Acts 15:13

“And after they had held their peace, etc.] Meaning not the multitude, but Paul and Barnabas; when they had finished their account, and had done speaking: James answered; or rose up, as the Syriac version reads, he stood up and began to speak. This was James the son of Alphaeus, one of the twelve apostles, sometimes called the brother of the Lord; for the other James, the son of Zebedee and brother of John, was dead, being killed by Herod, (<441202>Acts 12:2) but this was the brother of Jude, and the same that wrote the epistle that bears his name: whether he was now bishop or pastor of the church at Jerusalem, is not certain; nor whether he was president in this council; the speeches made in…”

“James answered, saying, &c.--Whoever this James was (see on Gal 1:19), he was the acknowledged head of the church at Jerusalem, and here, as president of the assembly, speaks last, winding up the debate. His decision, though given as his own judgment only, could not be of great weight with the opposing party, from his conservative reverence for all Jewish usages within the circle of Israelitish Christianity.”

“James answered - James the Less, son of Alpheus. See the notes on Acts 12:1. Hearken unto me - This whole transaction shows that Peter had no such authority in the church as the papists pretend, for otherwise his opinion would have been followed without debate. James had an authority not less than that of Peter. It is possible that he might have been next in age (compare 1 Corinthians 15:7); and it seems morally certain that he remained for a considerable part of his life in Jerusalem, Acts 12:17; Acts 21:18; Galatians 1:19; Galatians 2:9, Galatians 2:12. return to 'Top of Page'”

“15:13-19 James, the brother of Jesus, declared that the conversion of the Gentiles was clearly in accord with Scripture. He argued forcefully that it was contrary to the divine will to put unnecessary requirements on the admission of the Gentiles.”

“after: Co1 14:30-33; Jam 1:19 James: Act 12:17, Act 21:18; Mar 15:40; Gal 1:19, Gal 2:9, Gal 2:12; Jam 1:1 Men: Act 2:14, Act 2:22, Act 2:29, Act 7:2, Act 22:1 Acts 15:14”