Acts 15 · Verse 17

Acts 15:17

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.

Acts 15:17, King James Version

Acts 15:17 in other translations

BSB	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
WEB	that the rest of men may seek after the Lord: all the Gentiles who are called by my name, says the Lord, who does all these things.’
ASV	That the residue of men may seek after the Lord, And all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called,
YLT	that the residue of men may seek after the Lord, and all the nations, upon whom My name hath been called, saith the Lord, who is doing all these things.
DARBY	so that the residue of men may seek out the Lord, and all the nations on whom my name is invoked, saith the Lord, who does these things
BBE	So that the rest of men may make search for the Lord, and all the Gentiles on whom my name is named,
Webster	That the residue of men may seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things.

What does Acts 15:17 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Acts 15:14-17

14-17. Simeon--a Hebrew variation of Simon, as in 2Pe 1:1; (Greek), the Jewish and family name of Peter. hath declared how God at the first--answering to Peter's own expression "a good while ago" (Ac 15:7). did visit the Gentiles to take out of them--in the exercise of His adorable sovereignty. a people for his name--the honor of his name, or for His glory.

Read the full comment on Acts 15:14-17 →

Barnes' Notes

Verse 17. 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 Seventy and by James, as referring to others than the Jews-- to the Gentiles. The rest of the world--implying that many of them would be admitted to the friendship and favour 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. The Seventy, instead of the Hebrew shall inherit, read , shall seek of thee; and instead of Edom they read , Man, or mankind, i.e. men. Why this variation occurred, cannot be explained; but the sense is not materially different. In the Hebrew, the word Edom has undoubted reference to another nation than the Jewish; and the expression means, that in the great prosperity of the Jews, after their return, they should extend the influence of their religion to other nations; that is, as James applies it, the Gentiles might be brought to the privileges of the children of God.

And all the Gentiles. Heb., All the heathen; i.e., all who were not Jews. This was a clear prediction that other nations were to be favoured with the light of the true religion, and that without any mention of their conforming to the rites of the Jewish people.

Upon whom my name is called. Who are called by my name, or who are regarded by me as my people.

Who doeth all these things. That is, who will certainly accomplish this in its time.

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 17 That the residue of men might seek - Instead of this, the Hebrew has, That they may possess the remnant of Edom. Now it is evident that, in the copy from which the Seventy translated, they found ידרשו yidreshu, they might seek, instead of יירשו yireshu, they may possess, where the whole difference between the two words is the change of the י yod for a ד daleth, which might be easily done; and they found אדם adam, man, or men, instead of אדום Edom, the Idumeans, which differs from the other only by the insertion of ו vau between the two last letters. None of the MSS. collated by Kennicott and De Rossi confirm these readings, in which the Septuagint, Arabic, and St. James agree. It shows, however, that even in Jerusalem, and in the early part of the apostolic age, the Septuagint version was quoted in preference to the Hebrew text; or, what is tantamount, was quoted in cases where we would have thought the Hebrew text should have been preferred, because better understood. But God was evidently preparing the way of the Gospel by bringing this venerable version into general credit and use; which was to be the means of conveying the truths of Christianity to the whole Gentile world. How precious should this august and most important version be to every Christian, and especially to every Christian minister! A version, without which no man ever did or ever can critically understand the New Testament. And I may add that, without the assistance afforded by this version, there never could have been a correct translation of the Hebrew text, since that language ceased to be vernacular, into any language. Without it, even St. Jerome could have done little in translating the Old Testament into Latin; and how much all the modern versions owe to St. Jerome's Vulgate, which owes so much to the Septuagint, most Biblical scholars know.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Acts 15:7-21

We see from the words "purifying their hearts by faith," and the address of St. Peter, that justification by faith, and sanctification by the Holy Ghost, cannot be separated; and that both are the gift of God. We have great cause to bless God that we have heard the gospel. May we have that faith which the great Searcher of hearts approves, and attests by the seal of the Holy Spirit. Then our hearts and consciences…

Read the full comment on Acts 15:7-21 →

Acts 15:17 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ὅπωςhopōsso thatG3704

ἂνanwhenG302

ἐκζητήσωσινekzētēsōsinmay seek outG1567

οἱhoitheG3588

κατάλοιποιkataloipoiremnantG2645

τῶνtōn<the>G3588

ἀνθρώπωνanthrōpōnof menG444

τὸνtontheG3588

κύριονkurionLordG2962

καὶkaiandG2532

πάνταpantaallG3956

τὰtatheG3588

ἔθνη,ethnēGentiles,G1484

ἐφ᾽eph᾽uponG1909

οὓςhouswhomG3739

ἐπικέκληταιepikeklētaihas been calledG1941

τὸtotheG3588

ὄνομάonomanameG3686

μουmouof MeG3165

ἐπ᾽ep᾽uponG1909

αὐτούς,autousthem,G846

λέγειlegeisaysG3004

κύριοςkurios[the] LordG2962

ποιῶνpoiōnis doingG4160

ταῦταtautathese thingsG3778

πάνταpantaallG3956

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Acts 15:17

Zechariah 2:11
And many nations shall be joined to the Lord in that day, and shall be my people: and I will dwell in the midst of thee, and thou shalt know that the Lord of hosts hath sent me unto thee.
Zechariah 8:20-23
Thus saith the Lord of hosts; It shall yet come to pass, that there shall come people, and the inhabitants of many cities: And the inhabitants of one city shall go to another, saying, Let us go speedily to pray before the Lord, and to seek the Lord of hosts: I will go also. Yea, many people and strong nations shall come to seek the Lord of hosts in Jerusalem, and to pray before the Lord. Thus saith the Lord of hosts; In those days it shall come to pass, that ten men shall take hold out of all languages of the nations, even shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, saying, We will go with you: for we have heard that God is with you.
Hosea 2:23
And I will sow her unto me in the earth; and I will have mercy upon her that had not obtained mercy; and I will say to them which were not my people, Thou art my people; and they shall say, Thou art my God.
Isaiah 65:1
I am sought of them that asked not for me; I am found of them that sought me not: I said, Behold me, behold me, unto a nation that was not called by my name.
Jeremiah 16:19
O Lord, my strength, and my fortress, and my refuge in the day of affliction, the Gentiles shall come unto thee from the ends of the earth, and shall say, Surely our fathers have inherited lies, vanity, and things wherein there is no profit.
Malachi 1:11
For from the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same my name shall be great among the Gentiles; and in every place incense shall be offered unto my name, and a pure offering: for my name shall be great among the heathen, saith the Lord of hosts.
Isaiah 66:18-21
For I know their works and their thoughts: it shall come, that I will gather all nations and tongues; and they shall come, and see my glory. And I will set a sign among them, and I will send those that escape of them unto the nations, to Tarshish, Pul, and Lud, that draw the bow, to Tubal, and Javan, to the isles afar off, that have not heard my fame, neither have seen my glory; and they shall declare my glory among the Gentiles. And they shall bring all your brethren for an offering unto the Lord out of all nations upon horses, and in chariots, and in litters, and upon mules, and upon swift beasts, to my holy mountain Jerusalem, saith the Lord, as the children of Israel bring an offering in a clean vessel into the house of the Lord. And I will also take of them for priests and for Levites, saith the Lord.
Isaiah 43:7
Even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him.
Jeremiah 14:9
Why shouldest thou be as a man astonied, as a mighty man that cannot save? yet thou, O Lord, art in the midst of us, and we are called by thy name; leave us not.
Genesis 49:10
The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be.
Genesis 22:18
And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.
Isaiah 11:10
And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

the residue.
Ge 22:18; 49:10; Ps 22:26,27; 67:1-3; 72:17-19; Isa 2:2,3; 11:10
Isa 19:23-25; 24:15,16; 49:6,7; 66:18-21; Jer 16:19; Ho 2:23
Joe 2:32; Mic 4:1,2; 5:7; Zec 2:11; 8:20-23; Mal 1:11
the Gentiles.
Ge 48:16; Nu 6:27; Isa 43:7; 65:1
who.
Nu 24:23; Isa 45:7,8; Da 4:35

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

Acts 15:16
After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up:
Acts 15:17
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.
Acts 15:18
Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world.

Read all of Acts 15

Acts 15:17 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	Para que el resto de los hombres busque al Señor, y todos los Gentiles, sobre los cuales es llamado mi nombre, dice el Señor, que hace todas estas cosas.
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	en sorte que le résidu des hommes recherche le ✶Seigneur, et toutes les nations sur lesquelles mon nom est réclamé, dit le ✶Seigneur, qui fait ces choses »
German Elberfelder 1871	damit die übrigen der Menschen den Herrn suchen, und alle Nationen, über welche mein Name angerufen ist, spricht der Herr, der dieses tut",
Latin Clementine Vulgate	ut requirant ceteri hominum Dominum, et omnes gentes super quas invocatum est nomen meum, dicit Dominus faciens hæc.