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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Acts 12:2 He had James, the brother of John, put to death with the sword.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/acts/12-2.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/18/44_Act_12_02.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Acts 12:2 - James Killed, Peter Imprisoned" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="He had James, the brother of John, put to death with the sword." /><script type="application/javascript" 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align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad2.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/acts/12-1.htm" title="Acts 12:1">◄</a> Acts 12:2 <a href="/acts/12-3.htm" title="Acts 12:3">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Greek </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/acts/12.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/acts/12.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />He had James, the brother of John, put to death with the sword.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/acts/12.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />He had the apostle James (John’s brother) killed with a sword.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/acts/12.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />He killed James the brother of John with the sword,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/acts/12.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />He had James, the brother of John, put to death with the sword.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/blb/acts/12.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a></span><br />And he put to death James the brother of John with the sword.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/acts/12.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />And he killed James the brother of John with the sword.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/acts/12.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />Then he killed James the brother of John with the sword.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/acts/12.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />And he had James the brother of John executed with a sword.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/acts/12.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />And he had James the brother of John put to death with a sword.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/acts/12.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />And he had James the brother of John put to death with a sword.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/acts/12.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />And he had James the brother of John put to death with a sword.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/acts/12.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />And he had James the brother of John put to death with a sword;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/acts/12.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />and he executed James, John’s brother, with the sword.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/acts/12.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />and he killed James, John&#8217s brother, with the sword. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/acts/12.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />And he killed James the brother of John with the sword.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/acts/12.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />He ordered soldiers to cut off the head of James, the brother of John. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/acts/12.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />And he killed James the brother of John with the sword.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/acts/12.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />He had James, the brother of John, executed.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/acts/12.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />He had James, the brother of John, put to death by the sword. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/acts/12.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />He even had James, the brother of John, killed with a sword. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/acts/12.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />He had James, the brother of John, put to death with the sword.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/acts/12.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />He had James, the brother of John, executed with a sword.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/acts/12.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />He killed James, the brother of John, with the sword.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/acts/12.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />And he killed James the brother of John with the sword.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wey/acts/12.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a></span><br />and James, John's brother, he beheaded.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/acts/12.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />He killed James, the brother of John, with the sword. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/acts/12.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />and he killed James, the brother of John, with the sword,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/blb/acts/12.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a></span><br />And he put to death James the brother of John with the sword.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/acts/12.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> and he killed James, the brother of John, with the sword,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/acts/12.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />And he killed James the brother of John with the sword.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/acts/12.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />And he killed James, the brother of John, with the sword. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/acts/12.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />Then he killed James, the brother of John, with the sword.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/acts/12.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />He had James, the brother of John, killed by the sword,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/acts/12.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />He had James, the brother of John, killed with the sword.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/acts/12.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />And he killed James the brother of John with the sword.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/aramaic-plain-english/acts/12.htm">Aramaic Bible in Plain English</a></span><br />And he murdered Yaqob the brother of Yohannan with the sword. <div class="vheading2"><b>NT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/anderson/acts/12.htm">Anderson New Testament</a></span><br />And he slew with the sword James the brother of John.<CM><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/godbey/acts/12.htm">Godbey New Testament</a></span><br />And he slew James the brother of John with a sword.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/haweis/acts/12.htm">Haweis New Testament</a></span><br />And he slew James the brother of John with a sword.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/mace/acts/12.htm">Mace New Testament</a></span><br />he caus'd James the brother of John to be beheaded.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wey/acts/12.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a></span><br />and James, John's brother, he beheaded.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/worrell/acts/12.htm">Worrell New Testament</a></span><br />And he slew James, the brother of John, with the sword;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/worsley/acts/12.htm">Worsley New Testament</a></span><br />And he cut off James, the brother of John, with the sword.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/acts/12-2.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/in5WTRQ9BSQ?start=3792" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/acts/12.htm">James Killed, Peter Imprisoned</a></span><br><span class="reftext">1</span>About that time, King Herod reached out to harm some who belonged to the church. <span class="reftext">2</span><span class="highl"><a href="/greek/1161.htm" title="1161: de (Conj) -- A primary particle; but, and, etc."></a> <a href="/greek/2385.htm" title="2385: Iakōbon (N-AMS) -- The same as Iakob Graecized; Jacobus, the name of three Israelites.">He had James,</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: ton (Art-AMS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.">the</a> <a href="/greek/80.htm" title="80: adelphon (N-AMS) -- A brother, member of the same religious community, especially a fellow-Christian. A brother near or remote.">brother</a> <a href="/greek/2491.htm" title="2491: Iōannou (N-GMS) -- Of Hebrew origin; Joannes, the name of four Israelites.">of John,</a> <a href="/greek/337.htm" title="337: aneilen (V-AIA-3S) -- From ana and haireomai; to take up, i.e. Adopt; by implication, to take away, i.e. Abolish, murder.">put to death</a> <a href="/greek/3162.htm" title="3162: machairē (N-DFS) -- A sword. Probably feminine of a presumed derivative of mache; a knife, i.e. Dirk; figuratively, war, judicial punishment.">with the sword.</a> </span> <span class="reftext">3</span>And seeing that this pleased the Jews, Herod proceeded to seize Peter during the Feast of Unleavened Bread.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/20-23.htm">Matthew 20:23</a></span><br />“You will indeed drink My cup,” Jesus said. “But to sit at My right or left is not Mine to grant. These seats belong to those for whom My Father has prepared them.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/mark/10-39.htm">Mark 10:39</a></span><br />“We can,” the brothers answered. “You will drink the cup that I drink,” Jesus said, “and you will be baptized with the baptism that I undergo.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/john/21-18.htm">John 21:18-19</a></span><br />Truly, truly, I tell you, when you were young, you dressed yourself and walked where you wanted; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” / Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. And after He had said this, He told him, “Follow Me.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/revelation/6-9.htm">Revelation 6:9-11</a></span><br />And when the Lamb opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony they had upheld. / And they cried out in a loud voice, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge those who dwell upon the earth and avenge our blood?” / Then each of them was given a white robe and told to rest a little while longer until the full number of their fellow servants, their brothers, were killed, just as they had been killed.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/4-21.htm">Matthew 4:21</a></span><br />Going on from there, He saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets. Jesus called them,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/mark/1-19.htm">Mark 1:19</a></span><br />Going on a little farther, He saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat, mending their nets.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/9-54.htm">Luke 9:54</a></span><br />When the disciples James and John saw this, they asked, “Lord, do You want us to call down fire from heaven to consume them?”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/john/12-25.htm">John 12:25</a></span><br />Whoever loves his life will lose it, but whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/john/15-20.htm">John 15:20</a></span><br />Remember the word that I spoke to you: ‘No servant is greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will persecute you as well; if they kept My word, they will keep yours as well.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/john/16-2.htm">John 16:2</a></span><br />They will put you out of the synagogues. In fact, a time is coming when anyone who kills you will think he is offering a service to God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_corinthians/4-11.htm">2 Corinthians 4:11</a></span><br />For we who are alive are always consigned to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our mortal body.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/philippians/1-20.htm">Philippians 1:20</a></span><br />I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have complete boldness so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_timothy/4-6.htm">2 Timothy 4:6-8</a></span><br />For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. / I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. / From now on there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but to all who crave His appearing.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/hebrews/11-35.htm">Hebrews 11:35-38</a></span><br />Women received back their dead, raised to life again. Others were tortured and refused their release, so that they might gain a better resurrection. / Still others endured mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. / They were stoned, they were sawed in two, they were put to death by the sword. They went around in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, oppressed, and mistreated. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_peter/4-12.htm">1 Peter 4:12-14</a></span><br />Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial that has come upon you, as though something strange were happening to you. / But rejoice that you share in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed at the revelation of His glory. / If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">And he killed James the brother of John with the sword.</p><p class="hdg">James.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/matthew/4-21.htm">Matthew 4:21,22</a></b></br> And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James <i>the son</i> of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/matthew/20-23.htm">Matthew 20:23</a></b></br> And he saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with: but to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give, but <i>it shall be given to them</i> for whom it is prepared of my Father.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/mark/10-35.htm">Mark 10:35,38</a></b></br> And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, come unto him, saying, Master, we would that thou shouldest do for us whatsoever we shall desire… </p><p class="hdg">with.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/1_kings/19-1.htm">1 Kings 19:1,10</a></b></br> And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and withal how he had slain all the prophets with the sword… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/jeremiah/26-23.htm">Jeremiah 26:23</a></b></br> And they fetched forth Urijah out of Egypt, and brought him unto Jehoiakim the king; who slew him with the sword, and cast his dead body into the graves of the common people.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/hebrews/11-37.htm">Hebrews 11:37</a></b></br> They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/luke/9-9.htm">Beheaded</a> <a href="/acts/10-39.htm">Death</a> <a href="/acts/1-13.htm">James</a> <a href="/acts/11-16.htm">John</a> <a href="/acts/1-22.htm">John's</a> <a href="/acts/10-39.htm">Killed</a> <a href="/acts/10-39.htm">Slew</a> <a href="/john/18-11.htm">Sword</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/revelation/20-4.htm">Beheaded</a> <a href="/acts/12-19.htm">Death</a> <a href="/acts/12-17.htm">James</a> <a href="/acts/12-12.htm">John</a> <a href="/acts/18-25.htm">John's</a> <a href="/acts/13-28.htm">Killed</a> <a href="/acts/22-20.htm">Slew</a> <a href="/acts/16-27.htm">Sword</a><div class="vheading2">Acts 12</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/acts/12-1.htm">King Herod persecutes the Christians, kills James, and imprisons Peter; </a></span><br><span class="reftext">6. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/acts/12-6.htm">whom an angel delivers upon the prayers of the church.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">20. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/acts/12-20.htm">Herod in his pride taking to himself the honor due to God, </a></span><br><span class="reftext">23. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/acts/12-23.htm">is stricken by an angel, and dies miserably.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">24. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/acts/12-24.htm">After his death, the word of God prospers.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">25. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/acts/12-25.htm">Saul and Barnabas return to Antioch.</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; 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This James is not to be confused with James, the brother of Jesus, who became a leader in the Jerusalem church. James, the son of Zebedee, was one of the first disciples called by Jesus (<a href="/matthew/4-21.htm">Matthew 4:21-22</a>). His martyrdom marks a significant moment as he is the first apostle to be martyred, highlighting the increasing persecution of the early church.<p><b>the brother of John</b><br>James and John were known as the "sons of Zebedee" and were given the nickname "Boanerges," meaning "sons of thunder," by Jesus (<a href="/mark/3-17.htm">Mark 3:17</a>). This indicates their zealous and passionate nature. John, his brother, would later become a prominent figure in the early church and is traditionally credited with writing the Gospel of John, three epistles, and the Book of Revelation.<p><b>put to death with the sword</b><br>The method of execution, by the sword, suggests a Roman influence, as beheading was a common Roman practice for capital punishment. This act was carried out under the authority of Herod Agrippa I, who sought to gain favor with the Jewish population by persecuting the church (<a href="/acts/12.htm">Acts 12:1-3</a>). The execution of James fulfills Jesus' earlier prophecy that James would indeed "drink the cup" of suffering (<a href="/mark/10-39.htm">Mark 10:39</a>). This event underscores the cost of discipleship and the reality of persecution faced by the early Christians.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/j/james,_the_brother_of_john.htm">James, the brother of John</a></b><br>One of the twelve apostles, James was part of Jesus' inner circle along with Peter and John. He was the first apostle to be martyred, highlighting the early church's persecution.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/h/herod_agrippa_i.htm">Herod Agrippa I</a></b><br>The ruler who ordered James' execution. He was the grandson of Herod the Great and sought to gain favor with the Jewish leaders by persecuting the early Christians.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/j/jerusalem.htm">Jerusalem</a></b><br>The city where these events took place, serving as the center of early Christian activity and the location of significant persecution.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_sword.htm">The Sword</a></b><br>The method of execution, indicating a Roman-style execution, which was often used for political crimes or insurrection.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_early_church.htm">The Early Church</a></b><br>The community of believers who were growing in number and influence, facing increasing persecution from both Jewish and Roman authorities.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/t/the_cost_of_discipleship.htm">The Cost of Discipleship</a></b><br>James' martyrdom reminds us that following Christ can lead to suffering and sacrifice. Believers are called to remain faithful even unto death.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/p/perseverance_in_persecution.htm">Perseverance in Persecution</a></b><br>The early church's response to persecution was not to retreat but to continue spreading the Gospel. This challenges us to stand firm in our faith amidst trials.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/g/god's_sovereignty_in_suffering.htm">God's Sovereignty in Suffering</a></b><br>While James was martyred, Peter was miraculously delivered (later in <a href="/bsb/acts/12.htm">Acts 12</a>). This teaches us that God's purposes in suffering and deliverance are beyond our understanding.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_power_of_prayer.htm">The Power of Prayer</a></b><br>The church's response to Peter's imprisonment was fervent prayer, demonstrating the importance of prayer in times of crisis.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/w/witness_through_suffering.htm">Witness through Suffering</a></b><br>James' death served as a powerful testimony to the truth of the Gospel, encouraging believers to witness through their own trials.<a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/acts/12.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(2) <span class= "bld">He killed James the brother of John with the sword.</span>--Had the Apostle been tried by the Sanhedrin on a charge of blasphemy and heresy, the sentence would have been death by stoning. Decapitation showed, as in the case of John the Baptist, that the sentence was pronounced by a civil ruler, adopting Roman modes of punishment, and striking terror by them in proportion as they were hateful to the Jews. The death of James reminds us of his Lord's prediction that he, too, should drink of His cup, and be baptised with His baptism (<a href="/matthew/20-23.htm" title="And he said to them, You shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with: but to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not my to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father.">Matthew 20:23</a>). The fulfilment of that prophecy was found for one brother in his being the proto-martyr of the apostolic company, as it was found for the other in his being the last survivor of it. What led to his being selected as the first victim we can only conjecture; but the prominent position which he occupies in the Gospels, in company with Peter and John, probably continued, and the natural vehemence indicated in the name of Son of Thunder may have marked him out as among the foremost teachers of the Church. The brevity of St. Luke's record presents a marked contrast to the fulness of later martyrologies. A tradition preserved by Eusebius (<span class= "ital">Hist.</span> ii. 9) as coming from Clement of Alexandria, records that his accuser was converted by beholding his faith and patience, confessed his new faith, and was led to execution in company with the Apostle, who bestowed on him the parting benediction of "Peace be with thee."<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/acts/12.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 2.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">James</span>, the son of Zebedee, or <span class="cmt_word">James the Elder</span>, to whom, with his brother John, our Lord gave the surname of Boanerges (which is a corruption of <span class="hebrew">בְנֵי דֶגֶשׁ</span>), sons of thunder. Nothing is recorded of him in the Acts but his presence in the upper room at Jerusalem after the Ascension (<a href="/acts/1-13.htm">Acts 1:13</a>), and this his martyrdom, which was the fulfillment of our Lord's prediction in <a href="/matthew/20-23.htm">Matthew 20:23</a>. His being singled out by Herod for death in company with Peter is rather an indication of his zeal and activity in the Lord's service, though we know nothing of his work. Eusebius relates an anecdote of his martyrdom, extracted from the lost work of Clement of Alexandria, called the <span class="greek">Ὑποτυτώσεις</span> (or in Latin <span class="accented">Adumbrationes</span>), which Clement professed to have received by tradition from his predecessors, to the effect that the informer who accused James was so struck with his constancy in confessing Christ before the judge, that he came forward and confessed himself a Christian too. The two were then led off to execution together; and on the way the informer asked James's forgiveness. After a moment's hesitation, James said to him, "Peace be unto thee," and kissed him. They were then both beheaded ('Eccl. Hist.,' 2. 9.). As Clement flourished about A.D. , the tradition need not have passed through more than three persons. It has been thought strange that Luke relates the death of a chief apostle with such brevity. But it did not bear on the main object of his work. Lightfoot ('Works,' vol. 8. p. 282, etc.) mentions a fanciful story related by Rabauus Maurus, that about this time the apostles composed the Apostles' Creed, each contributing one clause, and that the clause contributed by James the brother of John was, "And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord." <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/acts/12-2.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Greek</div><span class="word">{He had} James,</span><br /><span class="grk">Ἰάκωβον</span> <span class="translit">(Iakōbon)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_2385.htm">Strong's 2385: </a> </span><span class="str2">The same as Iakob Graecized; Jacobus, the name of three Israelites.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">the</span><br /><span class="grk">τὸν</span> <span class="translit">(ton)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article - Accusative Masculine Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> </span><span class="str2">The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">brother</span><br /><span class="grk">ἀδελφὸν</span> <span class="translit">(adelphon)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_80.htm">Strong's 80: </a> </span><span class="str2">A brother, member of the same religious community, especially a fellow-Christian. A brother near or remote.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">of John,</span><br /><span class="grk">Ἰωάννου</span> <span class="translit">(Iōannou)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_2491.htm">Strong's 2491: </a> </span><span class="str2">Of Hebrew origin; Joannes, the name of four Israelites.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">put to death</span><br /><span class="grk">ἀνεῖλεν</span> <span class="translit">(aneilen)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_337.htm">Strong's 337: </a> </span><span class="str2">From ana and haireomai; to take up, i.e. Adopt; by implication, to take away, i.e. Abolish, murder.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">with the sword.</span><br /><span class="grk">μαχαίρῃ</span> <span class="translit">(machairē)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - Dative Feminine Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_3162.htm">Strong's 3162: </a> </span><span class="str2">A sword. Probably feminine of a presumed derivative of mache; a knife, i.e. Dirk; figuratively, war, judicial punishment.</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/acts/12-2.htm">Acts 12:2 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/acts/12-2.htm">Acts 12:2 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/acts/12-2.htm">Acts 12:2 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/acts/12-2.htm">Acts 12:2 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/acts/12-2.htm">Acts 12:2 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/acts/12-2.htm">Acts 12:2 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/acts/12-2.htm">Acts 12:2 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/acts/12-2.htm">Acts 12:2 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/acts/12-2.htm">Acts 12:2 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/acts/12-2.htm">Acts 12:2 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/acts/12-2.htm">NT Apostles: Acts 12:2 He killed James the brother of John (Acts of the Apostles Ac) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/acts/12-1.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Acts 12:1"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Acts 12:1" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/acts/12-3.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Acts 12:3"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Acts 12:3" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>