In Acts 12, King Herod began to persecute the believers, hoping to satisfy the Jewish leaders. This king, Herod Agrippa I, was the grandson of Herod the Great who had ordered the death of infants after Jesus’ birth (Matt. 2). In Acts 12:2, we read that Herod put to death the apostle James (the brother of John) by sword. Since this pleased the Jewish leaders, he arrested Peter.
The church prayed earnestly for Peter (v. 5). The night before Herod was to bring Peter to trial, an angel delivered him from his prison cell (v. 6). So Peter was rescued, but as we read earlier (v. 2), James had lost his life at Herod’s command. The death of James is mysterious. James was one of the three closest disciples of Jesus: Peter, James, and John. He was part of the inner circle. In most instances, James is named first when John is mentioned with him. James was one of the disciples on the Mount of Transfiguration (Matt. 17:1). James was one of the three in the garden of Gethsemane (Mark 14:33).
It is easy to ask why God allowed this to happen. Is this not a familiar phrase when we encounter troubling circumstances due to no fault of our own? Nothing in Scripture tells us that James died because of poor decisions on his part. In fact, Scripture implies the exact opposite (John 21:19–22). James was fulfilling God’s plan in Jerusalem as one of the leaders of the church.
This should comfort you. Your suffering may be because you are in God’s will and fulfilling His purpose for you. Yet God doesn’t forget those who bring evil upon His children. As this passage shows us, “an angel of the Lord struck [Herod] down, and he was eaten by worms and died” (Acts 12:23).
Go Deeper
Are you suffering today due to no fault of your own? Consider asking the Lord how you might glorify Him in this. Watch this interview as our author Dr. Eric Moore explains why persecution actually helped the early church grow.
Pray with Us
Heavenly Father, You promised that serving You would not be easy: “In this world you will have trouble” (John 16:33). We are thankful You didn’t stop there: “But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
The church was earnestly praying to God for him.Acts 12:5
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