The Narrative
Matthew 26:14–16, 26:47–50, 27:3–10; Mark 14:10–11, 14:43–46; Luke 22:1–6, 22:47–48; John 13:21–30, 18:1–5
TUESDAY — 11th of Nisan Judas agrees to betray Jesus — goes to the chief priests. They offer 30 pieces of silver (Matthew 26:14-16). Fulfills Zechariah 11:12-13. WEDNESDAY — 12th of Nisan The silent day — no events recorded in the Gospels. Tradition holds Jesus rested in Bethany. Sometimes called "Spy Wednesday" for Judas's conspiracy.
The Bargain with the Priests
Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, "What are you willing to give me if I deliver Him to you?" And they counted out to him thirty pieces of silver. So from that time he sought opportunity to betray Him.
— Matthew 26:14–16 (NKJV)
The thirty pieces of silver fulfilled the prophecy of Zechariah: "So they weighed out for my wages thirty pieces of silver" (Zechariah 11:12).
The Betrayal in the Garden
Judas came to the Garden of Gethsemane with a great multitude armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests and elders. He had given them a sign: "Whomever I kiss, He is the One; seize Him."
Immediately he went up to Jesus and said, "Greetings, Rabbi!" and kissed Him. But Jesus said to him, "Friend, why have you come?"
— Matthew 26:49–50 (NKJV)
In John's account, Jesus steps forward and asks, "Whom are you seeking?" They answer, "Jesus of Nazareth." Jesus says, "I am He" — and they drew back and fell to the ground (John 18:4–6).
In Luke, Jesus says to Judas:
"Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?"
— Luke 22:48 (NKJV)
Judas's Remorse and Death
Then Judas, His betrayer, seeing that He had been condemned, was remorseful and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, saying, "I have sinned by betraying innocent blood." And they said, "What is that to us? You see to it!" Then he threw down the pieces of silver in the temple and departed, and went and hanged himself.
— Matthew 27:3–5 (NKJV)
The chief priests took the silver pieces and said, "It is not lawful to put them into the treasury, because they are the price of blood." So they bought with them the potter's field, to bury strangers in — fulfilling the prophecy: "And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the value of Him who was priced, whom they of the children of Israel priced, and gave them for the potter's field, as the Lord directed me" (Matthew 27:9–10).
Gospel of Judas (Tchacos Codex, Coptic, ~2nd century): Radically different framing. Judas is not the villain — he is the only disciple who truly understands Jesus. Jesus laughs at the other disciples' Eucharistic practices as misguided. Jesus takes Judas aside privately: "You will exceed all of them. For you will sacrifice the man that clothes me." Judas's betrayal = liberation of the divine spark from the body. The material Jesus is a shell; Judas frees the true Christ.