Speaking in tongues

5 As it was, there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews,{1 } reverent men,{2 } from every nation of those under heaven. 6 So, when this sound occurred, the multitude came together and were bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in his own language. 7 Indeed, they were astonished and began to wonder and say: “See here, all these who are speaking are Gal•i•le′ans,{3 } are they not? 8 And yet how is it we are hearing, each one of us, his own language in which we were born? 9 Par′thi•ans and Medes {4 } and E′lam•ites,{5 } and the inhabitants of Mes•o•po•ta′mi•a, and Ju•de′a {6 } and Cap•pa•do′ci•a,{7 } Pon′tus {8 } and the [district of] Asia,{9 } 10 and Phryg′i•a {10 } and Pam•phyl′i•a,{11 } Egypt and the parts of Lib′y•a, which is toward Cy•re′ne, and sojourners from Rome, both Jews and proselytes,{*+12 } 11 Cre′tans {13 } and Arabians,{14 } we hear them speaking in our tongues about the magnificent things of God.” 12 Yes, they were all astonished and were in perplexity, saying one to another: “What does this thing purpo rt to be?” 13 However, different ones mocked at them and began to say: “They are full of sweet wine.”{15 }

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(NWT)

Niccolò da Bologna’s tempera and gold on parchment, 1494-1502, J. Paul Getty Trust. This illuminated letter ‘S’ is one of twenty known large historiated initials made for a choir book commissioned by the Carthusian monastery of Santo Spirito in Lucca.
It portrays Pentecost, the moment in which the Holy Spirit descends upon the twelve apostles in order to give them the ability to speak foreign languages so they might preach throughout the world. Although all twelve apostles are shown, sometimes only a forehead or a hint of a nose indicates the body.

{1 } Jews (Exodus 23:17): 17 On three occasions in the year every male of yours will appear before the face of the [true] Lord,* Jehovah.*+{2 } reverent men (Acts 22:12): 12 “Now An•a•ni′as, a certain man reverent according to the Law, well reported+ on by all the Jews dwelling there,

{3 } Gal•i•le′ans (Mark 14:70): 70 Again he was denying it. And once more after a little while those standing by began saying to Peter: “Certainly you are one of them, for, in fact, you are a Gal•i•le′an.”+

{4 } (Acts 1:11): 11 and they said: “Men of Gal′i•lee, why do YOU stand looking into the sky? This Jesus who was received up from YOU into the sky will come thus in the same manner+ as YOU have beheld him going into the sky.”* Par′thi•ans and Medes (2 Kings 17:6): 6 In the ninth year of Ho•she′a, the king of As•syr′i•a captured Sa•mar′i•a+ and then led Israel into exile+ in As•syr′i•a and kept them dwelling in Ha′lah+ and in Ha′bor at the river Go′zan+ and in the cities of the Medes.+

{5 } E′lam•ites: (Daniel 8:2): 2 And I began to see in the vision; and it came about, while I was seeing, that I was in Shu′shan+ the castle, which is in E′lam+ the jurisdictional district; and I proceeded to see in the vision, and I myself happened to be by the watercourse* of U′lai.+

{6 } Ju•de′a: (Matthew 24:16): 16 then let those in Ju•de′a begin fleeing+ to the mountains. (Mark 1:5): 5 Consequently all the territory of Ju•de′a and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem made their way out to him, and they were baptized by him in the Jordan River, openly confessing their sins.+

{7 } Cap•pa•do′ci•a: (1 Peter 1:1): 1 Peter,* an apostle+ of Jesus Christ, to the temporary residents+ scattered about*+ in Pon′tus, Ga•la′ti•a, Cap•pa•do′ci•a,+ Asia, and Bi•thyn′i•a, to the ones chosen+

{8 } Pon′tus: (Acts 18:2): 2 And he found a certain Jew named Aq′ui•la,+ a native of Pon′tus who had recently come from Italy,+ and Pris•cil′la his wife, because of the fact that Claudius+ had ordered all the Jews to depart from Rome. So he went to them

{9 } the [district of] Asia: (Acts 13:1): 13 Now in Antioch there were prophets+ and teachers in the local congregation, Bar′na•bas as well as Sym′e•on who was called Ni′ger, and Lucius+ of Cy•re′ne, and Man′a•en who was educated with Herod the district ruler,* and Saul. (1 Peter 1:1): 1 Peter,* an apostle+ of Jesus Christ, to the temporary residents+ scattered about*+ in Pon′tus, Ga•la′ti•a, Cap•pa•do′ci•a,+ Asia, and Bi•thyn′i•a, to the ones chosen+

{10 } Phryg′i•a: (Acts 16:6): 6 Moreover, they went through Phryg′i•a and the country of Ga•la′ti•a,+ because* they were forbidden by the holy spirit to speak the word in the [district of] Asia. (Acts 18:23): 23 And when he had passed some time there he departed and went from place to place through the country of Ga•la′ti•a+ and Phryg′i•a,+ strengthening+ all the disciples.

{11 } Pam•phyl′i•a: (Acts 13:13): 13 The men, together with Paul, now put out to sea from Pa′phos and arrived at Perga in Pam•phyl′i•a.+ But John+ withdrew from them and returned+ to Jerusalem. (Acts 15:38): 38 But Paul did not think it proper to be taking this one along with them, seeing that he had departed from them from Pam•phyl′i•a+ and had not gone with them to the work.

{*+12 }proselytes or, “converts.”: (Exodus 12:48): 48 And in case an alien resident resides as an alien with you and he will actually celebrate the passover to Jehovah, let there be a circumcising* of every male of his.+ First then he may come near to celebrate it; and he must become like a native of the land. But no uncircumcised man may eat of it. (Isaiah 56:6): 6 “And the foreigners that have joined themselves to Jehovah to minister to him+ and to love the name of Jehovah,+ in order to become servants to him, all those keeping the sabbath in order not to profane it and laying hold of my covenant,+

{13 } Cre′tans: (Titus 1:12): 12 A certain one of them, their own prophet,* said: “Cre′tans are always liars, injurious+ wild beasts, unemployed gluttons.”*

{14 } Arabians: (2 Chronicles 17:11): 11 And from the Phi•lis′tines they were bringing to Je•hosh′a•phat presents+ and money as tribute.+ The Arabs+ also were bringing to him flocks, seven thousand seven hundred rams and seven thousand seven hundred he-goats.+

{15 } full of sweet wine: (1 Samuel 1:14): 14 So E′li said to her: “How long will you behave drunk?+ Put away your wine from upon you.”

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Preceding: The day of the festival of Pentecost

Compare with:

Nazarene Acts of the Apostles Chapter 2 v1-13 Working Spirit

The Acts Of The Sent Ones Chapter 2

Hebraic Roots Bible Book of The Acts of the Apostles Chapter 2

Dutch version / Nederlandstalige versie: In Talen sprekend

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Please do find additional notes in the next part: “Tongues a sign of authenticity or divine backing” and in the article “Is Speaking in Tongues an Evidence of True Worship?”

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Related articles

• The Holy Spirit and the Day of Pentecost (sundayschoolbiblestudy.wordpress.com)
  The Jews had become a large enough nation that they had begun to spread out. They had gathered here for the feast of were lots of Jews here from all over the known world. Look at all of the countries and regions listed here!
• Acts for today! (livingmoreabundantly4christ.com)
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  +
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  +
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  +
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  +
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  +
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  +
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  +
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