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The son of Zebedee and Salome; an elder brother of John the apostle. He was one of the twelve. He was by trade a fisherman, in partnership with Peter (Matt. 20:20; 27:56). With John and Peter he was present at the transfiguration (Matt. 17:1; Mark 9:2), at the raising of Jairus’s daughter (Mark 5:37-43), and in the garden with our Lord (14:33). Because, probably, of their boldness and energy, he and John were called Boanerges, i.e., “sons of thunder.” He was the first martyr among the apostles, having been beheaded by King Herod Agrippa (Acts 12:1, 2), A.D. 44. (Comp. Matt. 4:21; 20:20-23).

  • Matt.4: And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them.
  • Matt.10: Now the names of the twelve apostles are these; The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother;
  • Matt.17: And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart,
  • Mark.1: And when he had gone a little further thence, he saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in the ship mending their nets.
  • Mark.1: And forthwith, when they were come out of the synagogue, they entered into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John.
  • Mark.3: And James the son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James; and he surnamed them Boanerges, which is, The sons of thunder:
  • Mark.5: And he suffered no man to follow him, save Peter, and James, and John the brother of James.
  • Mark.9: And after six days Jesus taketh with him Peter, and James, and John, and leadeth them up into an high mountain apart by themselves: and he was transfigured before them.
  • Mark.10: And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, come unto him, saying, Master, we would that thou shouldest do for us whatsoever we shall desire.
  • Mark.10: And when the ten heard it, they began to be much displeased with James and John.
  • Mark.13: And as he sat upon the mount of Olives over against the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew asked him privately,
  • Mark.14: And he taketh with him Peter and James and John, and began to be sore amazed, and to be very heavy;
  • Luke.5: And so was also James, and John, the sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon. And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men.
  • Luke.6: Simon, (whom he also named Peter,) and Andrew his brother, James and John, Philip and Bartholomew,
  • Luke.8: And when he came into the house, he suffered no man to go in, save Peter, and James, and John, and the father and the mother of the maiden.
  • Luke.9: And it came to pass about an eight days after these sayings, he took Peter and John and James, and went up into a mountain to pray.
  • Luke.9: And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did?
  • Acts.12: And he killed James the brother of John with the sword.