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What Is Akeldama?
Akeldama (Aramaic: Haqel Dama, meaning ‘Field of Blood’) is a place in Jerusalem linked to the tragic end of Judas Iscariot—the disciple who betrayed Jesus. The name reflects both the violence tied to Judas’s death and the use of blood money to purchase the field.
The Biblical Account
Two main passages in the New Testament refer to Akeldama:
1. Matthew 27:3–10 (NIV)
“When Judas, who had betrayed him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was seized with remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver… ‘I have sinned,’ he said, ‘for I have betrayed innocent blood.’… So Judas threw the money into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself.
The chief priests picked up the coins and said, ‘It is against the law to put this into the treasury, since it is blood money.’ So they decided to use the money to buy the potter’s field as a burial place for foreigners. That is why it has been called the Field of Blood to this day.”
2. Acts 1:18–19 (NIV)
“With the payment he received for his wickedness, Judas bought a field; there he fell headlong, his body burst open and all his intestines spilled out. Everyone in Jerusalem heard about this, so they called that field in their language Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.”
Reconciling the Accounts
The gospels say the priests bought the field, while Acts says Judas bought it. One way to reconcile this:
– Judas returned the money, but since it was still associated with him and his betrayal, the field was considered his purchase—he made it possible, even if indirectly.
– His manner of death (hanging vs. falling and bursting open) may describe the same event from different perspectives. Some suggest he hanged himself and then fell, his body decomposing or breaking upon falling.
Theological Significance
1. Blood Money and Guilt
The field represents the moral cost of betrayal. Judas’s remorse and the priests’ refusal to use the money for sacred purposes highlight the spiritual weight of sin.
2. God’s Sovereignty
Despite the grim story, Akeldama shows that even human evil can’t derail God’s plan. Jesus’s death, though enabled by betrayal, was the centerpiece of salvation.
3. Fulfillment of Prophecy
Matthew links this to Old Testament prophecy:
– Zechariah 11:12–13: “So they paid me thirty pieces of silver… throw it to the potter—the handsome price at which they valued me!”
– Jeremiah 19 (implied): Though not directly quoted, the idea of buying a potter’s field and judgment over a valley of blood ties in thematically.
Akeldama Today
The traditional site of Akeldama lies in the Hinnom Valley, just south of Jerusalem’s Old City. Archaeological remains, including ancient tombs and burial caves, align with the biblical use of the area as a place for burying the dead.
Final Thoughts
Akeldama is a stark reminder of the consequences of betrayal, guilt, and unresolved sin. But it also points forward—to a crucified Savior who offers forgiveness even to the most broken.
Summary Bible Verses:
– Matthew 27:3–10 – Judas’s remorse, the return of silver, and the purchase of the potter’s field.
– Acts 1:18–19 – Judas’s death and the naming of Akeldama.
– Zechariah 11:12–13 – The prophecy of the thirty pieces of silver.
– Jeremiah 19 (implied) – The potter’s field and symbolic judgment.
