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hears them
The ability to hear and understand the apostles speaking in different languages was a supernatural event enabled by the Holy Spirit. This hearing was not just auditory but also comprehensible, indicating a divine intervention that allowed the message of the Gospel to transcend linguistic barriers. This event signifies the reversal of the confusion of languages at the Tower of Babel (Genesis 11:1-9), where God scattered people by giving them different languages. Here, God unites people through the understanding of the Gospel.

in his own native language?
The term "native language" refers to the specific dialect or language spoken by individuals from different regions. This detail emphasizes the personal nature of the miracle, as each person heard the message in the language most familiar to them. This inclusivity underscores the universal scope of the Gospel, intended for all nations and peoples. It also prefigures the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20), where Jesus commands His disciples to make disciples of all nations, highlighting the global mission of the Church.

“Everyone was amazed and perplexed, asking one another, ‘What does this mean?’” (Acts 2:12).

• The question in verse 8 springs from genuine astonishment, just like Nicodemus’ “How can this be?” (John 3:9).

• It underscores that the event is supernatural―no human scheme could produce simultaneous, flawless translations.

• Such divine surprises echo moments when God’s power leaves observers speechless (Mark 4:41;Exodus 14:31).

Acts 2:5 notes “devout Jews from every nation under heaven.”

• The miracle embraces a crowd both large and diverse―Parthians to Romans, Arabs to Asians.

• Scripture often stresses God’s heart for “all people” (1 Timothy 2:4;Revelation 5:9).

• Pentecost reverses the scattering of Babel (Genesis 11:7-9) by gathering a united, multi-ethnic audience.

“Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ” (Romans 10:17).

• The Spirit directs attention to proclamation, not spectacle.

• Hearing verifies comprehension; the crowd isn’t merely seeing signs but receiving truth (Isaiah 55:11).

• Peter’s sermon (Acts 2:14-36) shows the goal: Gospel clarity that pierces hearts (v. 37).

God addresses individuals personally, never reducing them to a faceless mass.

• Jesus called people by name (John 1:42; 20:16); the Spirit now speaks each listener’s mother tongue.

• Personal connection removes barriers (1 Corinthians 14:16-17) and dignifies culture while exalting Christ.

• The phrase signals precise fulfillment ofJoel 2:28-29: “I will pour out My Spirit on all people.”

The Greek term dialektos appears earlier inActs 2:6, confirming genuine, intelligible languages.

• This contrasts with ecstatic, untranslated speech Paul later regulates (1 Corinthians 14:9-11, 27-28).

• The miracle testifies that the Gospel is never locked to one nation; it moves outward (Acts 1:8).

• Just as languages once divided humanity, they now become conduits of unity in Christ.

Acts 2:8 spotlights a Spirit-driven wonder: every listener hears the mighty works of God in his own native tongue. The verse affirms a literal, historical event that magnifies God’s power, honors individual hearers, reverses Babel’s curse, and launches a global Gospel mission.