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Selected Verse: Galatians 1:19 - Strong Concordance

Verse	Translation	Text
Ga 1:19	Strong Concordance	But [1161] other [2087] of the apostles [652] saw I [1492] none [3756], save [1508] James [2385] the Lord's [2962] brother [80].
	King James	But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord's brother.

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A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]
Compare Act 9:27-28, wherein Luke, as an historian, describes more generally what Paul, the subject of the history, himself details more particularly. The history speaks of "apostles"; and Paul's mention of a second apostle, besides Peter, reconciles the Epistle and the history. At Stephen's martyrdom, and the consequent persecution, the other ten apostles, agreeably to Christ's directions, seem to have soon (though not immediately, Act 8:14) left Jerusalem to preach elsewhere. James remained in charge of the mother church, as its bishop. Peter, the apostle of the circumcision, was present during Paul's fifteen days' stay; but he, too, presently after (Act 9:32), went on a circuit through Judea. James, the Lord's brother--This designation, to distinguish him from James the son of Zebedee, was appropriate while that apostle was alive. But before Paul's second visit to Jerusalem (Gal 2:1; Act 15:1-4), he had been beheaded by Herod (Act 12:2). Accordingly, in the subsequent mention of James here (Gal 2:9, Gal 2:12), he is not designated by this distinctive epithet: a minute, undesigned coincidence, and proof of genuineness. James was the Lord's brother, not in our strict sense, but in the sense, "cousin," or "kinsman" (Mat 28:10; Joh 20:17). His brethren are never called "sons of Joseph," which they would have been had they been the Lord's brothers strictly. However, compare Psa 69:8, "I am an alien to my mother's children." In Joh 7:3, Joh 7:5, the "brethren" who believed not in Him may mean His near relations, not including the two of His brethren, that is, relatives (James and Jude) who were among the Twelve apostles. Act 1:14, "His brethren," refer to Simon and Joses, and others (Mat 13:55) of His kinsmen, who were not apostles. It is not likely there would be two pairs of brothers named alike, of such eminence as James and Jude; the likelihood is that the apostles James and Jude are also the writers of the Epistles, and the brethren of Jesus. James and Joses were sons of Alpheus and Mary, sister of the Virgin Mary.

A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]

Compare Act 9:27-28, wherein Luke, as an historian, describes more generally what Paul, the subject of the history, himself details more particularly. The history speaks of "apostles"; and Paul's mention of a second apostle, besides Peter, reconciles the Epistle and the history. At Stephen's martyrdom, and the consequent persecution, the other ten apostles, agreeably to Christ's directions, seem to have soon (though not immediately, Act 8:14) left Jerusalem to preach elsewhere. James remained in charge of the mother church, as its bishop. Peter, the apostle of the circumcision, was present during Paul's fifteen days' stay; but he, too, presently after (Act 9:32), went on a circuit through Judea.

James, the Lord's brother--This designation, to distinguish him from James the son of Zebedee, was appropriate while that apostle was alive. But before Paul's second visit to Jerusalem (Gal 2:1; Act 15:1-4), he had been beheaded by Herod (Act 12:2). Accordingly, in the subsequent mention of James here (Gal 2:9, Gal 2:12), he is not designated by this distinctive epithet: a minute, undesigned coincidence, and proof of genuineness. James was the Lord's brother, not in our strict sense, but in the sense, "cousin," or "kinsman" (Mat 28:10; Joh 20:17). His brethren are never called "sons of Joseph," which they would have been had they been the Lord's brothers strictly. However, compare Psa 69:8, "I am an alien to my mother's children." In Joh 7:3, Joh 7:5, the "brethren" who believed not in Him may mean His near relations, not including the two of His brethren, that is, relatives (James and Jude) who were among the Twelve apostles. Act 1:14, "His brethren," refer to Simon and Joses, and others (Mat 13:55) of His kinsmen, who were not apostles. It is not likely there would be two pairs of brothers named alike, of such eminence as James and Jude; the likelihood is that the apostles James and Jude are also the writers of the Epistles, and the brethren of Jesus. James and Joses were sons of Alpheus and Mary, sister of the Virgin Mary.

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]
Save James the Lord's brother - That the James here referred to was an apostle is clear. The whole construction of the sentence demands this supposition. In the list of the apostles in Mat 10:2-3, two of this name are mentioned, James the son of Zebedee and brother of John, and James the son of Alpheus. From the Acts of the Apostles, it is clear that there were two of this name in Jerusalem. Of these, James the brother of John was slain by Herod Act 12:2, and the other continued to reside in Jerusalem, Act 15:13; Act 21:13. This latter James was called James the Less Mar 15:40, to distinguish him from the other James, probably because he was the younger. It is probable that this was the James referred to here, as it is evident from the Acts of the Apostles that he was a prominent man among the apostles in Jerusalem. Commentators have not been agreed as to what is meant by his being the brother of the Lord Jesus. Doddridge understands it as meaning that he was "the near kinsman" or cousin-german to Jesus, for he was, says he, the son of Alpheus and Mary, the sister of the virgin; and if there were only two of this name, this opinion is undoubtedly correct. In the Apostolical Constitutions (see Rosenmuller) three of this name are mentioned as apostles or eminent men in Jerusalem; and hence, many have supposed that one of them was the son of Mary the mother of the Lord Jesus. It is said Mat 13:55 that the brothers of Jesus were James and Joses, and Simon, and Judas; and it is remarkable that three of the apostles bear the same names; James the son of Alpheus, Simon Zelotes, and Judas, Joh 14:22. It is indeed possible, as Bloomfield remarks, that three brothers of our Lord and three of his apostles might bear the same names, and yet be different persons; but such a coincidence would be very remarkable, and not easily explained. But if it were not so, then the James here was the son of Alpheus, and consequently a cousin of the Lord Jesus. The word "brother" may, according to Scriptural usage, be understood as denoting a near kinsman. See Schleusher (Lexicon 2) on the word ἀδελφός adelphos. After all, however, it is not quite certain who is intended. Some have supposed that neither of the apostles of the name of James is intended, but another James who was the son of Mary the mother of Jesus. See Koppe in loc. But it is clear, I think, that one of the apostles is intended. Why James is particularly mentioned here is unknown. Since, however, he was a prominent man in Jerusalem, Paul would naturally seek his acquaintance. It is possible that the other apostles were absent from Jerusalem during the fifteen days when he was there.

Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886]
Save James (εἰ μὴ) With the usual exceptive sense. I saw none save James. Not, I saw none other of the apostles, but I saw James. James is counted as an apostle, though not reckoned among the twelve. For Paul's use of "apostle," see on Th1 1:1, and comp. Co1 15:4-7. The Lord's brother Added in order to distinguish him from James the son of Zebedee (Mat 4:21; Mat 10:2; Mar 10:35), who was still living, and from James the son of Alphaeus (Mat 10:3). The Lord's brother means that James was a son of Joseph and Mary. This view is known as the Helvidian theory, from Helvidius, a layman of Rome, who wrote, about 380, a book against mariolatry and ascetic celibacy. The explanations which differ from that of Helvidius have grown, largely, out of the desire to maintain the perpetual virginity of Mary. Jerome has given his name to a theory known as the Hieronymian put forth in reply to Helvidius, about 383, according to which the brethren of the Lord were the sons of his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Alphaeus or Clopas, and therefore Jesus' cousins. A third view bears the name of Epiphanius, Bishop of Salamis in Cyprus (ob. 404), and is that the Lord's brothers were sons of Joseph by a former wife.

Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65]
But other of the apostles I saw none, save James the brother (that is, the kinsman) of the Lord - Therefore when Barnabas is said to have "brought him into the apostles," Act 9:27, only St. Peter and St James are meant.

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826
James the Lord's brother - Dr. Paley observes: There were at Jerusalem two apostles, or at least two eminent members of the Church, of the name of James. This is distinctly inferred from the Acts of the Apostles, Act 12:2, where the historian relates the death of James, the brother of John; and yet, in Act 15:13-21, and in Act 21:18, he records a speech delivered by James in the assembly of the apostles and elders. In this place James, the Lord 's brother, is mentioned thus to distinguish him from James the brother of John. Some think there were three of this name: - 1. James, our Lord's brother, or cousin, as some will have it; 2. James, the son of Alphaeus; and 3. James, the son of Zebedee. But the two former names belong to the same person.

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⁵⁵ Is [2076] not [3756] this [3778] the carpenter's [5045] son [5207]? is [3004] not [3780] his [846] mother [3384] called [3004] Mary [3137]? and [2532] his [846] brethren [80], James [2385], and [2532] Joses [2500], and [2532] Simon [4613], and [2532] Judas [2455]?

¹⁴ These [3778] all [3956] continued [2258] [4342] with one accord [3661] in prayer [4335] and [2532] supplication [1162], with [4862] the women [1135], and [2532] Mary [3137] the mother [3384] of Jesus [2424], and [2532] with [4862] his [846] brethren [80].

⁵ For [1063] neither [3761] did [4100] his [846] brethren [80] believe [4100] in [1519] him [846].

³ His [846] brethren [80] therefore [3767] said [2036] unto [4314] him [846], Depart [3327] hence [1782], and [2532] go [5217] into [1519] Judaea [2449], that [2443] thy [4675] disciples [3101] also [2532] may see [2334] the works [2041] that [3739] thou [4675] doest [4160].

⁸ I am become a stranger [02114] unto my brethren [0251], and an alien [05237] unto my mother's [0517] children [01121].

¹⁷ Jesus [2424] saith [3004] unto her [846], Touch [680] me [3450] not [3361]; for [1063] I am [305] not yet [3768] ascended [305] to [4314] my [3450] Father [3962]: but [1161] go [4198] to [4314] my [3450] brethren [80], and [2532] say [2036] unto them [846], I ascend [305] unto [4314] my [3450] Father [3962], and [2532] your [5216] Father [3962]; and [2532] to my [3450] God [2316], and [2532] your [5216] God [2316].

¹⁰ Then [5119] said [3004] Jesus [2424] unto them [846], Be [5399] not [3361] afraid [5399]: go [565] tell [518] my [3450] brethren [80] that [2443] they go [5217] into [1519] Galilee [1056], and there [2546] shall they see [3700] me [3165].

¹² For [1063] before [4253] that certain [5100] came [2064] from [575] James [2385], he did eat [4906] with [3326] the Gentiles [1484]: but [1161] when [3753] they were come [2064], he withdrew [5288] and [2532] separated [873] himself [1438], fearing [5399] them which were of [1537] the circumcision [4061].

⁹ And [2532] when James [2385], [2532] Cephas [2786], and [2532] John [2491], who [3588] seemed [1380] to be [1511] pillars [4769], perceived [1097] the grace [5485] that was given [1325] unto me [3427], they gave [1325] to me [1698] and [2532] Barnabas [921] the right hands [1188] of fellowship [2842]; that [2443] we [2249] should go unto [1519] the heathen [1484], and [1161] they [846] unto [1519] the circumcision [4061].

² And [1161] he killed [337] James [2385] the brother [80] of John [2491] with the sword [3162].

¹ And [2532] certain men [5100] which came down [2718] from [575] Judaea [2449] taught [1321] the brethren [80], and said, [3754] Except [3362] ye be circumcised [4059] after the manner [1485] of Moses [3475], ye cannot [3756] [1410] be saved [4982].
² When therefore [3767] Paul [3972] and [2532] Barnabas [921] had [1096] no [3756] small [3641] dissension [4714] and [2532] disputation [4803] with [4314] them [846], they determined [5021] that Paul [3972] and [2532] Barnabas [921], and [2532] certain [5100] other [243] of [1537] them [846], should go up [305] to [1519] Jerusalem [2419] unto [4314] the apostles [652] and [2532] elders [4245] about [4012] this [5127] question [2213].
³ And [3303] [3767] being brought on their way [4311] by [5259] the church [1577], they passed through [1330] Phenice [5403] and [2532] Samaria [4540], declaring [1555] the conversion [1995] of the Gentiles [1484]: and [2532] they caused [4160] great [3173] joy [5479] unto all [3956] the brethren [80].
⁴ And [1161] when they were come [3854] to [1519] Jerusalem [2419], they were received [588] of [5259] the church [1577], and [2532] of the apostles [652] and [2532] elders [4245], and [5037] they declared [312] all things [3745] that God [2316] had done [4160] with [3326] them [846].

¹ Then [1899] fourteen [1180] years [2094] after [1223] I went up [305] again [3825] to [1519] Jerusalem [2414] with [3326] Barnabas [921], and took [4838] Titus [5103] with me [4838] also [2532].

³² And [1161] it came [1096] to pass, as [1330] Peter [4074] passed throughout [1330] [1223] all [3956] quarters, he came down [2718] also [2532] to [4314] the saints [40] which [3588] dwelt [2730] at Lydda [3069].

¹⁴ Now [1161] when the apostles [652] which [3588] were at [1722] Jerusalem [2414] heard [191] that [3754] Samaria [4540] had received [1209] the word [3056] of God [2316], they sent [649] unto [4314] them [846] Peter [4074] and [2532] John [2491]:

²⁷ But [1161] Barnabas [921] took [1949] him [846], and brought [71] him to [4314] the apostles [652], and [2532] declared [1334] unto them [846] how [4459] he had seen [1492] the Lord [2962] in [1722] the way [3598], and [2532] that [3754] he had spoken [2980] to him [846], and [2532] how [4459] he had preached boldly [3955] at [1722] Damascus [1154] in [1722] the name [3686] of Jesus [2424].
²⁸ And [2532] he was [2258] with [3326] them [846] coming in [1531] and [2532] going out [1607] at [1722] Jerusalem [2419].

²² Judas [2455] saith [3004] unto him [846], not [3756] Iscariot [2469], Lord [2962], how [5101] is it [1096] that [3754] thou wilt [3195] manifest [1718] thyself [4572] unto us [2254], and [2532] not [3780] unto the world [2889]?

⁴⁰ There [1161] were [2258] also [2532] women [1135] looking [2334] on afar [3113] off [575]: among [2532] [1722] whom [3739] was [2258] Mary [3137] Magdalene [3094], and [2532] Mary [3137] the mother [3384] of James [2385] the less [3398] and [2532] of Joses [2500], and [2532] Salome [4539];

¹³ Then [1161] Paul [3972] answered [611], What [5101] mean ye [4160] to weep [2799] and [2532] to break [4919] mine [3450] heart [2588]? for [1063] I [1473] am [2192] ready [2093] not [3756] to be bound [1210] only [3440], but [2532] also [235] to die [599] at [1519] Jerusalem [2419] for [5228] the name [3686] of the Lord [2962] Jesus [2424].

¹³ And [1161] after [3326] they had held [4601] their [846] peace [4601], James [2385] answered [611], saying [3004], Men [435] and brethren [80], hearken [191] unto me [3450]:

² And [1161] he killed [337] James [2385] the brother [80] of John [2491] with the sword [3162].

² Now [1161] the names [3686] of the twelve [1427] apostles [652] are [2076] these [5023]; The first [4413], Simon [4613], who [3588] is called [3004] Peter [4074], and [2532] Andrew [406] his [846] brother [80]; James [2385] the son of [3588] Zebedee [2199], and [2532] John [2491] his [846] brother [80];
³ Philip [5376], and [2532] Bartholomew [918]; Thomas [2381], and [2532] Matthew [3156] the publican [5057]; James [2385] the son of [3588] Alphaeus [256], and [2532] Lebbaeus [3002], whose surname was [1941] Thaddaeus [2280];

³ Philip [5376], and [2532] Bartholomew [918]; Thomas [2381], and [2532] Matthew [3156] the publican [5057]; James [2385] the son of [3588] Alphaeus [256], and [2532] Lebbaeus [3002], whose surname was [1941] Thaddaeus [2280];

³⁵ And [2532] James [2385] and [2532] John [2491], the sons [5207] of Zebedee [2199], come [4365] unto him [846], saying [3004], Master [1320], we would [2309] that [2443] thou shouldest do [4160] for us [2254] whatsoever [3739] [1437] we shall desire [154].

²¹ And [2532] going on [4260] from thence [1564], he saw [1492] other [243] two [1417] brethren [80], James [2385] the son of [3588] Zebedee [2199], and [2532] John [2491] his [846] brother [80], in [1722] a ship [4143] with [3326] Zebedee [2199] their [846] father [3962], mending [2675] their [846] nets [1350]; and [2532] he called [2564] them [846].

⁴ And [2532] that [3754] he was buried [2290], and [2532] that [3754] he rose again [1453] the third [5154] day [2250] according [2596] to the scriptures [1124]:
⁵ And [2532] that [3754] he was seen [3700] of Cephas [2786], then [1534] of the twelve [1427]:
⁶ After that [1899], he was seen [3700] of above [1883] five hundred [4001] brethren [80] at once [2178]; of [1537] whom [3739] the greater part [4119] remain [3306] unto [2193] this present [737], but [1161] some [5100] [2532] are fallen asleep [2837].
⁷ After that [1899], he was seen [3700] of James [2385]; then [1534] of all [3956] the apostles [652].

¹ Paul [3972], and [2532] Silvanus [4610], and [2532] Timotheus [5095], unto the church [1577] of the Thessalonians [2331] which is in [1722] God [2316] the Father [3962] and [2532] in the Lord [2962] Jesus [2424] Christ [5547]: Grace [5485] be unto you [5213], and [2532] peace [1515], from [575] God [2316] our [2257] Father [3962], and [2532] the Lord [2962] Jesus [2424] Christ [5547].

¹⁸ And [1161] the day following [1966] Paul [3972] went in [1524] with [4862] us [2254] unto [4314] James [2385]; and [5037] all [3956] the elders [4245] were present [3854].

¹³ And [1161] after [3326] they had held [4601] their [846] peace [4601], James [2385] answered [611], saying [3004], Men [435] and brethren [80], hearken [191] unto me [3450]:
¹⁴ Simeon [4826] hath declared [1834] how [2531] God [2316] at the first [4412] did visit [1980] the Gentiles [1484], to take [2983] out of [1537] them a people [2992] for [1909] his [846] name [3686].
¹⁵ And [2532] to this [5129] agree [4856] the words [3056] of the prophets [4396]; as [2531] it is written [1125],
¹⁶ After [3326] this [5023] I will return [390], and [2532] will build again [456] the tabernacle [4633] of David [1138], which [3588] is fallen down [4098]; and [2532] I will build again [456] the ruins [2679] thereof [846], and [2532] I will set [461] it [846] up [461]:
¹⁷ That [3704] [302] the residue [2645] of men [444] might seek after [1567] the Lord [2962], and [2532] all [3956] the Gentiles [1484], upon [1909] whom [3739] my [3450] name [3686] is called [1941] [1909] [846], saith [3004] the Lord [2962], who [3588] doeth [4160] all [3956] these things [5023].
¹⁸ Known [1110] unto God [2316] are [2076] all [3956] his [846] works [2041] from [575] the beginning of the world [165].
¹⁹ Wherefore [1352] my [1473] sentence is [2919], that we trouble [3926] not [3361] them, which [3588] from among [575] the Gentiles [1484] are turned [1994] to [1909] God [2316]:
²⁰ But [235] that we write [1989] unto them [846], that they abstain [567] from [575] pollutions [234] of idols [1497], and [2532] from fornication [4202], and [2532] from things strangled [4156], and [2532] from blood [129].
²¹ For [1063] Moses [3475] of [1537] old [744] time [1074] hath [2192] in every [2596] city [4172] them that preach [2784] him [846], being read [314] in [1722] the synagogues [4864] every [2596] [3956] sabbath day [4521].

² And [1161] he killed [337] James [2385] the brother [80] of John [2491] with the sword [3162].