James, son of Zebedee in the Bible
One of the Twelve apostles, the brother of John, and the first of the apostles whose death the New Testament records.
At a glance
- Name
- James, son of Zebedee
- Also known as
- James
- Type
- Person
- Period
- New Testament
- Appears in
- The Gospels and the book of Acts
- First appearance
- Matthew 4
- Known for
- The apostle brother of John, first to be martyred
Who is James, son of Zebedee?
James is one of the Twelve apostles, the son of Zebedee and the brother of John, a fisherman whom Jesus calls together with his brother. The two are sometimes called the Sons of Thunder.
James is one of the three disciples, with Peter and John, whom Jesus keeps closest at key moments. He is one of the more prominent of the Twelve during Jesus's ministry.
In the book of Acts, King Herod has James put to death with the sword, making him the first of the apostles whose death the New Testament records.
The story of James, son of Zebedee
Called with his brother John
Jesus calls James and his brother John from their boat, and they leave their nets to follow him.
Read Matthew 4 →Put to death by Herod
In Acts, Herod has James killed with the sword, the first apostle to be martyred.
Read Acts 12 →People connected with James, son of Zebedee
- brother of John the Apostle James is the brother of John, called with him by Jesus.
- killed by Herod Agrippa James is put to death with the sword by Herod Agrippa.
Not to be confused with
- James, son of Alphaeus Another of the Twelve apostles named James, listed separately from James, son of Zebedee.
- James, the brother of Jesus A different James, a leader in the church at Jerusalem, traditionally linked to the letter of James.
- James, the father of the apostle Judas The apostle lists include a Judas son of James, so a further James is named as that Judas's father.
- James the younger Mark names a James the younger, the son of a Mary who watched the crucifixion, distinct from the son of Zebedee.
Key passages featuring James, son of Zebedee
These are key passages, not a complete list of every appearance.