2:9a–11b
This list describes the kinds of people who listened to the believers speak their languages. Luke made it part of their whole speech by putting the verb “we hear” at the end of the list in 2:11c. Some versions include that idea at the beginning for clarity. For example:
We are from Parthia, Media, and Elam; from Mesopotamia, Judea… (Good News Translation)
-or-
Here we are—Parthians, Medes, Elamites, people from Mesopotamia, Judea… (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
Some of us are from Parthia, Media, and Elam. Others are from Mesopotamia, Judea… (Contemporary English Version)
2:9a
Parthians, Medes, and Elamites: These names refer to people from the regions of Parthia, Media and Elam. Parthia was southeast of the Caspian Sea and extended to the Euphrates River. Media was northeast of the Tigris River. Elam was east of the lower Tigris River and north of the Persian Gulf. Many years before this time some of the Jews had dispersed to many places, including these three locations, and at this time they spoke the languages of those regions. Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:
people from Parthia, Media, and Elam
-or-
born in Parthia, Media, and Elam
2:9b–10a
residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene: The phrase residents of applies to these specific places. Some of the Jews in the crowd lived in these places and were visiting Jerusalem. You should make it clear that the Jews were residents of these places. For example:
residents of Mesopotamia, ⌊residents of⌋ Judea and Cappadocia, ⌊residents of⌋ Pontus and Asia…
2:9b
Mesopotamia: Mesopotamia was a region between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers and on either side of these rivers.
Judea: Judea refers to the homeland of the Jews.
Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia: Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia were Roman provinces in what is now the country of Turkey. Cappadocia was located in the middle of Turkey. Pontus was located in the northeast, extending from the Black Sea to the Caucasus mountains.
Asia: The province of Asia was located in the western part of Turkey. It bordered the Aegean Sea and the Mediterranean Sea. But in English the name now refers to the region that includes the country of China but not Turkey. You may want to:
• Make it clear that Asia here refers to the Roman province with that name. For example:
⌊the province of⌋ Asia
• Explain it in a footnote. Here is an example footnote:
At that time this name referred to the land in what is now the western part of Turkey.
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