James (Man living at the time of the New Testament)

Two apostles named James appear among the twelve. James the son of Zebedee, John's older brother, was part of Jesus's inner circle and became the first apostle martyred, executed by Herod Agrippa the First. A different James, the son of Alphaeus, is listed among the twelve but otherwise unmentioned in the Gospels. A third James, Jesus's own half-brother, did not believe in him during his ministry but became a leading figure in the Jerusalem church after the resurrection and is traditionally credited with writing the New Testament letter of James.