Acts 2:6

Wednesday, 27 October 2021 <p> </p> <p>And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own language. Acts 2:6</p> <p> </p> <p>The previous verses noted the sound of the rushing wind and the speaking in tongues. They also noted that there were Jews “from every nation under heaven.” The verse now begins with, “And when this sound occurred.” It is referring to the events just mentioned, probably beginning with the rushing wind followed by the speaking in tongues, and certainly with a stress on the tongues.</p> <p> </p> <p>This is because the word translated as “sound” is different than that of verse 2:2. There, it was the word échos.   (ay'-khos)   That refers to a loud or confused sound (the mighty, rushing wind). Here, the word is phóné  (fo-nay'). This refers to a sound which is inclusive of a voice, language, or dialect (the utterances of the disciples).  With that occurring, it says, “the multitude.”</p> <p> </p> <p>That is a direct reference to those of the previous verse just mentioned, “Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven.” It is the pilgrims of the pilgrim feast. The law mandated that they come, and these men (certainly with their families as the law directed) in obedience to the law, had presented themselves in the temple area. In this place, they were drawn to the spot where the disciples had gathered to find out what was going on. It is there and while listening to the sound, that it says they “were confused.”</p> <p> </p> <p>The word in Greek is a compound verb coming from sun (together) and cheó (to pour). If one takes two liquids and pours them together, they intermingle, and their properties become confused. This is the thought of those who heard. They were unable to properly process what was going on “because everyone heard them speak.”</p> <p> </p> <p>The verb is imperfect, saying “because everyone was hearing.” They heard and they kept on hearing. It is an important part of what is being conveyed. To sim