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Acts 12 · a question people ask

"Tell these things to James and to the brothers." (12:17). Which James?

In the text

The chapter doesn't say. It began by telling that Herod killed "James, the brother of John" (12:2). Acts 1 names "James" and "James the son of Alphaeus" among those in the upper room, and "Judas the son of James" as well (1:13). Acts names a James again later (15:13, 21:18), and doesn't say there either who he is. These notes don't say who the James of 12:17 is, and add nothing from outside the Bible.

The verses

“But he, beckoning to them with his hand to be silent, declared to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. He said, “Tell these things to James and to the brothers.” Then he departed and went to another place.”
Acts 12:17 · World English Bible
“He killed James, the brother of John, with the sword.”
Acts 12:2 · World English Bible
“When they had come in, they went up into the upper room where they were staying, that is Peter, John, James, Andrew, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas the son of James.”
Acts 1:13 · World English Bible
“After they were silent, James answered, “Brothers, listen to me.”
Acts 15:13 · World English Bible

From Favor's study of Acts 12

Acts 12: Now I truly know

Peter "didn’t know" that what the angel did "was real", and thought he saw a vision (12:9); then he said, "Now I truly know" (12:11). In the Greek, know is one verb in both verses, and Strong's gives truly as from the word behind real.

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Last reviewed October 7, 2026. Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain. Every answer cites the verses it rests on. What we believe · All Bible questions