James: 1. The son of Zebedee and Salome; an elder brother of John the
apostle. He was one of the twelve. He was by trade a fisherman,
in partnership with Peter
(Matthew 20:20; 27:56) With John and Peter
he was present at the transfiguration
(Matthew 17:1; Mark 9:2) at the
raising of Jairus's daughter
(Mark 5:37-43) and in the garden
with our Lord
(Mark 14:33) Because, probably, of their boldness
and energy, he and John were called Boanerges, i.e., "sons of
thunder." He was the first martyr among the apostles, having been
beheaded by King Herod Agrippa
(Acts 12:1,2) A.D. 44. (Comp.)
2. The son of Alphaeus, or Cleopas, "the brother" or near kinsman
or cousin of our Lord
(Galatians 1:18,19) called James "the Less," or
"the Little," probably because he was of low stature. He is
mentioned along with the other apostles
(Matthew 10:3; Mark 3:18; Luke 6:15)
He had a separate interview with our Lord after his resurrection
(1 Corinthians 15:7) and is mentioned as one of the apostles of the
circumcision
(Acts 1:13) He appears to have occupied the position
of head of the Church at Jerusalem, where he presided at the
council held to consider the case of the Gentiles
(Acts 12:17)
