Limitless Word
both Jews and converts to Judaism; Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!”
Acts 2:11 · Berean Standard Bible
Parallel translations
  • WEB Cretans and Arabians: we hear them speaking in our languages the mighty works of God!”
  • KJV Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.
  • NKJV Cretans and Arabs—we hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God.”
  • NASB Cretans and Arabs—we hear them speaking in our own tongues of the mighty deeds of God.”
  • NLT (both Jews and converts to Judaism), Cretans, and Arabs. And we all hear these people speaking in our own languages about the wonderful things God has done!”

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

Cretans and Arabians too hear the mighty works of God in their own languages. It defines the content of the Spirit-given speech as praise of God's deeds.

Overview

The miraculous speech proclaims 'the mighty works of God,' likely including His saving acts in Christ. People from the farthest corners hear and understand. This shows the Spirit empowers witness that magnifies God before all nations.

Cross-references & the web

Cross-references · 33

  • 1 Cor 12:10to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in various tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues.
  • Exod 15:11Who among the gods is like You, O LORD? Who is like You—majestic in holiness, revered with praises, performing wonders?
  • Ps 78:4We will not hide them from their children, but will declare to the next generation the praises of the LORD and His might, and the wonders He has performed.
  • Heb 2:4and was affirmed by God through signs, wonders, various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to His will.
  • Ps 26:7to raise my voice in thanksgiving and declare all Your wonderful works.
  • Job 9:10He does great things beyond searching out, and wonders without number.
  • Titus 1:12As one of their own prophets has said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.”
  • Jer 25:24all the kings of Arabia, and all the kings of the mixed tribes who dwell in the desert;
  • Ps 107:8Let them give thanks to the LORD for His loving devotion and His wonders to the sons of men.
  • Titus 1:5The reason I left you in Crete was that you would set in order what was unfinished and appoint elders in every town, as I directed you.
  • Acts 27:12Since the harbor was unsuitable to winter in, the majority decided to sail on, if somehow they could reach Phoenix to winter there. Phoenix was a harbor in Crete facing both southwest and northwest.
  • Ps 111:4He has caused His wonders to be remembered; the LORD is gracious and compassionate.
  • Ps 77:11I will remember the works of the LORD; yes, I will remember Your wonders of old.
  • Ps 107:21Let them give thanks to the LORD for His loving devotion and His wonders to the sons of men.
  • Ps 96:3Declare His glory among the nations, His wonderful deeds among all peoples.
  • Ps 107:15Let them give thanks to the LORD for His loving devotion and His wonders to the sons of men.
  • Jer 3:2“Lift up your eyes to the barren heights and see. Is there any place where you have not been violated? You sat beside the highways waiting for your lovers, like a nomad in the desert. You have defiled the land with your prostitution and wickedness.
  • Dan 4:2–3I am pleased to declare the signs and wonders that the Most High God has performed for me.
  • Acts 27:7After sailing slowly for many days, we arrived off Cnidus. When the wind impeded us, we sailed to the lee of Crete, opposite Salmone.
  • Ps 89:5The heavens praise Your wonders, O LORD—Your faithfulness as well—in the assembly of the holy ones.
  • Isa 13:20She will never be inhabited or settled from generation to generation; no nomad will pitch his tent there, no shepherd will rest his flock there.
  • 2 Chr 26:7God helped him against the Philistines, against the Arabs living in Gur-baal, and against the Meunites.
  • 2 Chr 17:11Some Philistines also brought gifts and silver as tribute to Jehoshaphat, and the Arabs brought him 7,700 rams and 7,700 goats from their flocks.
  • Ps 136:4He alone does great wonders. His loving devotion endures forever.
  • Ps 40:5Many, O LORD my God, are the wonders You have done, and the plans You have for us—none can compare to You—if I proclaim and declare them, they are more than I can count.
  • Isa 25:1O LORD, You are my God! I will exalt You; I will praise Your name. For You have worked wonders—plans formed long ago—in perfect faithfulness.
  • 1 Kgs 10:15not including the revenue from the merchants, traders, and all the Arabian kings and governors of the land.
  • Ps 71:17O God, You have taught me from my youth, and to this day I proclaim Your marvelous deeds.
  • Isa 28:29This also comes from the LORD of Hosts, who is wonderful in counsel and excellent in wisdom.
  • Isa 21:13This is the burden against Arabia: In the thickets of Arabia you must lodge, O caravans of Dedanites.
  • Gal 1:17nor did I go up to Jerusalem to the apostles who came before me, but I went into Arabia and later returned to Damascus.
  • Gal 4:25Now Hagar stands for Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present-day Jerusalem, because she is in slavery with her children.
  • 1 Cor 12:28And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, and those with gifts of healing, helping, administration, and various tongues.

Themes, concepts, people & topics

Topics (10)

Resources, by level

Commentaries & study tools

  • VideoBibleProject — Acts videosBibleProject · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.

  • VideoWatch teaching on Acts 2:11YouTube · Lay · Free

    Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.

  • CommentaryEnduring Word — verse-by-verseDavid Guzik · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.

  • CommentaryClassic commentaries for this verseBibleHub (20+ works) · Pastoral · Free

    Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.

  • CommentaryMatthew Henry on ActsMatthew Henry · Pastoral · Free · evangelical

    The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).

  • ReferenceInterlinear, lexicon & Strong'sBlue Letter Bible · Seminary · Free

    Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.

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 2:11 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.