The mission of God in this world — that is the message of the Book of Acts. It tells us the story of how God as at work — in Christ’s death, resurrection and ascension, along with the Pentecost Spirit — to create the new people of God. And the apostles were commissioned and empowered to declare this gospel. But, it comes at a cost:

It was about this time that King Herod arrested some who belonged to the church, intending to persecute them. He had James, the brother of John, put to death with the sword. When he saw that this pleased the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also. This happened during the Feast of Unleavened Bread. After arresting him, he put him in prison, handing him over to be guarded by four squads of four soldiers each. Herod intended to bring him out for public trial after the Passover.

This text evokes this text:

Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons came to Jesus with her sons and, kneeling down, asked a favor of him. “What is it you want?” he asked.  She said, “Grant that one of these two sons of mine may sit at your right and the other at your left in your kingdom.”

“You don’t know what you are asking,” Jesus said to them. “Can you drink the cup I am going to drink?” 
“We can,” they answered.

Jesus said to them, “You will indeed drink from my cup, but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared by my Father.”

24When the ten heard about this, they were indignant with the two brothers. 25Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them.  26Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant,  27 and whoever wants to be first must be your slave–  28just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”