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.) [Acts 12:2-3 KJV]
William Burkitt’s Commentary
Note here, 1. The person slain by the sword of Herod, James the brother of John. We read in the gospel that he was one of the sons of Zebedee, that desired of Christ the pre-eminence to sit at his right hand in his kingdom: and now he is the first of the apostles that suffered matrydom who drank of Christ’s cup, and was baptized with his baptism. He was called Boanerges, or a son of thunder, for his zealous and earnest preaching: No wonder then that Herod and the enraged Jews hated him, and were stirred up by Satan to destroy him. For such as are most useful to, and most eminent in the church, are always the objects of Satan’s wrath and anger, and of the persecutor’s rage and fury: “He killed James the brother of John with the sword.”
Observe, 2. James being slain, Peter is to follow; “He proceeded further to take Peter also.” The rage of persecutors is not easily satisfied, and the blood which they shed, is but oil to feed the flames of their revenge.
But mark the over-ruling power and goodness of God, though St. James was murdered, St. Peter shall be but imprisoned: The husbandman doth not permit all his corn to the oven, but saves some for seed.
Persecutors cannot do all the mischief they would, and they shall not do all they can.