Les Feldick teaches that the accounts can be reconciled: Judas was catapulted by Satan's power, burst open, and ended up hanged.
Matthew 27:5 says Judas hanged himself; Acts 1:18 says he fell headlong and burst open. Les Feldick explains that when Judas tried to rebel against Satan after the betrayal, Satan's power virtually exploded him. He was catapulted, burst asunder, and landed hanging on a pole, so both Scripture statements are true.
Matthew 27:5 — This verse explicitly records that Judas went out and hanged himself.
Acts 1:18 — This verse gives the added detail that Judas fell headlong and burst open in the midst.
Matthew 27:5 says, "And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself." Acts 1:18 says, "Now this man purchased a field with the reward of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out." The Bible gives both statements without explicitly explaining how they fit together.
Les Feldick acknowledges the apparent conflict: "In one Scripture it says that he went out and hung himself, but in another place it says that he fell headlong and his innards actually gushed out." He explains that when Judas tried to rebel against Satan, Satan's power virtually exploded him. Judas was catapulted, burst asunder, and as a result ended up hanging on a pole — so both Scriptures were fulfilled. He also points out that this shows how Satan can indwell a man, just as he will indwell the Antichrist.
Matthew 27:5 records the event plainly: "And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself." This is the account that describes Judas hanging himself after returning the silver to the chief priests.
Acts 1:18 adds another detail: "Now this man purchased a field with the reward of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out." This is the account that describes Judas falling headlong and his body bursting open.
Les Feldick teaches that both statements are true because of what happened when Judas tried to resist Satan. He says Satan "almost exploded the man" — Judas was catapulted, burst asunder, and then ended up hanging on a pole. So the Bible's statement that he hanged himself and the statement that he fell headlong and burst open are both fulfilled. This happened, according to Les, because of the power of Satan as he was leaving Judas.
Les Feldick directly rejects the idea that Judas had no chance. He says, "Judas wasn't put in that kind of a situation. Judas wasn't left without a choice." Even at the moment of the kiss, Jesus addressed Judas as "Friend" — a term of endearment — and still extended an opportunity to repent. Les says Judas could have at that moment still turned and not suffered the doom he ultimately experienced.
Judas Was Not Without a Choice
Les Feldick teaches that Judas was not created to be the betrayer and was not left without a choice, directly answering the objection that he had no chance.
Satan's Catapulting of Judas
Les Feldick reconciles Matthew 27:5 and Acts 1:18: Judas was catapulted by Satan's power, burst asunder, and ended up hanging on a pole.
Satan Entered Judas
Les Feldick explains that Satan entered Judas at a crucial moment, making Judas an instrument of Satan for the betrayal and for what happened afterward.
Hanging on a Tree and Deuteronomy 21
After quoting Matthew 27:5, Les Feldick connects hanging on a tree with Deuteronomy 21 to explain the Jewish mindset about one hanged on a tree.
Why the Jews Called Jesus Accursed — 1 Corinthians 12:3 Explained
Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, "...we ought to be God rather than men." Now verse 30, "...the God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you slew, and hanged on a tree." What's that got to do with it? Come back to Matthew 27. Matthew 27, Judas. In verse 5. Matthew 27, verse 5. Matthew 27, now verse 5.
A Last Opportunity to Repent
Les Feldick points out that Jesus called Judas "Friend" at the kiss, still extending an opportunity to repent, showing Judas was not forced into his fate.
Why Did the Disciples Not Know Jesus Would Die?
In the same way in Paul's letters. But here as I'm trying to go through the Gospels and do it as quickly and yet as in-depth as possible, I can't take the time to just go verse by verse and chapter by chapter. We'd be here for the next 10 years. But as an overview now we come through these events in chapter 26 where Judas now makes the deal with the high priest to betray Him.
Why Did the Disciples Not Know Jesus Would Die?
Because the military term that is used speaks of six hundred. Now that doesn't say that they all came to make His arrest. But nevertheless, it was a large group of army troops that the Romans and the rulers of Israel had brought together just to arrest Him. It's ridiculous. And in the nighttime.
Matthew 27:5: And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself.
This is the Gospel account that explicitly says Judas hanged himself.
Acts 1:18: Now this man purchased a field with the reward of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out.
This is the second account that gives the added detail of Judas falling headlong and bursting open.
Not when both statements are put together, according to Les Feldick. He explains that Judas was catapulted when Satan left him, he burst open, and he also ended up hanging on a pole. Both Scripture statements are thereby fulfilled.
Les Feldick makes clear that Judas was not put in a situation without a choice. He had the same opportunity as the other disciples, and Jesus even extended an opportunity to repent at the moment of the kiss.
Les Feldick teaches that when Judas tried to rebel against Satan, the power of Satan leaving Judas violently threw his body. Judas was catapulted, burst asunder, and ended up hanging on a pole.
Watch the Teaching: What Really Happened at Pentecost? Acts 2 Explained