Judas Iscariot, one of Jesus' twelve apostles, betrayed his master to the authorities. This act led to the crucifixion and death of Jesus. Acts 1:18-19 says this: Now this man [Judas] acquired a field with the reward of his wickedness; and falling headlong [or swelling up], he burst open in the middle and all his bowels gushed out. This became known to all the residents of Jerusalem, so that the field was called in their language Hakeldama, that is, Field of Blood. (More on Judas)

Often the names of the characters in the Gospel, are accompanied by attributes that give information on the origin – Jesus is often called the Nazarene – or to emphasize a characteristic that identifies the person – as Simon the Zealot. The attribute Iscariot, which accompanies the name of Judas, is used to distinguish him from Judas Thaddeus, another member of the Twelve. One possible interpretation of the word Iscariot is that it is a derivative of the Greek word sikarios, that is, killer, which was generically used in the time of Jesus to indicate those who opposed the Roman domination.