For they heard them speaking in tongues and exalting God. Then Peter said,
Parallel translations
- WEB For they heard them speaking in other languages and magnifying God. Then Peter answered,
- KJV For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter,
- NKJV For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God. Then Peter answered,
- NASB For they were hearing them speaking with tongues and exalting God. Then Peter responded,
- NLT For they heard them speaking in other tongues and praising God. Then Peter asked,
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
They hear the Gentiles speaking in tongues and praising God, just as at Pentecost. The visible sign proves the Gentiles have truly received the Spirit.
Overview
The tongues and praise parallel Pentecost (Acts 2:4-11), giving Peter and the others undeniable evidence that God has welcomed these Gentiles. This God-given sign settles the question before any human objection can stand. The Spirit's manifest work compels the church to recognize what God has already done.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 5
- Acts 2:4And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
- Acts 19:6And when Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied.
- Mark 16:17And these signs will accompany those who believe: In My name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues;
- 1 Cor 14:20–25Brothers, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be mature.
- Acts 2:11both Jews and converts to Judaism; Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!”
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Acts is the risen Christ continuing his work by the Spirit through the church, as the apostles preach that there is salvation in no other name under heaven.
How Acts 10:46 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.