Acts 2:5

5 Godly Jews from every country in the world were staying in Jerusalem.

Acts 2:5 Meaning and Commentary

Acts 2:5

And there were dwelling at Jerusalem, Jews
The Ethiopic version adds, "proselytes"; but they were not all such, as appears from the following account of them; many, and it seems the most of them were of Jewish extract and descent, and others were proselytes to the Jewish religion: these were not natives of Jerusalem, but such as were born in other countries, ( Acts 2:8 ) but were come to Jerusalem, either to learn the Hebrew language, which was necessary to their reading and understanding the books of Moses, and the prophets written in it; or for an increase of spiritual knowledge and piety; or, as is generally thought, to keep the feast of Pentecost; or rather, as Dr. Lightfoot thinks, they were come hither in great numbers from all parts, in expectation of the Messiah and his kingdom; the time being up, according to Daniel's weeks, and other prophecies, that he should appear: and these were

devout men;
men of religion and piety, of faith and holiness; and as the Syriac version renders it, "who feared God"; for in these worst of times, among this wicked generation of men, there were some who had the fear of God before their eyes, and on their hearts; and these were collected from different quarters, to be witnesses of this amazing dispensation: for they came

out of every nation under heaven;
that is, wherever the Jews were dispersed; being the descendants of those that were carried captive at different times, and into different places; as by Salmanezer, Nebuchadnezzar, Ptolomy Lagus, Antiochus, and in other lesser dispersions.

Acts 2:5 In-Context

3 They saw something that looked like tongues of fire. The flames separated and settled on each of them.

4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit. They began to speak in languages they had not known before. The Spirit gave them the ability to do this.

5 Godly Jews from every country in the world were staying in Jerusalem.

6 A crowd came together when they heard the sound. They were bewildered because they each heard the believers speaking in their own language.

7 The crowd was really amazed. They asked, "Aren't all these people from Galilee?