James, son of Alphaeus
Israelite / Jew Jewish · Life of Christ · New Testament
- Also called
- James
- Name means
- James: Greek form of Jacob
- Role
- Apostle
- When
- c. AD 28-30s
What they did
Named in every list of the twelve apostles and among those praying in the upper room after the ascension; little else is recorded of him.
Why it matters: the purpose of their role
He reminds us that many faithful servants of Christ are known to God though little is written of them.
And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James. Acts 1:13 (KJV)
Bible references
Philip, and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the publican; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus; Matthew 10:3 (KJV)
And Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Canaanite, Mark 3:18 (KJV)
Matthew and Thomas, James the son of Alphæus, and Simon called Zelotes, Luke 6:15 (KJV)
And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James. Acts 1:13 (KJV)
Family
- Father
- Alphaeus
Often identified with 'James the less' (Mark 15:40), though this is not certain.