Now Claudius Cesar by these decrees of his which were sent to Alexandria, and to all the habitable earth, made known what opinion he had of the Jews. So he soon sent Agrippa away, to take his Kingdom, now he was advanced to a more illustrious dignity than before: and sent letters to the presidents and procurators of the provinces, that they should treat him very kindly. Accordingly he returned in haste, as was likely he would, now he returned in much greater prosperity than he had before. He also came to Jerusalem, and offered all the sacrifices that belonged to him: and omitted nothing which the law required. (28) On which account he ordained that many of the Nazarites should have their heads shorn.
The original text read:
He [Agrippas] ordained that many of the Nazarenes should have their heads cut.
This hypothesis explains why in Acts Agrippas beheaded James son of Zebedee.
The Nazarenes were therefore another name for: Zealots.
It has been advanced as explanation something of similar to Acts 21:24:
Take these men, join in their purification rites and pay their expenses, so that they can have their heads shaved. Then everyone will know there is no truth in these reports about you, but that you yourself are living in obedience to the law.
In both the cases, Acts is based on Josephus. Nothing of new under the sun.
