Acts 2:5-8 - How is it that each of us hears them in his own native language?

Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking in his own language. Utterly amazed, they asked: "Are not all these men who are speaking Galileans? Then how is it that each of us hears them in his own native language?.

And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language. And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans? And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?

Modern readers may not get the impact of this passage from the story of Pentecost. Galileans were known as an isolated, under educated border city with Samaria. The ancient world saw them as the backwoods (or redneck) part of their nation.

To hear Galileans speaking in other languages can be compared to seeing Susan Boyle at her initial audition of "Britain's Got Talent". It was a total shock! But God has always been in the business of using people that the world ignores to change the world.

The Pentecost was God's statement to all of us that our background is no hindrance to Him and, in many cases, is the very thing He uses to bring Him glory.