Bible Dictionaries
Alphaeus

Holman Bible Dictionary

(al faye' uhss) or ALPHEUS Personal name. 1. Father of apostle called James the Less to distinguish him from James, the son of Zebedee and brother of John (Matthew 10:3; Mark 3:18; Luke 6:15; Acts 1:13 ). Mark 15:40 says James' mother, Mary, was with Jesus' mother at the cross. John 19:25 says Mary the wife of Cleophas was at the cross. This would seem to indicate that Cleophas and Alphaeus are two names for the same person. Many Bible students accept this. Others think the language problems between Greek and Hebrew make the equation impossible so that two different Marys are meant. Some want to equate Alphaeus, Cleophas, and the Cleopas of Luke 24:18 . 2 . The father of the apostle Levi (Mark 2:14 ). Comparison of Matthew 9:9 and Luke 5:27 would indicate Levi was also called Matthew.