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Acts 1:19

in Acts 1

This became known to all who lived in Jerusalem, so they called that field in their own language Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.)

BSB

The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾

ASV

And it became known to all the dwellers at Jerusalem; insomuch that in their language that field was called Akeldama, that is, The field of blood.)

KJV

And it was known unto all the dwellers at Jerusalem; insomuch as that field is called in their proper tongue, Aceldama, that is to say, The field of blood.

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This verse in Acts 1

Commentary

16 notes on this verse

A commentator

Bede

Retractions on Acts · Written before 735.

And it became known to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the field was called in their language Akeldama. It says in their language who were inhabitants of Jerusalem, because certainly, even though both spoke Hebrew, the propriety of the language of Jerusalem differed …

This site's exposition

the reward for his wickedness

on Acts 1:18-19

Peter says Judas bought a field with the reward for his wickedness. Matthew 27:3 to 10 says the priests bought it with the silver Judas returned, so the money was his. Matthew tells of the hanging and Peter of the fall.

This site's exposition

Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood

Albert Barnes and Adam Clarke identify the language as the Syro-Chaldaic speech of Jerusalem, in which Akeldama means Field of Blood. Theophylact observes that the city itself gave the name, so Peter's opponents became his witnesses. Wesley thinks Luke added the translation for Theophilus.

The record, by era

The Church Fathers5 voices

A commentator

Oecumenius

Commentary on Acts · Written before 550.

proposed

And the place called Akeldama was not named by Judas, but by the Jews. For he says, in their own dialect, the Jews bearing witness to the lawlessness.
Judas did not die by hanging, but lived on, having been cut down before he was suffocated. And the acts of the apostles show this, that falling head long he burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out. This fact is related …

A commentator

Arator

ON THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 1 · Written before 544.

proposed

This revenge on Judas is not empty. It denies funeral rites and comes thus as acceptable punishment for an unjust income. He had lately bought fields with the price of his death. He had purchased ground with the name of Blood, reusing tombs for foreign …

A commentator

John Chrysostom

Homily on Acts 3 · Written before 407.

proposed

"And it was known unto all the dwellers at Jerusalem; insomuch as that field is called in their proper tongue Aceldama, that is to say, the field of blood." Now the Jews gave it this name, not on this account, but because of Judas; here, however, Peter makes it to have this reference, and when he brings forward the adversaries as witnesses, both by the fact that they named it, and by saying, "in their proper tongue," this is what he means. Now not only to those who were present did the event become known, but to all thereafter, so that without meaning or knowing what they were about, they gave it a name; just as Caiaphas had prophesied unconsciously. God compelled them to call the field in Hebrew "Aceldama." By this also the evils which were to come upon the Jews were declared: and Peter shows the prophecy to have been so far in part fulfilled, which says, "It had been good for that man if he had not been born." We may with propriety apply this same to the Jews likewise; for if he who was guide suffered thus, much more they. Thus far however Peter says nothing of this.

A commentator

Tertullian

The Prescription Against Heretics, Chapter 20 · Written before 220.

proposed

Accordingly, after one of these had been struck off, He commanded the eleven others, on His departure to the Father, to "go and teach all nations, who were to be baptized into the Father, and into the Son, and into the Holy Ghost." [Matt. 28:19] Immediately, therefore, so did the apostles, whom this designation indicates as "the sent."
8 more voices on this verse

The Church Fathers1 voice

A commentator

Oecumenius

Commentary on Acts · Written before 550.

proposed

Peter consoles them with prophecy. Nor does he say: As David said, but the Holy Spirit through the mouth of David. What then were these? Whatever the one hundred and eighth psalm contains: of which he will also make mention after a little bit. Speaking …

The Medieval Church1 voice

A commentator

Theophylact of Ohrid

Commentary on Acts · Written before 1107.

proposed

The Jews gave the village the name "Akeldama" on account of what happened with Judas. Peter brings up this fact here, presenting as witnesses the enemies who gave this land such a name.

The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices

A commentator

John Wesley

1703–1791

Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament (1755)

In their own tongue - This expression, That is, the field of blood, St. Luke seems to have added to the words of St. Peter, for the use of Theophilus and other readers who did not understand Hebrew.
And it was known unto all the dwellers at Jerusalem,....

A commentator

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

proposed

Theophilus is put in mind, and we in him, of St. Luke's gospel, which it will be of use for us to cast an eye upon before we enter upon the study of this book, that we may not only see how this begins where that breaks off, but that, as in water face answers to face, so do the acts of the apostles to the acts of their Master, the acts of his grace.

The Nineteenth Century2 voices

It was known ... - , Mat 27:8. The scene in the temple; the acts of the priests in purchasing the field, etc., would make it known; and the name of the field would preserve the memory of the guilt of Judas. Their proper tongue - The language spoken by the Jews the Syro-Chaldaic. Aceldama - This is composed of two Syro-Chaldaic words, and means literally, the field of blood.

A commentator

Adam Clarke

1762–1832

Commentary on the Bible · Written before 1832.

proposed

It was known unto all the dwellers at Jerusalem - The repentance of Judas, his dying testimony in behalf of our Lord’s innocence, and his tragical death, were publicly known, as was also the transaction about the purchase of the field, and hence arose the name by which at was publicly known. These circumstances must have lessened the credit of the chief priests, and have prepared the public mind to receive the Gospel of the kingdom, when preached to them after the day of pentecost. That field is called in their proper tongue, Aceldama - This proper tongue was not the Hebrew; that had long ceased to be the proper tongue in Palestine: it was a sort of Chaldaio-Syriac which was commonly spoken. The word in the Syriac version is chacal-demo, and literally signifies the field of blood; because it was bought by the price of the life or blood of the Lord Jesus.

Modern Voices1 voice

A commentator

GK Chesterton

Alarms and Discursions, The Field of Blood (1910) (1910)

proposed

In my daily paper this morning I read the following interesting paragraphs, which take my mind back to an England which I do not remember and which, therefore (perhaps), I admire. "Nearly sixty years ago--on 4 September, 1850--the Austrian General Haynau, who had gained an …

The words behind it

21 Greek words

Every Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.

A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.

Related verses

7 in all, six open

The number beside each verse is how many compiled reference works tie it to this one. The strongest six stand open.

1 Timothy 3:16By common confession, the mystery of godliness is great: He appeared in the flesh, was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was proclaimed among the nations, was believed in throughout the world, was taken up in glory.5 worksMatthew 27:8That is why it has been called the Field of Blood to this day.5 worksActs 21:40Having received permission, Paul stood on the steps and motioned to the crowd. A great hush came over the crowd, and he addressed them in Hebrew:2 worksMatthew 28:15So the guards took the money and did as they were instructed. And this account has been circulated among the Jews to this very day.2 worksActs 2:22Men of Israel, listen to this message: Jesus of Nazareth was a man certified by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs, which God did among you through Him, as you yourselves know.2 works2 Samuel 2:16Then each man grabbed his opponent by the head and thrust his sword into his opponent’s side, and they all fell together. So this place, which is in Gibeon, is called Helkath-hazzurim.2 works
The other 1 cross-references, with their words ▾
2 Chronicles 20:26On the fourth day they assembled in the Valley of Beracah, where they blessed the LORD. Therefore that place is called the Valley of Beracah to this day.2 works

The walk

8 stops

Each card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.

  • Through

    Acts 2:22

    Men of Israel, listen to this message: Jesus of Nazareth was a man certified by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs, which God did among you through Him, as you yourselves know.

    it leads to

    • John 3:2

      He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs You are doing if God were…

    • Luke 11:20

      But if I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.

    • Matthew 12:28

      But if I drive out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.

    • Acts 4:10

      then let this be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from…

    • John 14:10–11

      Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me? The words I say to you, I do not speak on My own. Instead, it is the Father…

  • Through

    Acts 21:40

    Having received permission, Paul stood on the steps and motioned to the crowd. A great hush came over the crowd, and he addressed them in Hebrew:

    it leads to

    • Acts 12:17

      Peter motioned with his hand for silence, and he described how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. “Send word to James and to the brothers,” he said, and he left for…

  • Through

    Matthew 28:15

    So the guards took the money and did as they were instructed. And this account has been circulated among the Jews to this very day.

    it leads to

    • 1 Timothy 6:10

      For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. By craving it, some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.

    • Matthew 27:8

      That is why it has been called the Field of Blood to this day.

Where this verse is studied

About Acts

The Ascension — Gustave Doré (engraving), public domain
The Ascension — Gustave Doré (engraving), public domain
Acts: the study guide →Read Acts 1 →
This page draws on 14 works. Open the list of works

This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Arator, ON THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 1; Bede, Retractions on Acts; GK Chesterton, Alarms and Discursions, The Field of Blood (1910); Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, Homily on Acts 3; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Oecumenius, Commentary on Acts; Papias of Hierapolis, Catenae Graecorum patrum in Novum Testamentum (AD 1844); Tertullian, The Prescription Against Heretics, Chapter 20 and Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Acts.

Read on in Acts 1 →