
Now about that time Herod the king stretched out his hand to harass some from the church. Then he killed James the brother of John with the sword. And because he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to seize Peter also. Now it was during the Days of Unleavened Bread. (Acts 12:1-3)
Why James?
Luke does not elaborate on the death of James, but it had an impact on the family and friends of James. Sons of Zebedee, James and his brother John, were fishermen called by the Lord early in His ministry. They were also business partners with Peter and Andrew, who were fishermen in the region of the Sea of Galilee. Chosen by the Lord to be an apostle, James became part of Jesus’ inner circle. Peter, James, and John accompanied Jesus to the mountain where the Lord was transfigured. At the healing of Jairus’s daughter, only Peter, James, and John were permitted to go in with Jesus. The Lord had private meetings with the three apostles. When Jesus was in the Garden of Gethsemane praying, He allowed only Peter, James, and John to join Him.
Nothing is said about James in the beginning of Luke’s account of the Acts of the Apostles. He is mentioned with the eleven when Matthias is chosen. Then he is mentioned as the one Herod chooses to inflict harm upon the church. King Herod wanted to harass and persecute the early church because he knew it would please the Jews. It is unclear why he chose James, but he seemed to believe James was influential enough to impact the church. Peter was not the first choice. Herod wanted to afflict the church in a big way by choosing James.
Luke records that Herod killed James with the sword (beheaded). Herod arrests Peter and places him in prison guarded by sixteen elite soldiers. He intended to follow the same pattern with Peter and kill him with the sword. However, because of the Passover, Herod chose to wait before killing Peter. While Peter was imprisoned, the church prayed constantly for him. After Peter is released from prison by an angel of the Lord, the apostle finds himself at the home of Mary, the mother of John. Many were gathered, seeking the Lord’s petitions to save Peter from certain death. Peter was delivered, but James was not.
Why was Peter spared and James killed? The scriptures do not tell. There is little doubt that, when James was arrested, his family and the church felt great concern. The church prayed that James be delivered, but he was not. Realizing Herod’s intention, the church prayed fervently for Peter’s release. He was released. Seeking the answers to why God allowed James to die and why Peter was spared exceeds the wisdom and knowledge of man. Understanding why a righteous man like James was killed so early in the ministry of the church comes without answers. Peter did a lot of for the kingdom of God. The remainder of Luke’s Acts of the Apostles focuses on the ministry of Paul. James had an important role in the foundation of the church, and his death highlights the cruelty of man against man. Was it possible for God to deliver James? The only answer is a resounding “yes,” but it was not in the will of the Lord.
God has a greater plan unknown to men. When men try to understand the workings of the Lord God, they tread on ground that is holier than they can manage. The will of God is unknown to the mind of man. How He decides to have His will accomplished is not a matter of debate among His children, because no one can fully grasp the full picture of God’s will and determination for humanity. James died at the hands of a cruel and evil man. The gospel of Christ did not change Herod, nor did it keep righteous people (like Stephen) from being killed. Thousand died in the early church. Why someone dies and why someone lives are not important questions. What must be understood is how the glory of God is manifested in the lives of God’s children.
The family of James grieved his passing. They sought answers, but none were found. The human emotion of grief filled their hearts. What kept the faithful strong in the Lord was their faith in an Almighty God who knows and cares for all His children. How God manifests His work in the affairs of men is reserved for the heavenly sphere where God dwells. The mind of God is far above the mind of men. His will is always for His glory, and sometimes that glory brings grief to a family. It must always be remembered that the heart of the Christian dwells in the eternal comfort of God’s love, and that one day everyone will pass through the valley of death to their eternal home. Live in such a manner that death is nothing more than a brief sleep before the day of resurrection.







