Acts 2:6

And when this sound rang out, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking his own language.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The narrator records a moment in Jerusalem where a crowd of Jewish expatriates from every nation gathers (Acts 2:5). This assembly occurs immediately after a supernatural noise fills the dwelling where the believers were seated (Acts 2:2).

The words — The Greek συνῆλθεν (sunēlthen) literally means "came together," describing the crowd's rapid assembly. The phrase τὸ πλῆθος (to plēthos) identifies them as a "multitude" responding to the audible event.

The thread — This pattern of a crowd gathering in response to a divine manifestation appears in Acts 3:11, where people run to Peter and John in Solomon’s Colonnade after a healing. The motif of a city reacting to a significant event also mirrors Matthew 2:3, where all Jerusalem is disturbed by news of a new king.

Why it lands — The text demands recognition that communication across linguistic barriers is presented as a direct response to divine action rather than human strategy. Readers must account for how the narrative frames comprehension of the message as the catalyst for the crowd's bewildered inquiry (Acts 2:7).

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Greek words

γενομένηςgenomenēsWhen was happening δὲdenow τῆςtēs<the>φωνῆςphōnēssound ταύτηςtautēsthis συνῆλθενsunēlthencame together τὸtothe πλῆθοςplēthosmultitude καὶkaiand συνεχύθη,sunechuthēwas confounded,ὅτιhotibecause ἤκουονēkouonwas hearing εἷςheisone ἕκαστοςhekastoseach τῇtēain their ἰδίᾳidiaown διαλέκτῳdialektōlanguage λαλούντωνlalountōnspeaking αὐτῶν.autōnthem.

King James Version

Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language.

Cross-references

Matthew 2:3 When King Herod heard this, he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him.
Acts 2:2 Suddenly a sound like a mighty rushing wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting.
Acts 3:11 While the man clung to Peter and John, all the people were astonished and ran to them in the walkway called Solomon’s Colonnade.
1 Corinthians 16:9 because a great door for effective work has opened to me, even though many oppose me.
2 Corinthians 2:12 Now when I went to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ and a door stood open for me in the Lord,