[OLD REGGIE]

James very emphasis on the personal "I" indicates that he was only expressing his own opinion. This is underscored by Acts 15:22, which indicates that the apostles and elders agreed with James practical suggestion. James spoke and the Council was not silenced. Rather their agreement had to be noted. If James spoke with singular authority, there would be no need to note such "agreement" with James suggestion.

Nothing in this entire passage runs counter to Peter's primacy.

James Peters very emphasis on the personal "I" indicates that he was only expressing his own opinion. This is underscored by Acts 15:22, which indicates that the apostles and elders agreed with JamesPeters practical suggestion. JamesPeter spoke and the Council was not silenced. Rather their agreement had to be noted. If JamesPeter spoke with singular authority, there would be no need to note such "agreement" with JamesPeters suggestion.

And to top it off James called him "Simon". The nerve of him!

[polemikos]

James Peter...

Funny, but it doesn't really work for linguistic reasons. Let me rephrase:

Nothing regarding the Council of Jerusalem runs counter to Peter's primacy.

Peter spoke first (Acts 15:7) and only Peter invokes God on the specific matter (Acts 15:10a). As a result the doctrinal dispute is silenced (Acts 15:12a).

When James speaks, it is to acknowledge what Peter has said (Acts 15:14a) and that Peter has special knowledge from God. (Acts 15:14b) Is James going to disagree with Peter? Not on a bet.

Note also James use of Scripture in Acts 15:15-17. Some have tried to use this as a proof text for sola Scriptura. But James has actually quoted two authorities here: Peter and Scripture. And it is Peter that is given primacy of place. Peter is not right because he agrees with Scripture, but a particular Scripture applies because it agrees with what Peter has said ("with this the words of the prophets agree").

James pronouncement in Acts 15:19 is first to agree with Peter's of Acts 15:10-11. (Did James have any other choice? As we can see from Acts 15:14b, of course not.) And then James suggests a pastoral implementation of Peter's doctrinal statement.

Peter, as head, makes a doctrinal determination. James, as regional administrator, puts forward a pastoral implementation suggestion.