There are five different James in the New Testament. The one we are considering is mentioned on only two occasions in the gospels, Matt. 13. 55; Mark 6. 3; the four ‘brethren’ mentioned in these verses were probably children of Mary and Joseph and therefore half brothers of the Lord Jesus. Obviously, they were all born after Him. The order of the names given suggests that James was the eldest of the four. We know that none of them believed in the Lord Jesus before His death, John 7. 5. They were the most privileged family on earth to have within their humble home the One who was God manifest in flesh.
Conversion. James was a witness of the Lord’s resurrection, 1 Cor. 15. 7, and became a true believer. How wonderful that one who had witnessed His life on earth at such a personal level, could later in repentance be saved though faith in His Name. And not only James; we also find in Acts 1 that the eleven disciples were in the upper room ‘in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren’. Yes, they were praying with other saints; they had been converted.
Continuance. It seems that since Pentecost, James had remained in the assembly at Jerusalem until next mentioned at the time of Peter’s imprisonment. About ten years had passed and within that period Jerusalem had seen the great persecution break out after the death of Stephen. In consequence, they had also suffered the loss of many who were ‘scattered abroad’. During that same time the saints in Jerusalem had been hearing of the progress of the gospel and the increase in assembly testimony. They had sent Peter and John when the blessing arrived in Samaria, and had ‘sent forth’ Barnabas when it had reached Antioch. All this time James, the Lord’s brother, had been silent but his local progress had obviously continued. The first mention of James is Acts 12. 17. Peter had been released to appear again in the book of Acts, but only once again. He left the instruction, ‘Go shew these things unto James, and to the brethren. And he departed, and went into another place’. This was acknowledgement that James had become a responsible brother.
