Acts 12:2

2 And he slew by sword James, the brother of John.

Acts 12:2 Meaning and Commentary

Acts 12:2

And he killed James the brother of John with the sword.
] This was James, the son of Zebedee, whom our Lord told, that he should be baptized with the baptism he was baptized with, ( Matthew 20:22 ) meaning the baptism of martyrdom; and he was the first martyr among the apostles: the death he was put to was one of the four capital punishments among the Jews, and was reckoned by them the most disgraceful of them all, and was inflicted upon deceivers of the people; and such an one James was thought to be ^F5.

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FOOTNOTES:

F5 Misn. Sanhedrin, c. 7. sect. 1, 3. & 11. 4.

Acts 12:2 In-Context

1 And in the same time Herod the king sent power, to torment some men of the church. [+Forsooth in the same time, Herod the king sent hands, to torment some men of the church.]

2 And he slew by sword James, the brother of John.

3 And he saw that it pleased to the Jews, and cast to take also Peter; and the days of therf loaves were.

4 And when he had caught Peter, he sent him into prison; and betook him to four quaternions of knights, to keep him, and would after pask bring him forth to the people [willing after pask to bring him forth to the people].

5 And Peter was kept in prison; but prayer was made of the church without ceasing to God for him.