And when this sound rang out, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking his own language.
Parallel translations
- WEB When this sound was heard, the multitude came together, and were bewildered, because everyone heard them speaking in his own language.
- KJV Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language.
- NKJV And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own language.
- NASB And when this sound occurred, the crowd came together and they were bewildered, because each one of them was hearing them speak in his own language.
- NLT When they heard the loud noise, everyone came running, and they were bewildered to hear their own languages being spoken by the believers.
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
Hearing the sound, the crowd gathers and is bewildered to hear the believers speaking their own languages. It shows the miraculous nature of the gift.
Overview
The crowd's bewilderment arises because each hears the gospel in his native tongue. This authenticates the outpouring as a work of God, not human ability. It signals that the message of Christ is for people of every language and nation.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 5
- 1 Cor 16:9because a great door for effective work has opened to me, even though many oppose me.
- Acts 3:11While the man clung to Peter and John, all the people were astonished and ran to them in the walkway called Solomon’s Colonnade.
- Acts 2:2Suddenly a sound like a mighty rushing wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting.
- 2 Cor 2:12Now when I went to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ and a door stood open for me in the Lord,
- Matt 2:3When King Herod heard this, he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him.
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 2:6 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.