A common challenge posed by skeptics or atheists to prove that a biblical contradiction exists in Judas’ death account is: “How did Judas Iscariot die? Matthew 27:5 says he hung himself, but Acts 1:18 says he fell headfirst in a field, and his body burst open. So, which is it?”

On the surface, it appears they have a valid argument, which can intimidate an unprepared Christian. However, upon closer examination of the text and the topography of the field in question, the differing accounts do not contradict but harmonize.

The apostle Matthew and Luke (a doctor and the author of Acts) recorded details about Judas’ death, describing one aspect. Matthew 27:5 says, “And he threw the pieces of silver into the temple sanctuary and departed; and he went away and hanged himself.” Matthew cited Judas’ manner of death as suicide by hanging in this passage.

Acts 1:18 does not state Judas' cause of death but describes what happened to his body after falling headfirst and hitting the ground. Doctor Luke wrote, "Now this man acquired a field with the price of his wickedness, and falling headlong, he burst open in the middle and all his intestines gushed out.” In this passage, Luke confirms Judas was above the ground when he fell. However, his description of what happened contradicts the skeptic's interpretation of this passage: Judas jumped or fell from a high location and perished upon impact when his body split open.

Atheists and skeptics conclude a contradiction exists between Matthew's and Luke's accounts based on this interpretation, among other reasons. However, Doctor Luke’s description of Judas’ horrendous abdominal explosion is not consistent with him falling to his death from within this field’s topography.

A person who falls from a skyscraper, cliff, or mountain bluff while still alive will undoubtedly experience severe bodily trauma when hitting the ground, which may include an abdominal rupture. But someone falling from a height within this field’s landscape would never sustain this type of injury if they were alive when they fell. However, a deceased person’s body hanging from a rocky ledge or tall tree in this field could easily split open and splatter if it fell due to its internal decay.

When a person dies, decomposition sets in within minutes. In its early stages, cell membranes rupture, intestinal walls begin breaking down, and gases bloat the body, which can double a corpse’s size. With such internal chaos and decay occurring soon after death, it is understandable how a deceased body suspended above the ground could burst open when forcefully hitting the landscape only hours or days after death.

Furthermore, the details of Judas’ death recorded in Matthew and Acts are not contradictory, irreconcilable, or inconsistent as skeptics claim, but are in perfect harmony. Their argument would be valid if Matthew stated Judas died by suicide and Luke reported a homicide or if Luke said Judas drowned and Matthew testified that he bled to death since those accounts are contradictory. However, Acts 1:18 does not undermine Matthew’s version of a hanging but presupposes and supports it. The only thing it contradicts is the atheist’s interpretation or assumption.

Reconciling Matthew 27:5 with Acts 1:18 provides a complete yet gruesome picture of what happened to Judas: He committed suicide by hanging himself, most likely from a tree or tall, rocky ledge in the hilly field. Later, his decaying body fell headfirst to the ground, causing his torso to rupture and his internal organs to gush out.

The cause of Judas’ fall is unknown because Scripture is silent on that issue. However, there are several plausible reasons for what may have triggered his drop. For example, if Judas tied a noose to a tall tree, the ligature or branch could have broken under the weight of his decomposing, bloating body. If he hung himself from a rocky ledge, the ligature supporting his weight could have broken, come loose, been tampered with, or deteriorated. Another reasonable explanation for his fall would be if others tried unsuccessfully to retrieve, remove, or release his hanging corpse from its ligature.

Regardless, the fact remains that Matthew 27:5 and Acts 1:18 are both accurate, consistent, and harmonious accounts of Judas' death—which is no surprise given the omniscient God who inspired them.