Acts 1:19 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And it became known to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the field was called in their own language Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.)

NIV: Everyone in Jerusalem heard about this, so they called that field in their language Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.)

NASB: And it became known to all the residents of Jerusalem; as a result that field was called Hakeldama in their own language, that is, Field of Blood.)

CSB: This became known to all the residents of Jerusalem, so that in their own language that field is called Hakeldama (that is, Field of Blood).

NLT: The news of his death spread to all the people of Jerusalem, and they gave the place the Aramaic name Akeldama, which means 'Field of Blood.')

KJV: And it was known unto all the dwellers at Jerusalem; insomuch as that field is called in their proper tongue, Aceldama, that is to say, The field of blood.

NKJV: And it became known to all those dwelling in Jerusalem; so that field is called in their own language, Akel Dama, that is, Field of Blood.)

In the middle of Peter's account of Judas' death, Luke adds details for Theophilus (Acts 1:1). First, he more fully describes what happened to Judas. While Matthew merely mentioned Judas hanged himself (Matthew 27:3–10), Luke adds that Judas' corpse fell and the impact burst open his gut, spilling out his intestines (Acts 1:18). Now, Luke includes the Greek name of the field, which the Jews in Jerusalem would have known by the Aramaic.

It's unclear what Judas thought was going to happen when he betrayed Jesus to the chief priests and elders of the Sanhedrin, the ruling Jewish council. He received his payment, thirty pieces of silver, ahead of time (Matthew 26:14–16), and waited for a dark, quiet moment when he knew where Jesus would not be surrounded by a crowd. The Sanhedrin had intended to wait until after the week-long Feast of Unleavened Bread, which directly followed the Passover. They knew that Jesus had many followers, or at least fans, in Jerusalem who could riot (Matthew 26:3–5).

But they were not as in control of the situation as they thought. At the Last Supper, Jesus directed Judas, now possessed by Satan, to start the process (John 13:27). Late that night, Judas gathered guards and servants of the chief priests and elders and took them to the Mount of Olives where he knew Jesus and the disciples would be relatively removed from the crowds (Luke 21:37).

This was all according to Judas' plan…at first. We don't know what changed Judas' perspective. After Judas realized that Pilate had sentenced Jesus to death, Judas was horrified. We don't know if he thought Jesus would "just" be beaten. Perhaps Judas expected Jesus to once again escape as He had done before (Luke 4:28–30; John 8:59; 10:39). Perhaps Satan, who had possessed him at the Last Supper, finally left, leaving Judas' mind clearer. Some interpreters suggest Judas thought the arrest would force Jesus to take up arms against His enemies.

Whatever happened in Judas' mind and heart, he tried to return the silver, but was denied. While he hanged himself, the chief priests used the money to buy a field and called it Akeldama. Somewhat fittingly, they used it for a cemetery.

Acts 1:12–26 records what happens when the Jesus-followers pray. Jesus has ascended (Acts 1:9). The Holy Spirit is coming (Acts 1:5). The apostles don't really know what these things mean, but they know where to start. They join the other Jesus-followers in Jerusalem and start praying. The next order of business is to find a replacement for Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Jesus (Matthew 26:14–16, 47–50) and then hanged himself (Matthew 27:3–10). The remaining eleven apostles don't know this yet, but their third task will literally be to change the world.

Acts 1 sets the stage for the establishment of the church and the spread of the gospel. Jesus is alive but if the Holy Spirit is to come Jesus must ascend into heaven (John 16:7). The disciples obey His last instructions and wait in Jerusalem. Peter uses Old Testament Scripture to show the group of about 120 they must choose a disciple to replace Judas. The man must have been with them from Jesus' baptism to His ascension. Joseph Barsabbas and Matthias are put forward and, in the last use of the lots found in the Bible, Matthias is chosen.

Acts 1 is the second letter Luke wrote for Theophilus. In it, he narrates the transition between Jesus' ministry as described in the Gospel of Luke and the development and spread of the church. The disciples have received a temporary indwelling of the Holy Spirit (John 20:22), and Jesus has spent forty days reassuring His faithful followers (Acts 1:3), appearing to over five hundred in that short time (1 Corinthians 15:6). Now, the disciples complete some administrative-like tasks before the Holy Spirit can begin the ministry of the church on Pentecost (Acts 2).

The summary of the book of Acts is provided in Jesus' words in Acts 1:8: ''But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.'' In Acts 2:1–13, the Christ-followers receive the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:14—7:60 describes the rapid growth of the church in Jerusalem. Chapters 8—12 find Jewish persecution inadvertently spreading the gospel throughout Judea and Samaria. And in chapters 13—28, Paul and his companions spread the good news throughout the Roman Empire.