Acts 2:6 - When this sound was heard, the multitude came together, and were bewildered, because everyone heard them speaking in his own language.

Generated Verse: Acts 2:6

What does "Acts 2:6" mean?


Acts 2:6 describes the reaction of the crowd that gathered in Jerusalem during the Pentecost event. Here's a breakdown of the verse and its meaning:

"When this sound was heard...": This refers to the sound described in the preceding verses (Acts 2:2-4) - a rushing wind and what sounded like tongues of fire, which were accompanied by the apostles speaking in other tongues.

"...the multitude came together...": The unusual and attention-grabbing sound drew a large crowd. Jerusalem was filled with devout Jews from various nations who had come for the festival of Pentecost.

"...and were bewildered...": The crowd was confused, astonished, and perplexed by what they were witnessing. Their expectations were being challenged.

"...because everyone heard them speaking in his own language.": This is the key point. The apostles, filled with the Holy Spirit, were speaking in languages they had not learned. Miraculously, each person in the multilingual crowd heard them speaking in their native tongue (e.g., Parthian, Median, Elamite, etc.).

In essence, the verse conveys that the miracle of Pentecost was not just about the apostles speaking in foreign languages, but also about the crowd hearing and understanding the message in their heart language. This was a clear sign of God's power and a fulfillment of the prophecy that the gospel would be preached to all nations.

Significance and implications:

Reversal of Babel: The event is often seen as a reversal of the Tower of Babel (Genesis 11), where God confused languages to scatter humanity. Here, God overcomes language barriers to unite people through the Gospel.
Universal Gospel: It demonstrates that the Gospel is meant for all people, regardless of their ethnicity or language.
Empowerment by the Holy Spirit: It highlights the power of the Holy Spirit to equip believers for ministry.
Effective Communication: It emphasizes the importance of communicating the Gospel in a way that people can understand.
Witness to Unbelievers: It provides a dramatic example of the power of God to draw people to Himself.