JAMES, St., called the Greater, the son of Zebedee, and the brother of John the Evangelist, was born at Bethsaida in Galilee. He was called to be an apostle, together with St. John, as they were mending their nets with their father Zebedee, who was a fisherman; when Christ gave each of them the name of Boanerges, or Son of Thunder. They then followed Christ, were witnesses, with St. Peter, of the transfiguration on Mount Tabor, and accompanied our Lord in the garden of olives. It is believed that St
James, St James first preached the gospel to the dispersed Jews; and afterwards returned to Judæa, where he preached at Jerusalem, when the Jews raised up against him Herod Agrippa, who put him to a cruel death, about the year 44. Thus St James was the first of the apostles who suffered martyrdom. St Clement of Alexandria relates, that his accuser was so struck with his constancy, that he became converted, and suffered with him.