He had James, the brother of John, put to death with the sword
He had
This phrase indicates the authority and decision-making power of Herod Agrippa I, the ruling king of Judea at the time. The Greek word used here is "anaireo," which means to take away or to kill. Herod's actions reflect the political climate of the time, where rulers often exercised their power to suppress any perceived threats to their authority. This highlights the early church's vulnerability and the external pressures it faced.

James, the brother of John
James was one of the original twelve apostles, and his identification as the brother of John connects him to the inner circle of Jesus' disciples. The mention of his familial relationship underscores the personal loss to the early Christian community. Historically, James and John were the sons of Zebedee, and they were among the first disciples called by Jesus. This familial connection also emphasizes the close-knit nature of the early church and the personal sacrifices made by its members.

put to death
The phrase "put to death" is translated from the Greek word "anaireo," which can also mean to take away or remove. In this context, it signifies the execution of James, marking him as the first apostle to be martyred. This act of martyrdom is significant in the history of the church, as it demonstrates the cost of discipleship and the reality of persecution faced by early Christians. It serves as a sobering reminder of the potential consequences of following Christ.

with the sword
The method of execution, "with the sword," indicates a Roman form of capital punishment typically reserved for those considered enemies of the state or those who posed a significant threat. This detail not only highlights the severity of Herod's actions but also reflects the political and religious tensions of the time. The use of the sword symbolizes the violent opposition the early church faced and the ultimate sacrifice made by its leaders. It also fulfills Jesus' earlier prophecy that James would indeed drink from the same cup of suffering as He did (Mark 10:39).

(2) He killed James the brother of John with the sword.--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 (Matthew 20:23). 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 (Hist. 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."

Verse 2. - James, the son of Zebedee, or James the Elder, to whom, with his brother John, our Lord gave the surname of Boanerges (which is a corruption of בְנֵי דֶגֶשׁ), sons of thunder. Nothing is recorded of him in the Acts but his presence in the upper room at Jerusalem after the Ascension (Acts 1:13), and this his martyrdom, which was the fulfillment of our Lord's prediction in Matthew 20:23. 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 Ὑποτυτώσεις (or in Latin Adumbrationes), 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."

Parallel Commentaries ...


{He had} James,
Ἰάκωβον (Iakōbon)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2385: The same as Iakob Graecized; Jacobus, the name of three Israelites.

the
τὸν (ton)
Article - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

brother
ἀδελφὸν (adelphon)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 80: A brother, member of the same religious community, especially a fellow-Christian. A brother near or remote.

of John,
Ἰωάννου (Iōannou)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 2491: Of Hebrew origin; Joannes, the name of four Israelites.

put to death
ἀνεῖλεν (aneilen)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 337: From ana and haireomai; to take up, i.e. Adopt; by implication, to take away, i.e. Abolish, murder.

with the sword.
μαχαίρῃ (machairē)
Noun - Dative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3162: A sword. Probably feminine of a presumed derivative of mache; a knife, i.e. Dirk; figuratively, war, judicial punishment.


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NT Apostles: Acts 12:2 He killed James the brother of John (Acts of the Apostles Ac)