James, son of Alphaeus, is one of the twelve apostles of Jesus Christ, but very little is recorded about him in the New Testament. His name appears in the lists of the apostles (Matthew 10:2–4, Mark 3:16–19, Luke 6:14–16, Acts 1:13), but there are no specific stories about him in the Gospels. Because of this, much of what we know about his life comes from early church tradition.
Identity and Confusion with Other Jameses
James, son of Alphaeus, is often confused with other men named James in the Bible:
James the brother of Jesus – Also called "James the Just," he became a leader in the Jerusalem church (Acts 15, Galatians 1:19).
James the son of Zebedee – The brother of John and one of Jesus' closest disciples, he was martyred early (Acts 12:2).
James the Less – Some believe James, son of Alphaeus, is the same as James the Less (Mark 15:40), though this is debated.
Ministry and Missionary Work
The Bible does not provide details about James, son of Alphaeus’ ministry after Pentecost, but early Christian tradition suggests he played a role in spreading the gospel. Some sources claim he preached in Palestine, Syria, and possibly even Persia (modern-day Iran).
Death and Martyrdom
Church tradition offers different accounts of James' death:
Josephus (1st-century historian) does not mention him.
The Golden Legend (medieval text) suggests he was crucified.
Other traditions claim he was stoned to death or beaten with a club in Egypt or Jerusalem.