Albert Barnes Commentary Zephaniah 3:12

"But I will leave in the midst of thee an afflicted and poor people, and they shall take refuge in the name of Jehovah." — Zephaniah 3:12 (ASV)

I will also leave - (Furthermore, as a remnant, it is still the same solemn prophecy, that only a remnant shall be saved) an afflicted and poor people. Priests (except for that great company who were obedient to the faith (Acts 6:7)), scribes, lawyers, Pharisees, and Sadducees were taken away; and there remained “the people of the land,” the unlearned and ignorant (Acts 4:13), the weak things of the world and the things despised (1 Corinthians 1:27–28), who bore the very title of their Master, the poor and needy; poor in Spirit (Psalms 41:1); they were also poor in outward things, since they who had lands, sold them and they had all things common (Acts 2:44–45; Acts 4:32, 35).

They were afflicted beyond measure outwardly in the persecutions (see, for example, Acts 8:1; Acts 9:2, 13-14; Acts 12:1–2; Acts 13:50; Acts 14:5, 22; Acts 22; and others; Romans 8:17, 35-36; Romans 12:14; 1 Corinthians 9:19; 2 Corinthians 1:8–9; 2 Corinthians 12:10; 2 Thessalonians 1:4; 2 Timothy 3:11–12; Hebrews 10:32–34; James 2:6–7; 1 Peter 1:6–7; 1 Peter 4:13; Revelation 1:9; Revelation 6:9; and others), suffering reproaches, spoiling of their goods, stripes, and deaths, which they endured for Christ’s sake.

They also knew their own poverty. As Rupert states: “knowing themselves to be sinners, and that they were justified only by faith in Jesus Christ.” When the rest were cast out of the midst of her, these would be left in the midst of her (the words stand in contrast to one another), in the bosom of the Church. And they shall trust in the name of the Lord. “As they looked to be justified only in the Name of Christ,” and, as Dionysius notes, “trusted in the grace and power of God alone, not in any power or wisdom or eloquence or riches of this world, they converted the world to a faith above nature.” Cyril writes: “Conformed in this also to Christ, who for our sakes became poor and almost neglected both His divine glory and the preeminence of His nature, to subject Himself to the condition of a servant. So then, those instructed in His laws after His example think humbly of themselves. They became most exceedingly loved by God, and chiefly the divine disciples, who were set as lights of the world.”