Holy Apostle James, Son of Zebedee
First of the Apostles to Suffer
Selected passages from the Gospels and Acts
The cup that I shall drink of
Editor's note
James and his brother John, sons of Zebedee, were among the three the Lord drew closest to him: at the raising of Jairus's daughter, on the mount of Transfiguration, and in the garden of Gethsemane. They asked once, with the boldness their mother encouraged, for the first places in the kingdom. The Lord answered with a question, and the answer they gave came true in James first of all the Twelve.
Mark 10:38-39 (KJV)
ScriptureVerbatim Scripture.
But Jesus said unto them, Ye know not what ye ask: can ye drink of the cup that I shall drink of? and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?
And they said unto him, We can. And Jesus said unto them, Ye shall indeed drink of the cup that I drink of; and with the baptism that I am baptized withal shall ye be baptized.
Killed with the sword
Editor's note
Acts records the death of James in a single verse, the shortest martyrdom account in the New Testament. King Herod Agrippa I, grandson of Herod the Great, was seeking the favor of his Jewish subjects and turned against the new community at Jerusalem. James was the first of the Twelve to die for the Name. The brevity of the account does not diminish what it commemorates: an apostle keeping faith to the end.
Acts 12:1-2 (KJV)
ScriptureVerbatim Scripture.
Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church.
And he killed James the brother of John with the sword.