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Acts 10:46

in Acts 10

For 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,

This verse in Acts 10

Commentary

10 notes on this verse

A commentator

Severus of Antioch

CATENA ON THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 10.44 · Written before 538.

At 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 …

The record, by era

The Church Fathers2 voices

A commentator

Oecumenius

Commentary on Acts · Written before 550.

proposed

When they had believed that by baptism there is altogether the remission of sins, then the Spirit descended upon them. This, however, happened by God's ordaining for the great defense of Peter. Nor did the Spirit come in a common way, but they also spoke …

A commentator

John Chrysostom

Homily on Acts 24 · Written before 407.

proposed

Observe God's providential management. He does not suffer the speech to be finished, nor the baptism to take place upon a command of Peter, but, when He has made it evident how admirable their state of mind is, and a beginning is made of the work of teaching, and they have believed that assuredly baptism is the remission of sins, then forthwith comes the Spirit upon them. Now this is done by God's so disposing it as to provide for Peter a mighty ground of justification. And it is not simply that the Spirit came upon them, but, "they spake with tongues:" which was the thing that astonished those who had come together.

The Medieval Church1 voice

A commentator

Theophylact of Ohrid

Commentary on Acts · Written before 1107.

proposed

Moreover, they began to speak in various tongues, which amazed those gathered. Meanwhile, God was arranging in advance a great defense for Peter in this matter.

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.

A commentator

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

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.
4 more voices on this verse

The Nineteenth Century3 voices

A commentator

Adam Clarke

1762–1832

Commentary on the Bible · Written before 1832.

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.

A commentator

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

1802–1910

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)

proposed

heard them speak with tongues and magnify God--As on the day of Pentecost it was no empty miracle, no mere speaking of foreign languages, but utterance of "the wonderful works of God" in tongues to them unknown (Ac 2:11), so here; but more remarkable in this case, as the speakers were perhaps less familiar with the Old Testament songs of praise.

quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — starts-lowercase

Speak with tongues - In other languages than their own native tongue, Act 2:4. And magnify God - And praise God.

Modern Voices1 voice

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 words

Every 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.

  • 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 stops

Each 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 2:4

    And 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.

  • Through

    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;

    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.

Where this verse is studied

About Acts

The Pentecost, El Greco, about 1600, Museo del Prado. Public domain.
The Pentecost, El Greco, about 1600, Museo del Prado. Public domain.
This page draws on 10 works. Open the list of works

This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Charlie Shamp, Speaking in Tongues: The Definitive Evidence of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, Homily on Acts 24; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Oecumenius, Commentary on Acts; Severus of Antioch, CATENA ON THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 10.44 and Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Acts.