Acts 12:1-5

James died for the cause of Christ Acts 12:1-5: One man can do either much harm or much good toward the cause of Christ. King Herod Agrippa I harassed some in the church and caused terrible suffering for them. He violently oppressed the church. Among those that suffered was James the brother of John. Herod ordered his soldiers to kill this godly man with a sword. Herod must have thought that he could destroy the church by killing it leaders.

James was the brother of John. James and John were sons of Zebedee. (Matthew 4:21) On one occasion the sons of Zebedee and their mother requested permission for these men to sit on Jesus' right and left hand in the kingdom. Jesus told them, "You will indeed drink My cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with; but to sit on My right hand and on My left is not Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it is prepared by My Father." (Matthew 20:23) Just as predicted by the Lord James drank of that cup of suffering.

When Herod saw that the death of James pleased the Jewish people, he had Peter arrested. He put Peter in jail and ordered four squads of soldiers to guard him. It was his intention to bring Peter before the people after Passover (mistranslated Easter in the KJV Acts 12:4). While Peter was being kept in prison constant prayer was being offered by the church for him.