“Parthians, Medes, and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues! (Acts 2:9-11). 

During Pentecost, individuals from all over traveled to see the beginning of the church. Within Acts 2:9-11, we see that Elamites were present at Pentecost. This demonstrates to us that many Elamites had heard about Jesus and wanted to come and learn more from the Apostles. While many people try to classify all of these groups together, the Bible clarifies that these are unique groups as they are individually named. 

The Parthians, Medes, Elamites, Cretans, and Arabs were all individual, distinct people who came to hear about the Lord and declare His praises. On Pentecost, each of these groups declared the wonders of God in their own tongue. Given that these individuals were all from different backgrounds, it would have been an amazing thing to witness all of them speaking about God in their own native languages. This attests to how God can do amazing things and bring all people into His family, including the Elamites. 

God had great plans for Elam that have already been fulfilled, and many more plans will be fulfilled in the future. Regardless of where we live, we need to continue to pray for Elam and ask the Lord to direct their path. God will help them and provide them with the protection, support, and encouragement they need. 

Related Resource: Wartime Update: Inside Israel’s Defining Conflict with Iran

Joel and Lynn Rosenberg provide a real-time update from Jerusalem on the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran—the most significant and dangerous war Israel has faced in eight decades. The episode covers the personal realities of living under missile threat, strategic developments, the emotional toll on Israelis, and the broader prophetic and geopolitical implications. Joel and Lynn invite listeners to pray for Israel, discuss God’s comfort in times of crisis, and answer pressing questions about the current situation. Want an informed, Biblical perspective on the Middle East? Subscribe to Inside the Epicenter on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode! 

Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/Andry Djumantara