Acts 10:46

For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter,

For {G1063} they heard {G191} them {G846} speak with {G2980} tongues {G1100}, and {G2532} magnify {G3170} God {G2316}. Then {G5119} answered {G611} Peter {G4074},

on the Goyim, for they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God. Kefa’s response was,

For they heard them speaking in tongues and exalting God. Then Peter said,

For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter,

Commentary

Context

Acts 10:46 is a pivotal verse in the narrative of the early Christian church, marking a groundbreaking moment in the spread of the Gospel. It describes the immediate reaction to the Holy Spirit falling upon Cornelius's household, devout Gentiles, while Peter was still preaching. This event directly follows Peter's vision of unclean animals and his subsequent understanding that God shows no partiality (Acts 10:34). The scene is set in Caesarea, a Roman city, highlighting the geographical and cultural expansion of Christianity beyond its Jewish origins.

Key Themes

  • Inclusion of Gentiles: This verse provides undeniable evidence that God's salvation and the gift of the Holy Spirit were not exclusively for the Jews but were now openly extended to Gentiles. The ability of Cornelius's household to "speak with tongues" and "magnify God" served as an immediate, divine confirmation of their acceptance into the Christian community, paving the way for the church's universal mission.
  • Sovereignty of the Holy Spirit: The Holy Spirit's descent before baptism, an unprecedented event at this point, demonstrates the Spirit's sovereign power and choice. It underscores that God initiates and validates faith, not human rituals alone.
  • Authenticity of the Experience: The audible and understandable manifestations of the Spirit – speaking in tongues and magnifying God – provided irrefutable proof to Peter and his companions that these Gentiles had genuinely received the same Spirit as the Jewish believers at Pentecost.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "speak with tongues" translates the Greek glōssais lalein (γλώσσαις λαλεῖν), which refers to speaking in various languages, often divinely inspired. In this context, it's explicitly linked to "magnify God" (Greek: megalynontōn ton Theon - μεγαλυνόντων τὸν Θεόν). This indicates that the tongues were not mere ecstatic utterances, but intelligible expressions of praise and glorification directed towards God. This aligns with the understanding of tongues in Acts 2, where people from different nations heard the apostles speaking in their own native languages about God's wonders.

Practical Application

Acts 10:46 continues to resonate with believers today:

  • God's Inclusivity: It reminds us that God's love and grace are available to all people, regardless of their background, ethnicity, or social status. The gospel breaks down all barriers, as Paul later affirmed in Galatians 3:28, "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus."
  • The Holy Spirit's Work: The verse highlights the active and transformative power of the Holy Spirit in the lives of believers. The Spirit still empowers, guides, and enables believers to worship and serve God authentically.
  • Authentic Worship: The ultimate purpose of spiritual gifts, including speaking in tongues, is to "magnify God." This serves as a timeless reminder that all true worship and spiritual experience should ultimately point to and glorify God.
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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

  • Acts 19:6 (7 votes)

    And when Paul had laid [his] hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.

  • Acts 2:4 (7 votes)

    And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

  • Mark 16:17 (6 votes)

    And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;

  • Acts 2:11 (5 votes)

    Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.

  • 1 Corinthians 14:20 (4 votes)

    Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men.

  • 1 Corinthians 14:25 (4 votes)

    And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on [his] face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth.