Acts 12:2 kjv
And he killed James the brother of John with the sword.
Acts 12:2 nkjv
Then he killed James the brother of John with the sword.
Acts 12:2 niv
He had James, the brother of John, put to death with the sword.
Acts 12:2 esv
He killed James the brother of John with the sword,
Acts 12:2 nlt
He had the apostle James (John's brother) killed with a sword.
Acts 12 2 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Mark 10:39 | Jesus said to them, “The cup that I drink, you will drink...” | Jesus predicted suffering and martyrdom for James and John. |
| Matt 20:23 | He said to them, “You will indeed drink My cup...” | Confirms Jesus's prophecy regarding James and John's future suffering. |
| Matt 4:21 | Going on from there, He saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father... | Identifies James and John as brothers, called by Jesus. |
| Mark 3:17 | ...James the son of Zebedee and John the brother of James (to whom He gave the name Boanerges, which means Sons of Thunder)... | Names James as a "Son of Thunder" and son of Zebedee. |
| Acts 1:13 | And when they had entered, they went up to the upper room... Peter, John, James... | Lists James among the eleven apostles after Jesus's Ascension. |
| John 15:20 | “If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you...” | Jesus warns His disciples of coming persecution. |
| Matt 5:10-12 | "Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake..." | Beatitude for those who suffer for their faith. |
| Matt 10:22 | "And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake..." | Prophecy that believers will face hatred because of Christ. |
| Luke 21:16 | "You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends..." | Prediction of severe betrayal and persecution from close relations. |
| Acts 7:59-60 | ...Stephen died praying for his persecutors. | Stephen's martyrdom, a foundational example of Christian witness in death. |
| Acts 8:1 | ...a great persecution arose against the church which was at Jerusalem... | Indicates the broader context of widespread persecution against early Christians. |
| Rev 6:9 | ...I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God... | Vision of martyrs in heaven, sacrificed for their testimony. |
| 1 Pet 4:12-13 | "Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you..." | Encouragement for believers to not be surprised by suffering but to rejoice in it. |
| Acts 12:1 | Now about that time Herod the king stretched out his hand to harass some from the church. | Sets the immediate context for Herod's campaign against the church. |
| Acts 12:3 | ...when he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to seize Peter also. | Reveals Herod's motive to appease the Jewish population. |
| Acts 12:20-23 | ...Herod was eaten by worms and died, because he did not give glory to God. | Account of divine judgment against Herod after James's death. |
| 2 Cor 11:23-27 | ...in labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths often... | Paul's account of suffering as an apostle, mirroring James's fate. |
| Phil 1:29 | For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ... to suffer for His sake... | States that suffering for Christ is a gift or privilege. |
| Heb 11:37 | They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword... | Mentions ancient believers who died by the sword as an example of faith. |
| Rev 2:10 | "Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life." | Promise of eternal reward for faithfulness even in the face of death. |
| Luke 9:23 | Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.” | Call to discipleship involves self-denial and readiness for suffering. |
| Matt 10:28 | "And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul..." | Instructs believers not to fear physical death from persecutors. |
Acts 12 verses
Acts 12 2 Meaning
Acts 12:2 states that Herod Agrippa I executed James, the brother of John, using a sword. This act represented the first martyrdom of an apostle and a direct fulfillment of Jesus's earlier prophecy concerning the suffering His disciples would endure. Herod's primary motivation for this execution was a political one, aimed at appeasing and gaining favor with the Jewish authorities and population.
Acts 12 2 Context
Acts chapter 12 begins by describing a renewed period of severe persecution against the nascent Christian church, instigated by Herod Agrippa I. Having gained the kingship of Judea from AD 41-44, Herod was eager to gain popularity and support among the Jewish populace, especially the religious elite. This verse specifically chronicles his brutal act of executing James, one of the original Twelve Apostles. This event immediately follows periods of church expansion and earlier instances of persecution (e.g., after Stephen's martyrdom in Acts 7-8) and signals a new, more official and king-sanctioned phase of hostility against believers in Jerusalem. James's death, as the first apostolic martyrdom, marked a significant, painful milestone for the early Christian community and underscored the intensifying conflict between the Gospel message and established worldly powers.
Acts 12 2 Word analysis
- And (Καὶ - Kai): A connective conjunction. In this context, it signals a direct consequence or specific instance of the general "harass[ment]" mentioned in Acts 12:1, moving from the general threat to a concrete, tragic action.
- he killed (ἀνεῖλεν - aneilen): This is the aorist active indicative form of the Greek verb ἀναιρέω (anaireō), meaning "to take up," "to take away," "to destroy," or "to kill." The choice of this word emphasizes Herod's direct and authoritative role in a deliberate and decisive execution, rather than a spontaneous act of violence.
- James (Ἰάκωβον - Iakōbon): This refers to James, the son of Zebedee, who was one of the Twelve Apostles. He was part of Jesus's inner circle, often mentioned alongside Peter and his own brother, John. The specific identification highlights the victim's prominence and importance within the early church.
- the brother of John (τὸν ἀδελφὸν Ἰωάννου - ton adelphon Iōannou): This phrase clarifies which James is being discussed, as there were other significant individuals named James (e.g., James the son of Alphaeus, James the brother of Jesus). It also reminds the reader of James's intimate relationship with John, a central figure in the early church, and implicitly recalls their joint calling and Jesus's prophecy regarding their future suffering.
- with the sword (μαχαίρῃ - machairē): The dative case indicates the instrument. A μάχαιρα was a short sword or large knife, typically used by soldiers or for official executions. This detail signifies decapitation, a swift and public method of capital punishment often employed under Roman or client-king authority, emphasizing the official and severe nature of James's execution.
Word-groups analysis
- "And he killed": This phrase succinctly attributes the action directly to Herod, highlighting his agency and the intentional nature of the act. It was not an accidental death but a sanctioned execution.
- "James the brother of John": This precise identification underscores the significance of the victim. James was not an ordinary follower but a key apostle, and his martyrdom fulfilled Jesus's prophecy about drinking from His cup of suffering (Mark 10:39). The specific mention differentiates him from other figures named James and emphasizes his apostolic standing.
- "with the sword": This detail clarifies the method of execution as a deliberate, official decapitation. It underscores the severity and finality of Herod's judgment against a leader of the nascent Christian community, setting a stark precedent for future persecutions.
Acts 12 2 Bonus section
The immediate and terse nature of Luke's account of James's death (Acts 12:2), lacking the descriptive detail found in Stephen's martyrdom (Acts 7), suggests the swift and undeniable reality of this first apostolic execution. This quick mention allows Luke to transition to Peter's miraculous escape, perhaps highlighting God's intervention when a death was not part of His immediate plan. Historical sources, such as Eusebius, relying on Clement of Alexandria, provide an extrabiblical tradition suggesting that the officer who guarded James was so moved by James’s testimony at his execution that he too declared his faith in Christ and was subsequently executed alongside James. This anecdote, while not inspired Scripture, underscores the powerful impact of a martyr's witness. James's death consolidated the role of other leaders, notably James, the brother of Jesus, who emerged as a central figure in the Jerusalem church's leadership (Acts 15).
Acts 12 2 Commentary
Acts 12:2 records the cold, official execution of James, the brother of John, by Herod Agrippa I, marking him as the first apostle to die for his faith. Herod’s action was a calculated political maneuver to appease the influential Jewish leaders and populace. This brief, stark statement of martyrdom serves as a potent reminder of Jesus's earlier prophecy concerning suffering for His disciples, validating that the path of true discipleship often includes significant persecution and even death. The method of execution, "with the sword," denotes a judicial, definitive act by state authority, rather than an arbitrary mob action. This pivotal event in Jerusalem demonstrates the brutal reality of persecution faced by the early church, simultaneously foreshadowing Peter's miraculous deliverance and God's eventual judgment upon Herod, asserting divine sovereignty over human tyranny.