Charles Spurgeon Commentary Acts 2:12-13

"And they were all amazed, and were perplexed, saying one to another, What meaneth this? But others mocking said, They are filled with new wine." — Acts 2:12-13 (ASV)

And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What means this? Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine.

That is to say, if a Libyan, for instance, had been listening to one who was preaching in the language of Cappadocia, he might think that the man was merely babbling strange sounds without any meaning in them. To others, the inspired speech of the apostles was only like the incoherent utterance of drunken men.

And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What means this? Others mocking, said, These men are full of new wine.

They heard languages which they did not understand as well as those they did understand; so, putting the worst possible construction upon the wondrous scene, they said that the speakers were drunk. It is the mark of a wicked mind when we are ready to attribute evil reasons in the absence of any other. Let us never do this, but always be ready to believe all the good about men that we can.