Alphaeus and Zacchaeus

The holy martyrs Alphaeus and Zacchaeus were two Christians put to death at Caesarea in Palestine in 303 or 304, according to the church historian Eusebius, in "The Martyrs of Palestine". They are commemorated on 18 November.

The source

Two versions of Eusebius's "Martyrs of Palestine" survive, a shorter and a longer, and both recount the story of Alphaeus and Zacchaeus, with some differences. Eusebius was present at Caesarea during the persecution, part of the empire-⁠wide campaign against Christianity.

The persecution at Caesarea

The emperor Diocletian had ordered that all in the empire should offer sacrifice to the Roman gods. The authorities at Caesarea were so keen that all should obey that, according to the shorter recension, they seized one Christian leader by the hands, led him to the altar and thrust the offering into his right hand; he was then dismissed as if he had sacrificed. Those in charge agreed that they would attest that two others had made the offering, though they had not. Another Christian opened his mouth to say that he refused to worship the Roman gods, but the guards struck him across the face, shut his mouth and let him go. So, writes Eusebius, of the many brought in from the surrounding area to worship the Roman gods or die, only two, Alphaeus and Zacchaeus, "were honoured with the crown of the holy martyrs".

Zacchaeus

The authorities at Caesarea had brought in Christians from the surrounding area to renounce or face death. Among them was a deacon from Gadara, Zacchaeus, so called, according to Eusebius in the long recension, after the man of the New Testament, because of his short stature and gentle nature. He confessed his faith boldly before the judges, was tortured and put into a prison cell.

Alphaeus

A cousin of Zacchaeus, Alphaeus was reader of the church at Caesarea. His family was of high standing in his native city, Eleutheropolis. Many Christians of the city and its surroundings, made to choose between their faith and death, were crowding into the city to sacrifice to the gods, when Alphaeus loudly and publicly denounced their apostasy. For this he was brought before the judges, ordered to sacrifice, but refused and firmly confessed his faith.

Martyrdom

Alphaeus and Zacchaeus were tortured together for days and were repeatedly offered the chance to sacrifice to the gods and be freed, but they refused in spite of their sufferings. In the end both were beheaded on the same day.