Commentaries:
Robertson's Word Pictures (NT)
That the residue of men may seek after the Lord (opwv an ekzhthswsin oi kataloipoi twn anqrwpwn ton kurion). The use of opwv with the subjunctive (effective aorist active) to express purpose is common enough and note an for an additional tone of uncertainty. On the rarity of an with opwv in the Koin‚ see Robertson, Grammar, p. 986. Here the Gentiles are referred to. The Hebrew text is quite different, "that they may possess the remnant of Edom." Certainly the LXX suits best the point that James is making. But the closing words of this verse point definitely to the Gentiles both in the Hebrew and the LXX, "all the Gentiles" (panta ta eqnh). Another item of similarity between this speech and the Epistle of James is in the phrase "my name is called" (epikeklhtai to onoma mou) and James 2:7. The purpose of God, though future, is expressed by this perfect passive indicative epikeklhtai from epi-kalew, to call on. It is a Jewish way of speaking of those who worship God.
Other Robertson's Word Pictures (NT) entries containing Acts 15:17:
Acts 3:20
Acts 15:6
Acts 15:15
James 2:7
1 Peter 1:10
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