KJV King James Version
And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
VERSE STUDY • KJV
Acts 2:3
And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
Read it in 5 translations
BSB Berean Standard Bible
They saw tongues like flames of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them.
WEB World English Bible
Tongues like fire appeared and were distributed to them, and one sat on each of them.
ASV American Standard Version
And there appeared unto them tongues parting asunder, like as of fire; and it sat upon each one of them.
YLT Young’s Literal Translation
and there appeared to them divided tongues, as it were of fire; it sat also upon each one of them,
Surrounding context — Acts 2
1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
5 And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.
6 Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language.
Topics connected to this verse
Original-language word links
These Hebrew/Greek tokens are linked by Strong's number. Click one for its lexicon definition and other occurrences.
καὶG2532 · kaiandὤφθησανG3700 · optanomaito appearαὐτοῖςG846 · autosit/s/heδιαμεριζόμεναιG1266 · diamerizōto divideγλῶσσαιG1100 · glōssatongueὡσεὶG5616 · hōseilike/as/aboutπυρὸςG4442 · purfireκαὶG2532 · kaiandἐκάθισενG2523 · kathizōto seatἐφ᾽G1909 · epiupon/to/againstἕναG1520 · ehisoneἕκαστονG1538 · hekastoseachαὐτῶνG846 · autosit/s/he
Cross-references
Matthew 3:11I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and [with] fire:John 1:32-33And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him.Acts 2:4And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.Jeremiah 23:29[Is] not my word like as a fire? saith the LORD; and like a hammer [that] breaketh the rock in pieces?Isaiah 11:2-3And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD;Luke 24:32And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?Genesis 11:6And the LORD said, Behold, the people [is] one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do.1 Corinthians 12:10To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another [divers] kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:Malachi 3:2-3But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he [is] like a refiner’s fire, and like fullers’ soap:Acts 2:11Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.Revelation 14:6And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,Matthew 3:15And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer [it to be so] now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him.Psalm 55:9Destroy, O Lord, [and] divide their tongues: for I have seen violence and strife in the city.Isaiah 6:5Then said I, Woe [is] me! for I am undone; because I [am] a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.James 3:6And the tongue [is] a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.Revelation 11:3And I will give [power] unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred [and] threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.Acts 1:15And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples, and said, (the number of names together were about an hundred and twenty,)
CLASSIC COMMENTARY & PREACHING
Spurgeon on Acts 2:3
Read Charles H. Spurgeon material whose primary Scripture is this verse or passage.
HISTORICAL INTERPRETATION
Compare classic commentaries on Acts 2:3
Put Matthew Henry, Adam Clarke, Calvin, Wesley, Barnes, Jamieson–Fausset–Brown, Aquinas’ Catena and other public-domain sources beside the passage.
Compare commentaries →