Why does Acts 2:5 about Jews from every nation at Jerusalem make sense only if you know Jewish history?
Acts 2:5 makes sense because Jewish history explains the dispersion: after the Babylonian captivity beginning in 606 B.C., many Jews did not return to Jerusalem but migrated throughout the then-known world, establishing businesses and synagogues. Thus at Pentecost, devout Jews from every nation under heaven could be dwelling at Jerusalem.
Les teaches that if you do not know history, Acts 2:5 does not make much sense. The Jews, after being taken out to Babylon, got comfortable in the Gentile world, became astute at banking and business, and migrated to every corner of the then-known world. Wherever there was a city of any population of note, Jews established businesses and synagogues throughout the whole Roman Empire. So when Acts 2:5 says Jews were dwelling at Jerusalem for the Feast of Pentecost, devout men, keepers of the Law, and temple worshipers, from every nation under heaven, it fits. They had scattered throughout the then-known world instead of going back to Jerusalem after Babylon.
And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.
More Questions
Why were there Jews from every nation under heaven in Jerusalem at Pentecost in Acts 2:5?
The reason Acts 2:5 can speak of Jews dwelling in Jerusalem from every nation under heaven is that Jews had been migrating throughout the known world since 606 B.C., so that they were scattered into every nation.