Acts 15:17

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

Berean Standard Bible

Follow its threads on the canvas →

Study note

Setting — During a council discussion referencing the rebuilding of David’s fallen tent, the speaker attributes the gathering of peoples directly to God’s declared purpose. The text identifies God as the active agent who both announces and accomplishes these things.

The words — The Greek ὅπως (hopōs) introduces a purpose clause meaning “so that,” while ἐκζητήσωσιν (ekzētēsōsin) literally means “may seek out.” These terms frame the gathering of the remnant and Gentiles as a deliberate outcome of God’s action.

The thread — This pattern of God seeking those who did not seek Him and calling Gentiles by His name runs through Isaiah 65:1, Zechariah 2:11, and Zechariah 8:20. The text explicitly ties the present gathering to God’s ancient, age-long declarations.

Why it lands — The verse demands recognition that Gentile inclusion is a direct fulfillment of God’s stated purpose rather than a human strategy. It requires the reader to submit to God’s declared plan instead of imposing external conditions on His work.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Greek words

King James Version

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.

Cross-references

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.
Zechariah 8:20 This is what the LORD of Hosts says: “Peoples will yet come—the residents of many cities—
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 am! Here I am!’
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 will say, ‘You are my God.’”
Isaiah 66:18 “And I, knowing their deeds and thoughts, am coming to gather all nations and tongues, and they will come and see My glory.
Jeremiah 16:19 O 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.
Malachi 1:11 For 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.
Isaiah 43:7 everyone called by My name and created for My glory, whom I have indeed formed and made.”
Genesis 22:18 And through your offspring all nations of the earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.”
Genesis 49:10 The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the staff from between his feet, until Shiloh comes and the allegiance of the nations is his.