This verb in middle voice means to lay hands on someone violently, specifically to kill or slay them. Both Acts occurrences involve apostolic martyrdom: Peter recounting how the Jews 'killed' Jesus (5:30), and Paul's enemies attempting to 'kill' him in the temple (26:21). The middle voice suggests direct, personal action—laying one's own hands on the victim. The term originally meant to manage or handle, but in hostile contexts it specifically means to lay violent hands on someone with intent to destroy. Spanish 'matasteis' (you killed) and French 'mettre à mort' (put to death) capture the violent, lethal nature of this action.