5 Now there were Jews living in Jerusalem , devout men from every nation under heaven . 6 And when this sound occurred , the crowd came together , and were bewildered because each one of them was hearing them speak in his own language . 7 They were amazed and astonished , saying , "Why , are not all these who are speaking Galileans ? 8 "And how is it that we each hear them in our own language to which we were born ? 9 "Parthians and Medes and Elamites , and residents of Mesopotamia , Judea and Cappadocia , Pontus and Asia , 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia , Egypt and the districts of Libya around Cyrene , and visitors from Rome , both Jews and proselytes , 11 Cretans and Arabs -we hear them in our own tongues speaking of the mighty deeds of God ." 12 And they all continued in amazement and great perplexity , saying to one another , "What does this mean e ?"

Matthew Henry's Commentary on Acts 2:5-12

Commentary on Acts 2:5-13

(Read Acts 2:5-13)

The difference in languages which arose at Babel, has much hindered the spread of knowledge and religion. The instruments whom the Lord first employed in spreading the Christian religion, could have made no progress without this gift, which proved that their authority was from God.