Acts 2:7 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And they were amazed and astonished, saying, "Are not all these who are speaking Galileans?

NIV: Utterly amazed, they asked: "Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans?

NASB: They were amazed and astonished, saying, 'Why, are not all these who are speaking Galileans?

CSB: They were astounded and amazed, saying, "Look, aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans?

NLT: They were completely amazed. 'How can this be?' they exclaimed. 'These people are all from Galilee,

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

NKJV: Then they were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, “Look, are not all these who speak Galileans?

The Christ-followers in Jerusalem have just received the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:1–4). A crowd of Jews and proselytes, in Jerusalem for Pentecost, is astounded to hear the group speaking all different languages (Acts 2:9–11). Even more amazing, to them, is that the speakers all seem to be from Galilee.

In the time of Jesus, Jews lived throughout the Roman Empire. There were major settlements in present-day Asia Minor and in Alexandria, Egypt. Judea was still considered the Jewish homeland. North of Judea was Samaria, where remnants of the Ten Northern Tribes intermarried with Gentiles the Assyrians brought in from other nations they had conquered. North of Samaria is Galilee, which was a mix of Jews and Gentiles. It's also the home territory of Jesus, who was from Nazareth, and Peter, Andrew, James, John, and Matthew, who all lived in Capernaum when Jesus called them (Mark 1:16–21; 2:13). Nathanael was from Cana in Galilee (John 21:2). Of course, Jesus' mother and brothers were also from Nazareth. Philip was from Bethsaida, Peter and Andrew's hometown (John 1:43–44), barely outside the Galilean border on the north end of the Sea of Galilee.

It's believed that eleven of the original disciples were from Galilee or someone very near. Only Judas wasn't, as "Iscariot" may refer to Kerioth, a region in Judea. The Galilean accent was different from the Judean. The proud Judeans insisted that their language was precise whereas the Galileans' was so sloppy they couldn't even interpret the law correctly. It is this accent that gave Peter away as he was denying Jesus (Matthew 26:73).

How we speak doesn't limit the Holy Spirit. He specializes in taking those the world considers uneducated (Acts 4:13) and foolish (1 Corinthians 1:27) to reach others for Christ (Luke 12:11–12). When Moses claimed he could not be God's spokesman because he was "slow of speech" (Exodus 4:10), God responded, "Who has made man's mouth? Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the LORD? Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak" (Exodus 4:11–12).

Acts 2:1–13 finds Jesus' followers waiting in a house in Jerusalem for the promised Holy Spirit, as Jesus instructed (Acts 1:4, 12–15). The Holy Spirit comes, not only establishing His presence in each individual permanently, but equipping them as needed to spread the news that Jesus forgives sins and reconciles sinners to God. Jews from all over the Roman Empire, in Jerusalem for Pentecost, hear the message in their own languages. Some are derisive, but others are very interested in what the apostles are saying.

Acts 2 describes the beginning of the church in three episodes. First, the Holy Spirit comes upon the Jesus-followers in Jerusalem, equipping them with the ability to teach the gospel in different languages (Acts 2:1–13). Second, Peter gives a public declaration using Old Testament prophecy to show Jesus is the long-awaited Jewish Messiah (Acts 2:14–36). Third, people believe. They repent, trust Jesus will forgive their sins, and agree to be baptized as a public sign that they are now Jesus-followers (Acts 2:37–47). That quickly, the church is born.

Acts 2 describes the creation of Jesus' church. Forty days after Jesus' resurrection He ascended into heaven (Acts 1:9). One hundred and twenty disciples obeyed His command to wait in Jerusalem for the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:4, 2–15). In Acts 2, they receive the Holy Spirit and share the gospel with a crowd of people who have come to celebrate Pentecost. Three thousand believe, and the church comes to life. In the following chapters, Jesus-followers fulfill Jesus' promise that they will be His witnesses ''in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth'' (Acts 1:8).

The summary of the book of Acts is provided in Jesus' words in Acts 1:8: ''But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.'' In Acts 2:1–13, the Christ-followers receive the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:14—7:60 describes the rapid growth of the church in Jerusalem. Chapters 8—12 find Jewish persecution inadvertently spreading the gospel throughout Judea and Samaria. And in chapters 13—28, Paul and his companions spread the good news throughout the Roman Empire.