Apostle living at the time of the New Testament

James son of Zebedee

Mark 1:19–20; 3:17; 5:37; 9:2; Acts 12:1–2

The son of Zebedee, a fisherman called with his brother John from the boat where they were mending nets (Matthew 4:21–22). Jesus named the two Boanerges, “Sons of Thunder,” and when a Samaritan village refused Jesus, they asked, “do you want us to command fire to come down from the sky?” and were rebuked (Mark 3:17; Luke 9:54–55). With Peter and John he was in the inner circle at the raising of Jairus’ daughter, the transfiguration, and Gethsemane (Mark 5:37; 9:2; 14:33). Herod Agrippa “killed James, the brother of John, with the sword,” the first of the apostles to die for the faith (Acts 12:2).

His birth year isn't recorded; the bar assumes he was a young man when called in AD 30. John's brother; with Peter and John one of the three closest to Jesus. The first of the Twelve to be martyred: Herod Agrippa I had him killed with the sword in AD 44 (Acts 12:2; Ussher's date). His death is dated by Scripture; only his birth is an estimate.

Family

Father

Zebedee

Mother

Salome

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