James the son of Alphaeus

Family: Jesus's disciples · Role: apostle · First appears: Matthew 10

In Matthew 10, James the son of Alphaeus was among the twelve whom Jesus empowered to expel unclean spirits and heal sickness and disease. Jesus sent the apostles to Israel to preach, heal, cleanse, raise the dead, and cast out devils, commanding, “Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not.” Jesus was his mentor, teaching, “The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord,” while God was named as his parent.

At a mountain in Mark 3, Jesus ordained the twelve to remain with him and receive authority to preach, heal sicknesses, and cast out devils. In Luke 6, when it was day, Jesus chose twelve disciples and named them apostles, including James; there, Judas the brother of James is identified as his sibling. After Jesus appeared alive following his passion, James was among the apostles instructed about the kingdom of God and commanded to remain in Jerusalem awaiting the Father’s promise. In Acts 1, Matthias was chosen by lot and numbered with the eleven apostles.