The namesJudas andJude, both derived from the GreekἸούδας (Ioúdas), itself derived from the Hebrew nameJudah (יהודה,Yehûdâh, Hebrew for "God is thanked") together appear 36 times in theNew Testament.[3] Judas was a very common given namein the historical period and region ofJesus, due to the renowned heroJudas Maccabeus.[4][5] Assurnames were still very rare, it is therefore not always clear which person these names refer to, and whether some refer to the same person or distinct characters, which has led to confusion. Therefore, Christian authors and modern scholars have given these men names based on their known attributes. 'Judas' is sometimes rendered as 'Jude' inEnglish in order to help distinguish some of the people named Ἰούδας in the New Testament, even though theoriginal Greek texts make no such distinction.[1][2]
The following Judases or Judes are found in the New Testament:
Judas Iscariot, son of Simon Iscariot. One of the Twelve Disciples of Jesus, who hands over (or 'betrays') Jesus to the Jewish authorities.[1][2]
Jude the Apostle, son of James (also called Jude Thaddeus, Judas Thaddaeus, or Jude of James). One of the Twelve Disciples of Jesus.[1]John 14:22 explicitly distinguishes him from the apostle above: 'Judas (not Iscariot)'.[1]
Judas Barsabbas, one of the early Christian apostles some time after Jesus' death, features inActs 15 together withSilas.[1] He is possibly a brother ofJoseph Barsabbas, but the last name could also be a coincidence.[1]
Jude, brother of James; theauthor of theEpistle of Jude.[6] Scholars are divided on the question whether this Judas/Jude is the same as Judas, brother of Jesus (Matthew 13:55) or an otherwise unknown Judas/Jude, or aforgery in the name of a famous Judas. However, they generally agree he is someone else than Jude the Apostle, son of James.[1]
Judas the Galilean (Acts 5:37), an anti-Roman Jewish rebel leader whose revolt againstQuirinius was crushed around 6 AD.[1]
Judas, the owner of the house in Damascus where Ananias is sent to find Saul of Tarsus (Acts 9:11) after his 'road to Damascus' conversion.
