Judas’ Bargain

¹⁴ Then one of the twelve [disciples], who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests ¹⁵ and said, “What are you willing to give me if I hand Jesus over to you?” And they weighed out ^[a]thirty pieces of silver.^{(A) 16} And from that moment Judas began looking for an opportune time to betray Jesus.^(B)

Judas’ Remorse

27 When it was morning, all the chief priests and the elders of the people (Sanhedrin, Jewish High Court) conferred together against Jesus, [plotting how] to put Him to death [since under Roman rule they had no power to execute anyone]; ² so they bound Him, and led Him away and handed Him over to Pilate the governor [of Judea, who had the authority to condemn prisoners to death].

³ When Judas, His betrayer, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was gripped with remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders,^{(A) 4} saying, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” They replied, “What is that to us? See to that yourself!” ⁵ And throwing the pieces of silver into the temple sanctuary, he left; and went away and ^[a]hanged himself. ⁶ The chief priests, picking up the pieces of silver, said, “It is not lawful to put these in the treasury [of the temple], because it is the price of blood.” ⁷ So after consultation they used the money to buy the Potter’s Field as a burial place for strangers. ⁸ Therefore that piece of ground has been called the Field of Blood to this day. ⁹ Then the words spoken by Jeremiah the prophet were fulfilled: “And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of Him on whom a price had been set by the sons of Israel;^{(B) 10} and they gave them for the Potter’s Field, as the Lord directed me.”^(C)