James and John were amongst the first four disciples chosen by Jesus while fishing on Lake Genesaret. The sons of Zebedee "forthwith left their nets and father, and followed him" (Matthew iv, 22), and became "fishers of men". James was among the front rank of the apostles with Peter and John. Only these three Apostles were present at the miracle of the raising of Jairus's daughter (Mark, v, 37; Luke, viii, 51). Jairus is a ruler of the Synagogue who asks Jesus to visit his very sick twelve year old daughter. She is pronounced dead before Jesus arrives but Jesus, Peter, James and John enter the house where she is told to arise. In the Transfiguration (Mark, ix, 1; Matt., xvii, 1; Luke, ix, 28), Mark, James and John are with Jesus on a mountain where Jesus’ garments become bright white and Elijah and Moses appear. In the Agony in Gethsemani (Matt, xxvi, 37; Mark, xiv, 33) Peter, James and John fall asleep but are woken and warned by Jesus before Judas and the priests come to betray Jesus.

James appears to have possessed a fiery temper as James and John were labelled "Boanerges", sons of thunder by Jesus (Mark, iii, 17). They fail to tow the party line although their views are clearly in support of Jesus’ teachings. The brothers show their strong opinions towards "a certain man casting out devils" in the name of the Christ, John says; "We (possibly referring to James who is not mentioned as well as himself) forbade him, because he followeth not with us" (Luke, ix, 49). John was told off for this by Jesus "Do not forbid him; for he who is not against you is for you". When the Samaritans refused to receive Christ on his way to Jerusalem; James and John said: "Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them?" (Luke, ix, 54). James and John were again rebuked by Jesus who moved on to stay at another village.

James was the first apostle to be martyred; beheaded about AD 44 by Herod Agrippa I, grandson of Herod the Great. As Herod was the friend of the Emperor Caligula he moved up from heavy debts in Rome to inheritor of two small territories in Palestine and Lebanon from his uncles. Cunningly supporting Claudius after Caligula’s death, Agrippa was rewarded with the kingdom of Judea. He tried to please the Jews and showed great regard for the Mosaic Law and Jewish customs. In pursuance of this policy, on the occasion of the Passover he oppressed the Christian Church, whose rapid growth incensed the Jews. The alleged temper of James and his leading part in the Jewish Christian communities probably led Herod to choose him as the first victim. "He killed James, the brother of John, with the sword." (Acts xii, 1-2).