Judas Iscariot's death is described in two main biblical accounts that appear different but can be reconciled as complementary parts of the same event. According to Matthew 27:3–10, Judas, feeling remorse after betraying Jesus, returned the 30 pieces of silver to the chief priests. When they refused the money, he threw it down and then went away and hanged himself

. This is the primary cause of death given-suicide by hanging. The Book of Acts 1:18 provides another detail, stating that Judas bought a field with the reward of his betrayal, and there he fell headlong, his body burst open, and his intestines spilled out

. This graphic description does not contradict Matthew but is understood as what happened to Judas’s body after death. The explanation is that after Judas hanged himself, his body decomposed and became bloated. When the rope or branch broke, his corpse fell to the ground, rupturing and spilling his internal organs

. Thus, Judas died by hanging himself, and the bursting of his body occurred post-mortem due to decomposition and the fall

. The field associated with his death is called the Field of Blood, bought with the betrayal money either by Judas or the priests using the returned silver

. In summary:

• Judas committed suicide by hanging himself out of remorse for betraying Jesus.
• After death, his decomposing body fell and burst open, as described in Acts.
• Both accounts describe different aspects of the same event, not contradictory deaths

This harmonization is the most widely accepted explanation among biblical scholars and Christian traditions.