Charles Ellicott Commentary James 5:10

"Take, brethren, for an example of suffering and of patience, the prophets who spake in the name of the Lord." — James 5:10 (ASV)

For an example.—Another reason for endurance is an example of affliction and patience: the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.

These are the bright ones in the cloud of witnesses, of whom the Epistle to the Hebrews (Hebrews 12:1) speaks: who, like Daniel, stopped the mouths of lions; like Jeremiah and Elijah, escaped the edge of the sword; out of weakness were made strong; who were stoned, like Zechariah; sawn asunder, like Isaiah; slain with the sword, like Urijah and John; of whom the world was not worthy.

Thus, the saints of the Old Covenant are held up for honor and imitation to those of the New.

James was not advocating a religion alien to that of Moses but was building again more widely the ruins of the tabernacle which had fallen down, so that all the Gentiles might seek after the Lord (Compare his speech in the synod, Acts 15:13–21).