Note 3 at Mr 1:19: James is the English form of "Jacob," which means "heel-catcher (i.e., supplanter)" (Strong's Concordance). Five men with the name James are mentioned in the New Testament: (1) James, the half brother of our Lord Jesus (see note 2 at Joh 2:12); (2) James, the son of Alphaeus, who was one of the twelve apostles (Mt 10:3, Mr 3:18, Lu 6:15, and Ac 1:13); (3) James, the son of Mary and brother of Joses (Mt 27:56, Mr 16:1, and Lu 24:10), who was also called "the less" (Mr 15:40), which was probably in reference to his height; (4) James, the brother of the Apostle Jude (Lu 6:16, Ac 1:13, and Jude 1)--it is possible that this James was the same man as James the son of Alphaeus, and (5) James, the brother of John and the son of Zebedee who is spoken of in this verse.

This James, the son of Zebedee and brother of John, was one of Jesus' first disciples (this verse and Mr 1:20). James and his brother John were fishermen and partners with Peter and Andrew (Mt 4:18 and Lu 5:10). Mt 27:56 with Mr 15:40 and Joh 19:25 reveal it is possible that James' mother, Salome, was also the sister of Mary, the mother of Jesus. Salome, along with James and John, asked Jesus if her two sons could sit one on His right hand and one on His left hand when He came into His kingdom (Mt 20:20-23 and Mr 10:35-40). Jesus gave James and his brother John the name Boanerges, which means "sons of thunder" (Mr 3:17). James and John received a stiff rebuke from Jesus for wanting to call fire down from heaven on the Samaritans (Lu 9:54-56).

James was one of three who made up an inner circle of Jesus' twelve apostles, and he was privileged to be with Jesus on a number of special occasions (Mt 17:1-9; Mr 5:37-43, and 14:33). James was one of the apostles who was fishing on the sea of Galilee when Jesus appeared to them in His resurrected body (Joh 21:2). James was also present at Jesus' ascension (Ac 1:8-13) and on the Day of Pentecost when the Holy Ghost was given (Ac 2:1). James was the first of the apostles to be martyred (Ac 12:2).