Acts 1:18
What does Acts 1:18 mean?
A plain-English look at Acts 1:18 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Acts 1:18 means
Luke, potentially as an authorial aside, explains the ultimate fate of Judas. With the money he received for his betrayal, he purchased a field. However, in a gruesome turn of events, he suffered a terrible death, falling headlong, bursting open, and spilling his internal organs. This horrific end is presented as the consequence and "reward of his iniquity," a stark judgment for his treachery against Jesus.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000(Now this man obtained a field with the reward of his iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Now 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.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901(Now this man obtained a field with the reward of his iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949(Now this man, with the reward of his evil-doing, got for himself a field, and falling head first, came to a sudden and violent end there.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862this one, indeed, then, purchased a field out of the reward of unrighteousness, and falling headlong, burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed forth,
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And he indeed hath possessed a field of the reward of iniquity, and being hanged, burst asunder in the midst: and all his bowels gushed out.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890(This [man] then indeed got a field with [the] reward of iniquity, and, having fallen down headlong, burst in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out.
Context
This verse provides a gruesome but necessary detail regarding Judas's death, interrupting Peter's speech with an explanatory note. It serves to inform the reader about the historical end of the betrayer, connecting his "reward of his iniquity" with the field. This account is important for understanding the context of the apostolic vacancy and the necessity of finding a replacement for someone who met such an end.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- 2 Kings 5:20
But Gehazi the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, Behold, my master hath spared this Naaman the Syrian, in not receiving at his hands that which he brought: as Jehovah liveth, I will run after him, and take somewhat of him.
- Joshua 7:21
when I saw among the spoil a goodly Babylonish mantle, and two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels weight, then I coveted them, and took them; and, behold, they are hid in the earth in the midst of my tent, and the silver under it.
- Matthew 25:15
And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one; to each according to his several ability; and he went on his journey.
- Psalms 55:15
Let death come suddenly upon them, Let them go down alive into Sheol; For wickedness is in their dwelling, in the midst of them.
- Numbers 22:7
And the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the rewards of divination in their hand; and they came unto Balaam, and spake unto him the words of Balak.
- 2 Peter 2:15
forsaking the right way, they went astray, having followed the way of Balaam the son of Beor, who loved the hire of wrong-doing;
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