Judas Iscariot

The One Who Betrayed God (Art by James Tissot)

**Judas Iscariot** was a former member of the Twelve Apostles before his betrayal of Jesus Christ and his sentencing to Hell.

## Overview

Judas was one of the Twelve Apostles called by Jesus to follow him and be his apostle. Like the other apostles, Judas was able to perform miracles through his master's name. However, Judas was Jesus' best friend, being the apostle who most understood Jesus' words, with the exception of a phrase from his master, who told him "you will free me from my vessel of beef".

## Appearance

When he was still an ordinary human in the first decades of the Common Era Judas had the appearance of an average Jew with dark skin, dark hair and a greasy beard. He dressed in more elegant clothes than the other apostles, clothes that people with better living conditions used to wear, in contrast to Peter or Christ himself who wore simple clothes, since Peter was a fisherman and Jesus was a carpenter. In addition to Judas, Matthew also wore elegant clothes, as he was a publican.

## History

* Origin story from *The Syriac Infancy Gospel*
* His other adventures with Jesus and the Apostles
* The Last Supper

After all but Jesus and Judas had left the dining room, Judas abruptly said out loud "Is it I, Rabbi?" to which Jesus responded "Thou hast said". Judas learned from Jesus that he was destined to die in the most tortuous ways possible and that he would need Judas's help to get to this point. While Judas was unwilling to sacrifice his good friend, he eventually understood that God's plan was something that needed to be upheld, whether he liked it or not. It would later be revealed that Judas's abrupt question was caused by Satan briefly possessing his body.

During a certain night, some Pharisees went to Judas and asked him for help in finding the location of Jesus, for the Savior had the ability to change forms, appearing sometimes as white, or black, blond, red, sometimes as a boy, young or old. Judas understood what Jesus told him, and knew what he had to do. In exchange for information, they gave 30 pieces of silver to Judas, and the traitor accepted in exchange for the position where the Messiah met with his other apostles.

With the information they got from Judas, they managed to find Jesus, arrest him, and sentence him to death. While this was the plan of God, it didn't make Judas any less remorseful for his friends death. He attempted to return his pieces of silver to the chief priests, but they were confused as to why he was doing this and refused, those coins were then flung at the temple by Judas. From all of his regret and sorrow, Judas decided to take his own life.

After death, Judas was sentenced to the ninth circle of Hell, Treachery, where he was punished along side some of the other greatest traitors in history, Brutus and Cassius. The three of them were being eternally chewed on by Dis's three heads. Judas was stuck head first in the middle head's mouth, with his back constantly scratched at by the demons claws.

At some point in past history, it is believed that Judas, unable to bear any more suffering in Treachery, shouted to Heavens saying that he promised his total servitude and service to God and the Angels in exchange for his freedom. It was then that, to his surprise, Judas was taken out of Hell and brought before the Presence of God who made a deal with him that was to be kept secret between them and in exchange for the Traitor's freedom, Judas would work for God. Judas accepted without question.

## Myths and Legends

Judas Iscariot is a figure from the *Bible* believed to be traitor of Christ by Christians.

## Trivia

* According to Peter, before his betrayal, he and Jesus were the closest of friends, like Achilles and Patroclus, or Alexander and Hephaestion, or David and Jonathan.