Acts 15:17

17 1SO THAT THE REST OF MANKIND MAY SEEK THE LORD, AND ALL THE GENTILES 2WHO ARE CALLED BY MY NAME,'

Acts 15:17 Meaning and Commentary

Acts 15:17

That the residue of men might seek after the Lord
The rebuilder and proprietor of this tabernacle, and who dwells in it; that is, attend his worship, pray unto him, and seek unto him for life and salvation: in Amos these are called, "the remnant of Edom": and design the remnant according to the election of grace among the Gentiles; the Jews generally call all other nations, and especially the Roman empire, Edom:

and all the Gentiles upon whom my name is called;
for God is the God of the whole earth, of the Gentiles as well as of the Jews; and his Gospel was now spread among them, and many of them were converted and called Christians, and the children and people of God: the Jews


FOOTNOTES:

F24 understand this of the people of Israel, who are called by the name of the Lord, or on whom his name is called; and some think the words are to be transposed F25 thus,

``that Israel on whom my name is called might possess the remnant of Edom, and all the people;''

and is true of their possessing or enjoying them in a Gospel church state:

saith the Lord, who doth all these things;
raises up the tabernacle of David, revives the interest of religion, resettles the church, and increases it, calls and converts the Gentiles, causes them to seek after the Lord, and unites them in one church state with the Jews; the word "all" is left out in the Alexandrian copy, and in the Vulgate Latin and Ethiopic versions, and is not in Amos.


F24 Targum in Amos ix. 12.
F25 Kimchi & Aben Ezra in ib.

Acts 15:17 In-Context

15 "With this the words of the Prophets agree, just as it is written,
16 'AFTER THESE THINGS I will return, AND I WILL REBUILD THE TABERNACLE OF DAVID WHICH HAS FALLEN, AND I WILL REBUILD ITS RUINS, AND I WILL RESTORE IT,
17 SO THAT THE REST OF MANKIND MAY SEEK THE LORD , AND ALL THE GENTILES WHO ARE CALLED BY MY NAME,'
18 SAYS THE LORD , WHO MAKES THESE THINGS KNOWN FROM LONG AGO.
19 "Therefore it is my judgment that we do not trouble those who are turning to God from among the Gentiles,

Cross References 2

  • 1. Amos 9:12
  • 2. Deuteronomy 28:10; Isaiah 63:19; Jeremiah 14:9; Daniel 9:19; James 2:7

Footnotes 2

  • [a]. Gr "anthropoi"
  • [b]. Lit "upon whom My name is called"
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