Acts 2:4
What does Acts 2:4 mean?
A plain-English look at Acts 2:4 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Acts 2:4 means
This verse marks the fulfillment of Jesus' promise that His followers would be clothed with power from on high. The disciples were 'filled with the Holy Spirit,' signifying a complete indwelling and empowerment, not merely an external influence. The immediate evidence of this filling was their ability to 'speak with other tongues,' meaning languages unknown to them previously, directly as the Spirit enabled them. This miraculous gift allowed them to transcend linguistic barriers immediately.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
KJV
King James Version · 1611And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And they were all full of the Holy Spirit, and were talking in different languages, as the Spirit gave them power.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other tongues, according as the Spirit was giving them to declare.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost: and they began to speak with divers tongues, according as the Holy Ghost gave them to speak.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And they were all filled with [the] Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other tongues as the Spirit gave to them to speak forth.
Context
This verse describes the direct result of the dramatic manifestations in the preceding verses: the disciples are filled with the Holy Spirit and begin to speak in other languages. This event is the central action that generates the commotion and draws the crowd, setting up the explanation and sermon that follow in the rest of the chapter.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Acts 1:5
for John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized in the Holy Spirit not many days hence.
- Mark 16:17
And these signs shall accompany them that believe: in my name shall they cast out demons; they shall speak with new tongues;
- Luke 1:67
And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying,
- 2 Peter 1:21
For no prophecy ever came by the will of man: but men spake from God, being moved by the Holy Spirit.
- Acts 11:15
And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them, even as on us at the beginning.
- Acts 4:8
Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders,
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