Category:James Zebedee (subject)

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James (son of) Zebedee / James the Elder (not to be confused with James the Just and James Alphaeus) was one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus of Nazareth, and the brother of John. Beheaded under Herod Agrippa I around 41-44 CE, he is the James venerated in Santiago de Compostela, Spain.

<Events : Call of the First Disciples -- Peter's Mother-in-Law -- Transfiguration of Jesus -- Agony in the Garden -- Martyrdom of James the Elder -- Relics of James the Elder >

<Fiction : James Zebedee (art) -- James Zebedee (literature) -- James Zebedee (music) -- James Zebedee (cinema)>

Overview

Little is known about this disciple of Jesus of Nazareth. According to the Gospel of Mark and Matthew he was the son of Zebedee and Mary Salome and the brother of John. The fact that the name of James occurs always (except in Luke 8:51; 9:28; Acts 1:13 — Greek Text) before that of his brother seems to imply that James was the elder of the two.

James Zebedee and his brother John figure in all lists of the Twelve Apostles, where with Peter and Andrew form the first group of the closest disciples of Jesus.

Peter, James, and John are singled out in some narratives. These three Apostles alone were present at the Raising of Jairus' Daughter (Mark 5:37; Luke 8:51), at the Transfiguration of Jesus (Mark 9:1; Matthew 17:1; Luke 9:28), and at the Agony in the Garden (Matthew 26:37; Mark 14:33).

The vehemence of character of James and John earned for them the name of Boanerges, "sons of thunder" (Mark 3:17). The two brothers were full of rage against "a certain man casting out devils" in the name of the Christ ("We forbade him, because he followed not with us", Lk 9:49). When the Samaritans refused to receive Christ, James and John said: "Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them?" (Luke 9:54; cf. 9:49).

Acts reports the execution of James Zebedee by decapitation under Herod Agrippa I around 41-44.

By contrast, James (and John) are not mentioned in the Gospel of John.

Leter Christian traditions

According to later Christian traditions, James preached in Galicia, Spain. After his martyrdom in Jerusalem, his remains were miraculously brought back to Galicia where are still today venerate at the sanctuary of Santiago de Compostela (see Relics of James the Elder).

James is traditionally called James the Elder or James the Greater to distinguish him from James Alphaeus (James the Minor, or James the Less), and James the Just, the brother of Jesus.

James son of Zebedee, in ancient sources

Gospel of Mark

Mark.1.19 And going on a little farther, he saw James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, who were in their boat mending the nets.

Mark.1.29 And immediately he left the synagogue and entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John.

Mark.3.17 James the son of Zebedee and John the brother of James (to whom he gave the name Boanerges, that is, Sons of Thunder);

Mark.5.37 And he allowed no one to follow him except Peter and James and John the brother of James.

Mark.9.2 And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them,

Mark.10.35 And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came up to him and said to him, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.” Mark.10.41 And when the ten heard it, they began to be indignant at James and John.

Mark.13.3 And as he sat on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew asked him privately,

Mark.14.33 And he took with him Peter and James and John, and began to be greatly distressed and troubled.

Gospel of Matthew

Matt 4:21 -- And going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and he called them.

Matt 10:2 -- The names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother...

Matt.17.1 And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves.

Gospel of Luke

Luke.5.10 and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.”

Luke.6.14 Simon, whom he named Peter, and Andrew his brother, and James and John, and Philip, and Bartholomew,

Luke.8.51 And when he came to the house, he allowed no one to enter with him, except Peter and John and James, and the father and mother of the child. Luke.9.28 Now about eight days after these sayings he took with him Peter and John and James and went up on the mountain to pray. Luke.9.54 And when his disciples James and John saw it, they said, “Lord, do you want us to tell fire to come down from heaven and consume them?”

Acts of Apostles

Acts.1.13 -- And when they had entered, they went up to the upper room, where they were staying, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot and Judas the son of James.

Acts.12.2 -- (Herod Agrippa I) killed James the brother of John with the sword,

Later Christian sources

Eusebius II 9,1-3 -- [1] "Acts 12:1-2 Now about that time" (it is clear that he means the time of Claudius) "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). [2] And concerning this James, Clement, in the seventh book of his Hypotyposes, relates a story which is worthy of mention; telling it as he received it from those who had lived before him. He says that the one who led James to the judgment-seat, when he saw him bearing his testimony, was moved, and confessed that he was himself also a Christian. [3] They were both therefore, he says, led away together; and on the way he begged James to forgive him. And he, after considering a little, said, "Peace be with you," and kissed him. And thus they were both beheaded at the same time.


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