27. What was the value of the thirty pieces of silver that Judas received?

The pieces of silver were probably shekels. The value of the whole sum in our modern reckoning was about eighteen dollars. Zechariah had predicted the whole transaction (see Zech. 11:12, 13):

"They weighed for my price thirty pieces of silver and the Lord said cast it unto the potter," etc.

It is not likely that Judas acted from avarice only, though he was fond of money. He probably meant to force Christ's hand.

He may have thought him backward in claiming the kingdom, and supposed that if he was driven to bay, he would deliver himself by a miracle and declare himself king.

That theory is confirmed by his com­mitting suicide when he discovered the consequences of his act.