ALPHEUS, father of James the less, Mt 10:3; Lu 6:15. Alpheus was the husband of Mary, believed to have been sister to the mother of Christ; for which reason, James is called the Lord's brother; but the term brother is too general in its application to fix their relation though the fact is probable. Many are of opinion that Cleopas, mentioned Lu 24:18, is the same as Alpheus; Alpheus being his Greek name, and Cleopas his Hebrew, or Syriac name, according to the custom of this province, (or of the time,) where men often had two names; by one of which they were known to their friends and countrymen, by the other to the Romans or strangers.

2. ALPHEUS, father of Levi, or Matthew, whom Jesus took to be an Apostle and Evangelist, Mr 2:14.