Acts 10:46
in Acts 10For they heard them speaking in tongues and exalting God. Then Peter said,
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter,
KJV
For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter,
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This verse in Acts 10
Commentary
6 notes on this verseAt the beginning of the preaching, when the apostles announced the gospel, those who received holy baptism both spoke with tongues and prophesied in order to prove that they had received the Holy Spirit. When unbelief was at its climax, then, as was necessary, the …
This site's exposition
the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word
on Acts 10:44-46
While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word, the gift arriving before baptism and before Peter has even finished his sentence, removing any doubt about whether these Gentiles first needed to become Jewish proselytes. The circumcision believers who came with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Ghost was poured out on the Gentiles also, their astonishment itself Luke's evidence that nothing about this outcome had been staged or expected. They heard them speak with tongues and magnify God, the same sign that marked Pentecost and will mark Ephesus later in the book, the Spirit bearing the same witness to Gentile believers that he bore at Jerusalem, a pattern the church receives as his continuing work, and the text's own purpose here is proof to the Jewish witnesses rather than a template asserted for every future conversion.
The record, by era
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
For they heard them speak with tongues,.... With divers tongues, which they had never learned, and before did not understand: and magnify God; they spoke of the wonderful works of God in these languages, as the apostles did at Pentecost, Act 2:11 they spoke greatly in the praise of God, and gave thanks for his rich grace and mercy bestowed on them: then answered Peter; as follows.
on Acts 10:44-48
It is not unlikely that some Gentiles might before now have stepped into a synagogue of the Jews, and heard the gospel preached; but the gospel was never yet designedly preached to the Gentiles, nor any of them baptized--Cornelius was the first; and here we have, I. An account given us of this Cornelius, who and what he was, who was the first-born of the Gentiles to Christ.
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
And magnify God - They had got new hearts as well as new tongues; and, having believed with the heart unto righteousness, their tongues made confession unto salvation; and God was magnified for the mercy which he had imparted.
Modern Voices1 voice
A commentator
Charlie ShampSpeaking in Tongues: The Definitive Evidence of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit (2024)
on Acts 10:44-46
This passage is crucial for several reasons. Firstly, it demonstrates that the experience of speaking in tongues is not limited to the Jewish believers of Pentecost but extends to Gentiles as well.
The words behind it
12 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ἤκουον | ekouon | They were hearing | G191 → | 425 times |
| γὰρ | gar | for | G1063 → | 1039 times |
| αὐτῶν | auton | when they | G846 → | 5565 times |
| λαλούντων | lalounton | are speaking | G2980 → | 294 times |
| γλώσσαις | glossais | in tongues | G1100 → | 49 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| μεγαλυνόντων | megalunonton | magnifying | G3170 → | 8 times |
| τὸν | ton | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| θεόν. | theon | God. | G2316 → | 1312 times |
| τότε | tote | Then | G5119 → | 160 times |
| ἀπεκρίθη | apekrithe | answered | G611 → | 231 times |
| Πέτρος· | petros | Peter; | G4074 → | 155 times |
ἤκουονThey were hearing
ekouonG191 →425 times
γὰρfor
garG1063 →1039 times
αὐτῶνwhen they
autonG846 →5565 times
λαλούντωνare speaking
lalountonG2980 →294 times
γλώσσαιςin tongues
glossaisG1100 →49 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
μεγαλυνόντωνmagnifying
megalunontonG3170 →8 times
τὸν<the>
tonG3588 →19766 times
θεόν.God.
theonG2316 →1312 times
τότεThen
toteG5119 →160 times
ἀπεκρίθηanswered
apekritheG611 →231 times
Πέτρος·Peter;
petrosG4074 →155 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Acts 2:4And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
it leads to
- Mark 16:17
And these signs will accompany those who believe: In My name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues;
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- 1 Corinthians 12:10
to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in various tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Acts 13:52
And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.
- Mark 16:17
Through
Mark 16:17And these signs will accompany those who believe: In My name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues;
it leads to
- Acts 5:16
Crowds also gathered from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those tormented by unclean spirits, and all of them were healed.
- 1 Corinthians 12:28
And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, and those with gifts of healing, helping, administration, and various tongues.
- Acts 8:7
With loud shrieks, unclean spirits came out of many who were possessed, and many of the paralyzed and lame were healed.
- Luke 10:17
The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in Your name.”
- John 14:12
Truly, truly, I tell you, whoever believes in Me will also do the works that I am doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.
- Acts 5:16
Where this verse is studied
About Acts

This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Charlie Shamp, Speaking in Tongues: The Definitive Evidence of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible and Severus of Antioch, CATENA ON THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 10.44.
