Illustration created for this project.
Alphaeus
The father of the apostle James the Less and, by many accounts, of Matthew (Levi) the tax collector.
What we know — and how we know it
Bible — stated in scripture (with verse) · 1
Scholarly — supported scholarly belief · 1
Origin & birthplace
Name & titles
Scholarly"Alphaeus" is the Greek form (Alphaios) of the Aramaic name Halphai (חלפי), meaning roughly "exchange" or "successor." Because Greek could render this Aramaic name in more than one way, some scholars have argued Alphaeus and Clopas (Cleopas) reflect the same underlying name, though this equation is disputed.
Aramaic/Greek onomastics: Halphai > Alphaios; proposed identification with Clopas discussed in Gospel commentary (e.g., R. Bauckham).
Where in scripture
MatthewMarkLukeJohnActsFamily
Places in their life
Photo: Eddie Gerald — CC BY-SA 3.0 igo (via Wikimedia Commons)