Acts 2:9

Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia,

Parthians {G3934}, and {G2532} Medes {G3370}, and {G2532} Elamites {G1639}, and {G2532} the dwellers {G2730} in Mesopotamia {G3318}, and {G5037} in Judaea {G2449}, and {G2532} Cappadocia {G2587}, in Pontus {G4195}, and {G2532} Asia {G773},

We are Parthians, Medes, Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Y’hudah, Cappadocia, Pontus, Asia,

Parthians, Medes, and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,

Parthians and Medes and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, in Judæa and Cappadocia, in Pontus and Asia,

Commentary

Context

Acts 2:9 is part of Luke's vivid account of the Day of Pentecost, a pivotal moment in early Christian history. Following the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the apostles and disciples, they began to speak in other tongues (languages), attracting a vast crowd of devout Jews and proselytes gathered in Jerusalem for the feast. This verse begins a detailed enumeration of the diverse geographical origins of these listeners, emphasizing the miraculous nature of what transpired.

Historical and Cultural Context

The list of regions in Acts 2:9-11 highlights the vast Jewish diaspora spread across the Roman and Parthian Empires. Pilgrims from places like Parthia (modern Iran), Medes (ancient Media), Elamites (ancient Elam, near Mesopotamia), Mesopotamia (modern Iraq), and Roman provinces such as Cappadocia, Pontus, and Asia (in modern Turkey) would travel great distances to observe the Feast of Weeks (Pentecost) in Jerusalem. This incredible diversity underscores the global reach of Judaism at the time and sets the stage for the equally global reach of the Gospel message.

Key Themes

  • The Universal Scope of the Gospel: The presence of "Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites," alongside those from Roman provinces and Judaea itself, signals that God's message of salvation through Christ was never intended to be confined to one nation or people. It was for all nations, fulfilling the promise of witnesses to the uttermost part of the earth.
  • The Miracle of Understanding: The significance of this list is that despite their varied mother tongues, each person heard and understood the apostles speaking in their own language, as described in Acts 2:4 and Acts 2:11. This was a supernatural act of the Holy Spirit, bridging linguistic and cultural barriers.
  • Reversal of Babel: Many commentators see this event as a powerful reversal of the confusion of languages at the Tower of Babel in Genesis 11, where humanity was divided by language. At Pentecost, God used language to unite people under the message of the Gospel.

Linguistic Insights

While Acts 2:9 primarily lists geographical locations, the broader context of the Pentecost event involves the phenomenon of speaking in glossais (Greek for 'tongues' or 'languages'). The miracle here is not just the act of speaking, but also the hearing and understanding across diverse linguistic backgrounds, demonstrating the Holy Spirit's power to communicate divine truth effectively to all.

Practical Application

Acts 2:9 reminds us that the Gospel is for everyone, regardless of their nationality, culture, or background. The church is called to be a diverse body, united by the Holy Spirit. It encourages believers to embrace and celebrate diversity within the body of Christ, recognizing that God's plan encompasses all peoples. The power of the Holy Spirit continues to enable the church to transcend barriers and effectively communicate the unchanging message of salvation to a diverse world.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • 1 Peter 1:1

    ¶ Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,

  • 2 Timothy 1:15

    ¶ This thou knowest, that all they which are in Asia be turned away from me; of whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes.

  • Revelation 1:4

    John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace [be] unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne;

  • Acts 18:2

    And found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, lately come from Italy, with his wife Priscilla; (because that Claudius had commanded all Jews to depart from Rome:) and came unto them.

  • Acts 16:6

    ¶ Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia,

  • Genesis 14:1

    ¶ And it came to pass in the days of Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of nations;

  • Isaiah 11:11

    And it shall come to pass in that day, [that] the Lord shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea.
← Back