“During the dispersion, the Jews had been scattered to almost every part of the inhabited world, and in their exile they had learned to speak various languages. Many of these Jews were on this occasion in Jerusalem, attending the religious festivals then in progress. Every known tongue was represented by those assembled. This diversity of languages would have been a great hindrance to the proclamation of the gospel; God therefore in a miraculous manner supplied the deficiency of the apostles. The Holy Spirit did for them that which they could not have accomplished for themselves in a lifetime.” —The Acts of the Apostles, pp. 39, 40.

Nationalities mentioned as hearing the gospel in their own tongue( Verses 9-11).

“Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites." These were people living in the Persian empire beyond the Tigris, and including Turkestan and Afghanistan to the border of India. They all spoke Persian, but in different dialects.

“Mesopotamia, between the rivers Tigris and Euphrates. The language was some form of Chaldee.

“Judea, speaking Aramaic in a different dialect from that used in Galilee.

“Cappadocia, in Pontus and Asia. Not our Asia, but a small Roman province in what is now Asia Minor.

“Egypt, where the language was Coptic.

“Phrygia and Pamphylia. Here Greek, with different dialects. These regions were also in Asia Minor.

“Libya, in northern Africa, the portion referred to being Cyrene, on the Mediterranean. Language, probably Greek.

“Strangers ('sojourners,' A. R. V.) from Rome. Latin language.

“Jews and proselytes, meaning heathen who had accepted the Jewish religion. These were included in all the preceding nations.

“Cretes, from the island of Crete in the Mediterranean, now called Candia. They may have spoken Greek.

“Arabians, from the great peninsula which stretches between the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf. They spoke Arabic."—Peloubet, abbreviated.

Although the Priests and rulers accused the disciples of being drunk, “Others mocking said, these men are full of new wine” (Acts 2:13 ), there were sincere souls that were convicted by the Holy Spirit. The Cretes and Arabians, said, “We do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God” (Acts 2:11 ).

"The priests and rulers were greatly enraged at this wonderful manifestation, but they dared not give way to their malice, for fear of exposing themselves to the violence of the people. They had put the Nazarene to death; but here were His servants, unlettered men of Galilee, telling in all the languages then spoken, the story of His life and ministry. The priests, determined to account for the miraculous power of the disciples in some natural way, declared that they were drunken from partaking largely of the new wine prepared for the feast."—The Acts of the Apostles, p. 40.