Matthew Poole and continuators on Matthew 27:5

5 And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed and went and hanged himself .

Matthew (who alone reports this piece of History) interrupteth his Relation of our Saviours Tryal before Pilate, with an Account of Iudas his end. We must not interpret Then, strictly, so as to think Iudas did thi[illegible: 1 letter] at the time, when Christ was carried before Pilate, but some short time after; for they went immediately from the High Priests Hall, to the Iudgment Hall, and staid there until Christ was condemned by Pilate, before they returned to come into the Temple. But possibly it was that day, after Pilate had condemned him, or within some short time after, that Iudas (as it is said) Repented himself. That is, began to be terrifyed in his Conscience, for what he had done. The Consciences of the worst of Men, will not always digest Mire and Dirt, but sometimes throw it up, yea tho it hath first incurably poisoned them, sin is sweet in the Mouth, but bitter in the Belly. All Repentance is not saving. Nor doth all Confession of sin obtain Remission. Iudas here repents, and Confesseth he had Sinned, and his particular sin, in betraying an innocent Person; yet he findeth no Mercy, he hath not an Heart [illegible: 1 word] beg Forgiveness, nor to apply himself to Christ for Remedy. But the Answer of the chief Priests and Elders, is very remarkable. What is that to us, look thou to that? Wretched Iudas! He had been the Servant of these wicked Mens Lusts, and for a poor Wages served them, in the highest Act of Villany. He falls into a distress of Conscience for what he had done. What miserable Comforters do they prove? Tempters never make good Comforters. Those who are the Devils Instruments, to Command here, Entice, or allure Men to sin, will afford them no relief when they come to be troubled, for what they have done: Nor will it now satisfie the Conscience of Iudas, to remember that he had a Warrant for apprehending Christ, and acted Ministerially. The Priests will not take the Money, he throws it down in the Temple, and goes and hangs himself. How great is the Power of Conscience, smiting for the Guilt of sin? Iudas could have no hope of a better Life, so as all his Happiness lay in the time of this present Life. Yet, he is not able to allow himself that. The Devil that entred into his Heart, to Tempt him, now entreth again to perswade him, to put an end to his Misery in this Life, by hastning himself to an Eternal Misery. Let all Apostates turning Persecutors of innocent Persons, read this, and Tremble. There is a Difficulty of reconciling this Text, to that of Luke, Acts 1.18. where it is said of him, That he falling Head-long burst asunder in the midst, and all his Bowels gushed out. That which is usually said, is, that he fell from the place where he hanged himself, and with the fall burst himself: I know there are some others, who think that the Word [non-Latin text not transcribed], need not be translated, he hanged himself; but he was Suffocated or Strangled. Some think the Devil strangled him, and threw him down a Precipice. Others, that he was Suffocated by some Disease, which caused a Rupture of his Body. Others think (as we translate it) that he hanged himself, and Swelling his Body brake, and his Bowels gushed out: Concerning the manner of his Death, we can determine nothing, but that he was Strangled, and his Bowels gushed out, both these the Scripture asserts, but how it was, we cannot certainly tell.

Marginal references: Acts 1.18.