A depiction of Cleopas as one of the disciples who met Jesus during the Road to Emmaus appearance, by Joseph von Führich, 1837. |
Saint Cleopas lived in the 1st Century, and was one of Jesus' 70 disciples.
According to Saint Luke's Gospel, he walked on the way to Emmaus with another disciple, when Jesus appeared to them after His crucifixion and resurrection. Jesus then began to explain to them how the Messiah needed to suffer, fulfilling the Holy Scriptures though the two disciples couldn't recognise Him. Saint Cleopas is said to be Jesus' uncle, as he was the brother of Saint Joseph, and was the husband of Saint Mary of Cleophas. Saint Cleopas and Saint Mary of Cleophas had three sons, Saint Simon, Saint James the Less and Saint Jude who all became one of Jesus' 12 Apostles. They also had a daughter named Mary Salome, who is the mother of Saint James the Greater and Saint John who were both, also Apostles. He was martyred by Jewish authorities, dying in his home which had received Jesus as a guest.