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Acts 2:12

New Testament Historical ASV (1901)

What does Acts 2:12 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And they were all amazed, and were perplexed, saying one to another, What meaneth this?” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And they were all amazed, and were perplexed, saying one to another, What meaneth this?
Acts 2:12 — American Standard Version

Context — Acts 2

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
9Parthians and Medes and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, in Judaea and Cappadocia, in Pontus and Asia,
10in Phrygia and Pamphylia, in Egypt and the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and sojourners from Rome, both Jews and proselytes,
11Cretans and Arabians, we hear them speaking in our tongues the mighty works of God.
12And they were all amazed, and were perplexed, saying one to another, What meaneth this?
13But others mocking said, They are filled with new wine.
14But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and spake forth unto them, [saying], Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and give ear unto my words.
15For these are not drunken, as ye suppose; seeing it is [but] the third hour of the day.
← Acts 2:11Acts 2:13 →
← Full Chapter 2 Acts Overview

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And they were all amazed, etc.] That is, all these devout men, Jews and proselytes, which came from other nations before mentioned: and were in doubt; not whether the apostles spoke in various languages, nor about the sense of their words; for they not only heard them with their ears, and were assured of the facts, but they seem also to understand what was said, since they call the things delivered, the great or wonderful things of God; but they were at a loss in their minds what should be the cause of this, or the reason of such a dispensation, saying, one to another, what meaneth this? from whence is it? what is the design of it? or what the end to be answered by it? or what will follow…”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Were in doubt - This expression, διηπόρουν diēporoun, denotes “a state of hesitancy or anxiety about an event.” It is applied to those who are traveling, and are ignorant of the way, or who hesitate about the road. They were all astonished at this; they did not know how to understand it or explain it, until some of them supposed that it was merely the effect of new wine. return to 'Top of Page'”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“They were all amazed - All the devout men. Acts 2:13”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“What: Act 10:17, Act 17:20; Luk 15:26, Luk 18:36 Acts 2:13”
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Related study paths

Read Acts 2 in contextBrowse Greek word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification