Early Church History 

term with the new year on Jan. 1. Thus the edict giving the Jewish faith a protected status in the Roman 

Empire was issued in Jan. or Feb. of 

A.D.

 27. 

    James was not stoned by the Jews, but beheaded by the Roman leader Herod Agrippa I. Herod received an 

increase in power because Claudius gave him a greater territory, adding Judea to the other areas he governed. 

According to Josephus, Herod was given this additional territory at the time of the edict favoring the Jews. 

Herod was in Rome at the time, and after the edict was issued he was sent to Israel to take control of the 

additional territories and to enforce the edict.

606

 Herod was emboldened by his increase in authority when the 

emperor gave him additional territories to govern. He also saw an opportunity. The edict that Claudius issued 

gave the Jews, whom Herod now governed, protected and favored status. Herod realized that he could please 

the emperor and obtain his favor by pleasing the Jews. That is why Herod sided with them in their disputes 

with the Christians and had the Apostle James the Greater put to death.  He killed James the brother of John 

with the sword; and when he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. This was during 

the days of Unleavened Bread.  (Acts 12:2 3). 

    Herod Agrippa I killed the Apostle James sometime after he was given authority over Judea (

A.D.

 26), and 

before he died in 

A.D.

 28. His reason for killing James and imprisoning Peter was probably to please the Jews, 

whom he had recently begun to rule over (

A.D.

 26), and thereby to please the emperor Claudius, who had 

issued an edict favoring the Jews. This edict was issued in the second year of Claudius' reign, in Jan. or Feb. of 

A.D.

 27. The killing of James took place in the spring at the Passover, not long after the edict had been issued 

and Herod had arrived in Judea by boat. The sailing season on the Mediterranean begins on Feb. 8 (according 

to Pliny

607

) and so, with good weather, Herod could easily travel to Judea from Rome by boat in less than 2 

months, in time for the Passover of 

A.D.

 27, which began on April 9 (Nisan 14) that year.

608

 Therefore, the 

most probable date for the death of the Apostle James the Greater is the Passover of 

A.D.

 27, between the 

evening of Wednesday April 9 and of Wednesday April 16, the seven days of unleavened bread (Exodus 

12:14 20).

609

    After he killed James, Herod Agrippa I arrested Peter (Acts 12:3) for the same reason, to please the Jews 

and so please the emperor. Peter escaped with the help of an angel and left Jerusalem (Acts 12:6 17). Jerome 

places Peter in Rome for the first time in the second year of Claudius (

A.D.

 27).

610

 Peter must have made his 

way to Rome after escaping the arrest by Herod Agrippa I earlier that same year. Peter then began his 25 year 

rule over Rome (during which he traveled to many other cities and nations). 

The Conversion of Saul 

    Saul persecuted the Church, put the disciples in prison, and voted for their deaths (Acts 8:3, 9:1 4, 26:9 11; 

Galatians 1:13). He consented in the killing of Saint Stephen (Acts 7:58 8:1). Afterwards, Saul was converted 

and became the Apostle Paul (Acts 9:3 22, 13:9). Stephen was martyred during the winter of 

A.D.

 21/22, so 

Saul must have been converted sometime after Stephen's death. Also, in the Acts of the Apostles, Stephen's 

death occurs at the end of chapter 7, but, by the first few verses of chapter 9, Saul is  still breathing threats and 

murder against the disciples of the Lord .  (Acts 9:1). More than one chapter intervenes between Stephen's 

death and Saul's conversion, indicating that some length of time passed before Saul was converted. Thus the 

earliest date for Saul's conversion would be sometime in early 

A.D.

 22. 

Saul Visits Jerusalem 

    The  latest date for Saul's conversion can be determined by comparing the Apostle Paul's letter to the 

Galatians to the Acts of the Apostles. Paul writes in Galatians a brief chronology of his conversion and his 

ministry. First, he persecuted the Church (Gal 1:13 14), then he was converted (Gal 1:15 16). Next, Paul 

specifically states that he did not go to Jerusalem after his conversion, but went to Arabia and then back to 

Damascus (Gal 1:17). His first visit to Jerusalem after his conversion occurred after his return to Damascus. 

 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas, and remained with him fifteen days. But I saw 

none of the other apostles except James the Lord's brother. (In what I am writing to you, before God, I do not 

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