James the son of Alphaeus is one of the twelve apostles chosen by Jesus, regularly distinguished in the apostolic lists from the other James (son of Zebedee).
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James the son of Alphaeus appears in the New Testament principally by name within the lists of the twelve apostles chosen by Jesus. In Mark's record he was called together with Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, Thaddaeus, and Simon the Cananaean, appointed to be with the Lord and sent out to proclaim the gospel (Mark 3:18). He likewise appears in the upper chamber in Acts among those who gathered with Peter, John, James (son of Zebedee), Andrew, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew, Simon the Zealot, and Judas the son of James, waiting together for the promised Holy Spirit (Acts 1:13). Scripture offers very little about his personal life beyond the name of his father, Alphaeus, and therefore he is regularly distinguished in church tradition as "James the Less" to set him apart from James the son of Zebedee. His Greek name Ἰάκωβος is the same as that of the patriarch Jacob (Israel), while Ἁλφαῖος identifies his father; he is generally identified with the "James son of Alphaeus" named in Matthew 10:3. Although the Bible records no specific deeds, travels, or martyrdom for him, as one of the twelve he shared in the Lord's call, accompanied Jesus during His ministry, and joined the other apostles in unified prayer and waiting after the resurrection, receiving the outpouring of the Spirit at Pentecost. He is therefore remembered in church history as one of the foundational witnesses of the apostolic company—a faithful disciple whose quiet presence in the sacred record itself testifies to the Lord's sovereign choice of those who would bear His name among the nations.