The Meaning of Acts 2:5 Explained

Acts 2:5

KJV: And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.

YLT: And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation of those under the heaven,

Darby: Now there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, pious men, from every nation of those under heaven.

ASV: Now there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And  there were  dwelling  at  Jerusalem  Jews,  devout  men,  out of  every  nation  under  heaven. 

What does Acts 2:5 Mean?

Context Summary

Acts 2:1-13 - Speaking In Strange Tongues
The priests in the Temple were offering the first loaves of the new harvest, in celebration of the feast of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit came as the first fruits of our inheritance. Suddenly there was a sound that was heard throughout the city. There was no wind, but the sound of a rushing, mighty wind. Suddenly, as each looked on the rest, he saw their heads crowned with tongues of flame. Each, too, became suddenly aware of a drawing toward the Lord, of a longing to see Him glorified, and of a vast enlargement and enhancement of spiritual joy and power.
When presently the vast crowd collected to know the meaning of the sound, each inspired soul gathered a little knot of hearers, to whom he discoursed of Jesus and the Resurrection; and the hearers heard in their own tongue, the wonderful works of God. The Holy Spirit used the telepathy of mind and heart, so that involuntarily the speaker clothed his thoughts in language borrowed from his hearer's vocabulary. This was the sign of Babel's undoing. [source]

Chapter Summary: Acts 2

1  The apostles, filled with the Holy Spirit, and speaking various languages,
12  are admired by some, and derided by others;
14  whom Peter disproves;
37  he baptizes a great number who were converted;
41  who afterwards devoutly and charitably converse together;
43  the apostles working many miracles,
46  and God daily increasing his church

Greek Commentary for Acts 2:5

Were dwelling [ησαν κατοικουντες]
Periphrastic imperfect active indicative. Usually κατοικεω — katoikeō means residence in a place (Acts 4:16; Acts 7:24; Acts 9:22, Acts 9:32) as in Acts 2:14 (Luke 13:4). Perhaps some had come to Jerusalem to live while others were here only temporarily, for the same word occurs in Acts 2:9 of those who dwell in Mesopotamia, etc. [source]
Devout [ευλαβεις]
Reverent See note on Luke 2:25 like Simeon waiting for the consolation of Israel or hoping to die and be buried in the Holy City and also Acts 8:2. [source]
Dwelling [κατοικοῦντες]
Denoting an abiding; but here it must be taken in a wide sense, since among these are mentioned those whose permanent residence was in Mesopotamia, etc. See Acts 2:9. [source]
Devout []
See on Luke 2:25. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Acts 2:5

Luke 2:25 Devout [εὐλαβής]
Used by Luke only. The kindred word, εὐλάβεια ,godly-fear, occurs twice' Hebrews 5:7; Hebrews 12:28. From εὖ , well, and λαμβάνω ,to take hold of. Hence of a circumspect or cautious person who takes hold of things carefully. As applied to morals and religion, it emphasizes the element of circumspection, a cautious, careful observance of divine law; and is thus peculiarly expressive of Old Testament piety, with its minute attention to precept and ceremony. Compare Acts 2:5. [source]
Luke 2:25 Devout [ευλαβης]
Used only by Luke (Acts 2:5; Acts 8:2; Acts 22:12) in the N.T. Common in ancient Greek from Plato on. It means taking hold well or carefully (ευ — eu and λαβειν — labein) and so reverently, circumspectly. [source]
Acts 22:12 A devout man according to the law [ευλαβης κατα τον νομον]
See note on Acts 2:5, note on Acts 8:2, and note on Luke 2:25 for the adjective ευλαβης — eulabēs Paul adds “according to the law” to show that he was introduced to Christianity by a devout Jew and no law-breaker (Lewin). [source]
Acts 3:2 Laid daily [ετιτουν κατ ημεραν]
Imperfect again describing their custom with this man. Beautiful (ωραιαν — Hōraian). This gate is not so called elsewhere. It may have been the Gate of Nicanor on the east side looking towards Kidron described by Josephus (Ant. XV. 11, 3; War Acts 2:5, Acts 2:3) as composed chiefly of Corinthian brass and very magnificent. [source]
Acts 3:2 Beautiful [ωραιαν]
This gate is not so called elsewhere. It may have been the Gate of Nicanor on the east side looking towards Kidron described by Josephus (Ant. XV. 11, 3; War Acts 2:5, Acts 2:3) as composed chiefly of Corinthian brass and very magnificent. [source]
Acts 8:2 Devout [ευλαβεις]
Only four times in the N.T. (Luke 2:25; Acts 2:5; Acts 8:2; Acts 22:12). Possibly some non-Christian Jews helped. The burial took place before the Christians were chiefly scattered. [source]
Ephesians 2:22 Habitation [κατοικητήριον]
Answering to temple. Only here and Revelation 18:2. Indicating a permanent dwelling. See on dwell, Luke 11:26; see on Acts 2:5; see on Mark 5:3. In marked contrast with sojourners, Ephesians 2:19. [source]
Revelation 2:13 Dwellest [κατοικεῖς]
See on Luke 11:26; see on Acts 2:5. [source]

What do the individual words in Acts 2:5 mean?

Were now in Jerusalem dwelling Jews men devout from every nation of those under - heaven
Ἦσαν δὲ εἰς Ἰερουσαλὴμ κατοικοῦντες Ἰουδαῖοι ἄνδρες εὐλαβεῖς ἀπὸ παντὸς ἔθνους τῶν ὑπὸ τὸν οὐρανόν

δὲ  now 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: δέ  
Sense: but, moreover, and, etc.
Ἰερουσαλὴμ  Jerusalem 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root: Ἰερουσαλήμ  
Sense: denotes either the city itself or the inhabitants.
κατοικοῦντες  dwelling 
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Active, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: κατοικέω 
Sense: to dwell, settle.
Ἰουδαῖοι  Jews 
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: Ἰουδαῖος  
Sense: Jewish, belonging to the Jewish race.
ἄνδρες  men 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: ἀνήρ  
Sense: with reference to sex.
εὐλαβεῖς  devout 
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: εὐλαβής  
Sense: taking hold well.
παντὸς  every 
Parse: Adjective, Genitive Neuter Singular
Root: πᾶς  
Sense: individually.
ἔθνους  nation 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Neuter Singular
Root: ἔθνος  
Sense: a multitude (whether of men or of beasts) associated or living together.
τῶν  of  those 
Parse: Article, Genitive Neuter Plural
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
ὑπὸ  under 
Parse: Preposition
Root: ὑπό  
Sense: by, under.
τὸν  - 
Parse: Article, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
οὐρανόν  heaven 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root: οὐρανός  
Sense: the vaulted expanse of the sky with all things visible in it.