Acts 2:5 kjv
And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.
Acts 2:5 nkjv
And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven.
Acts 2:5 niv
Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven.
Acts 2:5 esv
Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven.
Acts 2:5 nlt
At that time there were devout Jews from every nation living in Jerusalem.
Acts 2 5 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 11:7-9 | "Come, let us go down and confuse their language... dispersed them..." | Confusion of tongues at Babel contrasted with unity at Pentecost. |
| Deu 2:25 | "Today I will begin to put dread and fear of you on the peoples everywhere under heaven." | Hyperbolic expression "under heaven" used elsewhere in Scripture. |
| Isa 2:2-3 | "many peoples shall come, and say: 'Come, let us go up to the mountain...'" | Prophecy of nations gathering to Jerusalem. |
| Isa 11:11-12 | "The Lord will set his hand a second time... gather the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth." | Prophecy of gathering dispersed Israel. |
| Isa 49:6 | "I will make you as a light for the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth." | Messiah's mission extends to all nations. |
| Zec 8:20-23 | "peoples shall come... from many cities... many peoples and strong nations." | Nations seeking God in Jerusalem. |
| Mt 28:19 | "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations..." | Great Commission to reach every ethnic group. |
| Lk 2:25 | "Simeon was righteous and devout..." | "Devout" describes those receptive to God's work. |
| Lk 2:37-38 | "Anna... did not depart from the temple... was speaking about him to all who were waiting for the redemption." | Example of a devout individual awaiting redemption. |
| Acts 1:8 | "you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you... to the ends of the earth." | Global scope of the witness empowered by the Spirit. |
| Acts 2:36 | "God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified." | The sermon preached to these assembled Jews. |
| Acts 2:39 | "For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off..." | Promise extends to those from afar, even Gentiles. |
| Acts 8:2 | "Devout men carried Stephen to his burial..." | Example of "devout" believers acting in faith. |
| Acts 10:2 | "Cornelius, a devout man who feared God with all his household..." | Gentiles described as devout and God-fearing are receptive. |
| Acts 11:18 | "Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance that leads to life." | God's salvation extends beyond Israel to Gentiles. |
| Acts 17:17 | "Therefore he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and with the devout persons..." | Paul's ministry often began with "devout persons" open to the gospel. |
| Rom 1:16 | "to the Jew first and also to the Greek." | The gospel presented first to Israel, then wider. |
| Gal 3:28 | "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free..." | In Christ, ethnic distinctions are transcended. |
| Col 1:6 | "the gospel... is bearing fruit and increasing in the whole world..." | Global spread of the gospel is already taking place. |
| Rev 5:9 | "redeemed us for God by your blood from every tribe and language and people and nation..." | Ultimate multi-ethnic composition of the redeemed. |
| Rev 7:9 | "a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages..." | Final vision of believers from all backgrounds. |
Acts 2 verses
Acts 2 5 Meaning
Acts 2:5 describes the diverse and deeply religious composition of the Jewish population present in Jerusalem during the feast of Pentecost. These were Jews, characterized as devout and originating from every nation across the known world, indicating a vast global diaspora providentially assembled to witness the Holy Spirit's outpouring and the birth of the Christian church.
Acts 2 5 Context
Acts chapter 2 commences with the sudden and miraculous descent of the Holy Spirit upon the disciples gathered in Jerusalem, marked by sounds like a mighty rushing wind and tongues of fire resting on each of them. This infilling led them to speak in other tongues (Acts 2:1-4). Verse 5 then introduces the diverse audience that had gathered in the city, providing the backdrop for the astonishing event and the subsequent gospel proclamation. This verse sets the stage for Peter's sermon, explaining the phenomenon and connecting it to biblical prophecy, thus laying the foundation for the expansion of the early Church beyond a purely Jewish context. Historically, Pentecost (Shavuot) was one of the three annual pilgrimage festivals for Jews, necessitating travel to Jerusalem, ensuring a large, international gathering perfect for the Gospel's initial, global dissemination.
Acts 2 5 Word analysis
- Now: This serves as a transition word, linking the description of the Spirit's descent (Acts 2:1-4) with the context of its immediate impact—the specific audience gathered.
- there were dwelling (κατοικοῦντες - katoikountes): This Greek present participle signifies an ongoing, established residence, not merely a temporary visit or pilgrimage. While many Jews came for the festival, a significant portion were established residents in Jerusalem, either having permanently relocated or living there for extended periods. This indicates a representative cross-section of the global Jewish community was present, beyond just festival attendees.
- in Jerusalem: The capital of Judah, the spiritual center of Judaism, the location of the Temple, and where Jesus' death, resurrection, and ascension occurred. Its significance as God's chosen city for the beginning of His New Covenant work is profound.
- Jews (Ἰουδαῖοι - Ioudaioi): Refers to those of Jewish lineage, God's covenant people. They were the primary recipients of God's revelation and the first to receive the Messiah and His message.
- devout men (εὐλαβεῖς ἄνδρες - eulabeis andres): This term denotes deep piety, reverence, and religious conscientiousness. It characterizes individuals who sincerely feared God, respected His Law, and genuinely sought after truth and divine righteousness. This term is distinct from simply being a Jew by birth, highlighting a spiritual sensitivity that made them receptive to the divine outpouring and Peter's subsequent message.
- from every nation under heaven (ἀπὸ παντὸς ἔθνους τῶν ὑπὸ τὸν οὐρανόν - apo pantos ethnous ton hypo ton ouranon): This is a hyperbolic phrase common in biblical language (e.g., Deut 2:25), signifying a very widespread representation rather than literally every single nation. It emphasizes the extensive dispersion (diaspora) of Jewish people across the then-known world, including both those born Jewish and proselytes (converts to Judaism). This global presence providentially gathered at Jerusalem would become a primary channel for the rapid spread of the gospel message back to their homelands.
- dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men: This grouping emphasizes that the audience was not merely casual visitors but had a vested, often permanent, interest in Jerusalem and their faith. Their devoutness meant they were spiritually primed for a divine encounter, setting them apart from those who might mock or disregard the miraculous event.
- from every nation under heaven: This phrase highlights the providential scope of the event. God chose this particular time and location to ensure that the gospel message, once proclaimed, would immediately begin to diffuse across a vast geographical expanse, carried by these diverse pilgrims returning home. It implicitly reverses the confusion of tongues at Babel (Gen 11), ushering in an era of global understanding of God's unified message in Christ.
Acts 2 5 Bonus section
The global gathering of "Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven" at Pentecost profoundly demonstrates God's strategic timing and plan for global evangelization. This pre-positioned audience meant that the gospel message, once proclaimed, could instantly be transmitted across vast distances as these pilgrims returned home, making them de-facto early missionaries. This event foreshadows the ultimate fulfillment of prophetic promises regarding all nations coming to God (Isa 2:2-3, Zec 8:20-23) and highlights the universality of God's redemptive plan that extends beyond Israel. The "devout men" signify those from among the Jewish community who, due to their sincere devotion and openness, were the most likely to accept the new work of God through His Spirit, demonstrating that God prepares hearts even before the full revelation.
Acts 2 5 Commentary
Acts 2:5 provides critical context for the foundational event of Pentecost, emphasizing the global diversity and spiritual receptivity of the initial audience. God sovereignly orchestrated this precise moment, during a major pilgrimage festival, to gather sincere, God-fearing Jews from nearly every corner of the world. This pre-assembled, multinational crowd ensured that the immediate reverberations of the Holy Spirit's outpouring and Peter's sermon would rapidly transcend geographical boundaries. The presence of these "devout men" signifies that God targeted those genuinely seeking Him, ensuring the first converts were spiritually earnest and prepared to carry the gospel message back to their respective homelands, laying the groundwork for the worldwide mission of the Church. This gathering serves as a clear precursor to the universal invitation of the gospel.