Greek Word Reference — Acts 12:2
Means to kill or destroy, used in Matthew 2:16 to describe Herod's order to kill all baby boys in Bethlehem.
Definition: ἀν-αιρέω, -ῶ [in LXX for הָרַג hi., מוּת hi., נָכָה hi., etc. ;] __1. to take up: mid., Act.7:21. __2. to take away, make an end of, destroy (for late exx. of various senses, see MM, VGT, see word); __(a) of things (as frequently in cl. of laws, etc.): Heb.10:9; __(b) of persons, to kill: Mat.2:16, Luk.22:2 23:32, Act.2:23 5:33, 36 7:28 9:23-24, 29 10:39 12:2 13:28 16:27 22:20 23:15, 21 23:27 25:3 26:10, 2Th.2:8, WH, txt., R, txt.† (AS)
Usage: Occurs in 22 NT verses. KJV: put to death, kill, slay, take away, take up See also: Acts 2:23; Acts 16:27; Hebrews 10:9.
This is a conjunction that means and, but, or then, used to connect ideas like in Matthew 1:2 and 2 Corinthians 6:15.
Definition: δέ (before vowels δ᾽; on the general neglect of the elision in NT, see WH, App., 146; Tdf., Pr., 96), post-positive conjunctive particle; __1. copulative, but, in the next place, and, now (Abbott, JG, 104): Mat.1:2ff., 2Co.6:15, 16, 2Pe.1:5-7; in repetition for emphasis, Rom.3:21, 22, 9:30, 1Co.2:6, Gal.2:2, Php.2:8; in transition to something new, Mat.1:18, 2:19, Luk.13:1, Jhn.7:14, Act.6:1, Rom.8:28, 1Co.7:1 8:1, al.; in explanatory parenthesis or addition, Jhn.3:19, Rom.5:8, 1Co.1:12, Eph.2:4, 5:32, al.; ὡς δέ, Jhn.2:9; καὶ . . . δέ, but also, Mat.10:18, Luk.1:76, Jhn.6:51, Rom.11:23, al.; καὶ ἐὰν δέ, yea even if, Jhn.8:16. __2. Adversative, but, on the other hand, prop., answering to a foregoing μέν (which see), and distinguishing a word or clause from one preceding (in NT most frequently without μέν; Bl., §77, 12): ἐὰν δέ, Mat.6:14, 23, al.; ἐγὼ (σὺ, etc.) δέ, Mat.5:22, 6:6, Mrk.8:29, al.; ὁ δέ, αὐτὸς δέ, Mrk.1:45, Luk.4:40, al.; after a negation, Mat.6:19, 20, Rom.3:4, 1Th.5:21, al. (AS)
Usage: Occurs in 2552 NT verses. KJV: also, and, but, moreover, now (often unexpressed in English) See also: 1 Corinthians 1:10; 1 Corinthians 12:9; 1 Peter 1:7.
James refers to three men in the Bible: James the son of Zebedee, James the son of Alphaeus, and James the brother of Jesus. He is mentioned in Matthew, Mark, Acts, and 1 Corinthians. James was an important figure in the early Christian church.
Definition: Ἰάκωβος, -ου, ὁ (Heb., see previous word) James; __1. Son of Zebedee: Mat.4:21, Mrk.1:19, 29, Act.1:13 12:2, al. __2. Son of Alphæus: Mat.10:3, Mrk.2:14, al.; commonly identified with Ἰ. ὁ μικρός, James the little, son of Mary (see: Μαρία, 3; Κλωπᾶς), Mat.27:56, Mrk.15:40 16:1 (cf. Jhn.19:25). __3. The Lord's brother (see: ἀδελφός): Mat.13:55, Mrk.6:3, Act.12:17, al., 1Co.15:7 (probably), Gal.1:19 2:9, 12, Jas.1:1, Ju 1. __4. The father of the apostle, Ἰούδας Ἰακώβου: Luk.6:16, Act.1:13 (AS)
Usage: Occurs in 38 NT verses. KJV: James See also: 1 Corinthians 15:7; Mark 1:19; James 1:1.
The Greek word for 'the' or 'this', used to point out a specific person or thing, like in Acts 17:28. It can also mean 'he', 'she', or 'it'.
Definition: ὁ, ἡ, τό, the prepositive article (ἄρθρον προτακτικόν), originally a demonstr. pron. (so usually in Hom.), in general corresponding to the Eng. definite article. __I. As demonstr. pron. __1. As frequently in Hom., absol., he (she, it), his (etc.): Act.17:28 (quoted from the poet Aratus). __2. Distributive, ὁ μὲν . . . ὁ δέ, the one . . . the other: 1Co.7:7, Gal.4:22; pl., Act.14:4, 17:32, Php.1:16, al.; οἱ μὲν . . . ἄλλοι δέ, Mat.16:14, Jhn.7:12; οἱ μεν̀ . . . ὁδέ, Heb.7:21, 23. __3. In narration (without ὁ μὲν preceding), ὁ δέ, but he: Mat.2:14, Mrk.1:45, Luk.8:21, Jhn.9:38, al. mult. __II. As prepositive article, the, prefixed, __1. to nouns unmodified: ὁ θεός, τὸ φῶς, etc.; to abstract nouns, ἡ σοφία, etc., to pl. nouns which indicate a class, οἱ ἀλώπεκες, foxes, Mat.8:20, al.; to an individual as representing a class, ὁ ἐργάτης, Luk.10:7; with nom. = voc. in addresses, Mat.11:26, Jhn.19:3, Jas.5:1, al.; to things which pertain to one, ἡ χεῖρ, his hand, Mrk.3:1; to names of persons well known or already mentioned; usually to names of countries (originally adjectives), ἡ Ἰουδαία, etc. __2. To modified nouns: with of person(s) pron. genitive, μοῦ, σοῦ, etc.; with poss. pron., ἐμός, σός, etc.; with adj. between the art. and the noun, ὁ ἀγαθὸς ἄνθρωπος, Mat.12:35; the noun foll, by adj., both with art., ὁ ποιμὴν ὁ καλός, Jhn.10:11 (on ὁ ὄχλος πολύς, Jhn.12:9, see M, Pr., 84); before adjectival phrases, ἡ κατ᾽ ἐκλογὴν πρόθεσις, Rom.9:11. __3. To Other parts of speech used as substantives; __(a) neuter adjectives: τ. ἀγαθόν, etc.; __(b) cardinal numerals: ὁ εἶς, οἷ δύο, etc.; __(with) participles: ὁ βαπτίζων (= ὁ Βαπτιστής, Mat.14:2), Mrk.6:14; πᾶς ὁ, with ptcp., every one who, etc.; __(d) adverbs: τὸ πέραν, τὰ νῦν, ὁ ἔσω ἄνθρωπος; __(e) infinitives: nom., τὸ θέλειν, Rom.7:18, al.; genitive, τοῦ, after adjectives, ἄξιον τοῦ πορεύεσθαι, 1Co.16:4; verbs, ἐλαχεν τοῦ θυμιᾶσαι, Luk.1:9; and frequently in a final sense, ἐξῆλθεν ὁ σπείρειν, Mat.13:3 (on the artic. inf., see Bl., §71). __4. In the neut. to sentences, phrases or single words treated as a quotation: τὸ Ἐι δύνῃ, Mrk.9:23; τὸ ἔτι ἅπαξ, Heb.12:27; τὸ ἀνέβη, Eph.4:9, al. __5. To prepositional phrases: οἱ ἀπὸ Ἰταλίας, Heb.13:24; οἱ ἐκ νόμου, Rom.4:14; neut. accusative absol., in adverbial phrases, τὸ καθ᾽ ἡμέραν, daily, Luk.11:3; τὸ κατὰ σάρκα, as regards the flesh, Rom.9:5. __6. To nouns in the genitive, denoting kinship, association, etc.: ὁ τοῦ, the son of (unless context indicates a different relationship), Mat.10:2, al.; τὰ τοῦ θεοῦ, the things that pertain to God, Mat.16:23; τὰ τῆς εἰρήνης, Rom.14:19 (cf. M, Pr., 81ff.; Bl, §§46, 47). (AS)
Usage: Occurs in 7033 NT verses. KJV: the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc See also: 1 Corinthians 1:1; 1 Corinthians 7:16; 1 Corinthians 11:24.
The Greek word for brother refers to a male sibling or a fellow Christian, as seen in Matthew 1:2 and 1 Corinthians 1:1. It implies a close relationship.
Definition: ἀδελφός, -οῦ, ὁ (ἀ- copul., δελφύς, womb), in cl., a brother, born of the same parent or parents. [In LXX (Hort, Ja., 102f.), for אָח ;] __1. lit. of a brother (Gen.4:2, al.). __2. Of a neighbour (Lev.19:17). __3. Of a member of the same nation (Exo.2:14, Deu.15:3). In NT in each of these senses (1. Mat.1:2, al.; 2. Mat.7:3; 3. Rom.9:3) and also, __4. of a fellow-Christian: 1Co.1:1, Act.9:30. This usage finds illustration in π., where ἀ. is used of members of a pagan religious community (M, Th., I, 1:4; MM, VGT, see word). The ἀδελφοὶ τ. Κυρίου (Mat.12:46-49 13:55 28:10, Mrk.3:31-34, Luk.8:19-21, Jhn.2:12 7:3, 5 10 20:17, Act.1:14, 1Co.9:5) may have been sons of Joseph and Mary (Mayor, Ja., Intr. viff.; DB, i, 320ff.) or of Joseph by a former marriage (Lft., Gal., 252ff.; DCG, i, 232ff.), but the view of Jerome, which makes ἀ. equivalent to ἀνεψιός, is inconsistent with Greek usage. (Cremer, 66.) (AS)
Usage: Occurs in 318 NT verses. KJV: brother See also: 1 Corinthians 1:1; Acts 2:37; 1 Peter 5:12.
John refers to several important figures in the Bible, including John the Baptist and John the Apostle, one of Jesus' twelve apostles. John the Baptist is mentioned in Matthew 3:1 and John the Apostle in Matthew 4:21.
Definition: Ἰωάνης (Rec. ννης, which see; cf. Dalman, Gr., 142; Tdf., Pr., 79; WH, App., 159; Bl., §3, 10; 10, 2), -ου, dative, -ῃ (but in Mat.11:4. Luk.7:18, 22 Rev.1:1, ει), accusative, -ην, ὁ (Heb. יוֹחָנָן, LXX: Ἰωανάν, 2Ch.23:1, al.; -ννάν, Je 47 (40):8, al., Aq.), Hellenized form of Ἰωανάν, John ( I Est.8:38(41)*), viz., __1. John the Baptist: Mat.3:1, al. __2. John the Apostle, son of Zebedee: Mat.4:21, Mrk.1:19, Luk.5:10, Act.1:13, al. __3. The father of St. Peter: Jhn.1:43 21:15-17. __4. John surnamed Mark: Act.12:12, 25 13:5, 13 15:37. __5. The writer of the Apocalypse, traditionally identified with 2: Rev.1:1, 4 9. Ἰωάννης (D, Ἰωνάθας; see MM, Exp., XV; Bl., §10, 2), ὁ, John: Act.4:6 13:5, Tr., WH, Rev.22:8 (cf. Ἰωάνης).† (AS)
Usage: Occurs in 128 NT verses. KJV: John See also: Acts 1:5; Luke 9:19; Revelation 1:1.
The Greek word for a short sword or dagger, used in the Bible for a knife or sword. It appears in Matthew 26:47 and John 18:10, describing a weapon used by Jesus' disciples.
Definition: μάχαιρα, -ης (Att.. -ας; see WH, App., 1568; ΒΙ., § 7, 1), ἡ, [in LXX chiefly for חֶרֶב; also for מַאֲכֶלֶת, etc. ;] __1. (in Hom., al.) a large knife or dirk, for sacrificial purposes (Gen.22:6, 10, Jdg.19:20 A). __2. a short sword or dagger (as disting. from ῥομφαία, a large broad sword and ξίφος, a straight sword for thrusting): Mat.26:47 ff., Mrk.14:43, 47-48, Luk.22:36 ff., Jhn.18:10-11 Act.16:27, Heb.11:37, Rev.6:4 13:10, 14; στόμα μαχαίρης (as in Heb. חֶרֶב פֶּה, Gen.34:26, al.), the edge of the sword: Luk.21:24, Heb.11:34; μ. δίστομος, Heb.4:12; ἀναιρεῖν μαχαίρῃ, Act.12:2; τὴν μ. φορεῖν, Rom.13:4. Metaphorical, Mat.10:34 (opposite to εἰρήνη), Rom.8:35; μ. τοῦ πνεῦματος, Eph.6:17.† (AS)
Usage: Occurs in 26 NT verses. KJV: sword See also: Acts 12:2; Mark 14:43; Hebrews 4:12.
Context — James Killed, Peter Imprisoned
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) |
| 1 |
Hebrews 11:37 |
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. |
| 2 |
Matthew 20:23 |
“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.” |
| 3 |
Matthew 4:21–22 |
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, and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed Him. |
| 4 |
Mark 10:38 |
“You do not know what you are asking,” Jesus replied. “Can you drink the cup I will drink, or be baptized with the baptism I will undergo?” |
| 5 |
Mark 10:35 |
Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Jesus and declared, “Teacher, we want You to do for us whatever we ask.” |
| 6 |
1 Kings 19:10 |
“I have been very zealous for the LORD, the God of Hosts,” he replied, “but the Israelites have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I am the only one left, and they are seeking my life as well.” |
| 7 |
1 Kings 19:1 |
Now Ahab told Jezebel everything that Elijah had done and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. |
| 8 |
Jeremiah 26:23 |
They brought Uriah out of Egypt and took him to King Jehoiakim, who had him put to the sword and his body thrown into the burial place of the common people. |
Acts 12:2 Summary
This verse tells us that King Herod had James, one of Jesus' apostles, killed with a sword. This shows us that following Jesus can be very costly, as Jesus Himself warned in Matthew 10:21-22. James' death also reminds us that our faith is not just about what we believe, but about how we live, and that we must be willing to stand firm in our faith, even when it's hard, as encouraged in 1 Peter 4:12-13. By looking at James' example, we can learn to trust God and stand strong in our own faith, no matter what challenges we face, just as we see in the examples of Daniel 3:16-18 and Hebrews 11:32-34.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did King Herod have James put to death with the sword?
King Herod had James put to death with the sword to please the Jews, as stated in Acts 12:3, and to assert his power over the early Christian church, similar to the persecution seen in Matthew 10:21-22 and John 15:20.
Who was James, the brother of John?
James was one of Jesus' twelve apostles, as listed in Matthew 10:2-4 and Mark 3:16-17, and the brother of John, another apostle, making them both prominent figures in the early Christian church.
What can we learn from James' martyrdom?
James' martyrdom teaches us about the cost of following Jesus, as seen in Matthew 16:24-25, and the importance of standing firm in our faith, even in the face of persecution, as encouraged in 1 Peter 4:12-13 and Revelation 2:10.
How does this event relate to the rest of the book of Acts?
This event is part of a larger narrative in the book of Acts, which describes the early Christian church's growth and persecution, as seen in Acts 8:1-3 and Acts 11:19, and sets the stage for Peter's miraculous escape from prison in Acts 12:6-11.
Reflection Questions
- What would I be willing to sacrifice for my faith, and how can I prepare myself for potential persecution?
- How can I, like James, remain faithful to God's calling on my life, even in the face of adversity?
- What does James' martyrdom reveal about the nature of the Christian life, and how can I apply this to my own walk with God?
- In what ways can I support and pray for Christians around the world who are facing persecution, just as James did?
Gill's Exposition on 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
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Acts 12:2
And he killed James the brother of John with the sword. And he killed James the brother of John with the sword - in all likelihood by beheading, which (as Lightfoot shows) was regarded by the Jews as the extreme of ignominy.
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Acts 12:2
Who had especially the care of the church at Jerusalem: one eminent amongst the apostles, and one of the sons of thunder, (or Boanerges), for his zealous and earnest preaching, and therefore the more hated by Herod: so that which our Saviour had foretold him came now to pass, , that he drank of the cup our Savionr did drink of. There was another James, who wrote the Epistle known by his name, and was called James the Less; because, as some think, he was brought to the knowledge of Christ after the other, of whom we read, .
Trapp's Commentary on Acts 12:2
2 And he killed James the brother of John with the sword. Ver. 2. And he killed James the brother] So styled to distinguish him from the other James, called James the Less, kinsman to Christ, and bishop of Jerusalem, as the ancients style him. (Chrysost. Hom. xxxiii, in Act.) It was wonder that Herod killed no more, seeing this took so well with the people, whose favour he coveted. When Stephen the protomartyr of the Church was stoned, Dorotheus testifieth that two thousand other believers were put to death the same day; but God hath set bounds to that sea of malice that is in persecutors’ hearts, which they cannot go beyond: Psalms 76:10; "The remainder of wrath shalt thou restrain."
Ellicott's Commentary on Acts 12:2
(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.”
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Acts 12:2
Verse 2. He killed James the brother of John with the sword.] This was James the greater, son of Zebedee, and must be distinguished from James the less, son of Alpheus. This latter was put to death by Ananias the high priest, during the reign of Nero. This James with his brother John were those who requested to sit on the right and left hand of our Lord, see Matthew 20:23; and our Lord's prediction was now fulfilled in one of them, who by his martyrdom drank of our Lord's cup, and was baptized with his baptism. By the death of James, the number of the apostles was reduced to eleven; and we do not find that ever it was filled up. The apostles never had any successors: God has continued their doctrine, but not their order. By killing with the sword we are to understand beheading. Among the Jews there were four kinds of deaths: 1. Stoning; 2. burning; 3. killing with the sword, or beheading; and, 4. strangling. The third was a Roman as well as a Jewish mode of punishment.
Killing with the sword was the punishment which, according to the Talmud, was inflicted on those who drew away the people to any strange worship, Sanhedr. fol. iii. James was probably accused of this, and hence the punishment mentioned in the text.
Cambridge Bible on Acts 12:2
2. And he killed James the brother of John] One of the two sons of Zebedee, who had been among the three specially favoured disciples of Jesus. It is therefore likely that he would take a leading part in the labours of the Church, and so Agrippa’s attention would be drawn to him as a proper person to be first struck down. All the accusations which had been laid against Stephen, that the Christian leader spake against the Temple and the Law, would be used with effect to such a zealous observer of Mosaic ritual as Herod Agrippa was.with the sword] This was the third in order of the modes of execution appointed among the Jews. These are stoning, burning, decapitation, and strangulation. In connection with the execution of James the words of the Mishna are interesting: “The manner of putting to death by the sword is as follows: the man’s head is cut off with the sword as is wont to be done by royal command.” See Surenhusius on Sanhedrin p. 238 (misprinted 248), where there is a discussion about the position of the prisoner, whether he should stand erect or have his head on a block.
Barnes' Notes on Acts 12:2
And he killed ... - He caused to be put to death with a sword, either by beheading, or piercing him through.
Whedon's Commentary on Acts 12:2
2. James, the brother of John—Son of Zebedee, “son of thunder,” first of apostolic martyrs, brother of an evangelist, one of the elect three of the elect twelve.
Sermons on Acts 12:2
| Sermon | Description |
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The Cup and the Fire - Part 1
by T. Austin-Sparks
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In this sermon on Luke 12:49-50, the speaker explores the relationship between the "cut of the load" and the scattering of fire in the earth. He emphasizes that the scattering of f |
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The Higher Call of Christ, Part One
by K.P. Yohannan
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In this sermon, Brother K.P. Johannon focuses on the scripture portion in Revelation 4:1. He emphasizes the importance of understanding and following the Lord's values in order to |
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Day 133, Acts 25
by David Servant
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David Servant delves into the historical context surrounding Paul's trials before King Agrippa II, Governor Felix, and Governor Festus, highlighting the dark and tumultuous family |
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The Pillars of the Church Put to Death
by Clement of Rome
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Clement of Rome emphasizes the importance of looking to recent spiritual heroes as examples of enduring persecution and martyrdom with patience and faith. He highlights the sufferi |
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Matthew 20:20-28.the Request of the Mother and Sons of Zebedee.
by Favell Lee Mortimer
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Favell Lee Mortimer delves into the story of the sons of Zebedee and their request to sit at the right and left hand of Jesus in His glory, highlighting the natural desire for grea |
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Persecution Is Inevitable
by Zac Poonen
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Zac Poonen emphasizes that persecution is an inevitable part of the Christian journey, as evidenced by the lives of biblical figures like James, Stephen, and Jesus, who faced sever |
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Day 78, Mark 13
by David Servant
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David Servant discusses the fulfillment of Jesus' foretelling of the destruction of the temple in 70 A.D. by the Roman Legions, highlighting the disciples' confusion about the timi |