At that time Claudius charged Herod Agrippa to suppress the church of Christ. Then Herod laid his bloody hands on this apostle and, on the feast of the passover, put him in prison. Shortly afterwards he was sentenced to death, and executed with the sword, in Jerusalem. This occurred in the year forty-five after the birth of Christ. Acts 12:2.
Clemens relates that the executioner, seeing his innocence, was converted to the Christian faith, and died with him. According to the annotation of Eusebius Pamphilius, from Clemens Alexandrinus, the executioner was so moved on account of the death of James, that he professed himself to be a Christian; and so, as he states, both were led forth together to death. As they were led out, the executioner asked James to forgive him. James, after a little deliberation, said, “Peace be with thee,” and kissed him. And thus both were beheaded. Euseb. lib. 2. cap. 9. ex Clem. Alexand. Also W. Baudart. Apophthegmat. lib. 1. page 4. from Joach. Camer. in vita Christi, page 42. Niceph. lib. 2. cap. 3. Strac. in Festo Jacobi, page 209. Cle. Circa, cap. 45. Annum. James was the first martyr of the apostles. This history shows the alacrity of the ancient believers.
THE HOLY APOSTLE PHILIP, BOUND WITH HIS HEAD TO A PILLAR, AND STONED, AT HIERAPOLIS, IN PHRYGIA, A. D. 54.
STONING OF THE APOSTLE PHILIP.
Philip, a native of Bethsaida, in Galilee, had a wife and daughters of very honorable life. John 1:44; 12:21; Euseb. Hist. Eccles. lib. 3. cap. 30; 31.
He was found of Christ, and called as his disciple to follow him; which he did so faithfully, that when he found Nathanael, he brought him to Christ, declaring to him, that he had found him of whom Moses and the prophets had written, namely, Jesus of Nazareth, the true Messiah. John 1:45.
From that time on, Philip constantly followed Christ, listening to his admonitions, and beholding the miracles he performed to the service of the word of God; so that Christ ordained him an apostle, and sent him out to preach the Gospel, in the first place to the scattered sheep of the house Israel; which he also like his fellow apostles did. Matt. 10:3; Luke 6:13–15.
The Lord esteemed him as one of his greatest friends; for at the glorious miracle of the feeding of five thousand, Christ, in order to prove him, counseled with him, saying, “Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat?” John 6:5.
He was also kindly instructed by the Lord, when he asked to see the Father; for Christ said to him, Philip, he that hath seen me hath seen the Father, etc. John 14:8,9.