Ac 12:1-11 Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church. 2 And he killed James the brother of John with the sword. 3 And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. (Then were the days of unleavened bread.) 4 And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people. 5 Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him. 6 And when Herod would have brought him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains: and the keepers before the door kept the prison. 7 And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands. 8 And the angel said unto him, Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals. And so he did. And he saith unto him, Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me. 9 And he went out, and followed him; and wist not that it was true which was done by the angel; but thought he saw a vision. 10 When they were past the first and the second ward, they came unto the iron gate that leadeth unto the city; which opened to them of his own accord: and they went out, and passed on through one street; and forthwith the angel departed from him. 11 And when Peter was come to himself, he said, Now I know of a surety, that the Lord hath sent his angel, and hath delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews.
Here we see that although God was moving and ushering in the Gospel to the Gentiles, persecution was eminent. King Herod killed Apostle James. This was the first Apostle to be martyred. He was one of the original twelve.
JAMES-The son of Zebedee and Salome; an elder brother of John the apostle. He was one of the twelve. He was by trade a fisherman, in partnership with Peter (Mt 20:20; 27:56). With John and Peter he was present at the transfiguration (Mt 17:1; Mk 9:2), at the raising of Jairus's daughter (Mk 5:37-43), and in the garden with our Lord (14:33). Because, probably, of their boldness and energy, he and John were called "sons of thunder." He was the first martyr among the apostles, having been beheaded by King Herod Agrippa (Ac 12:1,2), A.D. 44 AD. (Comp. Mt 4:21; 20:20-23).
Now since he saw this pleased the Jews, he arrested Peter, with the intention to kill him after Easter, but God had other plans. God miraculously delivered Peter from the prison. Now you may ask, why did God deliver Peter, but not James. I don't know, but I do know that Jesus said you shall receive power after the Holy Ghost is come upon you to be witnesses unto me. The word witness comes from the Greek word martys, which is where we get our English word, martyr, which is one who is willing to die for what he believes in. Are you a true witness?
