Acts 2:7

What does Acts 2:7 mean?

A plain-English look at Acts 2:7 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Acts 2:7 means

The crowd's amazement stemmed from the apparent contradiction between the speakers and their evident linguistic ability. They recognized the speakers as Galilaeans, a region often associated with a distinct accent and lacking the diverse linguistic proficiency displayed. Their question highlights the genuinely miraculous nature of the event; the common background of the speakers made their multilingual proclamation even more astonishing and inexplicable by human means alone.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying, Behold, are not all these that speak Galilæans?

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galileans?

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying, Behold, are not all these that speak Galilæans?

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And they were full of wonder and said, Are not all these men Galilaeans?

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

and they were all amazed, and did wonder, saying one unto another, `Lo, are not all these who are speaking Galileans?

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And they were all amazed, and wondered, saying: Behold, are not all these that speak Galilean?

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And all were amazed and wondered, saying, Behold, are not all these who are speaking Galilaeans?

Context

Following the crowd's astonishment at hearing their own languages spoken in the previous verse, this verse highlights the people's perplexity by noting the common origin of the speakers. Their question,

v.6And when this sound was heard, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speaking in his own language.

v.7This passage

v.8And how hear we, every man in our own language wherein we were born?

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Acts 2:12

    And they were all amazed, and were perplexed, saying one to another, What meaneth this?

  • Matthew 26:73

    And after a little while they that stood by came and said to Peter, Of a truth thou also art one of them; for thy speech maketh thee known.

  • Mark 1:27

    And they were all amazed, insomuch that they questioned among themselves, saying, What is this? a new teaching! with authority he commandeth even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.

  • Acts 14:11

    And when the multitude saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voice, saying in the speech of Lycaonia, The gods are come down to us in the likeness of men.

  • John 7:52

    They answered and said unto him, Art thou also of Galilee? Search, and see that out of Galilee ariseth no prophet.

  • Matthew 4:18

    And walking by the sea of Galilee, he saw two brethren, Simon who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishers.

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