Limitless Word
Cretans and Arabians: we hear them speaking in our languages the mighty works of God!”
Acts 2:11 · World English Bible
Parallel translations
  • KJV Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful 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 12:10and to another workings of miracles; and to another prophecy; and to another discerning of spirits; to another different kinds of languages; and to another the interpretation of languages.
  • Exod 15:11Who is like you, Yahweh, among the gods? Who is like you, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?
  • Ps 78:4We will not hide them from their children, telling to the generation to come the praises of Yahweh, his strength, and his wondrous deeds that he has done.
  • Heb 2:4God 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 will?
  • Ps 26:7that I may make the voice of thanksgiving to be heard, and tell of all your wondrous deeds.
  • Job 9:10He does great things past finding out; yes, marvelous things without number.
  • Titus 1:12One of them, a prophet of their own, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, and idle gluttons.”
  • Jer 25:24and all the kings of Arabia, and all the kings of the mixed people who dwell in the wilderness;
  • Ps 107:8Let them praise Yahweh for his loving kindness, for his wonderful deeds to the children of men!
  • Titus 1:5I 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 directed you;
  • Acts 27:12Because the haven was not suitable to winter in, the majority advised going to sea from there, if by any means they could reach Phoenix, and winter there, which is a port of Crete, looking northeast and southeast.
  • Ps 111:4He has caused his wonderful works to be remembered. Yahweh is gracious and merciful.
  • Ps 77:11I will remember Yah’s deeds; for I will remember your wonders of old.
  • Ps 107:21Let them praise Yahweh for his loving kindness, for his wonderful deeds to the children of men!
  • Ps 96:3Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples.
  • Ps 107:15Let them praise Yahweh for his loving kindness, for his wonderful deeds to the children of men!
  • Jer 3:2“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 Arabian in the wilderness. You have polluted the land with your prostitution and with your wickedness.
  • Dan 4:2–3It has seemed good to me to show the signs and wonders that the Most High God has worked toward me.
  • Acts 27:7When we had sailed slowly many days, and had come with difficulty opposite Cnidus, the wind not allowing us further, we sailed under the lee of Crete, opposite Salmone.
  • Ps 89:5The heavens will praise your wonders, Yahweh; your faithfulness also in the assembly of the holy ones.
  • Isa 13:20It will never be inhabited, neither will it be lived in from generation to generation. The Arabian will not pitch a tent there, neither will shepherds make their flocks lie down there.
  • 2 Chr 26:7God helped him against the Philistines, and against the Arabians who lived in Gur Baal, and the Meunim.
  • 2 Chr 17:11Some of the Philistines brought Jehoshaphat presents and silver for tribute. The Arabians also brought him flocks, seven thousand seven hundred rams, and seven thousand seven hundred male goats.
  • Ps 136:4To him who alone does great wonders; for his loving kindness endures forever:
  • Ps 40:5Many, 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 you. If I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be counted.
  • Isa 25:1Yahweh, 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 faithfulness and truth.
  • 1 Kgs 10:15besides that which the traders brought, and the traffic of the merchants, and of all the kings of the mixed people, and of the governors of the country.
  • Ps 71:17God, you have taught me from my youth. Until now, I have declared your wondrous works.
  • Isa 28:29This also comes out from Yahweh of Armies, who is wonderful in counsel, and excellent in wisdom.
  • Isa 21:13The burden on Arabia. In the forest in Arabia you will lodge, you caravans of Dedanites.
  • Gal 1:17nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia. Then I returned to Damascus.
  • Gal 4:25For this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and answers to the Jerusalem that exists now, for she is in bondage with her children.
  • 1 Cor 12:28God has set some in the assembly: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracle workers, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, and various kinds of languages.

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.