We finally come in our look at the Apostles to the most infamous one of all, Judas Iscariot. Judas was the son of a man named Simon. In order to distinguish him from St. Jude, Judas is always referred to with his surname, which means "a man of Carioth" and indicates his place of birth. Judas became the betrayer of Jesus and, consequently, is never mentioned in the New Testament without a reference to his great betrayal. Judas served as the treasurer for the Apostles and was charged with keeping the disciples' money bag. In John's gospel, he is portrayed as a thief stealing from that money bag.
The story of Judas' betrayal is a familiar one. At some point, Judas went to the chief priests and scribes and negotiated with them to hand over Jesus in exchange for thirty pieces of silver. On the night of the Last Supper, Jesus identifies Judas as his betrayer and tells him to go do what must be done. Judas then brings a cadre of armed guards and soldiers to the Garden of Gethsemane and identifies Jesus with a kiss. Jesus is then led away, tried and crucified.
We are not told where Judas is during Jesus' trial and crucifixion, but we do find out that Judas later regretted his actions. He goes to the chief priests and tries to give the money back. They refuse to accept and it is here that the two stories we are given diverge. Matthew's gospel tells us that he threw the money down at the priests feet and hanged himself. The priests then use the money to buy Potter's Field as a burial place for the poor. Acts of the Apostles tells us that it is Judas who uses the money to buy a field and that he fell head first into the field and was killed. The field was thereafter called Haceldama, or Field of Blood. Whichever account is accurate, they demonstrate a sad end to one who was chosen to be among the closest followers of Jesus.