Keeping them straight: James the Greater and James the Less | The New Theological Movement Keeping them straight: James the Greater and James the Less St. James the Greater, of Compostela July 25th, Feast of St. James the Greater “St. James the Apostle, brother of blessed John the Evangelist, who was beheaded by Herod Agrippa about the time of the Paschal Feast, being the first of the Apostles to receive the crown of martyrdom. His sacred bones were translated on this day from Jerusalem to Spain, and buried in the furthest parts of that country, in Galicia, and are piously venerated with great honour by the people of that country, and by the mighty concourse of Christians who go thither to perform their religious duties and vows.” (from the Roman Martyrology) Devout Catholics often feel a certain anxiety when a feast of one of the St. James-es occurs. We often wonder: Which James is this again? And what did that James do? And how many Jameses are there anyways? There are, in fact, as many as five different Jameses presented in the Scripture – and to these, there are also many extra-canonical traditions regarding the Jameses.

In this little article, we will not so much attempt to give all the scriptural and patristic proofs of the general tradition, but will instead strive to put forward (clearly and concisely) the scriptural and traditional accounts about the different Jameses. The five important James-figures in Scripture The name "James" in the New Testament is borne by several: 1. James, the son of Zebedee — Apostle, brother of John, Apostle; also called "James the Greater". 2. James, the son of Alpheus, Apostle — Matthew 10:3; Mark 3:18; Luke 6:15; Acts 1:13. 3. James, the brother of the Lord — Matthew 13:55; Mark 6:3; Galatians 1:19. Without a shadow of doubt, he must be identified with the James of Galatians 2:2 and 2:9; Acts 12:17, 15:13 sqq. and 21:18; and 1 Corinthians 15:7. 4.

James, the son of Mary, brother of Joseph (or Joses) — Mark 15:40 (where he is called "the little", not the "less", as in the D.V., nor the "lesser"); Matthew 27:56. Probably the son of Cleophas or Clopas (John 19:25) where "Maria Cleophæ" is generally translated "Mary the wife of Cleophas", as married women are commonly distinguished by the addition of their husband's name. 5. James, the brother of Jude — Jude 1:1. Most Catholic commentators identify Jude with the "Judas Jacobi", the "brother of James" (Luke 6:16; Acts 1:13), called thus because his brother James was better known than himself in the primitive Church. [taken from the Catholic Encyclopedia on “James the Less”] Additionally, we know of James who wrote the Letter of St. James, James the bishop of Jerusalem, James who is regularly mentioned together with Peter and John, James whose bones are in Compostela (Spain), and James who is buried in Rome (at Dodici Apostoli).

The Church has recognized, in all these James-figures, only two men – who were related as uncle and nephew. James the Less (uncle of James the Greater) The general consensus of the Fathers, Doctors and theologians is that James the Less is the “James” of 2-5 (from the above list), as well as the Bishop of Jerusalem, the author of the Letter of St. James, and who is buried in Rome. This James is the brother (rather, cousin) of the Lord (through both Joseph and Mary), the son of Cleophas (aka Alphaeus, who met Christ on the way to Emmaus and was brother to Joseph the spouse of Mary) and Mary of Alphaeus (the sister of the Virgin Mary), the brother also of Mary Salome, and also the brother of Jude the Apostle, called the Less or the little. This James is also called “James the Just”. His feast is on May 3rd (May 11th in the 1962 calendar, though traditionally on May 1st), together with St. Philip.

James the Greater (nephew of James the Less) This is the first James (1) from the above list – James the Greater, the brother of John the Evangelist. James the Greater is called “Greater” as a means of distinguishing him from James the Less (who is called “the Less” from Mark 15:40). This is James who is regularly mentioned together with Peter and John as being taken apart from the rest of the Apostles to experience a special revelation from Jesus (as at the Transfiguration and the Agony in the Garden). James the Greater was the son of Zebedee and of Mary Salome. This means that he was the nephew of James the Less, who was the brother of Salome. This is the James who is said to have preached the Gospel in Spain and whose bones are venerated at Compostela. Today is his feast.

In the Roman Canon (Eucharistic Prayer I) From the Communicantes of the new English translation of the Roman Missal: “In communion with those whose memory we venerate, […] your blessed Apostles and Martyrs, Peter and Paul, Andrew, James, John, Thomas, James, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Simon, and Jude.” We may question: Which James is which? The answer: The first “James” is James the Greater – elder brother of John, hence he is placed directly before him. The second “James” is James the Less – who is venerated together with Philip and placed beside him in the Canon. The biblical and patristic evidence for these claims is laid out in an earlier article here . St. James, Pray for us! Posted by Father Ryan Erlenbush John the Apostle Site map John There are two prominent people in the New Testament named John, and both of their profiles are shown below: • John the Baptist John the Apostle John the Apostle was one of the original 12 apostles. He is the author of five New Testament books, including the Gospel of John, which is sometimes called the book of John.

John, his brother James and their father Zebedee were Galilean fisherman. Jesus called John and James to leave their careers as fishermen and to become His apostles. Soon after, John and James became part of an inner circle around Jesus with Peter and sometimes Andrew. John along with Andrew had been disciples of John the Baptist and became followers of Jesus after He was baptized by John the Baptist. John was the "beloved disciple" who leaned on Jesus during the Last Supper (John 13:23), who was "known to the high priest" (John 18:15), who was entrusted by Jesus with the care of His mother Mary (John 19:26), and who outran Peter to the empty tomb (John 20:2-4). After the resurrection, John appears as one of the leaders of the early church. According to Papias, one of John's disciples, John later went to the city of Ephesus. He was exiled under Emperor Domitian to the island Patmos. It was there that he wrote the Book of Revelation, which is the 27th book of the New Testament.

Under Nerva, John returned to Ephesus, and there composed the Gospel of John, the 4th book of the New Testament, and three Epistles, called John 1, John 2, John 3. John reportedly died at a very old age. John and his brother James were called the "Sons of thunder" by Jesus (Mark 3:17). John the Baptist John the Baptist was the forerunner of Jesus Christ. He was born to the elderly Zechariah and his barren wife Elizabeth (similar to Abraham and Sarah). Elizabeth was a relative of Mary, the mother of Jesus, and both became pregnant a few months apart. (Luke 1:41-42). Both were visited by the angel, Gabriel. John grew up in the wilderness and preached in the wilderness. His message was for people to repent because the Kingdom of heaven is at hand (Matthew 3:2). John baptized his followers in the Jordan River, to signify the drowning of their old life and their emergence from the water into a new life. John, as did Jesus later on, ran into conflict with the Pharisees and Sadducees for whom he had sharp words (Matthew 3:7-12).

John baptized Jesus, and proclaimed Him the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. Jesus Himself appraised John in Matthew 11:7-15. John was much more than a prophet, surpassing his predecessors in greatness, and comparable to Elijah. But John's generation did not accept him, alleging instead that he was demon possessed (Matthew 11:17-18). John's role as forerunner to Jesus was alluded to in a prophecy from Isaiah 40:3, which spoke of A voice of one calling: "In the desert prepare the way for the Lord; make straight in the wilderness a highway for our God." There is another prophecy, in Malachi 3:1, that also alludes to John the Baptist's role in preparing the way for Jesus Christ. John was beheaded AD 29 by Herod Antipas who imprisoned him in revenge for John's condemnation of his incestuous marriage to his brother's wife (Luke 3:19-20). Herodias' daughter, danced for Herod, who rewarded her by offering her whatever she wished. On the advice of her mother, she requested the head of John the Baptist on a platter.

Herod was grieved at being requested to execute him, but having given his oath before witnesses, he commanded that it be done (Matthew 14:1-11, Mark 6:14-28). Who Were the 12 Apostles Chosen By Jesus Christ 2. Andrew The Apostle Andrew abandoned John the Baptist to become the first follower of Jesus of Nazareth, but John didn't mind. He knew his mission was to point people to the Messiah. Like many of us, Andrew lived in the shadow of his more famous sibling, Simon Peter. Andrew led Peter to Christ, then stepped into the background as his boisterous brother became a leader among the apostles and in the early church . The Gospels don't tell us a great deal about Andrew, but we can read between the lines and find a person who thirsted for truth and found it in the living water of Jesus Christ. Discover how a simple fisherman dropped his nets on the shore and went on to become a remarkable fisher of men. More » The Apostle James by Rembrandt, 1661. Photo: Public Domain 3.

James James the son of Zebedee, often called James the Greater to distinguish him from the other apostle named James, was a member of Jesus Christ's inner circle, which included his brother, the Apostle John , and Peter. Not only did James and John earn a special nickname from the Lord—"sons of thunder"—they were privileged to be at the front and center of three supernatural events in the life of Christ. In addition to these honors, James was the first of the twelve to be martyred for his faith in A.D. 44. More » 'Vision of St John the Evangelist', 1937. Photo: Print Collector/Getty Images 4. John The Apostle John, brother to James, was nicknamed by Jesus one of the "sons of thunder," but he liked to call himself "the disciple whom Jesus loved." With his fiery temperament and special devotion to the Savior, he gained a favored place in Christ's inner circle. John's enormous impact on the early Christian church and his larger-than-life personality, make him a fascinating character study. His writings reveal contrasting traits.

For instance, on the first Easter morning, with his typical zeal and enthusiasm, John raced Peter to the tomb after Mary Magdalene reported that it was now empty. Although John won the race and bragged about this achievement in his Gospel (John 20:1-9), he humbly allowed Peter to enter the tomb first. According to tradition, John outlived all of the disciples, dying of old age in Ephesus, where he preached a gospel of love and taught against heresy . More » Engraving of the Apostle Philip. Photo: Getty Images 5. Philip Philip was one of the first followers of Jesus Christ , and he wasted no time calling others , like Nathanael, to do the same. Although little is known about him after the ascension of Christ, Bible historians believe Philip preached the gospel in Phrygia, in Asia Minor, and died a martyr there at Hierapolis. Learn how Philip’s search for the truth led him directly to the promised Messiah. More » Engraving of the Apostle Nathanael. Photo: Getty Images 6. Nathanael or Bartholomew Nathanael, believed to be the disciple Bartholomew, experienced a jarring first encounter with Jesus.

When the Apostle Philip called him to come and meet the Messiah, Nathanael was skeptical, but he followed along anyway. As Philip introduced him to Jesus, the Lord declared, "Here is a true Israelite, in whom there is nothing false." Immediately Nathanael wanted to know, "How do you know me?" Jesus got his attention when he answered, "I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you." Well, that stopped Nathanael in his tracks. Shocked and surprised he declared, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God ; you are the King of Israel." Nathanael garnered only a few lines in the Gospels, nevertheless, in that instant he became a loyal follower of Jesus Christ. More » Jesus calling Matthew, a taxman, to follow him and become a disciple. Photo: Getty Images 7. Matthew Levi, who became the Apostle Matthew, was a customs official in Capernaum who taxed imports and exports based on his own judgment. The Jews hated him because he worked for Rome and betrayed his countrymen. But when Matthew the dishonest tax collector heard two words from Jesus, "Follow me," he left everything and obeyed.

Like us, he longed to be accepted and loved. Matthew recognized Jesus as someone worth sacrificing for. Find out why, 2,000 years later, Matthew's eyewitness Gospel still sounds an irresistible call. More » 'The Incredulity of Saint Thomas' by Caravaggio. Image: Public Domain 8. Thomas The Apostle Thomas is often referred to as "Doubting Thomas" because he refused to believe that Jesus had risen from the dead until he saw and touched Christ's physical wounds. As far as disciples go, however, history has dealt Thomas a bum rap. After all, each of the 12 apostles, except John, abandoned Jesus during his trial and death at Calvary . Thomas, like us, was prone to extremes. Earlier he had demonstrated courageous faith, willing to risk his own life to follow Jesus into Judea. There is an important lesson to be gained from studying Thomas: If we're truly seeking to know the truth, and we're honest with ourselves and others about our struggles and doubts, God will faithfully meet us and reveal himself to us, just as he did for Thomas. More » The Apostle James the Less reading. Photo: Getty Images 9.

James the Less James the Less is one of the most obscure apostles in the Bible. The only things we know for certain are his name and that he was present in the upper room of Jerusalem after Christ ascended to heaven. In Twelve Ordinary Men, John MacArthur suggests that his obscurity may have been the distinguishing mark of his life. Discover why James the Less' complete anonymity may reveal something profound about his character. More » From left to right: Matthew, Thaddeus (Jude), and Simon the Zealot at the last supper in Jerusalem. Photo: Getty Images 10. Simon the Zealot Who doesn't like a good mystery? Well, the Scriptures introduce us to quite a few riddles that scholars have yet to solve. One of those puzzling questions is the exact identity of Simon the Zealot, the Bible's own mystery apostle. Scripture tells us almost nothing about Simon. In the Gospels, he is mentioned in three places, but only to list his name. In Acts 1:13 we learn that he was present with the apostles in the upper room of Jerusalem after Christ had ascended to heaven.

Beyond those few details, we can only speculate about Simon and his designation as a Zealot. More » The Apostle Thaddeus (on left) and Simon the Zealot. Photo: Getty Images 11. Thaddeus or Jude Listed together with Simon the Zealot and James the Less, the Apostle Thaddeus completes a grouping of the least known disciples. In Twelve Ordinary Men, John MacArthur's book about the apostles, Thaddeus, also known as Jude, is characterized as a tender-hearted, gentle man who displayed childlike humility. Some scholars believe Thaddeus wrote the book of Jude. It's a short epistle , but the closing two verses contain a beautiful doxology, one of the finest expressions of praise to God in the entire New Testament. More » In remorse, Judas Iscariot throws down the 30 pieces of silver he received in payment for betraying Christ. Photo: Hulton Archive/Getty Images 12. Judas Iscariot Judas Iscariot is the apostle who betrayed his Master with a kiss.

For this supreme act of treachery, some would say Judas Iscariot made the greatest error in history. Down through time, people have had strong or mixed feelings about Judas. Some experience a sense of hatred toward him, others feel pity, and some have even considered him a hero . No matter how you react to him, one thing is certain, believers can benefit greatly by taking a serious look at his life. More » St. John the Evangelist - Saints & Angels - Catholic Online St. John the Evangelist Author and Publisher - Catholic Online Facts Take the Saints Trivia Quiz now! Saint John the Divine as the son of Zebedee, and his mother's name was Salome [Matthew 4:21, 27:56; Mark 15:40, 16:1]. They lived on the shores of the sea of Galilee. The brother of Saint John, probably considerably older, was Saint James. The mention of the "hired men" [Mark 1:20], and of Saint John's "home" [John 19:27], implies that the condition of Salome and her children was not one of great poverty. SS.

John and James followed the Baptist when he preached repentance in the wilderness of Jordan. There can be little doubt that the two disciples, whom Saint John does not name (John 1:35), who looked on Jesus "as he walked," when the Baptist exclaimed with prophetic perception, "Behold the Lamb of God!" were Andrew and John. They followed and asked the Lord where he dwelt. He bade them come and see, and they stayed with him all day. Of the subject of conversation that took place in this interview no record has come to us, but it was probably the starting-point of the entire devotion of heart and soul which lasted through the life of the Beloved Apostle. John apparently followed his new Master to Galilee, and was with him at the marriage feast of Cana, journeyed with him to Capernaum, and thenceforth never left him, save when sent on the missionary expedition with another, invested with the power of healing.

He, James, and Peter, came within the innermost circle of their Lord's friends, and these three were suffered to remain with Christ when all the rest of the apostles were kept at a distance [Mark 5:37, Matthew 17:1, 26:37]. Peter, James, and John were with Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane. The mother of James and John, knowing our Lord's love for the brethren, made special request for them, that they might sit, one on his right hand, the other on his left, in his kingdom [Matthew 20:21]. There must have been much impetuosity in the character of the brothers, for they obtained the nickname of Boanerges, Sons of Thunder [Mark 3:17, see also Luke 9:54]. It is not necessary to dwell on the familiar history of the Last Supper and the Passion. To John was committed by our Lord the highest of privileges, the care of his mother [John 19:27].

John [the "disciple whom Jesus loved"] and Peter were the first to receive the news from the Magdalene of the Resurrection [John 20:2], and they hastened at once to the sepulchre, and there when Peter was restrained by awe, John impetuously "reached the tomb first." In the interval between the Resurrection and the Ascension, John and Peter were together on the Sea of Galilee [John 21:1], having returned to their old calling, and old familiar haunts. When Christ appeared on the shore in the dusk of morning, John was the first to recognize him. The last words of the Gospel reveal the attachment which existed between the two apostles. It was not enough for Peter to know his own fate, he must learn also something of the future that awaited his friend. The Acts show us them still united, entering together as worshippers into the Temple [Acts 3:1], and protesting together against the threats of the Sanhedrin [Acts 4:13]. They were fellow-workers together in the first step of Church expansion.

The apostle whose wrath had been kindled at the unbelief of the Samaritans, was the first to receive these Samaritans as brethren [Luke 9:54, Acts 8:14]. He probably remained at Jerusalem until the assumption of the Virgin, though tradition of no great antiquity or weight asserts that he took her to Ephesus. When he went to Ephesus is uncertain. He was at Jerusalem fifteen years after Saint Paul's first visit there [Acts 15:6]. There is no trace of his presence there when Saint Paul was at Jerusalem for the last time. Tradition, more or less trustworthy, completes the history. Irenaeus says that Saint John did not settle at Ephesus until after the death SS. Peter and Paul, and this is probable. He certainly as not there when Saint Timothy was appointed bishop of that place. Saint Jerome says that he supervised and governed all the Churches of Asia. He probably took up his abode finally in Ephesus in 97. In the persecution of Domitian he was taken to Rome, and was placed in a cauldron of boiling oil, outside the Latin gate, without the boiling fluid doing him any injury.

[Eusebius makes no mention of this. The legend of the boiling oil occurs in Tertullian and in Saint Jerome]. He was sent to labor at the mines in Patmos. At the accession of Nerva he was set free, and returned to Ephesus, and there it is thought that he wrote his gospel. Of his zeal and love combined we have examples in Eusebius, who tells, on the authority of Irenaeus, that Saint John once fled out of a bath on hearing that Cerinthus was in it, lest, as he asserted, the roof should fall in, and crush the heretic. On the other hand, he showed the love that was in him. He commended a young man in whom he was interested to a bishop, and bade him keep his trust well. Some years after he learned that the young man had become a robber. Saint John, though very old, pursued him among the mountain fastnesses, and by his tenderness recovered him.

In his old age, when unable to do more, he was carried into the assembly of the Church at Ephesus, and his sole exhortation was, "Little children, love one another." The date of his death cannot be fixed with anything like precision, but it is certain that he lived to a very advanced age. He is represented holding a chalice from which issues a dragon, as he is supposed to have been given poison, which was, however, innocuous. Also his symbol is an eagle. From The Lives of the Saints by the Rev. S. Baring-Gould, M.A., published in 1914 in Edinburgh. Why did Jesus call Sts. James and John the "sons of thunder"? | The New Theological Movement Why did Jesus call Sts. James and John the "sons of thunder"? July 25th, Feast of St. James the Greater And James the son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James; and [Jesus] named them Boanerges, which is, The sons of thunder (Mark 3:17) Today the Church celebrates the feast of St. James the Greater, who was the brother of St. John the Evangelist.

This is the St. James who was first among the Apostles to be martyred (by Herod in Jerusalem) and whose relics are venerated in Compostella, Spain. St. James the Greater was not called “the brother of the Lord” (that is St. James the Less), but he and his younger brother St. John were called Boanerges or “sons of Thunder”. Why did Jesus give them this designation? The fiery style of the sons of Zebedee There are certainly several incidents recorded in the Gospels which indicate the fiery preaching style of Sts. James and John. Certainly, these two were burning in their evangelical zeal, even to the point of some slight imperfection – this impetuousness was, of course, purified through their experience of our Savior’s Passion and Resurrection (as well as in the descent of the Holy Spirit). Consider how the two brothers complained against a certain man who was exorcising demons in the name of Jesus, even though he was not among their number – recall that this scene follows immediately upon our Lord’s admonition to humility, for the greater is to be as the lesser.

And John, answering, said: Master, we saw a certain man casting out devils in your name: and we forbade him, because he follows not with us. And Jesus said to him: Forbid him not: for he that is not against you is for you. (Luke 9:49-50) Or again, consider how these two desired to cause the physical (and spiritual) destruction of those who had rejected Christ: And he sent messengers before his face: and going, they entered into a city of the Samaritans, to prepare for him. And they received him not, because his face was of one going to Jerusalem. And when his disciples, James and John, had seen this, they said: Lord, will you that we command fire to come down from heaven and consume them? And turning, he rebuked them, saying: you know not of what spirit you are. The Son of man came not to destroy souls, but to save. And they went into another town.

(Luke 9:52-56) Again, these two – by way of their mother (who was Salome, the sister of James the Less) – requested the place of highest honor in the Kingdom: Then came to him the mother of the sons of Zebedee with her sons, adoring and asking something of him. Who said to her: What will you? She said to him: say that these my two sons may sit, the one on your right hand, and the other on your left, in your kingdom. And Jesus answering, said: You know not what you ask. Can you drink the chalice that I shall drink? They say to him: We can. He says to them: My chalice indeed you shall drink; but to sit on my right or left hand is not mine to give to you, but to them for whom it is prepared by my Father. (Matthew 21:20-23) It was in this last exchange that James won the honor of being the first of the Apostles to be martyred, and John the glory of enduring and surviving his martyrdom. The martyrdom of St.

James the Greater Fourteen years after our Lord promised him the chalice of martyrdom (which he gained through the request of his mother), St. James the Greater won his crown at the hands of Herod Agrippa I. In A.D. 44, King Herod (grandson of Herod the Great), implemented a most intense persecution of the Church of God in an attempt to increase the strict observance of the Mosaic Law and Jewish customs. And at the same time, Herod the king stretched forth his hands, to afflict some of the church. And he killed James, the brother of John, with the sword. (Acts 12:1-2) By this time, the “thunder” of St. James had been purified of all worldly ambition and vain glory. Now, his thunder and zeal was wholly intent upon the spread of the Kingdom of God. Seeing his Master and Savior die and rise, and receiving the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, St. James’ will was wholly conformed to the Divine Will. While, before, the zeal of this Apostle had lead to certain excesses and even rash judgment, now this zeal was purified and all together holy.

Rather than seeking to exalt himself above others, St. James willingly offered his own life in the service of the people of God. The excellence of these two brothers Consider the commentary of the Jesuit Father Cornelius a’ Lapide: “Christ called James and John by a new name, Banerges, Sons of thunder, because He charged them above the rest of the Apostles with the glorious preaching of His Gospel, that by the holiness of their lives and their miracles they might be like thunderbolts, and might, by the power of their voices, shake as with claps of thunder unbelievers and barbarians, and bring them to repentance and a holy life. “This appears in the history of S. James. Because of his liberty and zeal in preaching, he was the first among the Apostles to incur the wrath of Herod and the Jews, by whom he was beheaded (Acts xii.). The same converted the Spaniards, and by their means the inhabitants of the East and West Indies, to the faith of Christ. “John preached for a very long period, and very efficaciously.

He was the last of the Apostles to depart this life, which he did after he had subdued Asia and other provinces to Christ by his preaching. Hence, also, his Gospel begins with divine thunder, as it were an eagle of God crying with a voice of thunder, In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God (S. Epiphanius, Hæres. 73). Wherefore, when he was writing his Gospel, there were lightnings and thunderings from heaven, like as it lightened from Mount Sinai when God gave the law to Moses.” St. James the Greater, Pray for us! Posted by Father Ryan Erlenbush THE APOSTLE JAMES Privacy Policy The Apostle James ( Son of Zebedee ) Of the three apostles who comprised the inner circle of Jesus' disciples (Peter, James and John), we know the least about the apostle James.

We do know, however, that the apostle James was the eldest brother of the apostle John and that their father's name was Zebedee (their mother's name was Salome.) James, his brother John, Peter and Andrew were all partners in a fishing business prior to being called by Christ Jesus to follow Him. Zebedee was, also, a partner in the business. There is some evidence that James was the first cousin of Jesus the Messiah and had been acquainted with Him from infancy. It is believed that his mother Salome was the sister of Jesus' mother Mary. Not much is known of his ministry after Jesus' resurrection. It is believed, however, that he lived another 14 years before his martyrdom. In fact, the apostle James was the first apostle to suffer martyrdom. By order of Herod Agrippa I, James was beheaded in Jerusalem about the feast of Easter, 44 AD. It is believed that within this 14 year period, James visited the Jewish colonist and slaves in Spain to preach the Gospel. It has been said that when the apostle James was led out to die, a man who had brought false accusations against him walked with him to the place of execution.

He had doubtless expected to see James looking pale and frightened but he saw him, instead, bright and joyous, like a conqueror who had won a great battle. The false witness greatly wondered at this and became convinced that the Savior in whom the prisoner by his side believed must be the true God or He could not impart such cheerfulness and courage to a man about to die. The man himself, therefore, became a convert to Christianity and was condemned to die with James the apostle ( both were consequently beheaded on the same day and with the same sword.) About the same period, Timon and Parmenas (two of the seven original deacons) suffered martyrdom ( the former at Corinth and the latter at Philippi in Macedonia.) Purchase Online (The Search for the Twelve Apostles) The information above is compiled from the book "The Search for the Twelve Apostles" by William Steuart McBirnie Ph.D, Copyright 1973 Apostle Portraits Greek from Aramaic: Rock Original name in Greek (Simon): Hearing Simon Peter, the son of Jonah of Bethsaida ( Matthew 16:17 ), lived in Capernaum ( John 1:42 ) as a skilled fisherman of Galilee.

While Peter may have spoken colloquial Greek, his native tongue would have been Aramaic. According to Mark 1:30 , Peter had a wife whose mother was healed by the Lord from a terrible fever. Both he and his brother, Andrew, were fishing partners with the sons of Zebedee ( Mark 1:16 ), James and John. As seen in Matthew 4:18-19 , Christ had called these men into a new service - to be "fishers of men." From this righteous command, Peter and the others learned to pick up their cross and follow Christ, the Son of the living God. Beforehand, Peter had been discipled by John the Baptist, the forerunner of Christ ( John 1:35-42 ). Peter was instrumental in the proclamation of the Good News after the resurrection of Christ. After a full life of spreading the beloved gospel, tradition holds that Peter was martyred in Rome between AD 60-69. He was crucified upside down, considering himself unworthy to die the same death of his Lord. He has been considered the first traditional bishop of Rome and his tomb is believed to be under the high altar in the Basilica of St.

Peter of Rome. Unlike many of the disciples, we can identify well with Peter. His shortcomings of little and faltering faith in Christ are all too common in our own lives ( Matthew 14:28-30 ). However, throughout scripture, he is known as the Rock ( Matthew 16:18 ). From Pentecost onwards, he would become a "Pillar Apostle" ( Galatians 2:9 ) and a foundational stone for the other apostles. Before Christ entered his life, he had been considered arrogant boasting and a man of rash action. But then, from the moment of his calling by Jesus to his denial of Christ, he became a man of impulse and childlike simplicity mixed with much insecurity. These character flaws began to change after two influential interactions with Christ. Both the appearance of Jesus after the resurrection ( Luke 24:34 ) and Christ's commission to "feed my sheep" ( John 21:15 ) brought a new light to the life of Peter. He was often singled out by Jesus ( Mark 8:29-33 ) and was present for many miracles and amazing experiences (e.g.

the raising of Jarius's daughter to life ( Mark 5:25-41 ), the transfiguration ( Mark 9:2-8 ), and the arrest of Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane ( Mark 14:43-50 ). Peter took the leadership role of the early church and became known for his numerous miracles in the name of Jesus Christ. Throughout history, Peter has been particularly remembered for his threefold denial, his repentance, and the threefold commission of Christ. Although Peter was a diamond in the rough, God faithfully used him to show the beautiful grace found in Christ and the simplicity of faith in the Omnipotent God. Andrew Greek: Manly As the brother of Simon Peter, Andrew was also a disciple of John the Baptist and was the first follower of Jesus to be identified by name. His interaction with Christ caused him to immediately leave and tell Peter of the Messiah, the Son of God ( John 1:35-42 ). Eventually, he and Peter left their fishing business to follow their beloved Saviour. Within the glorious ministry of Christ, Peter and Andrew witnessed amazing marvels and miracles.

Among them, Christ used five loaves of bread from a boy, brought forth by Andrew, to feed the five thousand people who had gathered to hear the word of God ( John 6:8 ). We find the last appearance of Andrew before the Passover festival in Jerusalem, and after the triumphal entry on the first Palm Sunday. Men from Greece approached Philip and Andrew hoping to see the Christ: "Sir, we wish to see Jesus." Both Philip and Andrew returned to Jesus and told Him of these men ( John 12:21 ). Later in his ministry, Andrew preached the gospel to the Scythians, Sogdians, and the Sacae in Sebastopolis, Ethiopia, in AD 80. Because he would not submit to the Roman idols, he was crucified by Aegeas, the governor of the Edesenes, and buried in Patrae, in Archaia. James and John (Sons of Zebedee) Greek: Sons of Thunder While mending their fishing nets, the sons of Zebedee, James and John, were called by Jesus to be "fishers of men." The two brothers and Peter formed the innermost circle of Jesus closest companions.

They became the eyewitnesses of the life, work, and resurrection of Christ Jesus. They were present to attest to the resurrection of Jarius's daughter, to the transfiguration of the Lord, and to the events in the garden of Gethsemane. They became known as the "Sons of Thunder" for their high spirits and zeal as seen in their desire to destroy an unfriendly Samaritan city ( Luke 9:51-56 ). However, they were also dedicated to the purpose of their Lord and played a significant part in the church. Fifteen years after hearing the call of the Lord upon the shores of Galilee, James was killed under the rule of King Agrippa I. "Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church. And he killed James the brother of John with the sword" ( Acts 12:1-2 ). The martyrdom of James is the only biblical and reliable account of a death of one of the twelve apostles. John was referred to as "one of the disciples, whom Jesus loved," in the gospel of John and is said to be the author of the fourth gospel.

John is the only disciple to be recorded as being present at the crucifixion of Christ. After the death of Jesus, he took the Lord's mother, Mary, as his own. He was also the first to see the glorious sight of the empty tomb. John was one of the early leaders of the church and thus became known as a "Pillar of the Church" ( Galatians 2:9 ). According to tradition, John was banished to the Island of Patmos ( Revelation 1:9 ) after he survived being thrown into boiling oil under Domitian. On that desolate Island, John received visions of the future and words from the Lord to seven churches. The compilation of these visions and letters formed the Book of Revelation. John Foxe also adds that he was released from Patmos and allowed to return to Ephesus in the year of A.D. 97. Philip Philip is mentioned in all three Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke) as the man from Bethsaida who was a disciple of John the Baptist. Both Philip and Andrew appear together in the listings of the apostles found in the gospels and in the Book of Acts.

In the Book of John, he is portrayed as one who had a deep understanding of the Old Testament prophecy and of the coming Messiah; as well, he demonstrated a heart for missions ( John 1:43-46 ; 12:21-22 ). However, he struggled with spiritual insight evidenced in his converse with Christ at the feeding of the five thousand ( John 6:5-7 ; 14:7-9 ). There is some dispute over the events of Philip's later life and ministry. A second century Ephesian tradition believes he died at Hierapolis, roughly one hundred miles inland of Ephesus. Another tradition says Philip was crucified; and as a result, medieval art often depicts Philip on the cross. Bartholomew Greek from the Aramaic: Son of Tomai Bartholomew is found in all four lists (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and Acts) of the apostles and was present during the selection of Matthias.

Many scholars associate Bartholomew with the surname "Nathanael." If the identification of Bartholomew with Nathanael is correct, Philip brought Bartholomew (Nathanael), a native of Cana of Galilee ( John 21:2 ), to acknowledge Jesus as the Messiah. Yet, Jesus was already familiar with Bartholomew as seen in John 1:48-51 : Nathanael said to Him, "How do You know me?" Jesus answered and said to him, "Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you." Nathanael answered Him, "Rabbi, You are the Son of God; You are the King of Israel. Jesus answered and said to him, "Because I said to you that I saw you under the fig tree, do you believe ? You will see greater things than these." And He said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see the heavens opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man. In the Gospel of John, he is mentioned with the seven apostles during the Lord's last post-resurrection appearance ( John 21:2 ).

However, little information is revealed about his life and ministry with Christ. According to Foxe's Book of Marytrs, he has been said to have preached throughout India and translated the Gospel of Matthew into their tongue. Later in his ministry, Bartholomew was beaten, crucified, and beheaded in Albinopolis, Armenia for the sake of his Master. Thomas Hebrew: A twin Known as "Doubting Thomas," he was the pessimistic, loyal, and practical disciple whose suspicions of the resurrection vanished as he touched the wounds of his risen Master. He was present in the upper room during Pentecost (when the Holy Spirit descended upon the believers). However, very little of the New Testament mentions him again. It seems that there are three significant occurrences involving Thomas and Christ. The first occasion begins when Jesus was hounded out of Jerusalem and was seeking a quiet and secluded town for safety. When word came of Lazarus's illness, Jesus waited two days before leaving for Bethany that the Father would be glorified. Although Thomas was frightened, he was loyal to his Master and accompanied Him during the dangerous travels.

We come to understand the threatening situation and the loyalty of Thomas in John 11:16 : "Let us also go, that we may die with Him." A second reference to Thomas's interaction with Christ can be found in the upper room, during the Last Supper, before the arrest of Jesus. Jesus sat among his disciples and told them of His coming departure: "In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you." And Thomas responded with, "Lord, we known not whither Thou goest; and how can we know the way?" From this simple question came the beautiful answer that many Christians cherish today. "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." Indeed, He is the way and the life. By His grace, Christ is our daily strength and satisfaction. By His redeeming blood, we have access to the Almighty God. Third, we rejoin the disciples in the upper room after the crucifixion of Christ as they hid from the Jews.

Then Christ appeared to them in all His glorious magnificence; yet Thomas was not among the disciples ( John 20:19-24 ). Being the practical man that he was, Thomas did not believe the other disciples when they had told him of their risen Lord. One week later, the followers of Christ hid once more from the Jews in the upper room. It was then when Christ appeared a second time and Thomas realized his Saviour had indeed raised from the dead. "Thus saith He to Thomas, reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing." As Thomas came to grips with the glorious understanding of his risen King, he cried, "My Lord and My God!" According to tradition, Thomas traveled to Persia and South India, where he founded the ancient Mar Thoma Church, in Travancore and Cochin, now called Kerala. He has been recognized for writing an apocryphal book that may have been written in the second century. It has also been said that Thomas was martyred near Madras at Mount St. Thomas.

Matthew Greek: Gift of God Originally named Levi, Matthew, was a Jew from Capernaum ( Mark 2:14 ). In Matthew 9:9 , responding to Christ, he immediately "arose and followed Him" and began a new life serving the Lord. Many biblical scholars see this as a representative of how Christians should react when Jesus Christ exhorts them to seek the path of righteousness ( Matthew 16:24 ). The call of Matthew is told in all three of the Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke) as Jesus makes an unexpected choice to call forth a tax collector to be His disciple. As a tax collector, or publican, Matthew transferred taxes from both local merchants and farmers to the Roman state. In that day, tax collectors were seen as thieves because they often took taxes for personal gain. Immediately after he rose to follow the Lord, Matthew gave Jesus a large banquet in which he invited many tax collectors and sinners ( Luke 5:29 ). The Pharisees criticized Jesus for dining with such an appalling group of wretched sinners; yet Jesus rebuked them saying," I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance" ( Luke 5:32 ).

Indeed, He came to save sinners from all condemnation and eternal destruction. What a wonderful comfort to cherish! May we immediately rise up and seek Christ with all our hearts and souls. Thus, we will spend eternity in His everlasting and glorious presence! Within his gospel, Matthew reveals the Messiah to be the fulfillment of the Old Testament law: for the Son of God is the true sacrificial lamb ( Hebrews 10:10 ). Based upon the work of Mark, Matthew portrays the life of Christ in a more complete manner through long dissertations, as seen in the Sermon on the Mount. Throughout his book, Matthew emphasizes the teaching of Christ as a source of guidance for the church. In his later ministries, Matthew preached to Ethiopia and all of Egypt and was later killed with a spear under the leadership of King Hircanus. James (Son of Alphaeus) While his name appears in the four New Testament listings of apostles, little is known about James. He is usually identified with "James the Younger," the son of Mary (not the mother of Jesus), and the brother of Joses ( Mark 15:40 ; Matthew 27:56 ).

This distinction of "younger" or "less" (Gk ho mikros) differentiates him from James the brother of Jesus and James the son of Zebedee. The terms "younger" or "less" refer to his younger age, smaller physique, and less significance. His mother, Mary, was among the crowd at the crucifixion of Jesus and the discovery of the empty tomb ( Matthew 27:56 ; Mark 15:40 ; 16:1 ; Luke 24:10 ). Simon the Zealot Before his calling to follow Christ, Simon was a zealous nationalist who wanted to drive out the Romans from the cities; his group tactics often resulted in bloody conflict. Both the Gospel of Luke and Book of Acts link Simon with Judas (not Iscariot) throughout their writings. Little is known about the lives of both Simon and Judas (not Iscariot). According to the apocryphal book, The Passion of Simon and Jude, we are told their lives ended in martyrdom in Persia.

Thaddaeus Greek: "Large Hearted" and "Courageous" Unlike the other apostles, Thaddaeus claims three separate names: Thaddaeus ( Matthew 10:3 ), Judas, son of James ( Mark 3:18 ), and Labbaeus (not found in the Revised Standard Version). However, little is know about the life and ministry of Thaddaeus. The New Testament records only one event involving Thaddeus: his question to Jesus during a message to the disciples after the Last Supper: Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him, "Lord, what then has happened that You are going to disclose Yourself to us and not to the world?" Jesus answered and said to him, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him ( John 14:22 ). Judas Iscariot Some believe the name "Iscariot" identifies Judass place of origin, since his father is described as "Simon Iscariot" ( John 6:71 ; 13:2 , 26 ).

After his calling to seek the Lord, Judas Iscariot became the treasurer for the twelve disciples ( John 12:4-6 ; 13:29 ). Because this position is not given to one of greedy and irresponsible conduct, it may be assumed that he showed positive characteristics before the other followers of Christ. However, the Gospel of John tells us that during his time as treasurer, Judas had become a thief, stealing from the treasury funds ( John 12:6 ). Judas has become infamous for his betrayal of Jesus. Both Luke and John render him to be under the influence of Satan himself ( Luke 22:3 ; John 13:2 ). It may have been his greed that motivated him to betray Jesus for a worthless amount of thirty pieces of silver ( Matthew 26:14-16 ; Mark 14:10-11 ; Luke 22:3-6 ).

In the Garden of Gethsemane, Judas led a band of soldiers to Jesus and identified Him with a kiss ( Matthew 26:47-56 ; Mark 14:43-52 ; Luke 22:47-53 ; John 18:2-12 ). Yet when Jesus was condemned to death, Judas was filled with great remorse and returned the pieces of silver to the priests. Then Judas departed from the temple and committed suicide by hanging himself ( Matthew 27:3-10 ; Acts 1:18-19 ). After the resurrection of Christ, Matthias replaced Judas within the circle of the twelve apostles ( Acts 1:26 ). Matthias Greek: Gift of Jehovah Before 120 followers of Christ, Peter gave an account of the life, ministry, and the death of Judas Iscariot. Because of the loss of Judas, a replacement was in order to fill the gap within the original twelve apostles. It was necessary to select one who had known them since the Lord's baptism by John to the resurrection of the Son of Man. These twelve witnesses would represent the twelve tribes of Israel.

Thus, these followers of Christ gathered together to cast lots between two candidates: Joseph called Barsabas (Justus) and Matthias. "And they drew lots for them, and the lots fell to Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles" ( Acts 1:26 ). Many believe that Barsabbas and Matthias were among the seventy disciples who were sent out to proclaim the gospel ( Luke 10:1 ). However, neither one is mentioned again in Scripture, nor is there any account for their later ministries. Paul of Tarsus Greek from Latin: Little Paul, the author of thirteen New Testament Epistles, was born as an Israelite in Tarsus of Cilicia ( Acts 22:3 ; Philippians 3:5 ). His original name was Saul. He studied under Gamaliel in Jerusalem ( Acts 22:3 ) and became a Pharisee ( Philippians 3:5 ). He was present at the stoning of Stephen ( Acts 7:58 ; 8:1 ) and later became a persecutor of the church ( Acts 8:1-3 ; Philippians 3:6 ).

While he was seeking to have Christians bound, he was converted on the road to Damascus as Christ appeared to him ( Acts 9:1-9 ). He went into Damascus ( Acts 9:10-19 ) and then to Arabia for a period of time ( Galatians 1:17 ) before returning to Jerusalem ( Acts 9:26-29 ; Galatians 1:18 ). Eventually, he met with Barnabas and ministered with him in Antioch ( Acts 11:25-26 ). Soon he began to go on various missionary journeys to bring the Gospel to the Gentiles. He was then imprisoned in Rome on two occasions and was martyred under Caesar Nero. Please visit the timeline of Paul the Apostle for a detailed chronology of Paul's life. Barnabas Greek from the Hebrew: Son of Exhortation Originally from Cyprus ( Acts 4:36 ), Barnabas settled Jerusalem. Both he and Paul of Tarsus (whose close friend he would become) shared similar Jewish roots ( Acts 4:36 ) and Hellenistic backgrounds of the Jewish Diaspora.

The first appearance of Barnabas in the New Testament can be found among the earliest converts, selling his lot of land and giving the profit to the apostles ( Acts 4:36 ). He quickly became well liked and a respected leader within the apostolic circle. Paul and Barnabas began a close partnership within the work of ministry. Their common background in the Diaspora and their traditional training as a Pharisee and Levite may have brought about the strong companionship. Because of the heavy persecution of the Hellenized Christians, many believers were scattered as far as Phoenicia and Syria. Thus the church of Antioch was established in Syria, which would become the future headquarters of Paul's journeys. The leaders in Jerusalem soon elected Barnabas to be the superintendent of the church and he, in turn, chose Paul to be his assistant. Barnabas accompanied Paul on a missions trip that covered approximately 1,400 miles of territory as they proclaimed the gospel and encouraged the body of Christ. During the first tour, Paul and Barnabas traveled to Cyprus with John Mark.

Acts 12:25 and 13:5 imply that John Mark was in Antioch and later teamed with Paul and Barnabas. However, when Paul and Barnabas decided to climb the mountains to Antioch of Pisidia, John Mark turned back. During this first tour, Paul became the spokesperson, and even engaged in vigorous discussions within the council. Barnabas was also given recognition and even a divine title in Acts 14:12 . Unlike Paul, he never experienced violence or stoning while ministering to others. Following their first journey, Paul and Barnabas went to Jerusalem to settle the controversial issue of the law and circumcision. After a stimulating debate, it was decided that gentiles could be given admittance to the church if they conform to certain social customs of the Jews. After a successful trip, Barnabas suggested that John Mark join them on the next journey. Yet Paul felt otherwise and the team divided. Paul traveled with another entourage and Barnabas and John Mark journeyed to Cyprus. In any case, the dispute did not end the friendship between Paul and Barnabas.

In a letter to the Corinthians, Paul uses both he and Barnabas as an example of apostles who still maintain a working trade while serving in ministry and they refused to accept charity from churches. Indeed, Paul, Barnabas, and John Mark all make vital contributions to the Christian faith and the New Testament. Sources: Wilkins, Michael J. "Disciples" in Joel B. Green, et al. Dictionary of Jesus and the Gospels. (Downers Grove, Illinois: InterVarsity Press, 1992), p. 180. Brownrigg, Ronald. Who's Who in the New Testament, (Nashville, Tennessee: Pillar Books for Abingdon Press, 1971) Wilkins, Michael J. "Barnabas" in Joel B. Green, et al. Dictionary of Paul and His Letters. (Downers Grove, Illinois: InterVarsity Press, 1993), p. 66-67. Foxe, John; Foxe's Christian Martyrs of the World, (Uhrichsville, Ohio: Barbour and Company Inc, 1989) Lockyer, Herbert.

All the Apostles of the Bible, (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan Publishing House, 1972) CONTENT DISCLAIMER: The Blue Letter Bible ministry and the BLB Institute hold to the historical, conservative Christian faith, which includes a firm belief in the inerrancy of Scripture. Since the text and audio content provided by BLB represent a range of evangelical traditions, all of the ideas and principles conveyed in the resource materials are not necessarily affirmed, in total, by this ministry. Search

Question: Also the name of a popular TV character, who was the father of the apostles John the Evangelist and James the Greater?
Answer: ZEBEDEE