Acts 2:11
What does Acts 2:11 mean?
A plain-English look at Acts 2:11 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Acts 2:11 means
The diverse crowds, hailing from places like Crete and Arabia, all testified to hearing the disciples speaking in their *own* languages. Crucially, the content of this miraculous speech was not random babbling but the 'mighty works of God.' This indicates that the tongues were not merely ecstatic utterances but intelligible proclamations of God's redemptive acts, making the Gospel immediately accessible and understandable to a global audience present in Jerusalem.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Cretans and Arabians, we hear them speaking in our tongues the mighty works of God.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Cretans and Arabians, we hear them speaking in our tongues the mighty works of God.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Men of Crete and Arabia, to all of us they are talking in our different languages, of the great works of God.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862Cretes and Arabians, we did hear them speaking in our tongues the great things of God.'
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Jews also, and proselytes, Cretes, and Arabians: we have heard them speak in our own tongues the wonderful works of God.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890Cretans and Arabians, we hear them speaking in our own tongues the great things ofGod?
Context
This verse concludes the detailed list of nations from the previous two verses, bringing the focus back to the content of the disciples' miraculous speech. After establishing the variety of languages heard, this verse reveals that the common message across all tongues was the praise of God's mighty works. This sets up the crowd's further perplexity and the mocking accusation that immediately follows.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Psalms 40:5
Many, O Jehovah my God, are the wonderful works which thou hast done, And thy thoughts which are to us-ward: They cannot be set in order unto thee; If I would declare and speak of them, They are more than can be numbered.
- Psalms 71:17
O God, thou hast taught me from my youth; And hitherto have I declared thy wondrous works.
- Psalms 78:4
We will not hide them from their children, Telling to the generation to come the praises of Jehovah, And his strength, and his wondrous works that he hath done.
- Psalms 136:4
To him who alone doeth great wonders; For his lovingkindness endureth for ever:
- Daniel 4:2
It hath seemed good unto me to show the signs and wonders that the Most High God hath wrought toward me.
- Psalms 107:8
Oh that men would praise Jehovah for his lovingkindness, And for his wonderful works to the children of men!
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