And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with {c} other tongues, as the {d} Spirit gave them utterance.

(c) He calls them other tongues which were not the same as the apostles commonly used, and Mark calls them new tongues.

(d) By this we understand that the apostles were not speaking one language and then another by chance at random, or as eccentric men used to do, but that they kept in mind the languages of their hearers: and to be short, that they only spoke as the Holy Spirit directed them to speak.

People's New Testament

2:4 They were all filled with the Holy Spirit. All the disciples present. To be filled implies that the human spirit within was overwhelmed by, or immersed in, the Holy Spirit. The baptism of the Spirit was not a sprinkling, but an outpouring that overwhelmed the human spirit.

Began to speak. This was the Beginning. See Lu 24:47 Ac 11:15.

With other tongues. In other languages (Revised Version). In the languages of all the different countries from which Jews had come up to Pentecost. Many would be unable to understand the Hebrew dialect of Judea in that period, and hence, they must be preached to in the tongue of their own country if they understood. That the gospel on this, the first day the Great Commission was ever preached, was preached in all tongues, symbolized the fact that it is for all nations.

As the Spirit gave them utterance. They were not allowed to preach the Great Commission until now, in order that every word uttered on this day might be the word of the Spirit, not of man. The words were to be spoken to an audience, not of those in Jerusalem only, but to our whole race in all time, in order to show how sinners are to be saved under the gospel.

Wesley's Notes

2:4 And they began to speak with other tongues - The miracle was not in the ears of the hearers, (as some have unaccountably supposed,) but in the mouth of the speakers. And this family praising God together, with the tongues of all the world, was an earnest that the whole world should in due time praise God in their various tongues. As the Spirit gave them utterance - Moses, the type of the law, was of a slow tongue; but the Gospel speaks with a fiery and flaming one.

Scofield Reference Notes

[1] Holy Ghost

The Holy Spirit, N.T. Summary (see Mal 2.15, note): See Scofield Note: "Mal 2:15".

(1) The Holy Spirit is revealed as a divine Person. This is expressly declared (e.g.) Jn 14:16,17,26 15:26 16:7-15 Mt 28:19 and everywhere implied.

(2) The revelation concerning Him is progressive

(a) In the O.T. See Scofield Note: "Mal 2:15". He comes upon whom He will, apparently without reference to conditions in them

(b) During His earth-life, Christ taught His disciples Lk 11:13 that they might receive the Spirit through prayer to the Father.

(c) At the close of His ministry He promised that He would Himself pray the Father, and that in answer to prayer the Comforter would come to abide Jn 14:16,17.

(d) On the evening of His resurrection He came to the disciples in the upper room, and breathed on them saying, "Receive ye the Holy Ghost" Jn 20:22 but instructed them to wait before beginning their ministry till the Spirit should come upon them Lk 24:49 Acts 1:8.

(e) On the day of Pentecost the Spirit came upon the whole body of believers Acts 2:1-4

(f) After Pentecost, Song long as the Gospel was preached to Jews only, the Spirit was imparted to such as believed by the laying on of hands Acts 8:17 9:17.

(g) When Peter opened the door of the kingdom to the Gentiles (Ac 10.), the Holy Spirit, without delay, or other condition than faith, was given to those who believed. Acts 10:44 11:15-18. This is the permanent fact for the entire church age. Every believer is born of the Spirit Jn 3:3,6 1Jn 5:1 indwelt by the Spirit, whose presence makes the believer's body a temple 1Cor 6:19 Rom 8:9-15 1Jn 2:27 Gal 4:6 and baptized by the Spirit 1Cor 12:12,13 1Jn 2:20,27 thus sealing him for God Eph 1:13 4:30.

(3) The N.T. distinguishes between having the Spirit, which is true of all believers, and being filled with the Spirit, which is the believer's privilege and duty (cf) Acts 2:4 with Acts 4:29-31 Eph 1:13,14 with Eph 5:18. --"One baptism, many fillings."

(4) The Holy Spirit is related to Christ in His Conception Mt 1:18-20 Lk 1:35 baptism Mt 3:16 Mk 1:10 Lk 3:22 Jn 1:32,33 walk and service Lk 4:1,14 resurrection Rom 8:11, and as His witness throughout this age Jn 15:26 16:8-11,13,14.

(5) The Spirit forms the church Mt 16:18 See Scofield Note: "Heb 12:23" by baptizing all believers into the body of Christ 1Cor 12:12,13, imparts gifts for service to every member of that body 1Cor 12:7-11,27,30, guide the members in their service Lk 2:27 4:1 Acts 16:6,7 and is Himself the power of that service Acts 1:8 2:4 1Cor 2:4.

(6) The Spirit abides in the company of believers who constitute a local church, making of them, corporately, a temple 1Cor 3:16,17.

(7) Christ indicates a threefold personal relationship of the Spirit to the believer: "With", "In", "upon" Jn 14:17 Lk 24:49 Acts 1:8. "With" indicates the approach of God to the soul, convicting of sin Jn 16:9 presenting Christ as the object of faith Jn 16:14 imparting faith Eph 2:8 and regenerating Jn 3:3-16. "In" describes the abiding presence of the Spirit in the believer's body 1Cor 6:19 to give victory over the flesh Rom 8:2-4 Gal 5:16,17 to create the Christian character Gal 5:22,23 to help infirmities Rom 8:26 to inspire prayer Eph 6:18 to give conscious access to God Eph 2:18 to actualize to the believer his sonship Gal 4:6 to apply the Scripture in cleansing and sanctification Eph 5:26 2Th 2:13 1Pet 1:2 to comfort and intercede Acts 9:31 Rom 8:26 and to reveal Christ Jn 16:14.

(8) Sins against the Spirit committed by unbelievers are: To blaspheme Mt 12:31, resist Acts 7:51, insult Heb 10:29, "despite," lit. insult). Believers' sins against the Spirit are: To grieve Him by allowing evil in heart or life Eph 4:30,31 and to quench Him by disobedience 1Th 5:19.

The right attitude toward the Spirit is yieldedness to His sway in walk and service, and in constant willingness that He shall "put away" whatever grieves Him or hinders His power Eph 4:31.

(9) The symbols of the Spirit are: (a) oil Jn 3:34 Heb 1:9 (b) water, Jn 7:38,39, (c) wind Acts 2:2 Jn 3:8, (d) fire Acts 2:3, (e) a dove Mt 3:16, (f) a seal Eph 1:13 4:30, (g) an earnest or pledge Eph 1:14.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

4. they . began to speak with . tongues, &c.-real, living languages, as is plain from what follows. The thing uttered, probably the same by all, was "the wonderful works of God," perhaps in the inspired words of the Old Testament evangelical hymns; though it is next to certain that the speakers themselves understood nothing of what they uttered (see on [1936]1Co 14:1-25).

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

2:1-4 We cannot forget how often, while their Master was with them there were strifes among the disciples which should be the greatest; but now all these strifes were at an end. They had prayed more together of late. Would we have the Spirit poured out upon us from on high, let us be all of one accord. And notwithstanding differences of sentiments and interests, as there were among those disciples, let us agree to love one another; for where brethren dwell together in unity, there the Lord commands his blessing. A rushing mighty wind came with great force. This was to signify the powerful influences and working of the Spirit of God upon the minds of men, and thereby upon the world. Thus the convictions of the Spirit make way for his comforts; and the rough blasts of that blessed wind, prepare the soul for its soft and gentle gales. There was an appearance of something like flaming fire, lighting on every one of them, according to John Baptist's saying concerning Christ; He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire. The Spirit, like fire, melts the heart, burns up the dross, and kindles pious and devout affections in the soul; in which, as in the fire on the altar, the spiritual sacrifices are offered up. They were all filled with the Holy Ghost, more than before. They were filled with the graces of the Spirit, and more than ever under his sanctifying influences; more weaned from this world, and better acquainted with the other. They were more filled with the comforts of the Spirit, rejoiced more than ever in the love of Christ and the hope of heaven: in it all their griefs and fears were swallowed up. They were filled with the gifts of the Holy Ghost; they had miraculous powers for the furtherance of the gospel. They spake, not from previous though or meditation, but as the Spirit gave them utterance.