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James, son of Alphaeus — the Less

One of the more obscure of the Twelve, distinguished from James son of Zebedee as 'James the Less.' He is named in every list of the apostles but appears in no individual Gospel scene.

Role: Apostle

Also known as: James the Less

Lived: 1st century AD

Belonged to: The Twelve Apostles, Israelites (Hebrews)

Death: Traditionally martyred

What we know — and how we know it

Bible — stated in scripture (with verse) · 1 Scholarly — supported scholarly belief · 2

Family & lineage

BibleSon of Alphaeus.

Matthew 10:3

↳ Alphaeus

Death & legacy

ScholarlyNo reliable early account of his later life or death survives; the missions and martyrdom assigned to him in medieval lists are legendary.

Later apostolic legends

Name & titles

ScholarlyScripture names several men called James, and this one is hard to place among them. Since antiquity he has often been equated with 'James the Less' (Mark 15:40), and sometimes — more doubtfully — with James the brother of the Lord; both identifications remain debated.

Long-standing scholarly discussion

Where in scripture

Matthew Acts

Philip; Bartholomew; Thomas; Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus; Lebbaeus, who was also called Thaddaeus;
Matthew 10:3 — Listed among the Twelve

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 — In the upper room after the Ascension

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

Matthew 10:3 Acts 1:13