Were the Jews in Acts 15 sitting down or standing up while they disputed?
They were standing, not seated in a conference room, while the disputing continued. The text notes much disputing before Peter rose up, and the explanation pictures these Jews as standing nose to nose, going at the argument tooth and toenail rather than calmly sitting.
Les explains that when Peter rose up in Acts 15, he must have been seated before that. But in the midst of the much disputing over whether Gentiles had to be circumcised and keep the Law of Moses, Les says he has to think these Jews were not just sitting in a conference room. They were standing, nose to nose, going at this tooth and toenail. The Pharisees who believed were insisting Gentiles be circumcised and commanded to keep the law of Moses, and the apostles and elders came together to consider the matter. So the scene is pictured as an animated standing dispute, not a calm seated deliberation.
And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe.