Commentaries:
Robertson's Word Pictures (NT)
James the brother of John (Iakwbon ton adelfon Iwanou). 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 (Mark 10:38 ff.; Matthew 20:23). James is the first of the apostles to die and John probably the last. He is not James the Lord's brother (Galatians 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 (aneilen maxairh). The verb is a favourite one with Luke (Acts 2:33; Acts 5:33, Acts 5:36; Acts 7:28; Acts 9:23-29; Acts 10:39, etc.). Instrumental case and Ionic form of maxaira. The Jews considered beheading a shameful death as in the case of the Baptist (Matthew 14:10).
Other Robertson's Word Pictures (NT) entries containing Acts 12:2:
Matthew 20:23
Acts 1:5
Acts 2:23
Acts 12:17
Acts 22:20
Romans 16:5
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