And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?

ACTS 2:8KJV
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Acts 2:8 (KJV)

What does Acts 2:8 mean?

Acts 2:8 records the crowd’s amazement that each person is hearing the apostles speak in their own native language. The verse highlights the miracle at Pentecost, where people from many regions understand the message in the language they grew up with.

The speaker is part of a crowd in Jerusalem during the Jewish festival of Pentecost, reacting to the apostles who have just received the Holy Spirit. The crowd is made up of Jews from many different regions, each with their own language or dialect. This verse expresses their confusion and wonder at hearing their own “tongue” (native language) spoken by Galileans, who would not normally know these languages.

The Greek behind Acts 2:8

  • διάλεκτος (dialektos): This word, translated “tongue,” means a distinct language or dialect. It emphasizes that the apostles were not just speaking in a general way, but in the specific languages of each listener.
  • ἐγεννήθημεν (egennēthēmen): Translated “we were born,” this word points to the listeners’ places of origin, underlining that these are their heart languages, not just languages they learned later.
  • ἡμεῖς (hēmeis): This is the word for “we” or “us,” making the statement personal and inclusive for everyone in the crowd.

Why Acts 2:8 matters

  • Acts 2:8 clarifies that the miracle at Pentecost was not just about speaking, but about understanding—each listener heard the message in their own native language, not just a common tongue.
  • The verse highlights the inclusiveness of the gospel message, showing that it was meant for people from every background and language group.
  • This detail sets up the rest of Acts 2, where Peter explains the significance of what is happening, connecting the event to Old Testament prophecy and the mission of the early church.

Where else these words appear

“tongue” Greek G1258 · used in 6 verses

  • Acts 1:19 And it was known unto all the dwellers at Jerusalem; insomuch as that field is called in their proper tongue, Aceldama, that is to say, The field of blood.
  • Acts 2:6 Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language.
  • Acts 22:2 (And when they heard that he spake in the Hebrew tongue to them, they kept the more silence: and he saith,)

“born” Greek G1080 · used in 65 verses

  • Matthew 1:2 Abraham begat Isaac; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat Judas and his brethren;
  • Luke 1:13 But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.
  • Acts 7:29 Then fled Moses at this saying, and was a stranger in the land of Madian, where he begat two sons.

“every” Greek G1538 · used in 78 verses

  • Matthew 16:27 For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.
  • Romans 12:3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
  • Galatians 6:4 But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.

“how” Greek G4459 · used in 100 verses

  • Matthew 6:28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:
  • Luke 11:18 If Satan also be divided against himself, how shall his kingdom stand? because ye say that I cast out devils through Beelzebub.
  • Acts 9:27 But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus.