Parthians, Medes, and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,
We have here an account of the public notice that was taken of this extraordinary gift with which the disciples were all on a sudden endued. Observe, I. The great concourse of people that there was now at Jerusalem, it should seem more than was usual at the feast of pentecost.
Commenting on Acts 2:5-13
Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites,.... These are the words of the men continued, and not of the historian, as appears from Act 2:10 and so the Arabic version reads, "of us Persians, Parthians, and Medes"; that is, we hear them speak in the language of everyone of us: the order in this version is inverted, otherwise the same persons are intended; for the Elamites and...
Verse 9. Parthians, etc. To show the surprising extent and power of this miracle, Luke enumerates the different nations that were represented then at Jerusalem. In this way the number of languages which the apostles spoke, and the extent of the miracle, can be ascertained. The enumeration of these nations begins at the east, and proceeds to the west. Parthians mean those Jews, or proselytes, who dwelt in Parthi.