What is the meaning of Acts 2:7? Astounded and amazed • Acts 2:6 records that “each one heard them speaking in his own language,” setting the stage for the crowd’s shock in verse 7. • Throughout Scripture, sudden manifestations of God’s power ignite wonder—see Mark 16:8, where the women left the tomb “trembling and bewildered,” and Luke 24:41, where the disciples “were still disbelieving for joy and marveling” at the risen Christ. • In every case, astonishment is the natural response when the Lord moves beyond human expectation, underscoring that Pentecost is not merely a curious event but a direct, supernatural act of God fulfilling Joel 2:28-29 and Jesus’ promise in Acts 1:8. they asked • Notice the immediate shift from emotion to inquiry. Acts 2:12 echoes this pattern: “They were all astounded and perplexed, saying to one another, ‘What does this mean?’” The question in verse 7 shows healthy engagement rather than passive amazement. • Scripture often pairs amazement with seeking understanding. Luke 2:18-19 tells how Mary “treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart” after the shepherds’ report. In the same way, the crowd’s question invites reflection on God’s unfolding plan. • Their asking illustrates Romans 10:17 in action: “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.” As the apostles speak, the Spirit uses curiosity to prepare hearts for Peter’s sermon (Acts 2:14-36). “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans?” • Galilee had no reputation for sophisticated learning (John 7:52). By highlighting the speakers’ humble origins, the crowd underscores the impossibility of this multilingual display apart from divine intervention. • Matthew 26:73 notes Peter’s “Galilean accent,” a reminder that these disciples were ordinary men—fishermen (Luke 5:10), tax collectors (Luke 5:27)—not scholars trained in foreign tongues. • God delights to use what the world considers lowly and foolish (1 Corinthians 1:27-29) so that glory goes to Him alone. The fact that Galileans speak languages from every corner of the empire (Acts 2:9-11) previews the global reach of the gospel, fulfilling Genesis 12:3 and anticipating Revelation 7:9. summary Acts 2:7 spotlights the crowd’s astonishment, their honest inquiry, and the unlikely identity of the speakers—all converging to magnify God’s power. The verse invites readers to recognize that the miraculous gift of tongues is not a random spectacle but a deliberate sign confirming the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and launching the church’s worldwide mission. |
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