The Relationship of Jewish and Gentile Believers to the Law Between A.D. 30 and 70 in the Scripture

The Place of the Law after Gentile Salvation 15: 13-18 109 James' speech consists of a relatively short statement (15:14) which is supported and explained by an involved quotation of Scripture (15:15-18). He acknowledges Peter's testimony concerning the salvation of Gentiles (15: 14) and endorses it by attaching the prized and significant term people to the Gentiles, "taking from among the Gentiles a people for his name" (l~ tevwv Aaov T4J ovoµaTt mhoO). 150 Thus, believing Gentiles now enjoy along with Israel a close relationship with God which previously was solely the possession of Israel. James ' justifies his statement based on the prophets, "and with this the words of the prophets agree" (15: 15). The text of James' quotation James' use of Scripture has caused interpreters questions for several reasons . First, his quotation agrees with the LXX rather than the MT which some reject as unthinkable for a Jewish leader in Jerusalem. 151 The LXX does differ from the Hebrew 152 text , but what is 150 In the LXX 11a6c; is used "for a specific people, namely, Israel , and it serves to emphasise the special privileged religious position of this people as the people of God ," H . trathmann , "11a6c;, " TDNT, 4 :32 . "The paradox inherent in the contrast between 'Gentile ' (or ' nations ' ) and 'people' is striking , since the latter term was often used of the Jew a the people of God in contrast to the Gentiles . Now it is being urged that God ' people include the Gentiles," Marshall , Acts, 251. 151 "Nearly every expositor concede that the Jewish Chri tian Jame would not in Jeru alem have used a eptuagint text , differing from the Hebrew riginal , a riptural proof. It i not James but Luke who i peaking here," Haenchen, Act , 448 . f. al Lak , Beginnings, 4 : 176 for the ame entiment. 152 A cording to the MT Amo aid "' In that da I ill rai e up the bo th f Da id th t i fall n nd repair it breache , and r i e up it ruin , and r build it a in th da old ; that they m y po e (~w-:, .') the remnant of dom ( • 11 ,., n 7 .. ,·-n J and all th n ti n ho e called my name ,' th L RD h d thi " (9 :11 -1 ) , but th L h pparentl r d 1 7 (p 11.V77 ' , tr n 1 tin it a £Ks rin; crw t ( k) nd r d 017 ( d m) a (mankmd) . In re r n to th fir t h ng , r un n t th t t .,th h 11 p " 1th "th y h 11 k" nl ' n min r n n ntal h n 1