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JAMES THE GREATER, ACTS OF

An apocryphal work found in Book IV of the Pseudo-Abdias’ Apostolic History (and appearing with some variation in Greek, Coptic, and Ethiopic texts), thought to have evolved between the 2nd and 4th centuries. The Acts elaborate events in James’ missionary career and supplement the brief mention of his martyrdom in Acts 1:13. The account describes James’ conversion of the reluctant Philetus and Hermogenes by miraculous actions, his persuasion of Jews that Jesus fulfilled OT prophecies, and his conversion and baptism of a Jewish scribe. These final events correspond to a tradition known to Clement of Alexandria (Eusebius HE 2.9.2-3) that a guard was converted after James’ arrest, only to be beheaded with James. Later tradition (6th-8th century) claims that James preached in Spain and that his body was escorted by angels to Santiago de Compostela, the site of the shrine to St. James, patron of Spain.

Bibliography. J. Charlesworth, ed., The New Testament Apocrypha and Pseudepigrapha (Metuchen, 1987), 217-28.

Melissa M. Aubin

Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

JAMES THE GREATER, ACTS OF

Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible (2000)