Eusebius: Ecclesiastical History, Books I–X

Chapter XXIII.—The Martyrdom of James, who was called the Brother of the Lord.

1. But after Paul, in consequence of his appeal to Cæsar, had been sent to Rome by Festus, the Jews, being frustrated in their hope of entrapping him by the snares which they had laid for him, turned against James, the brother of the Lord, ^{Edition note 1} to whom the episcopal seat at Jerusalem had been entrusted by the apostles. ^{Edition note 2} The following daring measures were undertaken by them against him.

2. Leading him into their midst they demanded of him that he should renounce faith in Christ in the presence of all the people. But, contrary to the opinion of all, with a clear voice, and with greater boldness than they had anticipated, he spoke out before the whole multitude and confessed that our Saviour and Lord Jesus is the Son of God. But they were unable to bear longer the testimony of the man who, on account of the excellence of ascetic virtue ^{Edition note 3} and of piety which he exhibited in his life, was esteemed by all as the most just of men, and consequently they slew him.

Opportunity for this deed of violence was furnished by the prevailing anarchy, which was caused by the fact that Festus had died just at this time in Judea, and that the province was thus without a governor and head. ^{Edition note 4}

3. The manner of James’ death has been already indicated by the above-quoted words of Clement, who records that he was thrown from the pinnacle of the temple, and was beaten to death with a club. ^{Edition note 5} But Hegesippus, ^{Edition note 6} who lived immediately after the apostles, gives the most accurate account in the fifth book of his Memoirs. ^{Edition note 7} He writes as follows:

4. “James, the brother of the Lord, succeeded to the government of the Church in conjunction with the apostles. ^{Edition note 8} He has been called the Just ^{Edition note 9} by all from the time of our Saviour to the present day; for there were many that bore the name of James.

5. He was holy from his mother’s womb; and he drank no wine nor strong drink, nor did he eat flesh. No razor came upon his head; he did not anoint himself with oil, and he did not use the bath.

6. He alone was permitted to enter into the holy place; for he wore not woolen but linen garments. And he was in the habit of entering alone into the temple, and was frequently found upon his knees begging forgiveness for the people, so that his knees became hard like those of a camel, in consequence of his constantly bending them in his worship of God, and asking forgiveness for the people. ^{Edition note 10}

7. Because of his exceeding great justice he was called the Just, and Oblias, ^{Edition note 11} which signifies in Greek, ‘Bulwark of the people’ and ‘Justice,’ ^{Edition note 12} in accordance with what the prophets declare concerning him. ^{Edition note 13}

8. Now some of the seven sects, which existed among the people and which have been mentioned by me in the Memoirs, ^{Edition note 14} asked him, ‘What is the gate of Jesus?’ ^{Edition note 15} and he replied that he was the Saviour.

9. On account of these words some believed that Jesus is the Christ. But the sects mentioned above did not believe either in a resurrection or in one’s coming to give to every man according to his works. ^{Edition note 16} But as many as believed did so on account of James.

10. Therefore when many even of the rulers believed, there was a commotion among the Jews and Scribes and Pharisees, who said that there was danger that the whole people would be looking for Jesus as the Christ. Coming therefore in a body to James they said, ‘We entreat thee, restrain the people; for they are gone astray in regard to Jesus, as if he were the Christ. ^{Edition note 17} We entreat thee to persuade all that have come to the feast of the Passover concerning Jesus; for we all have confidence in thee. For we bear thee witness, as do all the people, that thou art just, and dost not respect persons. ^{Edition note 18}

11. Do thou therefore persuade the multitude not to be led astray concerning Jesus. For the whole people, and all of us also, have confidence in thee. Stand therefore upon the pinnacle of the temple, ^{Edition note 19} that from that high position thou mayest be clearly seen, and that thy words may be readily heard by all the people. For all the tribes, with the Gentiles also, are come together on account of the Passover.’

12. The aforesaid Scribes and Pharisees therefore placed James upon the pinnacle of the temple, and cried out to him and said: ‘Thou just one, in whom we ought all to have confidence, forasmuch as the people are led astray after Jesus, the crucified one, declare to us, what is the gate of Jesus.’ ^{Edition note 20}

13. And he answered with a loud voice, ‘Why do ye ask me concerning Jesus, the Son of Man? He himself sitteth in heaven at the right hand of the great Power, and is about to come upon the clouds of heaven.’ ^{Edition note 21}

14. And when many were fully convinced and gloried in the testimony of James, and said, ‘Hosanna to the Son of David,’ these same Scribes and Pharisees said again to one another, ‘We have done badly in supplying such testimony to Jesus. But let us go up and throw him down, in order that they may be afraid to believe him.’

15. And they cried out, saying, ‘Oh! oh! the just man is also in error.’ And they fulfilled the Scripture written in Isaiah, ^{Edition note 22} ‘Let us take away ^{Edition note 23} the just man, because he is troublesome to us: therefore they shall eat the fruit of their doings.’

16. So they went up and threw down the just man, and said to each other, ‘Let us stone James the Just.’ And they began to stone him, for he was not killed by the fall; but he turned and knelt down and said, ‘I entreat thee, Lord God our Father, ^{Edition note 24} forgive them, for they know not what they do.’ ^{Edition note 25}

17. And while they were thus stoning him one of the priests of the sons of Rechab, the son of the Rechabites, ^{Edition note 26} who are mentioned by Jeremiah the prophet, ^{Edition note 27} cried out, saying, ‘Cease, what do ye? The just one prayeth for you.’ ^{Edition note 28}

18. And one of them, who was a fuller, took the club with which he beat out clothes and struck the just man on the head. And thus he suffered martyrdom. ^{Edition note 29} And they buried him on the spot, by the temple, and his monument still remains by the temple. ^{Edition note 30} He became a true witness, both to Jews and Greeks, that Jesus is the Christ. And immediately Vespasian besieged them.” ^{Edition note 31}

19. These things are related at length by Hegesippus, who is in agreement with Clement. ^{Edition note 32} James was so admirable a man and so celebrated among all for his justice, that the more sensible even of the Jews were of the opinion that this was the cause of the siege of Jerusalem, which happened to them immediately after his martyrdom for no other reason than their daring act against him.

20. Josephus, at least, has not hesitated to testify this in his writings, where he says, ^{Edition note 33} “These things happened to the Jews to avenge James the Just, who was a brother of Jesus, that is called the Christ. For the Jews slew him, although he was a most just man.”

21. And the same writer records his death also in the twentieth book of his Antiquities in the following words: ^{Edition note 34} “But the emperor, when he learned of the death of Festus, sent Albinus ^{Edition note 35} to be procurator of Judea. But the younger Ananus, ^{Edition note 36} who, as we have already said, ^{Edition note 37} had obtained the high priesthood, was of an exceedingly bold and reckless disposition. He belonged, moreover, to the sect of the Sadducees, who are the most cruel of all the Jews in the execution of judgment, as we have already shown. ^{Edition note 38}

22. Ananus, therefore, being of this character, and supposing that he had a favorable opportunity on account of the fact that Festus was dead, and Albinus was still on the way, called together the Sanhedrim, and brought before them the brother of Jesus, the so-called Christ, James by name, together with some others, ^{Edition note 39} and accused them of violating the law, and condemned them to be stoned. ^{Edition note 40}

23. But those in the city who seemed most moderate and skilled in the law were very angry at this, and sent secretly to the king, ^{Edition note 41} requesting him to order Ananus to cease such proceedings. For he had not done right even this first time. And certain of them also went to meet Albinus, who was journeying from Alexandria, and reminded him that it was not lawful for Ananus to summon the Sanhedrim without his knowledge. ^{Edition note 42}

24. And Albinus, being persuaded by their representations, wrote in anger to Ananus, threatening him with punishment. And the king, Agrippa, in consequence, deprived him of the high priesthood, ^{Edition note 43} which he had held three months, and appointed Jesus, the son of Damnæus.” ^{Edition note 44}

25. These things are recorded in regard to James, who is said to be the author of the first of the so-called catholic ^{Edition note 45} epistles. But it is to be observed that it is disputed; ^{Edition note 46} at least, not many of the ancients have mentioned it, as is the case likewise with the epistle that bears the name of Jude, ^{Edition note 47} which is also one of the seven so-called catholic epistles. Nevertheless we know that these also, ^{Edition note 48} with the rest, have been read publicly in very many churches. ^{Edition note 49}