Albert Barnes Commentary Acts 12:2

"And he killed James the brother of John with the sword." — Acts 12:2 (ASV)

And he killed, etc. He caused him to be put to death with a sword, either by beheading or by piercing him through. The Roman procurators were entrusted with authority over life, though in the time of Pilate the Jews did not have this authority.

James the brother of John. This was the son of Zebedee (Matthew 4:21). He is commonly called James the Greater, as distinguished from James the son of Alpheus, who is called James the Less (Matthew 10:3). In this manner, the predictions of our Savior concerning him were fulfilled (Matthew 20:23): You shall indeed drink of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with.