Scripture records that Judas hanged himself, and it also records that he fell headlong and burst open.
Matthew 27:5 says Judas cast down the silver in the temple and went and hanged himself. Acts 1:18 says he fell headlong, burst asunder, and his bowels gushed out. Les Feldick explains that when Satan left Judas he literally catapulted Judas's body, causing him to burst open and to hang on a branch or fence post.
Matthew 27:5 — This is one of the two direct biblical descriptions of Judas's death, stating that he hanged himself.
Acts 1:18 — This is the second direct biblical description, stating that Judas fell headlong and his body burst open.
Two passages in Scripture describe Judas's death. In Matthew 27:5, after casting down the thirty pieces of silver in the temple, Judas 'departed, and went and hanged himself.' In Acts 1:18, Peter's account says of Judas, 'falling headlong, he burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out.' The Bible presents both of these statements without comment. Neither Gospel writer attempts to reconcile the physical details, and the Holy Spirit has preserved both descriptions as part of the inspired record. Scripture simply states both the hanging and the bursting open as true facts about the same man's death.
Les Feldick reconciles the two scriptural descriptions by pointing to the moment Judas returned to the priests. Judas brought the thirty pieces of silver back and threw them down in the temple, overwhelmed by his own guilt. At that point, Les says, Satan left Judas and literally catapulted his body. Les explains that this catapulting action could have thrown Judas onto a low branch or fence post, so that he ended up hanging. At the same time, the force of the departure burst his torso so that his bowels gushed out. Both passages are therefore literally true: Judas was burst asunder, and Judas hanged himself. Les also stresses that Judas was not a puppet. God in His foreknowledge knew what Judas would do, but Judas had free will and could have repented. Even at the betrayal, Jesus addressed him as 'friend' and still offered him an opportunity to turn.
Les Feldick teaches that Scripture is not contradictory. He explains that when Judas came back and tried to get out of the whole situation, Satan left him and literally catapulted his body. Judas was burst asunder, yet he also ended up hanging on a low branch or fence post. Therefore both the Matthew account and the Acts account are true.
After betraying Jesus, Judas took the thirty pieces of silver back to the chief priests, admitted he had betrayed innocent blood, and threw the money down in the temple. The priests, knowing it was blood money, could not put it in the treasury, so they bought the potter's field. Acts 1:18 credits Judas with purchasing the field because the price came from his reward of iniquity.
Les Feldick emphasizes that Judas was not predestined to be the betrayer without a choice. God, in His foreknowledge, knew what Judas would do when given the opportunity, but Judas had the same freedom of choice as the other disciples. Even at the point of betrayal, Jesus addressed him as 'friend'—still extending an opportunity to repent.
Where Will Jews Flee During the Tribulation? Revelation 12
this escaping remnant, that they should, that is the Godhead, that the Godhead should feed her, the remnant, a thousand, two hundred and sixty days, that's three and a half years. So here you have the remnant of Israel having escaped in a place where God is going to protect them, and He's going to provide all their needs.
Satan's Departure Catapulted Judas
Les teaches that when Judas came back to try to escape the situation, Satan left him and literally catapulted his body, causing the physical results in both Matthew and Acts.
Scripture Records Judas's Hanging
Les reads Matthew 27:5, which states that after Judas cast down the silver in the temple he departed and went and hanged himself.
Judas's Free Will and Guilt
Les explains that Judas had full opportunity to accept Christ and was not forced into betrayal; his guilt drove him to throw the thirty pieces of silver back at the priests.
The Acts Account of Judas's Death
Les quotes Acts 1:18 and explains that Judas fell headlong and his bowels gushed out, and that the priests bought the potter's field with his returned money.
Repentance Offered to Judas
Les shows that even as Judas kissed Jesus, Jesus addressed him with a term of endearment, still giving him the chance to repent.
Both Accounts Are Literally True
Les concludes that Judas was literally burst open but also hung on a tree, so Scripture is not contradictory.
Why the Temple Veil Tore — Matthew 27 Explained
But anyway, you come on down to verse 50. When Jesus had cried again with a loud voice, He yielded up the ghost of the Spirit. In other words, of His own volition He gave up His own life. Even though Peter in Acts chapter 2 will tell the nation of Israel, you killed the Messiah. In other aspects of Scripture we feel the Romans put Him to death, but in actuality neither one did.
Matthew 27:5: And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself.
This verse directly records the act of Judas hanging himself after returning the thirty pieces of silver.
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 verse gives a second physical description of Judas's death, showing his body burst open when he fell.
The Bible gives two descriptions. Matthew 27:5 says he went and hanged himself, and Acts 1:18 says he fell headlong and burst open. Both are part of the same event.
No, according to Les Feldick. Judas's body was catapulted by Satan's departure, bursting his torso, and he was thrown onto a low branch or fence post. He was therefore both burst asunder and hanged.
Les explains that the priests bought the potter's field with the blood money Judas threw back at them in the temple. Because the money was Judas's reward for betraying Jesus, the field was credited to him.
Watch the Teaching: Where Will Jews Flee During the Tribulation? Revelation 12