James, the Son of Alpheus, or Brother of the Lord, in the Year 63

James the Lesser was the son of Alpheus, and of Mary Cleophas, sister to the mother of Christ; he is called the Lord's brother. Matthew 10, verse 3; Galatians 1, verse 19.

After proper instruction he was ordained an apostle by Christ, and sent out to minister to the Jews; in this he did well, until Christ's death. After that he, with others, was sent out to preach the Gospel, which he did in the Jewish church. Matthew 28, verse 19; Mark 16, verse 15.

And although Peter, and James and his brother John, the last two of whom were the sons of Zebedee, were regarded as the special apostles, he was nevertheless considered to be one of the three pillars of the church, after the death of James the son of Zebedee. Galatians 2, verse 9.

He was appointed by the apostles the first overseer of the church at Jerusalem; this was shortly after the death of Christ. Eusebius, book 4, chapter 5, and book 2, chapter 23. He carried out this office faithfully for thirty years, converting many to the true faith, not only (though chiefly) by the pure doctrine of Christ, but also through his holy life, on account of which he was called the just. Nicephorus, book 2, chapter 38. [n102-1]

He was very steadfast and holy, a true Nazarite, in dress as well as in eating and drinking; and he prayed daily for the church of God and for the common good.

This apostle wrote an epistle for the comfort of the twelve tribes who were scattered abroad, saying: James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting. My brothers, count it all joy when you fall into various temptations. James 1, verses 1 and 2.

But although he comforted his own people, who believed in the name of Christ, with many excellent reasons, the unbelieving Jews could not endure his doctrine; so that Ananias, a bold and cruel young man among them, who was the high priest, summoned him before the judges, that they should compel him to deny that Jesus is the Christ, and force him to renounce the Son of God and the power of His resurrection. Josephus, Antiquities, book 20, chapter 8. Eusebius, book 2, chapter 1, verse 22, from Egesippus. Jerome, Catalogus. [n102-2]

To this end the chief priest, scribes, and Pharisees placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, at the time of the passover, so that he should deny his faith before all the people. But as he stood there before the people, he confessed with much greater boldness that Jesus Christ is the promised Messiah, the Son of God, our Savior, and that He is sitting at the right hand of God, and will come again in the clouds of heaven, to judge the living and the dead.

Because of this testimony of James, the multitude of the people praised God, and magnified the name of Christ. Then the enemies of the truth cried, Oh, the just one also has erred; let us take him away, for he is of no use. So they cast him down, and stoned him. But as he was not killed by the fall and the stoning, having only broken his legs, he knelt down and prayed to God for those who stoned him, saying, Lord, forgive them; for they do not know what they do.

On account of this, one of the priests begged for his life, saying, What are you doing? The Just one is praying for us. Stop stoning! But another of those present, who held a fuller's stick in his hand, struck him over the head with it, so that he died, and fell asleep in the Lord. He was buried at the place where he had been thrown down from the temple. Jerome, Catalogus, in Jacobo Justo. Also, W. Baudart., Apophthegmata, book 1, chapter 6, from Eusebius Pamphilius Caesariense, in Historia Ecclesiastica. Strac., in Festo Philippi and Jacobi, page 133. Anno 62. C. Aetat. Jacobi. [n102-3]

This occurred in the year 63, in the ninety-sixth year of his age, in the seventh year of the reign of Nero, during an interim in the governorship between the death of Festus and the arrival of Albinus, under the high priest Ananias, who committed this lamentable deed against James.

Concerning this James the following is contained in the Apophthegms of Baudartius: "He was on his bare knees so often, and for such long periods, praying to the Lord God for the forgiveness of the sins of the people, that his knees became so hard and callous that there was no feeling in them at all." Book 1, page 7. O the great and constant piety of this holy martyr! [n102-4]