Horton suggests three reasons for the delay in executing Peter: (1) Herod wanted to show how scrupulously he observed the Passover (2) he wanted to wait until the pilgrim crowds went home, fearing a riot (3) he wanted to wait until he had the full attention of the Jewish population.Ĭ. Intending to bring him before the people after Passover: Herod decided to deal with Peter at a politically opportune time, fearing an unpredictable mob reaction when Passover pilgrims filled Jerusalem. Both were wrong, but one had a better motive.ī.
Saul, wrong as he was, persecuted out of sincere (though misguided) religious conviction Herod persecuted out of purely political motives. There was a significant difference between the persecution from Saul of Tarsus (Acts 8:1-3) and from Herod. Because he saw that it pleased the Jews: Seeing his increased popularity when he killed James, Herod sought to improve his ratings even more when he proceeded further to seize Peter also. So when he had arrested him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four squads of soldiers to keep him, intending to bring him before the people after Passover.Ī. Now it was during the Days of Unleavened Bread. (3-4) Herod imprisons Peter.Īnd because he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to seize Peter also. There was no need for another man to take the office of James. This was because James died as a faithful martyr, but Judas revealed his apostasy in betraying Jesus. Significantly, there was no attempt to replace James, as there was to replace Judas (Acts 1). Eusebius relates a story from Clement of Alexandria, who said the soldier guarding James before the judge was so affected by his witness that he declared himself a Christian also and was also willingly executed for Jesus alongside of James (Eusebius, Church History 2.9.2-3). With the sword: Normally, this means that James was beheaded. John fulfilled it by a lifetime of devoted service to God despite repeated attempts to martyr him.Ĭ. This martyrdom was the fulfillment of that promise for James. Jesus promised them, You will indeed drink the cup that I drink, and with the baptism I am baptized with you will be baptized. Can you drink the cup that I drink, and be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with? James and John, not really knowing what they were saying, replied by saying they could. Jesus replied to them, You do not know what you ask. In Mark 10:35-40, John and his brother James came to Jesus and asked to be considered His two chief lieutenants. But Jesus promised no special protection for even His closest followers He warned them to be ready for persecution (Matthew 10:16-26). He was one of the special intimates of Jesus, often mentioned with his brother John and with Peter (Matthew 17:1, 26:37, Mark 5:37, 9:2, 14:33 Luke 5:37, 9:2, and 14:33). James the brother of John: James, in particular, might have thought to have been protected. But the death of James shattered the illusion that somehow, the twelve enjoyed a unique Divine protection.ī. Stephen (Acts 7:58-60) was martyred before this, and certainly others were also. James was certainly not the first Christian to die in faithfulness to Jesus. But in Acts 12, the ugly opposition inspired by Satan again raised its head.
First there was Saul of Tarsus, then the Gentile centurion Cornelius, then the highly successful work among Gentiles (and Jews) in Antioch. Up to Acts 12, the church had been on a streak of success, experiencing one exciting conversion after another. Of the twelve who followed Jesus, James was the first to be martyred. Then he killed James the brother of John with the sword: This was a new development in the history of the church. Then he killed James the brother of John with the sword.Ī. Many political figures are ready to persecute Christians if it will make them politically popular. It pleased many of his citizens who didn’t like Christians.
Stretched out his hand to harass some from the church: No doubt, this was done because it was politically popular for Herod.
Herod Agrippa I was also the nephew of Herod Antipas, who had a role in the trial of Jesus (Luke 23:7-12).ī. Herod the king: This was Herod Agrippa I, the grandson of Herod the Great, who ruled in the days of Jesus’ birth (Matthew 2:1-16). Now about that time Herod the king stretched out his hand to harass some from the church.Ī.
Acts 12 – James Is Martyred, Peter Is Set Free A.