Discovery BoxActs 12:2 
Context12:2 He had James, the brother of John, executed with a sword. 1
Acts 13:28
Context13:28 Though 2 they found 3 no basis 4 for a death sentence, 5 they asked Pilate to have him executed.
Acts 2:23
Context2:23 this man, who was handed over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you executed 6 by nailing him to a cross at the hands of Gentiles. 7
1 sn The expression executed with a sword probably refers to a beheading. James was the first known apostolic martyr (Eusebius, Eccl. Hist. 2.9.1-3). On James, not the Lord’s brother, see Luke 5:10; 6:14. This death ended a short period of peace noted in Acts 9:31 after the persecution mentioned in 8:1-3.
2 tn Grk “And though.” Because of the difference between Greek style, which often begins sentences or clauses with “and,” and English style, which generally does not, καί (kai) has not been translated here.
3 tn The participle εὑρόντες (Jeuronte") has been translated as a concessive adverbial participle.
4 sn No basis. Luke insists on Jesus’ innocence again and again in Luke 23:1-25.
5 tn Grk “no basis for death,” but in this context a sentence of death is clearly indicated.
6 tn Or “you killed.”
7 tn Grk “at the hands of lawless men.” At this point the term ἄνομος (anomo") refers to non-Jews who live outside the Jewish (Mosaic) law, rather than people who broke any or all laws including secular laws. Specifically it is a reference to the Roman soldiers who carried out Jesus’ crucifixion.
