Illustration created for this project.
James, son of Zebedee — son of thunder
Son of Zebedee and brother of John, a Galilean fisherman. With Peter and John he formed the inner circle who witnessed the Transfiguration. He was the first of the Twelve to be martyred, put to the sword by Herod Agrippa I.
What we know — and how we know it
Bible — stated in scripture (with verse) · 1
Scholarly — supported scholarly belief · 1
Death & legacy
BibleThe first of the apostles to be martyred, put to the sword by Herod Agrippa I about AD 44.
Acts 12:2
ScholarlyA later tradition connects him with Spain, where Santiago de Compostela became one of medieval Europe's great pilgrimage shrines.
Compostela tradition
Where in scripture
MarkActsFamily
In their own words — 2 recorded sayings
“And when they had come to an end, James, answering, said, My brothers, give ear to me: Symeon has given an account of how God was first pleased to take from among the Gentiles a people for himself. And this is in agreement with the words of the prophets, as it is said, After these things I will come back, and will put up the tent of David which has been broken down, building up again its broken parts and making it complete: So that the rest of men may make search for the Lord, and all the Gentiles on whom my name is named, Says the Lord, who has made these things clear from the earliest times.” — Acts 15:13-21
“And hearing it, they gave praise to God; and they said to him, You see, brother, what thousands there are among the Jews, who have the faith; and they all have a great respect for the law: And they have had news of you, how you have been teaching all the Jews among the Gentiles to give up the law of Moses, and not to give circumcision to their children, and not to keep the old rules. What then is the position? They will certainly get news that you have come. Do this, then, which we say to you: We have four men who have taken an oath; Go with these, and make yourself clean with them, and make…” — Acts 21:20-25
Speaker attribution: Clear Bible MACULA (CC BY 4.0). Wording: Bible in Basic English (public domain).
Connections
- Disciple of Jesus of Nazareth
Journeys
The tradition of James in Spain
A Spanish tradition sends James to preach in Iberia before his return and martyrdom in Jerusalem — the origin of Santiago de Compostela.
- Jerusalem · c. AD 33 — Sent out with the Twelve
- Iberia — By tradition preaches in Spain
- Jerusalem · c. AD 44 — Returns; first apostle martyred, under Agrippa I
Places in their life
Photo: Eddie Gerald — CC BY-SA 3.0 igo (via Wikimedia Commons)
Photo: Godot13 — CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
In art
