Matthew 27: Jesus Was Crucified and Buried

Matthew 27: Jesus Was Crucified and Buried 

Collin Leong. July 19th  2025

(v1-10) Judas Hangs Himself

(v1-2) Early in the morning, all the chief priests and the elders made their plans how to have Jesus executed. They bound him away and handed him over to Pilate the governor. 

Note that there is another trial of Jesus in the morning of Friday, before the full Sanhedrin, found in Luke 22:66-71. Matthew's trial happened in the night before (Thursday night), and was an unofficial proceeding; while the morning trial was a formal trial. 

In the morning trial, they asked him a direct question whether He is the Son of God. Jesus replied "You say that I am." That is when they came up with a plan to execute Jesus by bringing Him to Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor of Judea. (See Appendix about Pilate)

(v3-5) When Judas saw that Jesus was condemned, he was seized with remorse and returned the 30 pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders. He told them that he has sinned by betraying innocent blood. They told him that's nothing to do with them, for it was his responsibility. Judas threw the money into the temple, and went away and hanged himself. 

It appears that Judas recognized his betrayal as a sin, and he returned the money, and killed himself. Perhaps Satan has left him (Matt 26:27), and his conscience took hold of him.

Will Judas enter into heaven? Will he betray Jesus if Satan didn't enter him? This is a debate that has no answer. Jesus has said that it is better if Judas has not been born, and this may imply eternal punishment. While Satan can influence us, it is our ability to refuse doing what is wrong. Perhaps his killed himself because he was despaired, rather then truly repenting. Others think he admitted his sin, and that may be the repentance, and therefore he may have been forgiven. Do you think God will give Judas mercy, as what He had done for Peter? At the end of the day, only God knows the depths of his heart.

(v6-10) 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 use it to buy the potter's field as a burial place for foreigners. It has been called the the field of blood. This fulfill Jeremiah's prophecy that said “They took the thirty pieces of silver, the price set on him by the people of Israel, and they used them to buy the potter’s field, as the Lord commanded me.”

There are no scripture about "blood money." The chief priests are probably expanding on Deut 23:18 which prohibits bringing the wages of a prostitute into the house of the Lord. The broader principle behind this law is that money gained through immoral means should not be offered to God. The religious leaders are hypocrites - they were concern about breaking the law and their tradition, but they themselves plot to kill Jesus, though He was innocent. 

Matthew quoted the scripture from Jeremiah in v9. However, the closest thing Jeremiah ever said is in Jeremiah 19:1-13, where the prophet is told to buy a potter’s jar and then break it in the Valley of Ben Hinnom (known as Gehenna), symbolizing judgment upon Israel. 

The thirty pieces of silver is found in Zechariah 11:11-13, the amount they paid to the shepherd (i.e. the Lord) for his service of caring for Israel. In v13, the Lord asked Zechariah to throw the silver coins to the potter at the house of the Lord, as it was an insult to Him. In ancient times, potters worked with broken and discarded materials, symbolizing judgment and destruction. Some scholars interpret this as a foreshadowing of Judas' remorse, where his betrayal money was ultimately used for something associated with death and disgrace. 

(Please see the Appendix for the discussion of apparent contradiction with Acts 1:18-19 regarding Judas.)

(v11-26) Jesus Before Pilate (Mark 15:1-15; Luke 23:1-6,13-25; John 18:28-40)

(v11-14) Jesus stood before Governor Pilate, and was asked: "Are you the king of the Jews?" Jesus replied "You have said so."  When he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he gave no answer. Pilate asked Him if He has heard the testimony against Him. But Jesus did not reply, not even to a single charge, to the amazement of the governor. 

The Sanhedrin couldn’t execute Jesus for blasphemy under Roman law.  They had to come up with a different accusation. In Luke 23:2, they told Pilate that Jesus is subverting our nation, and that He opposed paying of taxes and claims to be Messiah, a king. First of all, Jesus do support the Roman tax in Matthew 22:15-22. They said Jesus claim to be the Messiah, "a king", which misled Pilate.  Any claim to kingship could be interpreted as sedition against Rome. So by presenting Jesus as a political threat, the leaders exploited Pilate’s Roman sensibilities. He was given the impression that Jesus want to be the king of the Jews. 

In John 18:33-37, there are more details about how Jesus answered Pilate. He asked Pilate whether he himself thinks that He's a king or did someone told him that. He continued to say that His kingdom is not of this world, otherwise His servants will fight to prevent His arrest. He said the reason He came into this world is to testify the truth, and everyone on the side of truth listens to Him. Pilate retorted: "What is truth?", which became a famous phrase. 

Matthew summarized his reply to "You have said so” Jesus acknowledges the title, but not in the way Pilate imagines.  Jesus’ kingship is of a different order—spiritual, sacrificial, and rooted in truth.  

(Note: Read Luke 23:4-16 for details of the trial, and involvement of Herod Antipas.)

(v15-26) The Crowd Chooses Barabbas (Mark 15:6-11; Luke 23:13-25)

(v15-18) It was the governor's custom at the festival to release a prisoner chosen by the crowd. At that time they had a well-known prisoner whose name is Jesus Barabbas. Pilate asked the crowd who they want him to release - Barabbas or Jesus who is called the Messiah. He knew it was out of self-interest that they had handed Jesus over to him. 

Pilate wasn’t fooled—he recognized that the religious leaders weren’t acting out of justice or concern for Roman law. Their motives were rooted in envy, fear, and a desire to protect their own authority. He’s trying to maneuver a release for Jesus without directly opposing the leaders. But as we know, the plan backfires.

(v19)  Pilate's wife sent him a message when he was sitting on the judge's seat. She told him not to be involved with the innocent man (Jesus), for she has suffered a great deal in her dream because of Him. 

Even a Gentile woman, removed from the religious and political scheming, is disturbed by Jesus’ innocence.

(v20-23) The chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus executed. When Pilate ask them who they want to release, they answered Barabbas. Pilate ask them what should he do with Jesus, and they said to crucify Him.  Pilate them what has Jesus done to be crucified?  They all shouted loudly "Crucify him!" 

Luke 23:19 says the Barabbas was put in prison for insurrection in the city and for murder. They chose Barabbas, who was proven to be a criminal over Jesus, where Pilate could not find anything that He has done wrong. He knows the chief priest and elders were lying to him. But now the crowds, who were welcoming Jesus by laying their cloaks on the grounds and calling Him "Hosanna" , have now turned around and insist on crucifying him within the same week.

(v24-26) Pilate saw that an uproar is starting, and he is getting no where. He took water  and washed his hands openly, and said he is innocent of this man's blood and it's their responsibility. The people reply to confirm that Jesus' blood is on them and their children. Pilate released Barabbas to them, and had Jesus flogged, and handed Him over to be crucified. 

That declaration “His blood be on us and on our children!” (v25) —is one of the most haunting declarations in Scripture. On one hand, it reflects a tragic rejection of the Messiah—an invocation of guilt not just for themselves, but for future generations. Yet on the other hand, the irony is profound: the very blood they called down is the blood that offers forgiveness. In Acts 2, Peter preaches to a Jerusalem crowd—perhaps some of the same people—and says, “You crucified him... but repent and be baptized... and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:36–39).  

John 19:1-16 gave details about the verbal transaction between the Pilate, the religious leader and Jesus. Pilate keep trying to save Jesus. He brought Jesus out to the people after the flogging with the robe around him and the crown of thorns in His head. His strategy is to show that Jesus had suffered enough with blood all over his body, and hoped that they will let him go. But they keep telling Pilate to crucify Him, and make political threats to Pilate. After many arguments, Pilate ask them: "Should I crucify your king?" and they replied: "We have no king but Caesar."  What they said is a blasphemy - the scripture said that God is their King, yet they say they made Caesar, a gentile man, to be their king.  (See 1 Samuel 8:7; Psalm 95:3; Psalm 44:4). By their own law, they should die, not Jesus.

(v27-31) The Soldiers Mock Jesus (Isaiah 50:4-11; Mark 15:16-20; Luke 22:63-65; John 19:1-15)

(v27-31) The soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium (see appendix) and gathered a company of soldiers around Him. They stripped Him and put a scarlet robe on Him. They twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head, and put a staff on his right hand. Then they knelt if front of Him and mocked Him. They spit on him and took the staff and struck Him on the head again and again. After they had mocked Him, they too off the robe  and put his own clothes on him. Then they lead him away to crucify him. 

The Roman soldiers used a flagrum (or flagellum) to flog Jesus. The flagrum was a short-handled scourge with multiple leather thongs, each embedded with sharp objects like metal balls, jagged bone fragments, or hooks. When wielded by Roman soldiers—often two at once—it was designed not just to bruise but to tear into flesh, exposing muscle and even bone. Jesus was stripped and bound to a post, would be lashed repeatedly across the back, buttocks, and legs. 

Under Jewish law, flogging was limited to 40 lashes (Deut 25:3; cf. 2 Cor 11:24); however, Jesus wasn’t flogged under Jewish law—he was scourged by Roman soldiers, and Roman law had no such limit. The goal wasn’t just punishment—it was to weaken the condemned to the brink of death before crucifixion, so that they can die faster.

Then the soldiers twisted thorns into a crown and jam it on his head. They put a purple robe and slapped him in the face and insult him.  The crown was made from thorn branches that grew around Jerusalem. (Either Ziziphus spina-christi, also known as the Christ’s thorn jujube, or Paliurus spina-christi, or Jerusalem thorn.) 

The thorns were around 3-4 cm long, sharp enough to pierce deeply into the scalp and cause significant bleeding. Unlike what we see in paintings, some tradition describe the crown is designed to cover the entire head, like a cap, instead of circling the brow. 

The soldiers hit the His head with a staff, driving the thorns deep into his head. They spit at him, and pretend to pay homage to Him by kneeling down before Him. 

By that time, the dried blood is sticking to the robe. When they took it off, the dried blood was removed. and Jesus start to bleed again. 

(v32-44) The Crucifixion of Jesus (Psalm 69:1-36; Mark 15:21-32; Luke 23:26-43; John 19:16-27)

(v32-37) As they are on their way to crucify Him, they met a man from Cyrene, named Simon, and they forced him to carry the cross. They arrived at Golgotha (which means "the place of the skull"), and offered Jesus wine to drink, mixed with gall; but after tasting it, Jesus refuse to drink.  When they had crucified him, they divided up his clothes buy casting lots. They sat down and kept watch of Him. Above His head, they placed the written charge against Him: "This is Jesus, the king of the Jews/" 

In Mark 13:21, it says that Simon was the father of Alexander and Rufus. This may indicate that his family became the early Christians. 

The hill was named Golgotha (Aramaic) as some believe hill looks like a skull. Indeed, when we visited Calvary (in Latin) we did see two eyes sockets and a mouth on the side of the hill, though it wasn't very obvious. 

The way from Pilate's Praetorium (where the sentencing happened) to Golgotha is approximately 650 meters. That’s a short distance by modern standards, but under the conditions Jesus faced, it was excruciatingly long. The crossbeam He carried (the patibulum) likely weighed between 75-100 pounds and was laid across His shredded shoulders. It’s no wonder He collapsed along the way, prompting the soldiers to compel Simon to carry it behind Him. 

This route is now commemorated as the Via Dolorosa,  winds through narrow, uneven streets. Every step was a fulfillment of Isaiah 53: “He was led like a lamb to the slaughter.” Dolorosa is a Latin word meaning “sorrowful” or “full of grief.” When paired with via—which means “way” or “road”—you get Via Dolorosa, or “The Way of Sorrow.”

Psalms 69:21 prophesied that "they [the enemy] put gall in my food and gave me vinegar for my thirst." David wrote it as an insult to him, who is a reflection of the Messiah. Jesus reject the gall as some say he refused it as it acts as a narcotic to dull the pain of crucifixion. It's a a customary gesture in Roman executions to dull the pain of crucifixion. 

Note that the prophecy did not say if the Messiah will or will not accept the gall of vinegar. By rejecting the numbing drink, Jesus embraced the full weight of suffering—physically, emotionally, and spiritually. However the vinegar was offered just before he died, when he said He was thirsty, and he drinks it (John 19:28-30).

When they divided His clothes by drawing lots, they fulfilled another prophecy in Psalms 22:18: “They divide my clothes among them and cast lots for my garment.” This is extremely specific to what had happened to Jesus' clothes. Psalm 22 is often called a "messianic psalm". It's as if David, centuries earlier, was given a poetic glimpse into the Passion.

It is normal to put a placard (called a titulus) that states the crime on top of the cross. In Jesus’ case, Pilate had it written in three languages—Hebrew, Latin, and Greek (John 19:20-22)—so everyone could read it. The charge? Claiming kingship, a direct challenge to Caesar’s authority. The religious leader didn't like it either, and when they protested the wording, Pilate famously replied, “What I have written, I have written.”

(v38-44) Two rebels were crucified with Him, one on the right one on the left. Those that passed by insulted Jesus telling Him to save Himself since He can destroy the temple and build it in three days. They said: "Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God." (v40) The chief priest and other leaders mocked Him saying that He saved others but can't save Himself. If He comes down from the cross, they will believe Him. Let God rescue Him now since He trust in God and said He is the Son of God. In the same way, the rebels who were crucified with him also heaped insults on Him. 

Luke 23:39-43 said that one of the criminals rebuke the other for mocking Him. He said to Jesus and said  “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Jesus replies, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”  Although Matthew said both the criminals insulted Him, some scholars explained that one of them had a change of heart. Matthew captures the early scene; Luke reveals what unfolded later.

The man who spoke to Jesus has been a criminal until the last hour of his death, and did not have a chance to do anything good, yet the sacrifice and love of Jesus covers this man. The salvation of the criminal is a testimony that salvation comes by faith, not by works (Eph 2:8-9; Gal 2:16; Titus 3:5). 

When the people and the religious leaders "mocked him" (v36, v41, v44, v49), they fulfilled the prophecy in Psalms 22:17 - “All my bones are on display; people stare and gloat over me.”

(v45-56) The Death of Jesus (Psalm 22:1-31; Mark 15:33-41; Luke 23:44-49; John 19:28-30)

v(45-46) From noon until three in the afternoon, darkness came over all the land. About three in the afternoon, Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Eli, Eli, lemasabachthani?" (which means My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?)  

In the Hebrew Scriptures, darkness often signals divine judgment or mourning. An example is the plague of darkness in Egypt (Exo 10:21-23). Amos prophesied to Israel that God will judge them by "the sun go down at noon and darken the earth in broad daylight." (Amos 8:9).  However, Israel has never experience that prophecy until now. I believe in that dark hours, Jesus is the one being punished by the sins he bored for us, and thereby freeing Israel from that punishment. 

Jesus was not afraid of being scourge, or of the thorns, or even dying on the cross. Many people has suffered such things. He is most concerned about carrying our sin in his holy body (1 Peter 2:24). He asked God at Gethsemane if there is any other way to save man kind. He knows that if He accept God's will, God will have no choice and forsake Him on the cross. From eternity past, Jesus is always with the Father and the Holy Spirit. It is something they treasured most - the permanent relationship among them. To lose it for 3 hours, is like eternity for them. 

That's why He cried out "why have You forsaken me?"   Jesus is actually quoting Psalms 22:1 - "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far from my cries of anguish?"  This is the prophecy he feared most. (Jesus has fears, sorrows and other human emotions when he was incarnated into a human form. Hebrews 4:15)

Thank Jesus for His love and that He was willing to bear the unbearable pain of abandonment!

(v47-50)  Some of them standing there said He is calling Elijah. One of them filled a sponge with wine vinegar and put on a long staff and offered it to Jesus to drink. They said leave Him alone and see if Elijah comes to save Him. And when Jesus cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up His spirit. 

The nearby people may have misheard Jesus calling to Elijah, when He said "Eli", which may sound the same. Another possible reason is that they remembered what Malachi prophecy that God will send Elijah before the great and dreadful day of the Lord comes. (Malachi 4:5)

The vinegar (sour wine) that the offered to Jesus fulfilled prophecies from Psalm 69:2 - "They put gall in my food and gave me vinegar for my thirst." 

Before Jesus died, Luke 23:46 recorded Jesus saying: “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” John 19:30, Jesus said "It is finished.". This is not contradictory. He could have said both the sentence. 

The Greek word for "It is finished" is tetelestai. It was commonly used in the ancient world to declare that a task was fully completed, a debt paid in full, or a mission accomplished. Jesus wasn’t simply saying His life was ending nor did He say "I am finished."  He was declaring that His redemptive work was complete. He only have to do this once, not annually like the Atonement in Old Testament. (Hebrews 10:10, 12)

The long arc of God’s plan—from the first promise in Genesis, through the Law, the prophets, and the sacrificial system—had reached its fulfillment. The Lamb had been offered. The price of sin had been paid.

Isaiah said it perfectly: “But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his stripes we are healed.”  Isaiah 53:5.  

(v51-54)  At that moment, the curtain of the temple was torn in two from the top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split, and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life after Jesus' resurrection, and went into Jerusalem and appeared to many people.  When the centurion and those who were guarding Jesus saw what happened, they were terrified and exclaimed that Jesus is the Son of God. 

This is one of the unexpected miracle that took place during Jesus death. The veil that separated the Holy of Holies in Herod’s Temple was about 60 feet high, 30 feet wide, and as thick as a man’s hand, which some estimate to be around 4 inches thick. It was woven from fine linen and richly embroidered with blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, featuring cherubim motifs (Exodus 26:31–33). There was no way someone can deliberately tear it down. It was torn from top to bottom, signifying that God was the one who tore it.  This tearing marked the end of the separation between God and humanity. No longer was access to the Most Holy Place restricted to the high priest once a year in the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) (Leviticus 16). Jesus's sacrifice was the permanent atonement for our sins. 

The dead bodies that became alive was prophesied by Ezekiel 37:1-14. where the valley of dry bones become flesh and received breath.  We do not know what happened to these people that was raised to life after Jesus' resurrection. There are two possibilities:

a) They may live a life on earth and die again, like Lazarus. Their resurrection was temporary—a sign pointing to Jesus’ power over death - not only God resurrected Jesus, but God also resurrected the faithful people from the Old Testament. 

b) They were taken to heaven with Christ as implied by Ephesians 4:8 - “When he ascended on high, he took many captives and gave gifts to his people.”  That is, people like Abraham, David, and all the prophets went to heaven as Jesus' blood has bought them forgiveness of their sin. Previously they were "captives" in the "good side" of Hades, waiting for this event. (See Luke 16:19–31)

Or both can be true, since Matthew said "many holy people" and not "all the holy people." They serve a purpose to become a testimony for Jesus. The rest went to heaven with Jesus as Paul had said. 

The centurion had likely overseen many crucifixions—but this one was remarkably different. The centurion and the guards had just witnessed a cascade of extraordinary events: the unnatural darkness, the violent earthquake, rock was broken, and they heard what Jesus asked God to forgive those who crucified Him (Luke 23:34). They finally believe that He is the Son of God. Luke 23:47 says that the centurion "praised God" and said: “Surely this was a righteous man.”  However, the religious leaders are as stubborn as they were, and nothing will bring them to change their minds about Jesus and to repent. 

(v55-56) There were women watching from a distance. They had followed Jesus from Galilee to care for His needs. Among them were:

a) Mary Magdalene - from Magdala, a town on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee. She’s introduced in Luke 8:2 as the woman “from whom seven demons had come out.” This healing marked a radical transformation, and she became one of Jesus’ most devoted followers.

b) Mary, the Mother of James and Joseph (Joses) - is sometimes called “the other Mary” (Matthew 27:61; 28:1) to distinguish her from Mary, the mother of Jesus. Her son James is often identified with James the Less, one of the Twelve Apostles.

c) The Mother of Zebedee’s Sons - She’s never named in Matthew’s Gospel, but Mark 15:40 names her as Salome. She is the mother of James and John - two of Jesus’ closest disciples.

Note that John 19:25-27 says that Mary (Jesus' mother) and John the apostle were near Jesus, and heard Him say to Mary "‘Woman, behold your son.’ Then he said to the disciple, ‘Behold your mother.’  Jesus entrusts the care of His mother to John—an act of deep love, responsibility, and fulfillment of familial duty.

We would expect that Peter would be there, based on his character. But he disappears from the narrative until after the resurrection. It’s possible he was watching from afar, but Scripture doesn’t say. His absence may reflect the weight of his grief and shame—yet his later restoration by the risen Christ (John 21) is all the more powerful because of it.

(v57-61) The Burial of Jesus (Isaiah 53:9-12; Mark 15:42-47; Luke 23:50-56; John 19:38-42)

As evening approached, a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, a disciple of Jesus, came to Pilate and asked for Jesus' body and Pilate agreed. Joseph wrapped the body in a clean linen cloth, and placed the body in his new tomb that was cut out of the rock. He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance. Mary Magdalene and the other Mary (the mother of Joses) were sitting opposite the tomb.

Mark 15:42-47 said that Joseph is a respected member of the council (i.e. the Sanhedrin) and was waiting for the kingdom of God. Luke 23:50-60 Emphasizes that Joseph was good and righteous, and that he had not consented to the Council’s decision to persecute Jesus. John 19:38-42 notes that Joseph was a secret disciple because of fear of the Jewish leaders. 

John also mentioned that Joseph was accompanied by Nicodemus, the Pharisee who spoke with Jesus at night (John 3:1-2). Nicodemus brought about seventy five pounds of a mixture of myrrh and aloes. In Jewish burial practice, these were used to honor the deceased with costly fragrance, and to mask the odor of decay.   The amount was extravagant, far more than necessary for practical purposes. It was a lavish act of devotion, almost like a royal burial.

The place of burial is in Joseph's customized tomb. John adds that the tomb was in a garden near the crucifixion site. Joseph was a rich man. This fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah 53:9, which prophesied that the suffering servant would be “with the rich in his death.”

(v62-66) Guard Posted At The Tomb

(v62-64) The next day, the one after Preparation Day, the chief priest and the Pharisees went to Pilate and told him that the deceiver (Jesus) said He will rise again in 3 days. They ask Pilate to make the tomb secure until the third day; to avoid the body from being stolen by the disciples and then tell everyone that He has risen from the dead - this last deception will be worse than the first. 

Preparation Day refers to the day before the Sabbath in Jewish tradition, which is Friday. It was the day when all work, especially cooking and other tasks, had to be completed before sundown, since no work was permitted during the Sabbath (from Friday 6pm to Saturday 6pm). They went to speak with Pilate on Saturday morning. 

(v65-66) Pilate ordered for a guard and to make the tomb as secure as they know how. So they went and put a seal on the stone and posting the guard. 

The “seal” refers to an official mark placed on the stone covering Jesus’ tomb to prevent tampering. The seal likely involved a cord stretched across the stone, fastened with clay or wax at either end, and stamped with the Roman governor’s insignia. 

The Greek word used for "guard" was koustōdia, can refer to a Roman guard unit, which typically consisted of four to sixteen soldiers. The scripture didn't say how many guards were posted to the tomb. 

Ironically, these very precautions became part of the evidence for the resurrection: the seal was broken, the stone rolled away, and the tomb found empty—despite every human effort to prevent it.

Appendix

1. Who is Pontius Pilate. 

Pontius Pilate was the Roman governor of Judaea from around 26 to 36 AD. historical sources suggest he was a harsh ruler who clashed with Jewish leaders over religious and political issues.

Pilate’s fate after his dismissal remains uncertain. Some accounts suggest he was ordered back to Rome to stand trial for cruelty, while others claim he died by suicide under Emperor Caligula’s orders. Interestingly, some Christian traditions, particularly in the Ethiopian and Coptic Churches, venerate him as a saint, believing he later converted to Christianity.

2. Apparent Contradiction Regarding Judas's Death. 

Note that in Acts 1:18-19 said: "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."

So which one is true? Did Judas died by hanging, or he died by falling? According to Gotquestions.org, Judas hanged himself in the potter's field and he died. Then his body decayed and bloat. The rope broke, or maybe the branch broke, and the body fell and burst open on the ground. Luke did not say he died from his fall. Also, a person's body doesn't normally burst open from a fall. For his body to do that, it must have been decayed sometime after he died from hanging on the rope first. 

And did Judas buy the field, or was the field bought by the religious leaders? Some say Judas bought the field but has not paid for it yet. Then he threw the coins into the temple. Then the religious leaders completed the transaction that Judas started. However, this is a bit more complex to explain. I believe that since the religious leader bought the land using money that belongs to Judas, it can be said that Judas bought the field, even though he was a participant in the transaction. This is similar to a dead person will instructing the executer to buy a house, the house can be said to be purchased by the dead man. 

3.  What is Praetorium? 

The Praetorium was the official residence or headquarters of a Roman governor or military commander. In the context of Jesus’ trial, it refers specifically to the palace of Pontius Pilate, the Roman prefect of Judea, in Jerusalem. In Jerusalem, Pilate likely used Herod the Great’s palace as his praetorium when he was in town for major festivals like Passover.