Among the twelve original apostles of Jesus, James the son of Zebedee (often called James the Greater) is recorded as the first to suffer martyrdom. According to the New Testament in the Book of Acts (Chapter 12, Verse 2), King Herod Agrippa I ordered James to be executed by the sword around 44 AD. This event occurred in Jerusalem during a period of intense persecution against the early Christian church. It is important to distinguish James from Judas Iscariot, who died before James but is generally categorized differently due to his betrayal of Jesus; the Gospel of Matthew records that Judas died by suicide shortly after the crucifixion. Therefore, in the context of the faithful apostles continuing the ministry after the Resurrection, James holds the solemn distinction of being the first to give his life for his faith. His death marked a turning point for the early disciples, signaling that their mission would be met with significant political and physical opposition, yet his legacy persists as a patron saint whose shrine in Santiago de Compostela remains a major pilgrimage site today.