Consider some objections to capital punishment.

1. The Bible says “Thou shalt not kill” (Exodus 20:13). That statement is interpreted by Christ, “...Thou shalt do no murder...” (Matthew 19:18). So Moses was not telling the Jews not to kill, but not to murder.
   
   

2. Someone says, Paul killed. Yes, before his conversion he murdered men. “I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. Which thing I also did in Jerusalem: and many of the saints did I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I gave my voice against them” (Acts 26:10). But, he acknowledged this as sinful (I Timothy 1:13-16; Acts 22:19,20).
   
   

3. An innocent person might be put to death. Yes, that has happened. In I Kings 21, Jezebel had Naboth put to death upon the basis of false witnesses, but God did not do away with capital punishment. Innocent people are killed in the use of automobiles, motorcycles, air planes, sports activities, and judicial systems, but should society do away with them?
   
   

4. It is an act of hate. “But if any man hate his neighbour, and lie in wait for him, and rise up against him, and smite him mortally that he die, and fleeth into one of these cities: Then the elders of his city shall send and fetch him thence, and deliver him into the hand of the avenger of blood, that he may die. Thine eye shall not pity him, but thou shalt put away the guilt of innocent blood from Israel, that it may go well with thee” (Deuteronomy 19:11-13).
   
   

5. Someone is ready to say it does not prevent crime. Then ask gang members and drug cartels why they execute those who do not follow their rules or do as they tell them.
   
   

6. It is murder. Murder is the malicious, premeditated taking of life. Capital punishment is a judicial punishment for a crime. There is a great difference.