Limitless Word
Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.
Acts 2:11 · King James Version
Parallel translations
  • WEB Cretans and Arabians: we hear them speaking in our languages the mighty works of God!”
  • BSB both Jews and converts to Judaism; Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!”
  • 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 discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:
  • Exod 15:11Who is like unto thee, O LORD, among the gods? who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?
  • Ps 78:4We will not hide them from their children, shewing to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath done.
  • Heb 2:4God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?
  • Ps 26:7That I may publish with the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of all thy wondrous works.
  • Job 9:10Which doeth great things past finding out; yea, and wonders without number.
  • Titus 1:12One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, The Cretians are alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies.
  • Jer 25:24And all the kings of Arabia, and all the kings of the mingled people that dwell in the desert,
  • Ps 107:8Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!
  • Titus 1:5For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee:
  • Acts 27:12And because the haven was not commodious to winter in, the more part advised to depart thence also, if by any means they might attain to Phenice, and there to winter; which is an haven of Crete, and lieth toward the south west and north west.
  • Ps 111:4He hath made his wonderful works to be remembered: the LORD is gracious and full of compassion.
  • Ps 77:11I will remember the works of the LORD: surely I will remember thy wonders of old.
  • Ps 107:21Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!
  • Ps 96:3Declare his glory among the heathen, his wonders among all people.
  • Ps 107:15Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!
  • Jer 3:2Lift up thine eyes unto the high places, and see where thou hast not been lien with. In the ways hast thou sat for them, as the Arabian in the wilderness; and thou hast polluted the land with thy whoredoms and with thy wickedness.
  • Dan 4:2–3I thought it good to shew the signs and wonders that the high God hath wrought toward me.
  • Acts 27:7And when we had sailed slowly many days, and scarce were come over against Cnidus, the wind not suffering us, we sailed under Crete, over against Salmone;
  • Ps 89:5And the heavens shall praise thy wonders, O LORD: thy faithfulness also in the congregation of the saints.
  • Isa 13:20It shall never be inhabited, neither shall it be dwelt in from generation to generation: neither shall the Arabian pitch tent there; neither shall the shepherds make their fold there.
  • 2 Chr 26:7And God helped him against the Philistines, and against the Arabians that dwelt in Gurbaal, and the Mehunims.
  • 2 Chr 17:11Also some of the Philistines brought Jehoshaphat presents, and tribute silver; and the Arabians brought him flocks, seven thousand and seven hundred rams, and seven thousand and seven hundred he goats.
  • Ps 136:4To him who alone doeth great wonders: for his mercy endureth for ever.
  • Ps 40:5Many, O LORD my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered.
  • Isa 25:1O Lord, thou art my God; I will exalt thee, I will praise thy name; for thou hast done wonderful things; thy counsels of old are faithfulness and truth.
  • 1 Kgs 10:15Beside that he had of the merchantmen, and of the traffick of the spice merchants, and of all the kings of Arabia, and of the governors of the country.
  • Ps 71:17O God, thou hast taught me from my youth: and hitherto have I declared thy wondrous works.
  • Isa 28:29This also cometh forth from the LORD of hosts, which is wonderful in counsel, and excellent in working.
  • Isa 21:13The burden upon Arabia. In the forest in Arabia shall ye lodge, O ye travelling companies of Dedanim.
  • Gal 1:17Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus.
  • Gal 4:25For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.
  • 1 Cor 12:28And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of 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.