A few men (four or five) named Judas appeared in the Bible, mostly referring to 2 of the disciples of Jesus Christ.
Two Gospels reference yet another person named Judas who was thought to be a brother of Jesus (Matthew 13:55 and Mark 6:3).
There were also two men named Judas in Acts. One was responsible for the revolt against the Romans as stated in Acts 5:37:
37. After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and led a band of people in revolt. He too was killed, and all his followers were scattered.
The other traveled with Silas to Antioch in Acts 15:22. The same verse called him Barsabbas which could have been the same person in
Acts 1:23 who was nominated to replace Judas Iscariot. He also had mentions in Acts 15 verse 27 and
verse 32.
Matthew 10:2-4 and Mark 3:16-19 named 12 disciples that followed Jesus.
Luke 6:12-16 lists both men named Judas as disciples:
12. One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God.
13. When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them, whom he also designated apostles:
14. Simon (whom he named Peter), his brother Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew,
15. Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Simon who was called the Zealot,
16. Judas son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.
Judas son of James appeared just a few more times including John 14:22 and Acts 1:13.
Rose Publishing listed Judas as the same person as Thaddaeus who was only mentioned in Matthew 10:3 and
Mark 3:18.
Acts 1:12-14 (after Jesus' ascension to Heaven when he rose from the dead after 3 days):
12. Then they returned to Jerusalem from the hill called the Mount of Olives, a Sabbath day's walk from the city.
13. When they arrived, they went upstairs to the room where they were staying. Those present were Peter, John, James and Andrew; Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew; James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot,
and Judas son of James.
14. They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.
During the conversion of Saul of Tarsus to Christianity, Acts 9:11 stated that one of them (more than likely the son of James) lived "on State Street" in
Damascus (Syria).
Acts 9:10-12:
10. In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, "Ananias!" "Yes, Lord," he answered.
11. The Lord told him, "Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying.
12. In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight."
The other disciple, Judas Iscariot, sadly didn't show good character considering he was a follower of Jesus. His father was named Simon as mentioned in
John 6:71, then again in John 13, verse 2 and verse 26.
John 12:1-6 displayed his greed:
1. Six days before the Passover, Jesus arrived at Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead.
2. Here a dinner was given in Jesus' honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him.
3. Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus' feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.
4. But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected,
5. "Why wasn't this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year's wages."
6. He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.
Matthew 26:14-16: (also in Mark 14:10-11; Luke 22:1-6)
14. Then one of the Twelve--the one called Judas Iscariot--went to the chief priests
15. and asked, "What are you willing to give me if I hand him over to you?" So they counted out for him thirty silver coins.
16. From then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand him over.
At the Last Supper of Jesus and his disciples, Jesus predicted his betrayal in John 13:26-30:
26. Jesus answered, "It is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish." Then, dipping the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, son of Simon.
27. As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him. "What you are about to do, do quickly," Jesus told him,
28. but no one at the meal understood why Jesus said this to him.
29. Since Judas had charge of the money, some thought Jesus was telling him to buy what was needed for the Feast, or to give something to the poor.
30. As soon as Judas had taken the bread, he went out. And it was night.
In Matthew 26:21-25, Jesus actually named Judas as the one to betray Him.
According to the plot in John 11:45-57 to arrest Jesus, Judas led them to Him in
Matthew 26:45-50:
(parallel passages in Mark 14:41-46;
Luke 22:46-48 and John 18:1-11):
45. Then he returned to the disciples and said to them, "Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour is near, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.
46. Rise, let us go! Here comes my betrayer!"
47. While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived. With him was a large crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests and the elders of the people.
48. Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: "The one I kiss is the man; arrest him."
49. Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, "Greetings, Rabbi!" and kissed him.
50. Jesus replied, "Friend, do what you came for." Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus and arrested him.
Judas fulfilled a prophesy in Jeremiah according to Matthew 27:1-10:
1. Early in the morning, all the chief priests and the elders of the people came to the decision to put Jesus to death.
2. They bound him, led him away and handed him over to Pilate, the governor.
3. When Judas, who had betrayed him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was seized with remorse and returned the thirty silver coins to the chief priests and the elders.
4. "I have sinned," he said, "for I have betrayed innocent blood." "What is that to us?" they replied. "That's your responsibility."
5. So Judas threw the money into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself.
6. 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."
7. So they decided to use the money to buy the potter's field as a burial place for foreigners.
8. That is why it has been called the Field of Blood to this day.
9. Then what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled: "They took the thirty silver coins, the price set on him by the people of Israel,
10. and they used them to buy the potter's field, as the Lord commanded me."
Peter phrased it differently in Acts 1:14-18 when they were choosing a replacement for Judas.
14. They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.
15. In those days Peter stood up among the believers (a group numbering about a hundred and twenty)
16. and said, "Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled which the Holy Spirit spoke long ago through the mouth of David concerning Judas, who served as guide for those who arrested Jesus--
17. he was one of our number and shared in this ministry."
18. (With the reward he got for his wickedness, Judas bought a field; there he fell headlong, his body burst open and all his intestines spilled out.
Matthias was chosen to replace Judas Iscariot in Acts 1:12-26.
