Christian Martyr - James the Apostle

James the Apostle who was also the older brother to John the Apostle, has been recorded as the first Christian martyr from within the group of twelve that personally followed Christ.

James was also given the honor to be one of the first of three to be called into Christ inner circle as a disciple along with his brother John. (You can read about this at: Matthew 4:21)

Jesus Christ later surnamed James and John the "Sons Of Thunder." James was fortunate to be one of those who was able to witness Christ ministry up close and first hand.

To name a few of the important events that he had witness, we can start with how James saw how Peter doubted Jesus, when it came to them being able to catch fish at Lake of Gennesaret on a day when they had been fishing all night without a bite.

Might seem important, but we must understand that Peter was an expert when it came to fishing, so you would think that he would know what he was talking about? But Peter wasn't divine like Jesus, and so therefore he couldn't control God's creation like Jesus can.

Jesus told Peter to go out in deep water and laid down their nets. When Peter did this he had caught so many fish the nets began to break. (To read more about this, go to: Luke 5:10)

James would also witness when Jesus had healed Peter's mother-in-law from a very high fever she was experiencing. (To read more about this, go to: Mark 1:29-32)

He would also witness when Jesus had raised Jairus daughter up from the dead, for the Scriptures would inform us, that Jarius was a synagogue ruler who's daughter had just died. Jesus would go and visit the girl's body and shortly after told the people that was gathered inside the house, that she wasn't dead. When they had heard this, they laughed at him; and because of this Jesus put the unbelievers out and raised the twelve year old girl up from the dead. (To read more about this, go to: Mark 5:21-43)

James would also witness the transfiguration of Jesus that took place on the top of a very high mountain, where Jesus was transfigured and had a meeting with Moses and Elijah. (To read more about this, go to: Mark 9:2-4)

James would also witness the time when Jesus appeared at the sea of Tiberias after God had resurrected Him from the crucifixion he had suffered at the hands of the Romans. (To read more about this, go to: John 21:2)

The Scriptures would inform us that James himself, was a powerful preacher. This would lead us to believe that perhaps, on different occasions, he had provoked Herod Agrippa the First and his royal administration?

If this was the case, this would have placed James in constant trouble and danger when it came to Agrippa, just like John the Baptist had done before him.

A famous writer that goes by the name Clemens Alexandrinus once wrote about how James the Apostle had died. For he also commented on how James state of mind was while he was being led to his execution:

Alexandrinus wrote about how James had shown extraordinary courage. James was so brave, that he had impressed one of the guards to such a degree, that he had fallen on his knees and ask James for forgiveness and confessed that he too, was a Christian.

The guard had also made the remark that James should not die alone, and so it was with that request and discovery about the guards faith, that both James and the guard was beheaded by the sword.

I would also like to point out that the Romans looked at this type of death as disgraceful. They thought it was more honorable to be beheaded by an axe instead of the sword?

By James being beheaded by the sword, strongly indicates that it was probably a verbal order from Herod Agrippa the First, that insisted that James was to suffer an immediate death.

The Scriptures would later confirm, that when Herod Agrippa the First, had saw that the beheading of James the Apostle had pleased the Jews, he would soon give the command that Peter the Apostle was to be taken and thrown into prison during the "Feast Of Unleavened Bread."

I wish it was more information on this particular account that deals with the martyrdom of James the Apostle. But unfortunately it's not, well at least, what's available to me. But even with this short explanation we can well see, that the early Christians were so aware of the truth of the Gospel, that they were willing to die for it.

1) Stephen the Deacon

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3) Philip the Apostle

4) Matthew the Apostle

5) Andrew the Apostle

6) Matthias the Apostle

7) John Rogers

8) Alban of Verlamium