apostles. He followed Jesus throughout his ministry and was a witness to his teachings and miracles (Matthew 10:2-4; Mark 3:16-19; Luke 6:13-16).
Judas as Treasurer
Judas Iscariot was in charge of the money for Jesus and his followers. He is portrayed as being greedy, as he complained about Mary’s anointing of Jesus with expensive perfume, suggesting that the perfume should have been sold and the money given to the poor. John notes that Judas did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief (John 12:4-6).
Jesus Foreshadows Judas’ Betrayal
Prior to the events of the Last Supper, Jesus predicts Judas’ betrayal. In Matthew 17:22-23, Jesus tells his disciples that he will be betrayed and handed over to be crucified. Although Judas is not explicitly mentioned here, it is clear that he is the one who would betray Jesus. Similarly, in Mark 9:30-32 and Luke 9:43-45, Jesus predicts his betrayal, death, and resurrection without directly naming Judas.
The Last Supper
During the Last Supper, Jesus predicted that one of his disciples would betray him. Judas Iscariot was identified by Jesus as the one who would betray him when Jesus handed him a piece of bread (John 13:21-26; Matthew 26:20-25; Mark 14:17-21; Luke 22:21-23).
The Betrayal of Jesus
Judas was the one responsible for the betrayal of Jesus. Judas Iscariot, after striking a deal with the chief priests and elders, agreed to betray Jesus for thirty pieces of silver (Matthew 26:14-16; Mark 14:10-11; Luke 22:3-6). Judas played a key role in Jesus’ arrest by leading a group of temple guards, along with some officers of the Jewish religious authorities and a crowd armed with swords and clubs, to the Garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus and his disciples were praying (Matthew 26:47; Mark 14:43; Luke 22:47; John 18:2-3).
The guards were sent by the chief priests, Pharisees, and elders, who sought to arrest Jesus discreetly to avoid a public disturbance, as they feared the people’s reaction (Matthew 26:3-5; Mark 14:1-2; Luke 22:1-2). In order to identify Jesus, Judas had arranged a signal with the guards: the one he would kiss was the one they should arrest (Matthew 26:48-49; Mark 14:44-45).
As Judas approached Jesus, he said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed him on the cheek (Matthew 26:49; Mark 14:45). Jesus responded by calling him “friend” and questioned the motives behind the betrayal, asking, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?” (Matthew 26:50; Luke 22:48). Jesus then willingly allowed himself to be arrested without resistance (Matthew 26:50-54; Mark 14:48-49; Luke 22:52-53; John 18:4-11).
After Jesus’ arrest, his disciples scattered and abandoned him, fulfilling Jesus’ prediction that they would all fall away (Matthew 26:31; Mark 14:27). The guards led Jesus away to the house of Caiaphas, the high priest, where the Jewish authorities had gathered to question him (Matthew 26:57; Mark 14:53; Luke 22:54; John 18:12-14).
The Purchase of the Potter’s Field
After Judas’s death, the chief priests used the returned silver to buy the potter’s field as a burial place for foreigners. This event fulfilled a prophecy from the Old Testament (Matthew 27:6-10; Acts 1:18-19).
The Replacement of Judas
Following Judas’s death and Jesus’s ascension, the remaining apostles decided to replace Judas in order to maintain the number of apostles at twelve. They selected Matthias through prayer and casting lots (Acts 1:20-26).
Death of Judas Iscariot
After betraying Jesus, Judas Iscariot was filled with remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver he received for the betrayal. He then went out and hanged himself (Matthew 27:3-5). In the Book of Acts, an alternate account describes Judas falling headlong in a field, causing his body to burst open (Acts 1:18-19).