Chizuk Emunah (Pt 2) Under the Microscope: Chapter 71

Acts 15:17, the Apostle James cites a verse from Amos 9, changed into the following terms:—"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."

The true passage runs thus:—"In order that those may inherit the remainder of Edom, and of all the Gentiles upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord who doeth this." The prophecy does not predict the acquisition of the inheritance in favour of other men, but in favour of Israel, "upon whom the name of the Lord is called." See Deuteronomy 28:10, "And all the people of the earth shall see that the name of the Lord is called upon thee" 

Again, Acts 15 is the Jerusalem council, where the apostles addressed the question about what is to be done regarding Gentile converts.

And all the assembly fell silent, and they listened to Barnabas and Paul as they related what signs and wonders God had done through them among the Gentiles. After they finished speaking, James replied, “Brothers, listen to me. Simeon has related how God first visited the Gentiles, to take from them a people for his name. And with this the words of the prophets agree, just as it is written,

 

 “‘After this I will return, 

 and I will rebuild the tent of David that has fallen; 

I will rebuild its ruins, 

 and I will restore it, 

 that the remnant of mankind may seek the Lord, 

and all the Gentiles who are called by my name, 

says the Lord, who makes these things known from of old.’ 

 

Therefore my judgment is that we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who turn to God, but should write to them to abstain from the things polluted by idols, and from sexual immorality, and from what has been strangled, and from blood. For from ancient generations Moses has had in every city those who proclaim him, for he is read every Sabbath in the synagogues.” (Acts 15:12-21)

The Septuagint reads:
ὅπως ἐκζητήσωσιν οἱ κατάλοιποι τῶν ἀνθρώπων καὶ πάντα τὰ ἔθνη ἐφ᾽ οὓς ἐπικέκληται τὸ ὄνομά μου ἐπ᾽ αὐτούς λέγει κύριος ὁ θεὸς ὁ ποιῶν ταῦτα.
And the quote in Acts 15 reads:
ὅπως ἂν ἐκζητήσωσιν οἱ κατάλοιποι τῶν ἀνθρώπων τὸν κύριον καὶ πάντα τὰ ἔθνη ἐφ᾽ οὓς ἐπικέκληται τὸ ὄνομά μου ἐπ᾽ αὐτούς λέγει κύριος ὁ ποιῶν ταῦτα πάντα

Acts is nearly a direct quote, albeit a little more embellished. Again, what does Troki expect? Greek was the official trade language of the region, and the quote fits the Greek rendition quite well. Troki might argue that it violates the spirit of the Hebrew text, but I think that's unlikely.

The Hebrew of Amos 9 states that "they" may possess the remnant of Edom and all the nations who are called by God's name. Troki might argue that God is talking about Jews possessing these Gentiles, but who do you think composed the early church?

This application is similar to using Zechariah 8:23 which states: Thus says the LORD of hosts: In those days ten men from the nations of every tongue shall take hold of the robe of a Jew, saying, ‘Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.’”


This very event happened during the early church, where gentiles from everywhere recognized the God of Israel and wanted to become part of his people.