4. This verse describes a great miracle, and its simplicity of statement marks it as the record of one who felt that no additional words could make the matter other than one which passed the human understanding.

ἤρξαντο λαλεῖν ἑτέραις γλώσσαις. These are spoken of as καιναὶ γλῶσσαι, new tongues (Mark 16:17). The meaning is, they spake in languages which before were unknown to them, and from the history it would appear that some of the company spake in one and some in another language, for the crowd of foreigners, when they come together, all find somebody among the speakers whom they are able to understand.

ἀποφθέγγεσθαι αὐτοῖς. The order is supported by the Vulg. ‘dabat eloqui illis,’ as well as by the oldest MSS.

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Old Testament