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Alphaeus
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Alphaeus

The father of the apostle James the Less and, by many accounts, of Matthew (Levi) the tax collector.

Role: Father of apostles
Lived: 1st century
Born: Capernaum

What we know — and how we know it

Bible — stated in scripture (with verse) · 1 Scholarly — supported scholarly belief · 1
Origin & birthplace
BibleFrom Capernaum.
Matthew 10:3
Name & titles
Scholarly"Alphaeus" is the Greek form (Alphaios) of the Aramaic name Halphai (חלפי), meaning roughly "exchange" or "successor." Because Greek could render this Aramaic name in more than one way, some scholars have argued Alphaeus and Clopas (Cleopas) reflect the same underlying name, though this equation is disputed.
Aramaic/Greek onomastics: Halphai > Alphaios; proposed identification with Clopas discussed in Gospel commentary (e.g., R. Bauckham).

Where in scripture

MatthewMarkLukeJohnActs

Philip; Bartholomew; Thomas; Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus; Lebbaeus, who was also called Thaddaeus;

Matthew 10:3 — Father of James

As he passed by, he saw Levi, the son of Alphaeus, sitting at the tax office, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he arose and followed him.

Mark 2:14 — Father of Levi

Andrew; Philip; Bartholomew; Matthew; Thomas; James, the son of Alphaeus; Thaddaeus; Simon the Zealot;

Mark 3:18

Matthew; Thomas; James, the son of Alphaeus; Simon, who was called the Zealot;

Luke 6:15

One of them, named Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who doesn’t know the things which have happened there in these days?”

Luke 24:18

But there were standing by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.

John 19:25

When they had come in, they went up into the upper room, where they were staying; that is Peter, John, James, Andrew, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas the son of James.

Acts 1:13

Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, a public-domain translation.

Matthew 10:3Mark 2:14Mark 3:18Luke 6:15Luke 24:18John 19:25Acts 1:13

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