There were dwelling in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from EVERY nation UNDER heaven

[TonyChanYT]

Acts 2:

5 Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven.

Really, every nation under heaven?

One can interpret this verse as hyperbole.

It is also possible to interpret this verse literally: At that time, there were probably no God-fearing Jews living in the Americas. So, none of them showed up in Jerusalem.

A more balanced approach is to interpret it idiomatically, meaning every nation where the Jews were dispersed. The context lists the nations:

5 Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. 6 When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. 7Utterly amazed, they asked: “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language? 9Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome 11(both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!”

How do we make sense of 'Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven' in Acts 2:5?

There are three ways to make sense of it: hyperbole, literal, or idiom. The last one is the most reasonable.

 

[Fred J]

Acts 2:


Really, every nation under heaven?

One can interpret this verse as hyperbole.

It is also possible to interpret this verse literally: At that time, there were probably no God-fearing Jews living in the Americas. So, none of them showed up in Jerusalem.

Basically, America was not founded yet then, and the Red Indians were the native probably.

Therefore, like America, i believe that probably many nations have not been founded yet as well during the day of the Apostles.

Or, it is probably referring to every nation where alone the scattered Jews lived and their offspring were born.