It is always either “Judas the brother of James” (Acts 1:13), or “Judas, not Iscariot” (John 14:22), or “Judas who was surnamed Barsabbas” (Acts 15:22), or “Judas the Galilean” (Acts 5:37).” They attached a distinguishing epithet to the name to identify him to be another person. Yet after selling out the innocent blood of the Son of God for thirty pieces of silver and identifying Him to the authorities with a kiss on the cheek, few parents have dared to risk identifying their sons with a man like Judas Iscariot.Īfter Judas Iscariot betrayed the innocent blood, the New Testament writers went to great lengths to clarify who they were writing about, lest we mistake that person for the betrayer. It was a common name meaning “celebrated” or “lauded,” that no parent would hesitate to call their child. And from that moment he sought an opportunity to betray him (Matthew 26:14–16 ESV).īefore the notorious act of betrayal leveled upon our Lord as He exited the Garden of Gethsemane, the name Judas was a respected if not revered name. Then one of the twelve, whose name was Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, “What will you give me if I deliver him over to you?” And they paid him thirty pieces of silver.

The last trial of judas iscariot