Was Judas a thief?

¹⁹ Do not receive an accusation against an elder except on the basis of two or three witnesses. (1 Timothy 5:19)

Peter calls himself an elder, creating the interpretation that the original twelve disciples are considered elders.

¹Therefore, I exhort the elders among you, as your fellow elder and witness of the sufferings of Christ, and a partaker also of the glory that is to be revealed, (1 Peter 5:1)

John is the only witness in the New Testament that accuses Judas of being a thief.

⁶ Now he said this, not because he was concerned about the poor, but because he was a thief, and as he had the money box, he used to pilfer what was put into it. (John 12:6)

Later, Paul says

³ My defense to those who examine me is this: ⁴ Do we not have a right to eat and drink? ⁵ Do we not have a right to take along a believing wife, even as the rest of the apostles and the brothers of the Lord and Cephas? ⁶ Or do only Barnabas and I not have a right to refrain from working? ⁷ Who at any time serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat the fruit of it? Or who tends a flock and does not use the milk of the flock?

⁸ I am not speaking these things according to human judgment, am I? Or does not the Law also say these things? ⁹ For it is written in the Law of Moses, “You shall not muzzle the ox while he is threshing.” God is not concerned about oxen, is He? (1 Corinthians 9:3-9)

I believe because Judas’ job was the money box, he had a right to take some.

² For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you. (Matthew 7:2)

References

1 Timothy 5:19

1 Peter 5:1

John 12:6

1 Corinthians 9:3-9

Matthew 7:2

Acts 9:11