Act 12:2 | RWP | e4.org | James the brother of John ( Ιακωβον τον αδελφον Ιωανου ). He had been called by Jesus a son of thunder along with his brother John. Jesus had predicted a bloody death for both of them ( .; ). James is the first of the apostles to die and John probably the last. He is not James the Lord's brother ( ). We do not know why Luke tells so little about the death of James and so much about the death of Stephen nor do we know why Herod selected him as a victim. Eusebius ( H.E . ii. 9) quotes Clement of Alexandria as saying that a Jew made accusations against James and was converted and beheaded at the same time with him. Killed with the sword ( ανειλεν μαχαιρη ). The verb is a favourite one with Luke ( ; , ; ; ; , etc.). Instrumental case and Ionic form of μαχαιρα . The Jews considered beheading a shameful death as in the case of the Baptist ( ).

‏ Acts 12:2

James the brother of John ( Ιακωβον τον αδελφον Ιωανου ). He had been called by Jesus a son of thunder along with his brother John. Jesus had predicted a bloody death for both of them (Mr 10:38ff.; Mt 20:23). James is the first of the apostles to die and John probably the last. He is not James the Lord's brother (Ga 1:19). We do not know why Luke tells so little about the death of James and so much about the death of Stephen nor do we know why Herod selected him as a victim. Eusebius (H.E. ii. 9) quotes Clement of Alexandria as saying that a Jew made accusations against James and was converted and beheaded at the same time with him.

Killed with the sword ( ανειλεν μαχαιρη ). The verb is a favourite one with Luke (Ac 2:33; 5:33, 36; 7:28; 9:23-29; 10:39, etc.). Instrumental case and Ionic form of μαχαιρα. The Jews considered beheading a shameful death as in the case of the Baptist (Mt 14:10).