(Now this man acquired a field with the reward of his wickedness, and falling headlong he burst open in the middle and all his bowels gushed out.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The verse highlights that "this man acquired a field" — not necessarily that Judas bought it himself, but that the field became his through the consequence of his betrayal, even though the priests ultimately used his returned money to make the purchase. This subtle distinction shows how actions, even those with unintended immediate results, can still be inextricably linked to the outcome.
(Now this man acquired a field with the reward of his wickedness, and falling headlong he burst open in the middle and all his bowels gushed out.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Peter has just spoken about the need to replace Judas in the apostolic ministry, explaining how David's words in the Psalms foretold Judas's fate. This verse and the next then provide a graphic, almost parenthetical, detail about Judas's gruesome death and how the field purchased with his betrayal money came to be known as the "Field of Blood."
Judas's final act seems straightforward: he bought a field. But the Scriptures paint a more complex picture of how this 'acquisition' truly happened.
The text says Judas "purchased" a field with the reward of his wickedness. However, the original language word here, "acquired" or "obtained" (ἐκτήσατο), doesn't necessarily mean he personally handed over money. Instead, the priests bought the field with the silver Judas returned to them (Matthew 27:7).
How is this possible?
Judas's death is described with horrifying detail. What does this visceral account tell us about divine justice and the reality of sin?
The passage doesn't just state Judas died; it graphically describes how he died: "falling headlong he burst open in the middle and all his bowels gushed out." This is a stark and disturbing image.
The Weight of Sin:
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Understand the original words
adikia · Greek Noun
Moral depravity or malicious evil; it refers to conduct that is contrary to God’s holy character and law, often resulting in severe divine judgment.
The gruesome death of Judas and the subsequent purchase of a burial ground with his betrayal money serve as a stark, tangible reminder of the consequences of treachery against God's Son. This event wasn't just a historical footnote; it was a public spectacle that echoed the judgment foretold in the Old Testament.
c. AD 30
Jesus' Crucifixion and Burial
Jesus is arrested, tried, and crucified by Roman authorities. His body is then laid in a tomb.
c. AD 30
Judas Returns the Blood Money
Judas Iscariot, after betraying Jesus, attempts to return the silver he received. The chief priests refuse to put it back into the temple treasury.
c. AD 30
Purchase of the Potter's Field
The chief priests use the blood money returned by Judas to buy a field belonging to a potter, intended as a burial place for foreigners.
c. AD 30— this verse
Judas's Death
Judas Iscariot dies in a horrific manner, falling headlong and bursting open, fulfilling prophecies and confirming his betrayal.
c. AD 30
Naming of the Field
The field purchased with Judas's blood money becomes known as Aceldama, meaning 'the Field of Blood' in the local Aramaic language.
c. AD 30
Disciples Return to Jerusalem
Following Jesus' ascension, the apostles and other followers gather in an upper room in Jerusalem, awaiting the promised Holy Spirit.
This passage directly describes Judas throwing the silver back and the chief priests using it to buy the potter's field, providing crucial context for how Judas 'acquired' it.
2 Samuel 17:23This verse describes Ahithophel's suicide by hanging and then his body falling, offering a parallel to the gruesome, undignified end experienced by Judas.
Psalm 109:17-18This imprecatory psalm speaks of cursing coming into someone's 'bowels like water,' which poetically reflects the horrific physical rupture described in Acts.
2 Chronicles 25:12This passage describes enemies being cast down from a rock and their bodies breaking open, offering a physical parallel to the violent bursting described in Judas's death.
vincentActs 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."
Purchased (ἐκτήσατο)See on possess, Luke 18:12. Better, as Rev., obtained. Judas did not purchase the field, but the priests did with the money which he returned to them, (Matthew 27:7). The expression means merely that the field was purchased with the money of Judas.Falling headlong (πρηνής γενόμενος)Lit., having become headlong.He bur…
jfbActs 1:12-26: "Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a sabbath day's journey."
Ac 1:12-26. Return of the Eleven to Jerusalem—Proceedings in the Upper Room till Pentecost.12-14. a sabbath day's journey—about two thousand cubits.
The verse highlights that "this man acquired a field" — not necessarily that Judas bought it himself, but that the field became his through the consequence of his betrayal, even though the priests ultimately used his returned money to make the purchase. This subtle distinction shows how actions, even those with unintended immediate results, can still be inextricably linked to the outcome.
Peter has just spoken about the need to replace Judas in the apostolic ministry, explaining how David's words in the Psalms foretold Judas's fate. This verse and the next then provide a graphic, almost parenthetical, detail about Judas's gruesome death and how the field purchased with his betrayal money came to be known as the "Field of Blood."
Peter has just spoken about the need to replace Judas in the apostolic ministry, explaining how David's words in the Psalms foretold Judas's fate. This verse and the next then provide a graphic, almost parenthetical, detail about Judas's gruesome death and how the field purchased with his betrayal money came to be known as the "Field of Blood."
"(Now this man acquired a field with the reward of his wickedness, and falling headlong he burst open in the middle and all his bowels gushed out." — The verse highlights that "this man acquired a field" — not necessarily that Judas bought it himself, but that the field became his through the consequence of his betrayal, even though the priests…
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Last reviewed October 2026