How Did Judas Die?

Acts 1:18 & Matthew 27:5 both give account of Judas Iscariot’s death. The former states that, “Now this man [Judas, c.f. 1:16] purchased a field with the reward of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out.” The latter states, “And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself.”
The claim has been made by Bible rejectors and even liberal Bible scholars that Matthew 27:5 and Acts 1:18 are at odds with each other. After all, one says that Judas hanged himself while the other says that he fell on something which cut him open.

However, a spiritual Bible scholar wouldn’t place the blame for this difficulty on the Bible as it were wrong; rather, he would recognize that it is his shortcoming and study further until it is resolved. Petition the Holy Ghost for wisdom and understanding certainly wouldn’t hurt.

Of course, both passages are correct. Judas certainly did hang himself as Matthew recounts; however, for whatever reason he fell from that rope as Luke desribes. Whether he was cut down, the rope broke, or the knot did not hold we are not told.

Unless that explanation can be shown to be impossible, it resolves the so-called conflict nicely.

Let God be true, but every man a liar. Romans 3:4

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