29. James, Son of Zebedee – Historical Records
Ancient Jewish historians help verify Jesus’s inner circle. The respected historian Josephus wrote about James’s execution in 62 CE, providing rare non-Christian proof of his existence. His account in “Antiquities of the Jews” matches early Christian writings about James’s leadership. The New Testament shows James as one of Jesus’s closest followers and describes his important role. Early church documents tell how he helped spread Christianity beyond Jerusalem. Archaeological excavations in Jerusalem have uncovered ritual baths from James’s time, showing the Jewish religious world he knew.
