2:9 The long list of nations embraces the various races embraced in the we of Ac 2:8:
Parthians. Parthia was east of the Tigris.
Medes. Media, another part of the Medo-Persian empire, east of the Tigris.
Elamites. Elam was an ancient name of Persia.
Mesopotamia was the seat of Babylon. These four countries just named were thickly populated with Jews descended from those carried into captivity by Nebuchadnezzar.
Cappadocia. A Roman province not far from the Black Sea.
Pontus. A province south and east of the Black Sea.
Asia. The Roman province of which Ephesus was the capital. All the seven churches were in the province called Asia (Re 1:4,11).
2:9 Judea - The dialect of which greatly differed from that of Galilee. Asia - The country strictly so called.
2:5-13 The difference in languages which arose at Babel, has much hindered the spread of knowledge and religion. The instruments whom the Lord first employed in spreading the Christian religion, could have made no progress without this gift, which proved that their authority was from God.
