Acts 2 · a question people ask

They "began to speak with other languages" (2:4). What were the languages?

In the text

Acts tells what happened and what the hearers said, and no more. "They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other languages, as the Spirit gave them the ability to speak." (2:4). The multitude "were bewildered, because everyone heard them speaking in his own language" (2:6). They said, "How do we hear, everyone in our own native language?" (2:8), named peoples and places (2:9-11), and said, "we hear them speaking in our languages the mighty works of God!" (2:11). Others, mocking, said, "They are filled with new wine." (2:13). Acts tells of speaking with other languages again in later chapters (10:46, 19:6), each in its own words. The chapter says nothing more about the languages of 2:4 than these verses, and these notes don't either.

The verses

“For they heard them speaking in other languages and magnifying God. Then Peter answered,”
Acts 10:46 · World English Bible
“When Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them and they spoke with other languages and prophesied.”
Acts 19:6 · World English Bible

From Favor's study of Acts 2

Acts 2: Poured out

They asked one another, "What does this mean?" (2:12), and Peter's words came back to the same word: "this is what has been spoken through the prophet Joel" (2:16), and Jesus "has poured out this which you now see and hear" (2:33). In Joel's words God says, "I will pour out my Spirit" (2:17); in the Greek it is the same verb.

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Last reviewed October 7, 2026. Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain. Every answer cites the verses it rests on. What we believe · All Bible questions