Had the calling out of a Gentile people for God's name ever been raised before?
The calling out of a Gentile people for God's name had never been raised or mooted before. Only after Paul's Gospel was revealed and recognized as primarily for the Gentile world did James gain insight that God would call out a people for His name from among the Gentiles.
Les explains that in Acts 15, after the dispute about whether Gentiles could be saved without circumcision and law keeping, James makes a tremendous statement. James cites Simeon's declaration that God at the first visited the Gentiles to take out of them a people for His name. Les notes this had never been mooted before, but now James has insight that since Paul's Gospel was revealed and is primarily for the Gentile world, God will call out a people for His name. The prophets agree that after this calling out, God will return and rebuild the tabernacle of David, so the residue of men and all Gentiles upon whom His name is called may seek the Lord. Les emphasizes that the sovereign God controls everything and nothing catches Him by surprise.