Acts 2:8 kjv

And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?

Acts 2:8 nkjv

And how is it that we hear, each in our own language in which we were born?

Acts 2:8 niv

Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language?

Acts 2:8 esv

And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language?

Acts 2:8 nlt

and yet we hear them speaking in our own native languages!

Acts 2 verses

Acts 2 8 Meaning

Acts 2:8 describes the profound astonishment of the multinational crowd gathered in Jerusalem on the Day of Pentecost. The verse highlights the core of the miraculous phenomenon: that each individual present, irrespective of their birthplace, heard the apostles proclaiming the mighty works of God in their own native language or dialect. This was not merely speaking in diverse tongues, but an extraordinary act of divine enablement that transcured linguistic barriers, ensuring the message was immediately comprehensible to every listener from varied regions. It emphasized the immediate universality and clarity of the Holy Spirit's empowered witness.

Acts 2 8 Context

Acts chapter 2 describes the seminal event of the Holy Spirit's outpouring on the Day of Pentecost, as prophesied by Joel (Joel 2:28-32) and promised by Jesus (Acts 1:8). The immediate context is the immense noise and the awe-inspiring sight of devout Jews and proselytes from various parts of the Roman Empire and beyond, all gathered in Jerusalem for the feast of Shavuot. Prior to verse 8, the apostles are suddenly filled with the Holy Spirit and begin to speak (v. 4). A sound from heaven like a rushing wind filled the house, and tongues as of fire rested on each of them (v. 2-3). The crowd is drawn by the sound (v. 6), leading to their initial bewilderment (v. 7). Acts 2:8 specifically captures the crowd's utterly astounded question: how is it possible that each one, coming from such diverse linguistic backgrounds, is hearing the divine message in their native language? This question highlights the profound linguistic miracle, overcoming the language barrier created at Babel (Gen 11), thereby signaling the universality of the Gospel message and the Spirit's mission from its very inception.

Acts 2 8 Word analysis

• And how (καὶ πῶς - kai pōs):

  • καὶ (kai): "And, even, also." A common conjunction, here introducing a direct rhetorical question born of utter amazement.
  • πῶς (pōs): "How? In what way?" This interrogative particle expresses the profound surprise, incredulity, and bewilderment of the listeners. It's a question rooted in an undeniable reality that defies their logical understanding. It indicates the supernatural, unprecedented nature of the event.

• hear we (ἀκούομεν - akouomen):

  • From ἀκούω (akouō): "To hear, listen, perceive."
  • Present active indicative, first-person plural: "We are hearing." The verb emphasizes the immediate and ongoing perception by the crowd. It is an active experience for them. The focus is on their reception of the message, not merely on the apostles' speaking. This points to the clarity and directness of the communication.

• every man (ἕκαστος - hekastos):

  • "Each one, individually." This signifies the particular and personal nature of the miracle. It wasn't a generalized noise, but each person heard a distinct, intelligible message perfectly suited to them. It underscores the inclusivity and precise work of the Holy Spirit.

• in our own tongue (τῇ ἰδίᾳ διαλέκτῳ - tē idia dialektō):

  • τῇ (tē): The definite article, "the," specifying their tongue.
  • ἰδίᾳ (idia): "One's own, peculiar, private." This word strongly emphasizes that the language heard was deeply personal and belonged distinctively to each listener.
  • διαλέκτῳ (dialektō): "Dialect, language, speech." From which we get "dialect." It denotes a distinct form of speech used by a particular group or region. This term specifically refers to an identifiable human language or regional variant, differentiating it from the more generic term "glossa" (tongue) which could sometimes refer to an ecstatic, unlearned utterance. Here, it refers to clear, comprehensible, known languages.

• wherein we were born? (ἐν ᾗ ἐγεννήθημεν - en hē egennēthēmen):

  • ἐν (en): "In." Preposition indicating the sphere or means.
  • ᾗ (hē): Relative pronoun "which," referring back to "tongue/dialect."
  • ἐγεννήθημεν (egennēthēmen): Aorist passive indicative, first-person plural, from γεννάω (gennaō): "To beget, give birth to." This means "we were born" or "we were brought forth." This phrase links the language heard directly to their birthplace and national/cultural identity. It signifies a profound, deeply ingrained understanding, suggesting that the language heard was truly their mother tongue, absorbed from birth.

Words-Group Analysis:

• "And how hear we every man": This phrase encapsulates the central mystery and astonishment of the Pentecost event from the perspective of the listeners. It's a collective, bewildered question highlighting the impossibility they perceived. The emphasis is on the individual hearing ("every man") amidst a large, diverse crowd.
• "in our own tongue, wherein we were born?": This emphasizes the miracle's precision and personal impact. It's not just "in a foreign language," but specifically "our own language, the one we grew up speaking." This detail confirms the miracle was tailored to the individual listener's understanding, eliminating any cultural or linguistic barrier for the reception of the message. It underscores the radical inclusivity of the early Christian message, starting from its first major proclamation. The connection to "born" implies an innate and foundational understanding.

Acts 2 8 Bonus section

The miracle of Pentecost in Acts 2, highlighted by verse 8, represents a divine solution to human division, particularly that rooted in language. This particular miracle is sometimes called "the miracle of hearing" because the emphasis from the crowd's perspective is on how they are hearing. It can be debated whether the apostles spoke foreign languages (xenolalia) or whether the miracle resided purely in the hearing (xenophonia), where their words were supernaturally translated in the ears of the listeners. The text suggests the former, with "they began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance" (Acts 2:4) which aligns with "we hear them speaking in our own tongues" (Acts 2:11). The clear point is the intelligibility and comprehensibility for a diverse audience, which is key to the gospel mission. This unique manifestation served as a powerful sign (1 Cor 14:22) to a diverse, unbelieving Jewish crowd, demonstrating the universal scope and power of the resurrected Christ's message and the Holy Spirit's advent.

Acts 2 8 Commentary

Acts 2:8 is a crucial verse illustrating the immediate, tangible effect of the Holy Spirit's anointing on the nascent Church. It foregrounds the reception side of the miracle of Pentecost. While the apostles "began to speak in other tongues" (Acts 2:4), verse 8 reveals the listeners' astonished realization: they were hearing the proclamation in their distinct native languages, languages they "were born" into. This signifies a supernatural bridging of linguistic and cultural divides, effectively reversing the confusion of Babel (Gen 11:1-9) where language fragmentation separated humanity.

The miracle was precisely engineered for effective evangelism, ensuring clarity of the Gospel message. It wasn't about unintelligible ecstatic utterances for self-edification (as later detailed in 1 Cor 14), but about xenophonia (foreign sounding, understood by listener) or xenolalia (speaking known foreign languages) for direct, widespread, and understandable communication of God's "mighty deeds" (Acts 2:11). This demonstrated God's intention that His salvation message be comprehensible to "every nation under heaven" (Acts 2:5), without requiring them to first learn a common sacred language like Hebrew or Aramaic. This initial manifestation of the Spirit's power establishes a core principle for the Church's mission: overcoming barriers, particularly linguistic ones, to ensure all peoples can hear and understand the saving news of Jesus Christ. It underscores that God initiates His worldwide mission by communicating in the language of the people, paving the way for the global expansion of Christianity.