Stories of Christian Martyrs: James the Less

When the stones rained down on him, we don’t know what
he said, but he had good examples to follow. And the legacy of his death remains with us even today.

Among the “James trio” in the New Testament, James, son of Alphaeus (or James the “Less”), has the smallest profile. He receives no credit
for a single question, comment, or action during his years with Christ.
He was simply one of the Twelve. This James never stood out for ridicule
or praise. James, son of Zebedee (the “Great”), and James, son of Joseph,
both held far more prominent roles in the history of the times. James,
son of Zebedee, was one of the famous Sons of Thunder among the
disciples. James, son of Joseph and the half-brother of Jesus, eventually
took a significant leadership role in the church of Jerusalem. But James,
son of Alphaeus, lived in the background of the story.

At some point, tradition tells us, the apostles assigned themselves
certain areas of the world as destinations for outreach. Syria was the
appointment of James the Less. During the early persecutions of Christians in Jerusalem, one of the popular escape destinations was Damascus in southern Syria. So much so that when Saul began to run out of believers to hound in Jerusalem, he set his sights on Damascus as a concentration of Christians that he could raid for prisoners. Fortunately, God had other plans. Those who had been targeted for suffering in Damascus ended up giving shelter to Saul following his confrontation with Jesus on the road to their city.

In Jerusalem, persecution was creating what sheer obedience had not
accomplished. Eventually, Paul’s bold example and the successes of those
like Peter and Philip, who had been drawn out of Jerusalem on specific
missions, began to overcome inertia. Christ’s final words, “You will be
my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end
of the earth” (Acts 1:8), were coming true one way or another.

James’s mission in Syria was met by three audiences: transplanted
believers such as Ananias, who probably would have welcomed someone
with apostolic credentials; transplanted Jews, who would suspect James
as a troublemaker; and the wider mixed culture typical of territory on a
major trading route. Apparently the Jews in Syria rejected James’s preaching by stoning him to death.

One account says he was appointed the first overseer of the church at
Jerusalem shortly after Christ’s death. This account says the high priest,
Ananias, summoned him before the judges to deny Jesus is the Christ. He
was placed on the pinnacle of the temple where he was to deny Christ before the people. Instead, he boldly proclaimed Jesus Christ is the promised Messiah. The multitudes praised God. However, James was cast down and stoned. But the fall and stoning only broke his legs, so on his knees he prayed to God for those who were attacking him, saying, “Lord, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” Then he was struck in the head and died.

James contributed to an eastern expansion of the Gospel that eventually left a lasting arm of the church on the distant end of the arched trade
route that connected Jerusalem and Damascus on the west to ancient Iraq
on the east. The Gospel traveled even farther east into India, pushing
toward the ends of the earth.

“And they have conquered him
by the blood of the Lamb
and by the word of their
testimony, for they loved not
their lives even unto death.”
Revelation 12:11

This story is an excerpt from Foxe: Voices of the Martyrs. You can get your own copy free with any donation to The Voice of the Martyrs.