Acts 12:2

2 He killed Ya`akov, the brother of Yochanan, with the sword.

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 Now about that time, Herod the king stretched out his hands to oppress some of the assembly.

2 He killed Ya`akov, the brother of Yochanan, with the sword.

3 When he saw that it pleased the Yehudim, he proceeded to seize Kefa also. This was during the days of matzah.

4 When he had captured him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four squads of four soldiers each to guard him, intending to bring him out to the people after the Pesach.

5 Kefa therefore was kept in the prison, but constant prayer was made by the assembly to God for him.