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Acts 15:17

in Acts 15

so that the remnant of men may seek the Lord, and all the Gentiles who are called by My name, says the Lord who does these things

BSB

The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾

ASV

That the residue of men may seek after the Lord, And all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called,

KJV

That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things.

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This verse in Acts 15

Commentary

3 notes on this verse
That the residue of men - This verse is quoted literally from the Septuagint, and differs in some respects from the Hebrew. The phrase, “the residue of men,” here is evidently understood, both by the Septuagint and by James, as referring to others than Jews, to the Gentiles the rest of the world - implying that many of them would be admitted to the friendship and favor of God. The Hebrew is, “that they may possess the remnant of Edom.” This change is made in the Septuagint by a slight difference in the reading of two Hebrew words.

This site's exposition

words of the prophets

on Acts 15:15-18

To this agree the words of the prophets, James says, and cites Amos 9:11-12, After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down, reading the Gentiles' inclusion as the restoration of David's fallen house rather than a departure from it. That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called follows the Greek Septuagint's wording, which reads seek rather than the Hebrew Masoretic Text's possess, a variant the bench notes honestly rather than papering over. Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world closes the citation, the Gentile mission read as always within God's plan rather than a late improvisation.

The record, by era

The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice

A commentator

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

Then Israel shall possess the remnant of Edom (so it is in the Hebrew); but the Jews called all the Gentiles Edomites, and therefore the Septuagint leave out the particular mention of Edom, and read it just as it is here, that the residue of men might seek (James here adds, after the Lord), and all the Gentiles, or heathen, upon whom my name is called.

The words behind it

25 Greek words

Every Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.

A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.

Related verses

18 in all, six open

The number beside each verse is how many compiled reference works tie it to this one. The strongest six stand open.

Zechariah 2:11“On that day many nations will join themselves to the LORD, and they will become My people. I will dwell among you, and you will know that the LORD of Hosts has sent Me to you.22 worksZechariah 8:20–23This is what the LORD of Hosts says: “Peoples will yet come—the residents of many cities—15 works2 Timothy 2:19Nevertheless, God’s firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: “The Lord knows those who are His,” and, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord must turn away from iniquity.”14 worksIsaiah 65:1“I revealed Myself to those who did not ask for Me; I was found by those who did not seek Me. To a nation that did not call My name, I said, ‘Here I am! Here I am!’11 worksHosea 2:23And I will sow her as My own in the land, and I will have compassion on ‘No Compassion.’ I will say to those called ‘Not My People,’ ‘You are My people,’ and they will say, ‘You are my God.’”11 worksColossians 3:11Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, or free, but Christ is all and is in all.9 works
The other 12 cross-references, with their words ▾
Isaiah 60:3Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.6 worksActs 17:27God intended that they would seek Him and perhaps reach out for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us.6 worksActs 28:28Be advised, therefore, that God’s salvation has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will listen!”6 worksAmos 9:12that they may possess the remnant of Edom and all the nations that bear My name,” declares the LORD, who will do this.6 worksMalachi 1:11For My name will be great among the nations, from where the sun rises to where it sets. In every place, incense and pure offerings will be presented in My name, because My name will be great among the nations,” says the LORD of Hosts.5 worksIsaiah 66:18–21“And I, knowing their deeds and thoughts, am coming to gather all nations and tongues, and they will come and see My glory.5 worksJeremiah 16:19O LORD, my strength and my fortress, my refuge in the day of distress, the nations will come to You from the ends of the earth, and they will say, “Our fathers inherited nothing but lies, worthless idols of no benefit at all.5 worksIsaiah 43:7everyone called by My name and created for My glory, whom I have indeed formed and made.”4 worksGenesis 48:16the angel who has redeemed me from all harm—may He bless these boys. And may they be called by my name and the names of my fathers Abraham and Isaac, and may they grow into a multitude upon the earth.”4 worksGenesis 49:10The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the staff from between his feet, until Shiloh comes and the allegiance of the nations is his.3 worksJeremiah 14:9Why are You like a man taken by surprise, like a warrior powerless to save? Yet You are among us, O LORD, and we are called by Your name. Do not forsake us!3 worksMicah 4:1–2In the last days the mountain of the house of the LORD will be established as the chief of the mountains; it will be raised above the hills, and the peoples will stream to it.3 works

The walk

8 stops

Each card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.

  • Through

    Hosea 2:23

    And I will sow her as My own in the land, and I will have compassion on ‘No Compassion.’ I will say to those called ‘Not My People,’ ‘You are My people,’ and they…

    it leads to

    • 1 Peter 2:9–10

      But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, to proclaim the virtues of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.

      Reached by 2 separate paths from here.

    • Romans 9:25–26

      As He says in Hosea: “I will call them ‘My People’ who are not My people, and I will call her ‘My Beloved’ who is not My beloved,”

    • Zechariah 13:9

      This third I will bring through the fire; I will refine them like silver and test them like gold. They will call on My name, and I will answer them. I will say, ‘They…

    • Hosea 1:9–10

      And the LORD said, “Name him Lo-ammi, for you are not My people, and I am not your God.

    • Romans 3:29

      Is God the God of Jews only? Is He not the God of Gentiles too? Yes, of Gentiles too,

  • Through

    Isaiah 65:1

    “I revealed Myself to those who did not ask for Me; I was found by those who did not seek Me. To a nation that did not call My name, I said, ‘Here I…

    it leads to

    • Romans 10:20

      And Isaiah boldly says: “I was found by those who did not seek Me; I revealed Myself to those who did not ask for Me.”

    • Romans 9:24–26

      including us, whom He has called not only from the Jews, but also from the Gentiles?

    • 1 Peter 2:10

      Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

Where this verse is studied

About Acts

The Ascension — Gustave Doré (engraving, public domain)
The Ascension — Gustave Doré (engraving, public domain)
Acts: the study guide →Read Acts 15 →

This page draws on Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Lightfoot, Horae Hebraicae et Talmudicae and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.

Read on in Acts 15 →