So they were all amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “Whatever could this mean?”
Parallel translations
- WEB They were all amazed, and were perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?”
- KJV And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this?
- BSB Astounded and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?”
- ESV And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?”
- NASB And they all continued in amazement and great perplexity, saying to one another, “What does this mean?”
- NLT They stood there amazed and perplexed. “What can this mean?” they asked each other.
Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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
The crowd is amazed and perplexed, asking what this means. It expresses honest searching that opens the way for Peter's explanation.
Overview
The genuine question 'What does this mean?' shows hearts stirred and seeking. Their perplexity creates the opportunity for the gospel to be preached. God uses the miracle to draw the crowd toward the message of Christ.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 5
- Acts 17:20For you bring certain strange things to our ears. We want to know therefore what these things mean.”
- Luke 15:26He called one of the servants to him, and asked what was going on.
- Luke 18:36Hearing a multitude going by, he asked what this meant.
- Acts 10:17Now while Peter was very perplexed in himself what the vision which he had seen might mean, behold, the men who were sent by Cornelius, having made inquiry for Simon’s house, stood before the gate,
- Acts 2:7They were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, “Behold, aren’t all these who speak Galileans?
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 2:12 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.