When this sound was heard, the multitude came together and were bewildered, because everyone heard them speaking in his own language. They were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, “Behold, aren’t all these who speak Galileans? How do we hear, everyone in our own native language? Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and people from Mesopotamia, Judea, Cappadocia, Pontus, Asia, Phrygia, Pamphylia, Egypt, the parts of Libya around Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians: we hear them speaking in our languages the mighty works of God!”
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Now when the day of Pentecost had come, they were all with one accord in one place. Suddenly there came from the sky a sound like the rushing of a mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. Tongues like fire appeared and were distributed to them, and one sat on each of them. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other languages, as the Spirit gave them the ability to speak. Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under the sky. When this sound was heard, the multitude came together and were bewildered, because everyone heard them speaking in his own language. They were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, “Behold, aren’t all these who speak Galileans? How do we hear, everyone in our own native language? Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and people from Mesopotamia, Judea, Cappadocia, Pontus, Asia, Phrygia, Pamphylia, Egypt, the parts of Libya around Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians: we hear them speaking in our languages the mighty works of God!” They were all amazed, and were perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” Others, mocking, said, “They are filled with new wine.”
Parallel Translations
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When this sound was heard, the multitude came together and were bewildered, because everyone heard them speaking in his own language.
They were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, “Behold, aren’t all these who speak Galileans?
How do we hear, everyone in our own native language?
Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and people from Mesopotamia, Judea, Cappadocia, Pontus, Asia,
Phrygia, Pamphylia, Egypt, the parts of Libya around Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes,
Cretans and Arabians: we hear them speaking in our languages the mighty works of God!”
-
When this was noysed aboute the multitude came to gether and were astonyed because that every man hearde the speake his awne tounge.
They wondred all and marveyled sayinge amonge them selves: Beholde are not all these which speake of Galile?
And how heare we every man his awne touge wherein we were boren?
Parthians Medes and Elamytes and the inhabiters of Mesopotamia of Iury and of Capadocia of Ponthus and Asia
Phrigia Pamphilia and of Egypte and of the parties of Libia which is besyde Syrene and straungers of Rome Iewes and convertes
Grekes and Arabians: we have herde them speake with oure awne tonges the greate workes of God.
Show all 3 translations
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Nowe when this was noised, the multitude came together and were astonied, because that euery man heard them speake his owne language.
And they wondered al, and marueiled, saying among themselues, Beholde, are not all these which speake, of Galile?
How then heare we euery man our owne language, wherein we were borne?
Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the inhabitants of Mesopotamia, and of Iudea, and of Cappadocia, of Pontus, and Asia,
And of Phrygia, and Pamphylia, of Egypt, and of the partes of Libya, which is beside Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, and Iewes, and Proselytes,
Creetes, and Arabians: wee hearde them speake in our owne tongues the wonderful works of God.
Cross-references (106)
- 1 Peter 1:1 (v9) Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the chosen ones who are living as foreigners in the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia,…
- Exodus 15:11 (v11) Who is like you, Yahweh, among the gods? Who is like you, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?
- Acts 2:12 (v7) They were all amazed, and were perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?”
- 1 Corinthians 12:10 (v11) and to another workings of miracles; and to another prophecy; and to another discerning of spirits; to another different kinds of…
- Acts 16:6 (vv9–10) When they had gone through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia.
Show all 100 cross-references
- Acts 18:2 (vv9–10) He found a certain Jew named Aquila, a man of Pontus by race, who had recently come from Italy, with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius…
- Job 9:10 (v11) He does great things past finding out; yes, marvelous things without number.
- Psalms 26:7 (v11) that I may make the voice of thanksgiving to be heard and tell of all your wondrous deeds.
- Psalms 78:4 (v11) We will not hide them from their children, telling to the generation to come the praises of Yahweh, his strength, and his wondrous deeds…
- Jeremiah 25:24 (v11) and all the kings of Arabia, all the kings of the mixed people who dwell in the wilderness;
- Zechariah 8:23 (v10) Yahweh of Armies says: “In those days, ten men will take hold, out of all the languages of the nations, they will take hold of the skirt of…
- Acts 1:11 (v7) who also said, “You men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who was received up from you into the sky, will come…
- 2 Timothy 1:15 (v9) This you know, that all who are in Asia turned away from me, of whom are Phygelus and Hermogenes.
- Titus 1:12 (v11) One of them, a prophet of their own, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, and idle gluttons.”
- Hebrews 2:4 (v11) God also testifying with them, both by signs and wonders, by various works of power and by gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to his own…
- Revelation 1:4 (v9) John, to the seven assemblies that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from God, who is and who was and who is to come; and from the seven…
- Acts 6:9 (vv9–10) But some of those who were of the synagogue called “The Libertines”, and of the Cyrenians, of the Alexandrians, and of those of Cilicia and…
- Genesis 14:1 (v9) In the days of Amraphel, king of Shinar; Arioch, king of Ellasar; Chedorlaomer, king of Elam; and Tidal, king of Goiim,
- Genesis 24:10 (v9) The servant took ten of his master’s camels, and departed, having a variety of good things of his master’s with him. He arose, and went to…
- 1 Kings 10:15 (v11) in addition to that which the traders brought, and the traffic of the merchants, and of all the kings of the mixed people, and of the…
- 2 Kings 17:6 (v9) In the ninth year of Hoshea the king of Assyria took Samaria, and carried Israel away to Assyria, and placed them in Halah, and on the…
- 2 Chronicles 17:11 (v11) Some of the Philistines brought Jehoshaphat presents and silver for tribute. The Arabians also brought him flocks, seven thousand seven…
- 2 Chronicles 26:7 (v11) God helped him against the Philistines, and against the Arabians who lived in Gur Baal, and the Meunim.
- Psalms 40:5 (v11) Many, Yahweh, my God, are the wonderful works which you have done, and your thoughts which are toward us. They can’t be declared back to…
- Psalms 71:17 (v11) God, you have taught me from my youth. Until now, I have declared your wondrous works.
- Psalms 77:11 (v11) I will remember Yah’s deeds; for I will remember your wonders of old.
- Psalms 89:5 (v11) The heavens will praise your wonders, Yahweh, your faithfulness also in the assembly of the holy ones.
- Psalms 96:3 (v11) Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples.
- Psalms 107:8 (v11) Let them praise Yahweh for his loving kindness, for his wonderful deeds to the children of men!
- Psalms 107:15 (v11) Let them praise Yahweh for his loving kindness, for his wonderful deeds to the children of men!
- Psalms 107:21 (v11) Let them praise Yahweh for his loving kindness, for his wonderful deeds to the children of men!
- Psalms 111:4 (v11) He has caused his wonderful works to be remembered. Yahweh is gracious and merciful.
- Psalms 136:4 (v11) to him who alone does great wonders; for his loving kindness endures forever:
- Isaiah 11:11 (v9) It will happen in that day that the Lord will set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant that is left of his people from…
- Isaiah 13:20 (v11) It will never be inhabited, neither will it be lived in from generation to generation. The Arabian will not pitch a tent there, neither…
- Isaiah 25:1 (v11) Yahweh, you are my God. I will exalt you! I will praise your name, for you have done wonderful things, things planned long ago, in complete…
- Isaiah 28:29 (v11) This also comes out from Yahweh of Armies, who is wonderful in counsel, and excellent in wisdom.
- Jeremiah 3:2 (v11) “Lift up your eyes to the bare heights, and see! Where have you not been lain with? You have sat waiting for them by the road, as an…
- Daniel 4:2-3 (v11) It has seemed good to me to show the signs and wonders that the Most High God has worked toward me. How great are his signs! How mighty are…
- Daniel 8:2 (v9) I saw the vision. Now it was so, that when I saw, I was in the citadel of Susa, which is in the province of Elam. I saw in the vision, and…
- Zechariah 8:20 (v10) Yahweh of Armies says: “Many peoples, and the inhabitants of many cities will yet come;
- John 7:52 (v7) They answered him, “Are you also from Galilee? Search, and see that no prophet has arisen out of Galilee.”
- Acts 13:13 (v10) Now Paul and his company set sail from Paphos, and came to Perga in Pamphylia. John departed from them and returned to Jerusalem.
- Acts 13:43 (v10) Now when the synagogue broke up, many of the Jews and of the devout proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas; who, speaking to them, urged…
- Acts 14:11-12 (v7) When the multitude saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voice, saying in the language of Lycaonia, “The gods have come down to us…
- Acts 15:38 (v10) But Paul didn’t think that it was a good idea to take with them someone who had withdrawn from them in Pamphylia, and didn’t go with them…
- Acts 18:23 (v10) Having spent some time there, he departed, and went through the region of Galatia, and Phrygia, in order, establishing all the disciples.
- Acts 19:10 (v9) This continued for two years, so that all those who lived in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.
- Acts 19:31 (v9) Certain also of the Asiarchs, being his friends, sent to him and begged him not to venture into the theater.
- Acts 27:7 (v11) When we had sailed slowly many days, and had come with difficulty opposite Cnidus, the wind not allowing us further, we sailed under the…
- Acts 27:12 (v11) Because the haven was not suitable to winter in, the majority advised going to sea from there, if by any means they could reach Phoenix,…
- Titus 1:5 (v11) I left you in Crete for this reason, that you would set in order the things that were lacking and appoint elders in every city, as I…
- Genesis 10:22 (v9) The sons of Shem were: Elam, Asshur, Arpachshad, Lud, and Aram.
- Genesis 12:10 (v10) There was a famine in the land. Abram went down into Egypt to live as a foreigner there, for the famine was severe in the land.
- Deuteronomy 23:4 (v9) because they didn’t meet you with bread and with water on the way when you came out of Egypt, and because they hired against you Balaam the…
- Judges 3:8 (v9) Therefore Yahweh’s anger burned against Israel, and he sold them into the hand of Cushan Rishathaim king of Mesopotamia; and the children…
- 1 Chronicles 19:6 (v9) When the children of Ammon saw that they had made themselves odious to David, Hanun and the children of Ammon sent one thousand talents of…
- Ezra 6:2 (v9) A scroll was found at Achmetha, in the palace that is in the province of Media, and in it this was written for a record:
- Isaiah 19:23-25 (v10) In that day there will be a highway out of Egypt to Assyria, and the Assyrian shall come into Egypt, and the Egyptian into Assyria; and the…
- Isaiah 21:2 (v9) A grievous vision is declared to me. The treacherous man deals treacherously, and the destroyer destroys. Go up, Elam; attack! I have…
- Isaiah 21:13 (v11) The burden on Arabia. In the forest in Arabia you will lodge, you caravans of Dedanites.
- Jeremiah 46:9 (v10) Go up, you horses! Rage, you chariots! Let the mighty men go out: Cush and Put, who handle the shield; and the Ludim, who handle and bend…
- Ezekiel 30:5 (v10) “ ‘ “Ethiopia, Put, Lud, all the mixed people, Cub, and the children of the land that is allied with them, will fall with them by the…
- Daniel 8:20 (v9) The ram which you saw, that had the two horns, they are the kings of Media and Persia.
- Daniel 11:43 (v10) But he will have power over the treasures of gold and of silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt. The Libyans and the Ethiopians…
- Hosea 11:1 (v10) “When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt.
- Matthew 4:18-22 (v7) Walking by the sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers: Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew, his brother, casting a net into the sea; for…
- Matthew 21:11 (v7) The multitudes said, “This is the prophet, Jesus, from Nazareth of Galilee.”
- Matthew 26:73 (v7) After a little while those who stood by came and said to Peter, “Surely you are also one of them, for your speech makes you known.”
- Matthew 27:32 (v10) As they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name, and they compelled him to go with them, that he might carry his cross.
- Mark 1:27 (v7) They were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, “What is this? A new teaching? For with authority he commands even…
- Mark 2:12 (v7) He arose, and immediately took up the mat, and went out in front of them all; so that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, “We…
- Mark 15:21 (v10) They compelled one passing by, coming from the country, Simon of Cyrene, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to go with them, that he might…
- Acts 3:10 (v7) They recognized him, that it was he who used to sit begging for gifts for the needy at the Beautiful Gate of the temple. They were filled…
- Acts 7:2 (v9) He said, “Brothers and fathers, listen. The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he lived in…
- Acts 11:20 (v10) But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who, when they had come to Antioch, spoke to the Hellenists, preaching the Lord…
- Acts 14:24 (v10) They passed through Pisidia, and came to Pamphylia.
- Acts 19:27 (v9) Not only is there danger that this our trade come into disrepute, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will be counted as…
- Acts 20:16 (v9) For Paul had determined to sail past Ephesus, that he might not have to spend time in Asia; for he was hastening, if it were possible for…
- Acts 20:18 (v9) When they had come to him, he said to them, “You yourselves know, from the first day that I set foot in Asia, how I was with you all the…
- Acts 27:5 (v10) When we had sailed across the sea which is off Cilicia and Pamphylia, we came to Myra, a city of Lycia.
- Romans 1:15 (v10) So as much as is in me, I am eager to preach the Good News to you also who are in Rome.
- Romans 16:5 (v9) Greet the assembly that is in their house. Greet Epaenetus, my beloved, who is the first fruits of Achaia to Christ.
- 1 Corinthians 16:19 (v9) The assemblies of Asia greet you. Aquila and Priscilla greet you much in the Lord, together with the assembly that is in their house.
- 2 Corinthians 1:8 (v9) For we don’t desire to have you uninformed, brothers, concerning our affliction which happened to us in Asia, that we were weighed down…
- Galatians 1:17 (v11) nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia. Then I returned to Damascus.
- Galatians 4:25 (v11) For this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and answers to the Jerusalem that exists now, for she is in bondage with her children.
- 2 Timothy 1:17 (v10) but when he was in Rome, he sought me diligently and found me
- Revelation 1:11 (v9) saying, “What you see, write in a book and send to the seven assemblies: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and…
- Esther 8:17 (v10) In every province, and in every city, wherever the king’s commandment and his decree came, the Jews had gladness, joy, a feast, and a good…
- Jeremiah 9:26 (v10) Egypt, Judah, Edom, the children of Ammon, Moab, and all who have the corners of their hair cut off, who dwell in the wilderness, for all…
- Matthew 2:3 (v6) When King Herod heard it, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.
- Matthew 2:15 (v10) and was there until the death of Herod; that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, “Out of Egypt…
- Acts 2:2 (v6) Suddenly there came from the sky a sound like the rushing of a mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
- Acts 3:11 (v6) As the lame man who was healed held on to Peter and John, all the people ran together to them in the porch that is called Solomon’s,…
- Acts 6:5 (v10) These words pleased the whole multitude. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon,…
- Acts 13:1 (v10) Now in the assembly that was at Antioch there were some prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene,…
- Acts 28:15 (v10) From there the brothers, when they heard of us, came to meet us as far as The Market of Appius and The Three Taverns. When Paul saw them,…
- Romans 1:7 (v10) to all who are in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
- 1 Corinthians 12:28 (v11) God has set some in the assembly: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracle workers, then gifts of healings, helps,…
100 distinct cross-references across this passage (106 total citations).
Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)
Explain this passage (19 sources)
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John Calvin 1540 · Public Domain On vv6, 11 6. When this was noised abroad. Luke saith thus…
6. When this was noised abroad. Luke saith thus in Greek, This voice being made; but his meaning is, that the fame was spread abroad, whereby it came to pass that a great multitude came together. For if one after another in divers places, and at divers times, had heard the apostles speaking in divers tongues, the miracle had not been so famous; therefore they come altogether into one place, that the diversity of tongues may the better appear by the present comparison. There is a further circumstance also here to be noted, that the country (and native soil) of the apostles was commonly known, and this was also commonly known, that they never went out of their country to learn strange tongues. Therefore, forasmuch as one speaketh Latin, another Greek, another the Arabian tongue, as occasion was offered, and that indifferently, and every one doth also change his tongue, the work of God appeareth more plainly hereby.
John Calvin's Commentaries (1540-1563) — public domain. Text from the Calvin Translation Society English edition (1840s-50s) via the Christian Classics Ethereal Library (ccel.org). Calvin's coverage is partial (roughly two-thirds of the Bible); uncommented books and verses are honest gaps, never fabricated. The 19th-century editor's footnotes and remarks are omitted so the notes are faithfully Calvin's own voice.
Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain On vv8, 10 Not that they spake with one voice, and many…
Not that they spake with one voice, and many languages were heard, but that the Apostles spake with strange tongues: for else the miracle had rather been in the hearers, whereas now it is in the speakers, Nazianzen in his oration of Whitsunday.
Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain.
John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain On vv6–10 6 Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude…
6 Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language.
Ver. 6. Were confounded] Or troubled, transported, amazed, and amused, συνεχυθη, as Act 2:7.
John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain On vv6–11 Noised abroad; either the miraculous winds were heard, or…
Noised abroad; either the miraculous winds were heard, or the report of what had happened was spread abroad.
Were confounded; either out of shame that they had slain Christ, whom God thus extraordinarily glorified; or out of admiration at so extraordinary a matter.
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Every man heard them speak in his own language; probably, not that the same words spoken by the apostles were diversified according to every one’s understanding, for then the miracle had been wrought in their auditors, and not in the apostles; but that the apostles did speak to every one in their proper and most intelligible language: and this was the gift of tongues, which for some time after also was continued in the church.
Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain On vv6–11 Now when this was noised abroad,.... Or "when this…
Now when this was noised abroad,.... Or "when this voice was made"; referring either to the sound, as of a mighty rushing wind, which came from heaven; and might not only be heard by those in the house, into which it came, but by the inhabitants of the city, as it came down from heaven; so the Arabic version renders it, "when the aforesaid sound was made": or else to the apostles' voice, and their speaking with divers tongues; which being heard by some, was told to others, and a rumour of it being made through the city,
the multitude came together; to the house, or temple, where the disciples were; and this multitude did not consist only of the devout Jews, before mentioned; but of others who scoffed and mocked at the apostles, and who had been concerned in the crucifying of Christ:
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and were confounded; or "confused"; they ran and came together in a disorderly and tumultuous manner; the whole city was in an uproar, the assembly on this occasion was a perfect mob; their numbers were so large, that they were ready to thrust each other down, and trample one another under foot: the Vulgate Latin adds, "in mind"; they did not know what to think of things, they were so astonished at what they heard, that they were scarcely themselves; they were as persons stupid and senseless; being filled partly with shame and confusion, and partly with wonder and amazement, that these illiterate men, the followers of Jesus of Nazareth, whom they had crucified, and whose disciples they had in so much contempt, should have such extraordinary gifts bestowed on them:
because that every man heard them speak in his own language; which shows, what has been before observed, that one spake in one language, and another in another language; or the same person sometimes spoke one language, and sometimes another; so that in course, all languages were spoken by them; whence it appears, that it was not one language only which was spoken by the apostles, which men of different languages heard and understood, as if it was their own; for then the miracle must have been in the hearers, and not in the speakers; and the cloven tongues, as of fire, should rather have sat on them, than on the disciples; and these men be said to be filled with the gifts of the Holy Ghost, rather than they.
John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
John Wesley 1765 · Public Domain On vv6, 9, 10, 11 The multitude came together, and were confounded - The…
The multitude came together, and were confounded - The motions of their minds were swift and various.
John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain On vv6–11 Verse 6. When this was noised abroad] If we…
Verse 6. When this was noised abroad] If we suppose that there was a considerable peal of thunder, which followed the escape of a vast quantity of electric fluid, and produced the mighty rushing wind already noticed on Ac 2:2, then the whole city must have been alarmed; and, as various circumstances might direct their attention to the temple, having flocked thither they were farther astonished and confounded to hear the disciples of Christ addressing the mixed multitude in the languages of the different countries from which these people had come.
Every man heard them speak in his own language.] Use may naturally suppose that, as soon as any person presented himself to one of these disciples, he, the disciple, was immediately enabled to address him in his own language, however various this had been from the Jewish or Galilean dialects. If a Roman presented himself, the disciple was immediately enabled to address him in Latin-if a Grecian, in Greek-an Arab, in Arabic, and so of the rest.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Albert Barnes 1834 · Public Domain On vv6–11 When this was noised abroad - When the rumor…
When this was noised abroad - When the rumor of this remarkable transaction was spread, as it naturally would be.
Were confounded - συνεχύθη sunechuthē̄. The word used here means literally “to pour together,” hence, “to confound, confuse.” It is used:
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(a)Of an assembly or multitude thrown into confusion, Act 21:27;
(b)Of the mind as perplexed or confounded, as in disputation, Act 9:22; and,
(c)Of persons in amazement or consternation, as in this place. They did not understand this; they could not account for it.
Every man heard them speak ... - Though the multitude spoke different tongues, yet they now heard Galileans use the language which they had learned in foreign nations. “His own language.” His own dialect - διαλέκτῳ dialektō. His own idiom, whether it was a foreign language, or whether it was a modification of the Hebrew. The word may mean either; but it is probable that the foreign Jews would greatly modify the Hebrew, or conform almost entirely to the language spoken in the country where they lived. We may remark here that this effect of the descent of the Holy Spirit was not special to that time. A work of grace on the hearts of people in a revival of religion will always “be noised abroad.” A multitude will come together, and God often, as he did here, makes use of this motive to bring them under the influence of religion. Curiosity was the motive here, and it was the occasion of their being brought under the power of truth, and of their conversion. In thousands of cases this has occurred since. The effect of what they saw was to confound them, to astonish them, and to throw them into deep perplexity. They made no complaint at first of the irregularity of what was done, but were all amazed and overwhelmed. So the effect of a revival of religion is often to convince the multitude that it is indeed a work of the Holy One; to amaze them by the display of his power; and to silence opposition and cavil by the manifest presence and the power of God. A few afterward began to cavil Act 2:13, as some will always do in a revival; but the mass were convinced, as will be the case always, that this was a mighty display of the power of God.
Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown 1871 · Public Domain On v9 Parthians, &c.--Beginning with the farthest east, the Parthians, the…
Parthians, &c.--Beginning with the farthest east, the Parthians, the enumeration proceeds farther and farther westward till it comes to Judea; next come the western countries, from Cappadocia to Pamphylia; then the southern, from Egypt to Cyrene; finally, apart from all geographical consideration, Cretes and Arabians are placed together. This enumeration is evidently designed to convey an impression of universality [BAUMGARTEN].
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain On vv6, 7, 8, 9, 11 6. Noised abroad—Literally, when this sound occurred; not the…
6. Noised abroad—Literally, when this sound occurred; not the rumour of the event, or the loud voices of the speakers, but the sound from heaven, in Act_2:2.
Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain On vv6, 7, 8, 9, 11 6. Now when this was noised abroad] Rather, And…
6. Now when this was noised abroad] Rather, And when this sound was heard. Φενή though not the same word as is used for sound in Act_2:2, yet is never found in the sense of a report or rumour, as is given by the A. V. It is used for crying aloud, as in the mourning at Rama and Christ’s cry on the cross (Mat_2:18), or in John the Baptist’s preaching (Mar_1:3), and of voices from heaven frequently (Mat_17:5; Mar_1:11; Luk_3:22; Act_9:4, &c.), of the sound of the wind which is used as a figure for the gift of the Spirit in Christ’s conversation with Nicodemus (Joh_3:8), and constantly of the heavenly voices in the book of the Revelation (Act_1:10, Act_5:2; Act_6:6, &c.).
The sound which was sent forth, though heard around in the city, was evidently such as could be traced to a central spot, for to the dwelling of the Apostles, led by the sound, the multitude congregated. It would need but a brief space for a crowd to assemble, and all the new comers found among the disciples, now divinely prepared to be Christ’s heralds, some who were declaring what had come to pass, and the great things which God had wrought with them, in the different languages of the lands where the strangers had been born. This was clearly not a proclamation of the wonderful works of God in some one language, which the Spirit, acting upon the hearers, caused them to appreciate as if it were their own, for in that way the gift of the Holy Ghost ought to have been described as poured out, not on the speakers but on the listeners.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain On vv6–11 (6) When this was noised abroad. . . .—Better…
(6) When this was noised abroad. . . .—Better When there had been this voice, or utterance. The word for “voice” is never used for rumour or report in the New Testament; always of some utterance—human (Mat_3:3; Gal_4:20), angelic (1Th_4:16; Rev_5:11), or divine (Mat_3:17; Mat_17:5). In Joh_3:7 (see Note there) we find it used, in the same connection as in this verse, for the “voice” or “utterance” of the Spirit.
Were confounded.—The word is peculiar to the Acts (Act_9:22; Act_19:32). If we were to draw a distinction between two words of cognate meaning with each other and with the Greek, confused would, perhaps, be a better rendering than confounded.
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Every man heard them speak.—The verb is in the imperfect. They went on listening in their amazement as one after another heard the accents of his own language.
In his own language.—Another word peculiar to the Acts. (See Note on Act_1:19.) It stands as an equivalent for the “tongue” in Act_2:11, but was used for a dialect, in the modern sense of the term, as well as for a distinct language.
A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain On vv6–11 And when this sound (fwnh) was heard for now…
And when this sound (fwnh) was heard for now when this was noised abroad A.V., which the words cannot mean; speaking for speak, A.V. This sound. The question still remains whether the sound (fwnh) refers to the sound (hcov) of the rushing mighty wind mentioned in ver. 2, or to the voices of those who spake with tongues. If the last, we should rather have expected sounds or voices in the plural; and it is further in favor of the former that menhv thv fwnhv tauthv seems to take up the ejgeneto hcov of ver. 2. The word fwnh is applied to pneuma in Joh_3:8. Nor is it likely, at first sight, that the disciples in the house where theywere sitting should have spoken loud enough to attract the notice of people outside. Whereas the sound of a rushing mighty wind, sufficient (as in Act_3:3) to shake the house, would naturally he heard by passers-by. On the other hand, however, fwnh seems to point decisively to the human voice. (see its use, 1Co_14:7-10)
The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
B. W. Johnson 1891 · Public Domain On vv6, 7, 9, 10, 11 6. The multitude came together. Led by the sound…
6. The multitude came together. Led by the sound (Revised Version) and the marvellous events. Speak in his own language. Of the foreign country in which he had been reared.
B. W. Johnson's The People's New Testament with Notes (1889–1891) — public domain. Electronic text from the Christian Classics Ethereal Library (CCEL) ThML edition.
William B. Godbey 1900 · Public Domain On vv8–9 8. E. g., while Peter was preaching in Greek…
8. E. g., while Peter was preaching in Greek the Parthian heard him in his native Chaldaic tongue, the Median, the Elamite and the Mesopotamian each heard in his own native dialect. And regardless of the language spoken by any One, every auditor heard in his own language. To human apprehension this was miraculous superfluity, as either of these miracles covered all the ground, and to our diagnosis precluded the necessity of the other. But in this double miracle we have a wonderful manifestation of the divine beneficence and the superabundance of redeeming grace (Rom 5:20). This double miracle largely accounts for the paradoxical efficiency of the gospel on that wonderful occasion when the world saw a brilliant prelude, adumbrating the ineffable glories of the coming kingdom.
William B. Godbey, Commentary on the New Testament (1896–1900) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
J. W. McGarvey 1914 · Public Domain On vv6–11 6-12. " And when this sword occurred, the multitude…
6-12. " And when this sword occurred, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because each one heard them speaking in his own dialect. " The historian here seems to exhaust his vocabulary of terms to express the confusion of the multitude upon witnessing the scene. Not content with saying they were confounded, he adds, (7) " And all were amazed and marveled, saying to one another, Behold, are not all these are speaking Galileans? (8) And how do we hear, each one in our own dialect in which we were born? (9) Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites; and those inhabiting Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, (10) Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya about Cyrene; and Roman strangers, both Jews and proselytes, (11) Cretes and Arabians; we hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God. " Not yet satisfied with his attempts to express their feelings, Luke adds, (12) " And they were all amazed, and perplexed, saying one to another, What does this mean? "
J. W. McGarvey (with Philip Y. Pendleton), Commentaries on the New Testament (The Fourfold Gospel, 1914; Acts; and the epistles) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
C. I. Scofield 1917 · Public Domain On vv8, 11
tongue
language.
The Scofield Reference Bible (1917 edition), notes by C. I. Scofield — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On v8 Why is it that we are hearing them, each…
Why is it that we are hearing them, each in our own language in which we were born?
Possible meanings are 1) this is a rhetorical question that expresses how amazed they were or 2) this is a real question for which the people wanted an answer. (See: Rhetorical Question)
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in our own language in which we were born
"in our own languages that we have learned from birth"
Parthians ... Arabians
This lists some of the many nations, regions, and cities from which they came. (See: How to Translate Names)
proselytes
converts to the Jewish religion
translationWords
Medes
Elam
Mesopotamia
Judea
Pontus
Asia
Egypt
Cyrene
Rome
Crete
Arabia
might
works
God
unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.
Tyndale Open Study Notes 2022 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On vv9–10 2:9-11 Parthians came from the region stretching from the…
2:9-11 Parthians came from the region stretching from the Tigris River eastward to India. Medes (now called Kurds) were from Media, east of Mesopotamia and north of the Persian Gulf. Elamites were from Elam (now in Iran), north of the Persian Gulf and just east of the Tigris River. Mesopotamia lay between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. Judea was well known as the Jewish homeland. Cappadocia, Pontus, and Asia were Roman provinces in Asia Minor (now in Turkey; see 1 Pet 1:1); Paul later taught and preached in some of these areas (see Acts 16:6; 19:10, 26). Phrygia and Pamphylia were districts of Asia Minor later visited by Paul (13:13; 18:23). Egypt had a large Jewish population, particularly in the city of Alexandria (see 18:24). North Africa was also represented by Libya and Cyrene. Rome was the imperial capital and the home of thousands of Jews. The Cretans came from the island of Crete, located south-southeast of Greece, and the Arabs from the area south and east of Jerusalem. • The inclusion of all of these nations suggests how the Good News was going to go out to the ends of the earth (1:8).
Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.