Reference: Brethren of the Lord
Hastings
Jesus was Mary's first-born (Lu 2:7), and she subsequently (according to the view accepted in the present article) bore to Joseph four sons, James, Joseph, Judas, and Simon, and several daughters (Mt 13:55-56 = Mr 6:3). During His ministry the Lord's brethren did not believe in Him. They sneered at Him (Joh 7:3-5), and once they concluded that He was mad, and wished to arrest Him and convey Him away from Capernaum (Mr 3:21,31). After the Resurrection, however, convinced by so tremendous a demonstration, they joined the company of the believers (Ac 1:14).
In early days, partly at least in the interests of the notion of Mary's perpetual virginity, two theories were promulgated in regard to the 'Brethren of the Lord.' (a) They were supposed to be sons of Joseph by a former marriage, having thus no blood-relationship with Jesus. So Origen, Clement of Alexandria, Epiphanius. (b) They were held to be His cousins, sons of Mary, the wife of Alph
See Verses Found in Dictionary
Philip and Bartholomew, Thomas and Matthew the tax-collector, James the son of Alpheus, and Thaddeus,
Is He not the carpenter's son? Is not His mother's name Mary, are not His brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas? And are not His sisters all living here with us? Where then did He get all these things?"
among them Mary of Magdala, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of Zebedee's sons.
Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alpheus, Thaddeus, Simon the Zealot,
His kinsmen heard of it and came over to get hold of Him, for they kept saying, "He has gone crazy."
Then His mother and His brothers came. They were standing outside and sent word to call Him.
Is He not the carpenter, Mary's son, and the brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? And do not His sisters live here among us?" And so they found a cause for stumbling over him.
Now several women were there looking on from a distance, among them Mary of Magdala, Mary the mother of the younger James and of Joses, and Salome,
and she bore her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him up and laid Him in a manger, for there was no room for them at the inn.
Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alpheus, Simon who was called the Zealot,
So His brothers said to Him, "You must leave here and go to Judea, to let your disciples also see the works that you are doing; for no one does anything in secret when he is trying to be known to the public. If you are going to do this, show yourself publicly to the world." read more. For even His brothers did not believe in Him.
Near Jesus' cross were standing His mother and her sister Mary, the wife of Clopas, and Mary of Magdala.
When they reached the city, they went to the room upstairs where they had been staying; they were: Peter and John, James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alpheus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas the son of James. With one mind they were all continuing to devote themselves to prayer, with the women and Mary and His brothers.
With one mind they were all continuing to devote themselves to prayer, with the women and Mary and His brothers.