Acts 15:15

James reminded his hearers that the Old Testament prophets supported the salvation of Gentiles apart from Judaism. Note that James did not say the salvation of Gentiles then was the fulfillment of these prophecies. He said the prophets’ predictions of future Gentile salvation harmonized with the present salvation of Gentiles apart from Judaism (cf. Acts 2:16). [Note: See Heater, pp. 147-57; and Bock, "Evidence from . . .," pp. 195-96.] James then quoted Amos 9:11-12 as a representative prophecy. Another view is that by "the prophets" James meant the book of the 12 Minor Prophets of which Amos was a part. Neither Amos nor any other prophet said Gentiles had to become Jews to enjoy the blessings of salvation (cf. Romans 11:12).

"The passage in Amos refers primarily to the restoration of the Davidic empire, but also the Messiah’s Kingdom ([’]the throne of David his father,’ Luke 1:32)." [Note: Robertson, 3:230.]

"James’s major contribution to the decision of the council was to shift the discussion of the conversion of Gentiles from a proselyte model to an eschatological one. . . . James is saying, God’s people will consist of two concentric groups. At their core will be restored Israel (i.e., David’s rebuilt tent); gathered around them will be a group of Gentiles (i.e., ’the remnant of men’) who will share in the messianic blessings but will persist as Gentiles without necessarily becoming Jewish proselytes." [Note: Longenecker, p. 446.]