1And when the day of Pentecost was being fulfilled, they were all together in one place. [2:2] And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a rushing violent wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. [2:3] And tongues as of fire appeared to them, distributed, and rested on each one of them. [2:4] And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the Spirit was giving them to speak out. [2:5] Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem devout Jews from every nation under heaven. [2:6] And when this sound arose, the crowd came together and was thrown into confusion, because each one was hearing them speaking in his own language. [2:7] And they were astonished and marveling, saying: 'Look — are not all these who are speaking Galileans? [2:8] And how do we each hear in our own language in which we were born? [2:9] Parthians and Medes and Elamites, and those dwelling in Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, [2:10] Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene, and visiting Romans — [2:11] both Jews and proselytes — Cretans and Arabs: we hear them telling in our own languages the great deeds of God.' [2:12] And they were all astonished and thoroughly perplexed, saying to one another: 'What does this mean?' [2:13] But others, mocking, were saying: 'They are full of sweet new wine.'
ACT 2:1-13
The Holy Spirit at Pentecost
In the world it was spoken into
The event of Pentecost occurred during the Jewish festival of Shavuot, a pilgrimage feast celebrating the wheat harvest and, in some traditions, the giving of the Torah at Sinai. Jerusalem would have been crowded with devout Jews from across the Roman Empire and beyond, representing diverse languages and cultures. The sudden sound of a violent wind and the appearance of tongues of fire would have evoked biblical imagery of divine presence, such as the wind at creation (Genesis 1:2) and the fire at Sinai (Exodus 19:18). The speaking in other tongues signaled a reversal of the confusion at Babel (Genesis 11:9), where languages were divided. For the gathered crowd, hearing their own languages spoken by Galileans—a group stereotyped as uneducated—would have been both astonishing and disorienting . Some speculated drunkenness, referencing , a sweet, partially fermented wine associated with festive indulgence. This event marked a dramatic fulfillment of prophetic promises of the Spirit’s outpouring (Joel 2:28-32).
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How other translations render this
ACT 2:1
- KJV
- And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
- BSB
- When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place.
- Koinōnos
- And when the day of Pentecost was being fulfilled, they were all together in one place.
ACT 2:2
- KJV
- And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
- BSB
- Suddenly a sound like a mighty rushing wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting.
- Koinōnos
- And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a rushing violent wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.
ACT 2:3
- KJV
- And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
- BSB
- They saw tongues like flames of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them.
- Koinōnos
- And tongues as of fire appeared to them, distributed, and rested on each one of them.
ACT 2:4
- KJV
- And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
- BSB
- And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
- Koinōnos
- And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the Spirit was giving them to speak out.
ACT 2:5
- KJV
- And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.
- BSB
- Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven.
- Koinōnos
- Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem devout Jews from every nation under heaven.
ACT 2:6
- 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.
- BSB
- And when this sound rang out, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking his own language.
- Koinōnos
- And when this sound arose, the crowd came together and was thrown into confusion, because each one was hearing them speaking in his own language.
ACT 2:7
- KJV
- And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans?
- BSB
- Astounded and amazed, they asked, “Are not all these men who are speaking Galileans?
- Koinōnos
- And they were astonished and marveling, saying: 'Look — are not all these who are speaking Galileans?
ACT 2:8
- KJV
- And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?
- BSB
- How is it then that each of us hears them in his own native language?
- Koinōnos
- And how do we each hear in our own language in which we were born?
ACT 2:9
- KJV
- Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia,
- BSB
- Parthians, Medes, and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,
- Koinōnos
- Parthians and Medes and Elamites, and those dwelling in Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,
ACT 2:10
- KJV
- Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes,
- BSB
- Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome,
- Koinōnos
- Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene, and visiting Romans —
ACT 2:11
- KJV
- Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.
- BSB
- both Jews and converts to Judaism; Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!”
- Koinōnos
- both Jews and proselytes — Cretans and Arabs: we hear them telling in our own languages the great deeds of God.
ACT 2:12
- 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?”
- Koinōnos
- And they were all astonished and thoroughly perplexed, saying to one another: 'What does this mean?
ACT 2:13
- KJV
- Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine.
- BSB
- But others mocked them and said, “They are drunk on new wine!”
- Koinōnos
- But others, mocking, were saying: 'They are full of sweet new wine.
Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.
Translator's notes
ACT 2:4
- tongues:The word translated 'tongues' here refers to actual human languages, not ecstatic utterances. It emphasizes the miraculous ability to speak in foreign languages without prior learning.
ACT 2:5
- devout:The term translated 'devout' describes someone who is cautious and careful in their religious observance, showing reverence and piety in their actions.
ACT 2:6
- was confounded,:The word translated 'was confounded' implies a state of being thrown into confusion and disorder, like a crowd being stirred up or mixed together chaotically.
ACT 2:13
- Of new wine:The phrase 'Of new wine' refers to unfermented or freshly fermented grape juice, which was known to be intoxicating, especially when consumed in large quantities.