Acts 2:12-13
And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” But others mocking said, “They are filled with new wine.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The real heart of their question, "What does this mean?", isn't doubt about the facts of speaking in tongues, but genuine perplexity about its cause and purpose. They were profoundly struck by the phenomenon, not questioning its reality, but wrestling with its deep significance and divine origin.
The Holy Spirit has just descended with a roar like a mighty wind and tongues of fire, empowering Jesus' followers to speak in languages they'd never learned. Now, the crowd gathered in Jerusalem, a mix of locals and visitors from around the known world, is reeling from this astonishing display. They are not just confused but deeply perplexed, desperately trying to make sense of this supernatural event and its implications.
A divine explosion of sound and language leaves a crowd stunned. They're not just surprised; they're deeply unsettled, grappling with a reality they can't immediately explain. What does it mean when God bursts into our world in unexpected ways?
The Holy Spirit's arrival on the Day of Pentecost wasn't subtle. It was a powerful, multilingual outpouring that left the onlookers "amazed and perplexed." The Greek word here isn't just about being surprised; it's about being utterly baffled, unsure of what to make of the spectacle. They heard the "wonderful works of God" proclaimed in their own tongues, a reality too extraordinary to ignore, yet too inexplicable to categorize. Their question, "What does this mean?", isn't just curiosity; it's the sound of a worldview being shaken. It’s the beginning of a search for understanding when faced with the supernatural.
The Reality of Divine Intervention
This moment highlights a core truth: God’s actions often defy human explanation. We might expect God to operate within our comfort zones, but Pentecost shows Him breaking boundaries, using sound, language, and overwhelming presence to draw attention. The perplexity isn't a sign of failure, but the necessary confusion that precedes deeper revelation. It’s the fertile ground where awe can grow into understanding.
The crowd’s question is the pivot point. It’s the first step away from shock and toward understanding. What does it take for us to move past astonishment into active investigation of God's work?
The initial reaction to the outpouring of the Spirit was a shared bewilderment. "They were all amazed and perplexed." But this isn't the end of the story. The crucial element here is their engagement with one another: "saying to one another, ‘What does this mean?’" This dialogue is vital. It shows that the event prompted inquiry and discussion among the witnesses.
The Foundation for Further Revelation
This shared questioning laid the groundwork for Peter's powerful sermon that follows. Their confusion created an open space for God’s truth to fill. Without this initial perplexity and the collective search for answers, the subsequent explanation might not have landed with such impact. It reminds us that sometimes, God uses mystery to draw us closer, inviting us to actively seek the 'why' and 'how' behind His actions, rather than passively observe.
Understand the original words
existamai · Greek Verb
A state of being overwhelmed with wonder or astonishment, often in response to witnessing the supernatural power or truth of God.
diaporeō · Greek Verb
A state of confusion, doubt, or questioning when faced with events that defy natural explanation or human comprehension.
diachleuazō · Greek Verb
To show contempt, ridicule, or scorn toward someone, particularly regarding their religious claims or behavior.
gleukos · Greek Noun
Fermented juice of the grape; in the New Testament, it is often used as a metaphor for divine influence (whether of the Spirit or of intoxication) and carries connotations of celebration or excess.
The verse captures the immediate, bewildered reaction of ordinary people witnessing an unprecedented supernatural event during a major religious festival, setting the stage for a pivotal moment of divine revelation and the birth of the early church.
c. 30 AD— this verse
Festival of Pentecost in Jerusalem
Thousands of Jewish pilgrims from across the Roman Empire gather in Jerusalem for the Feast of Pentecost, a major harvest festival celebrating God's faithfulness.
c. 30 AD
The Holy Spirit Descends
During the festival, Jesus' followers are gathered, and the Holy Spirit dramatically descends upon them, empowering them to speak in other languages.
c. 30 AD
The Crowd's Astonishment
A large crowd of onlookers, including many foreign visitors, hears the disciples speaking in their native tongues, leading to widespread amazement and confusion.
c. 30 AD
Peter's Sermon
The Apostle Peter steps forward and preaches a powerful sermon explaining the events as the fulfillment of prophecy, calling the people to repent and believe in Jesus.
This passage describes Herod the tetrarch hearing about Jesus' deeds and being 'greatly perplexed' because some said he was John the Baptist, others Elijah, and still others one of the prophets risen from the dead, mirroring the bewilderment and questioning of the crowd in Acts 2.
Acts 17:18The philosophers in Athens also encountered Paul proclaiming Jesus and the resurrection and were similarly perplexed, asking 'What would this babbler say?' This highlights a recurring theme of people encountering new spiritual truths and being unsure how to interpret them.
1 Corinthians 14:23Paul addresses the same phenomenon of speaking in tongues within the church, noting that if an outsider or unbeliever comes in while everyone is speaking in tongues, they will 'think you are out of your minds.' This shows that the unintelligible and amazing nature of tongues often led to confusion and questioning of its meaning.
John 16:7Jesus tells his disciples that if he does not go away, the Helper will not come to them, but if he does go, he will send the Helper. The perplexity in Acts 2 is the human reaction to the fulfillment of this promise, the tangible arrival of the Holy Spirit, which was a new and astonishing concept.
cambridgeActs 2:12: "And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this?"
12 . they were all amazed, and were in doubt ] Rather, and were perplexed . The original means they did not know what to make of what they saw and heard. They had no doubt of the facts, for their ears bore testimony that in their own various mother-tongues the great works of God were being published, and they had just said so.
wesleyActs 2:12: "And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this?"
2:12 They were all amazed - All the devout men.
The real heart of their question, "What does this mean?", isn't doubt about the facts of speaking in tongues, but genuine perplexity about its cause and purpose. They were profoundly struck by the phenomenon, not questioning its reality, but wrestling with its deep significance and divine origin.
The Holy Spirit has just descended with a roar like a mighty wind and tongues of fire, empowering Jesus' followers to speak in languages they'd never learned. Now, the crowd gathered in Jerusalem, a mix of locals and visitors from around the known world, is reeling from this astonishing display. They are not just confused but deeply perplexed, desperately trying to make sense of this supernatural event and its implications.
The Holy Spirit has just descended with a roar like a mighty wind and tongues of fire, empowering Jesus' followers to speak in languages they'd never learned. Now, the crowd gathered in Jerusalem, a mix of locals and visitors from around the known world, is reeling from this astonishing display. They are not just confused but deeply perplexed, desperately trying to make sense of this supernatural event and its implications.
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c. 30 AD
Thousands Converted
As a result of Peter's sermon and the miraculous events, approximately three thousand people are converted and added to the early Christian community.
"And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” But others mocking said, “They are filled with new wine.”" — The real heart of their question, "What does this mean?", isn't doubt about the facts of speaking in tongues, but genuine perplexity about its cause and purpose. They were profoundly struck by th…
