"And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language. And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans? And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born? Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia, Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes, Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God. And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this? Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine. But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words: For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day."
Today's quote begins the sermon at the Pentecost celebration preached by Peter and the other Apostles after they had received the power of the Holy Ghost.
That sermon initiated the evangelistic process of expanding the Church that Jesus had established during His ministry, just as He had commanded.
The miracle that was performed that day was not a miracle in the tongues of the speakers, as many contend, but rather it was a miracle within the ears of those who were gathered to listen.
Peter and the others spoke in the language that was commonly used by the local Jews, probably Hebrew or Aramiac, while the listeners heard the words they spoke in the language of their home regions. One of the listeners is quoted to have said, "we do hear them speak in OUR tongues the wonderful works of God."
This is very important to point out because there are some devout "Christians" who, even yet today, hold on to the false contention that some people are divinely selected as miraculous vessels through which the Holy Spirit speaks some language (Unknown tongue) that can only be interpreted by someone else who is also miraculously overcome by the Holy Spirit, so as to interpret what the original speaker has said.
If understanding this explanation is difficult for those who have studied and pretty much know the intent of the bible, imagine how confusing it would be for the lost who have no bible education.
As can be easily seen, the process of "speaking in tongues" would serve no purpose other than to confuse lost souls.
It behooves us all to recognize that ALL those men present for the sermon at the Pentecost celebration were Jews who had come from all over the known world, "DEVOUT JEWS", as was stated in the quote, "Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven."
This is important to remember because it will help us better understand that this sermon, being preached to Jews only, establishes a great part of the context within which that sermon was preached.
Some of those present were so stunned by the miracle so as to think Peter and the others were drunk. Peter quickly dispelled that idea by reminding them that it was to early in the day to be drunk.~
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