Acts 1:19 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.

Acts 1:19 nkjv

And it became known to all those dwelling in Jerusalem; so that field is called in their own language, Akel Dama, that is, Field of Blood.)

Acts 1:19 niv

Everyone in Jerusalem heard about this, so they called that field in their language Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.)

Acts 1:19 esv

And it became known to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the field was called in their own language Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.)

Acts 1:19 nlt

The news of his death spread to all the people of Jerusalem, and they gave the place the Aramaic name Akeldama, which means "Field of Blood.")

Acts 1 verses

Acts 1 19 Meaning

Acts 1:19 clarifies for its readers the public knowledge of Judas Iscariot's demise and the fate of the money he received for betraying Jesus. The verse states that the events surrounding Judas's death and the purchase of a field with his "blood money" became widely known to all residents of Jerusalem. Consequently, this field earned the common local name "Aceldama," which, translated from Aramaic, means "The Field of Blood," serving as a constant and visible reminder of the betrayal and its horrific consequences.

Acts 1 19 Context

Acts chapter 1 sets the stage for the early Christian church after Jesus's resurrection and ascension. Following His final instructions to the apostles, Jesus ascends to heaven, prompting the disciples to return to Jerusalem and gather in an upper room. Amidst this period of waiting for the promised Holy Spirit, Peter rises to address the assembly of about 120 believers. His discourse focuses on the necessity of replacing Judas Iscariot, framing his betrayal and death within the context of Old Testament prophecy. Verse 18 recounts Judas's gruesome end and the field's purchase. Verse 19, the focus of this analysis, then interjects to affirm the widespread public knowledge of these events in Jerusalem, substantiating the preceding details and providing a contextual foundation for the selection of a new apostle.

Historically, Jerusalem was a bustling metropolis, especially during major Jewish festivals like Pentecost, where news, even dramatic local events such as a prominent figure's gruesome death and the subsequent purchase of a publicly accessible field, would circulate rapidly. The religious leaders' handling of the betrayal money—declining to place it in the temple treasury because it was "blood money" (Matt 27:6), yet using it to purchase a burial ground for strangers—reflects their adherence to superficial religious laws while transgressing deeper moral principles. The establishment of "Aceldama" as a well-known place name solidified the tangible legacy of Judas's infamy and the dark origin of the land.

Acts 1 19 Word analysis

• So that (ὥστε - hōste): A conjunctive particle indicating result or consequence. It shows that the widespread knowledge was a direct outcome of Judas's fate and the field's purchase.
• it was known (γνωστὸν ἐγένετο - gnōston egeneto):
  • γνωστὸν (gnōston): "Known, well-known, apparent." Emphasizes public notoriety, not a secret or obscure event.
  • ἐγένετο (egeneto): "It became, it happened, it came to pass." Signifies that this state of common knowledge was a settled fact.
• to all those who dwelt in Jerusalem (πᾶσιν τοῖς κατοικοῦσιν ἐν Ἱερουσαλὴμ - pasin tois katoikousin en Hierousalēm):
  • πᾶσιν (pasin): "All, every." Denotes complete universality within the city.
  • κατοικοῦσιν (katoikousin): Present participle, "dwelling, residing." Refers to the permanent inhabitants, implying the information was deeply integrated into the city's common discourse. This knowledge was widespread among a populace that included many visitors (Acts 2:5) as well as residents.
  • Ἱερουσαλὴμ (Hierousalēm): Jerusalem. The capital and religious heartland, a center of communication where news of significant events would spread quickly.
• insomuch as (ὥστε - hōste): Again, a marker of result. The pervasive knowledge of the event resulted in the field receiving its infamous name.
• that field (ὁ ἀγρὸς ἐκεῖνος - ho agros ekeinos):
  • ἀγρὸς (agros): "Field, piece of ground."
  • ἐκεῖνος (ekeinos): "That one, that specific." Points to a particular, identifiable location already mentioned or implied (cf. Matt 27:7-8).
• is called (προσεκλήθη - proseklēthē): Aorist passive, "it was called, it was named." Indicates that the name was officially or popularly assigned and became fixed.
• in their proper tongue (τῇ ἰδίᾳ διαλέκτῳ αὐτῶν - tē idia dialektō autōn):
  • ἰδίᾳ (idia): "Their own, peculiar." Emphasizes the authentic, local linguistic designation.
  • διαλέκτῳ (dialektō): "Dialect, language." Here, refers to Aramaic, the common spoken language among Judean Jews at the time, which would be recognized by a local Jerusalemite.
  • αὐτῶν (autōn): "Of them." Refers back to "those who dwelt in Jerusalem."
• Aceldama (Ἀκελδαμὰ - Akeldama): A direct transliteration of the Aramaic phrase חֲקַל דָּמָא (Ḥaqal D’ma), meaning "Field of Blood." Luke includes this authentic, local name to ground the account historically and geographically.
• that is to say (τοῦτ᾽ ἔστιν - tout' estin): An interpretive phrase used by Luke to provide a direct Greek translation of the Aramaic name for his wider Gentile audience, ensuring clear comprehension.
• The field of blood (Ἀγρὸς αἵματος - Agros haimatos):
  • Ἀγρὸς (Agros): "Field."
  • αἵματος (haimatos): "Of blood," genitive case. This translation elucidates the Aramaic name's meaning. The name "Field of Blood" carries multifaceted significance: it was bought with "blood money" (Matt 27:6)—the price of Jesus's innocent blood; it may have been the very spot where Judas died and his own blood was spilled (Acts 1:18); and it became a burial ground for outcasts and strangers, a place associated with death and corruption. It is a grim, lasting memorial to Judas's treachery and divine judgment.

Acts 1 19 Bonus section

• Harmony of Judas's Death Accounts: While Matthew 27:5 states Judas "hanged himself," Acts 1:18 describes him "falling headlong" and "bursting asunder." Many scholars reconcile these accounts by suggesting Judas hanged himself in the area near the Valley of Hinnom, and the rope or branch subsequently broke, leading to a catastrophic fall onto jagged rocks, resulting in the gruesome physical destruction described in Acts. This reconciliation implies that the full horror of his end was a public spectacle, consistent with the widespread knowledge stated in Acts 1:19.
• A Public Marker of Guilt: The renaming of the field to "Aceldama" created a geographic landmark of guilt and divine judgment in Jerusalem. This was not a private tragedy but a publicly acknowledged consequence, functioning as a constant, silent sermon to those who lived in or visited the city, especially during Passover when such fields would be in use. It stood as a permanent memorial not only to Judas's sin but also to the hypocrisy of the chief priests who would not put "blood money" into the treasury yet used it to acquire land for burial, ironically confirming the very "blood" aspect.
• Luke's Editorial Intent: As an astute historian and author, Luke's precise inclusion and translation of "Aceldama" for his Greek-speaking audience underscores his meticulous attention to detail and concern for historical accuracy. By providing a linguistic bridge, he ensures his readers grasp the gravity of the name and its intrinsic link to the tragic and prophetic events surrounding Jesus's betrayal. This demonstrates Luke's commitment to verifiable truth in the nascent Christian movement.

Acts 1 19 Commentary

Acts 1:19 functions as a vital parenthetical explanation, connecting Judas's treacherous actions with their widely recognized consequences in Jerusalem. Luke's inclusion of this detail confirms the veracity of his narrative by referring to a publicly known landmark—"Aceldama"—whose name implicitly told a significant story. The fact that the field was bought with the money from Jesus's betrayal cemented its identity as "The Field of Blood," making it a perpetual and tangible reminder of Judas's perfidy and the ultimate price of rejecting the Messiah. This serves to emphasize the verifiable nature of early Christian claims for both Luke's immediate readers and later generations, showcasing how God's justice manifests even through human wickedness and publicly validates prophetic fulfillment. The common knowledge of this "Field of Blood" underscored the indelible mark of Judas's sin upon the very land of Jerusalem, a somber witness to divine retribution and the consequences of betraying the Son of God.