Matthew 26:24 The Son of man goes as it is written of him: but woe unto that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! it had been good for that man if he had not been born. 25 Then Judas, which betrayed him, answered and said, Master, is it I? He said unto him, Thou hast said.
Judas started writing off the disciples one by one as he sought to big up himself for the top position. He begins with James and John, who were just mere fishermen and who did not even have the education or the finesse necessary, to be at the top. It's true they could fish, but they were not proficient with computers, so they would lack the necessary skills and the know-how for the job.
He also scratches off Matthew, as being in bed with the Romans on the issue of taxes, because the Jews viewed those who collected taxes for the Romans as national traitors. Judas even writes off Jesus Christ as being too timid to wrest the reins of control from the Romans, and so, one by one, everybody else seems not to be up to the challenge in his mind and thus, lo and behold, there’s only one left standing, me myself and I.
[The Desire of Ages pp 717] Judas was highly regarded by the disciples, and had great influence over them. He himself had a high opinion of his own qualifications, and looked upon his brethren as greatly inferior to him in judgment and ability. The church would never prosper with such short- sighted men as leaders. Peter was impetuous; he would move without consideration.
Matthew 26:14 Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests, 15 And said unto them, What will you give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver.
May God add His blessing to the study of His word. “Good night” and God bless!