James may not have been one of the original twelve apostles as there were three James mentioned in the New Testament. It’s possible that James the Less joined the apostles after receiving an apparition of Christ after the resurrection.

In spite of his late arrival, James as Bishop of Jerusalem, along with Peter played an important role in convincing the Jewish Christians that the the pagan converts did not have to be circumcised, only not to eat meat of sacrifices to the gods, and not participate in irregular marriages.

By doing this he affirmed the ties that bind Christianity to the Jewish religion.

James was stoned to death in the spring of 62 AD by members of the Sanhedrin. As he was being stoned he prayed, “I beseech Thee, Lord God and Father, forgive them. They do not know what they are doing.”

St. James is the patron saint of Pharmacists. His feast day is celebrated along with St. Philip the apostle on May 3.