Acts 2:3

And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
- King James Version

And there appeared to them tongues as of fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them.
- New American Standard Version (1995)

And there appeared unto them tongues parting asunder, like as of fire; and it sat upon each one of them.
- American Standard Version (1901)

And they saw tongues, like flames of fire, coming to rest on every one of them.
- Basic English Bible

And there appeared to them parted tongues, as of fire, and it sat upon each one of them.
- Darby Bible

And there appeared to them, cloven tongues as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
- Webster's Bible

and they saw tongues of what looked like fire distributing themselves over the assembly, and on the head of each person a tongue alighted.
- Weymouth Bible

Tongues like fire appeared and were distributed to them, and one sat on each of them.
- World English Bible

And diuerse tungis as fier apperiden to hem, and it sat on ech of hem.
- Wycliffe Bible

and there appeared to them divided tongues, as it were of fire; it sat also upon each one of them,
- Youngs Literal Bible

Wesley's Notes for Acts 2:3

2:3 And there appeared distinct tongues, as of fire - That is, small flames of fire. This is all which the phrase, tongues of fire, means in the language of the seventy. Yet it might intimate God's touching their tongues as it were (together with their hearts) with Divine fire: his giving them such words as were active and penetrating, even as flaming fire.

People's Bible Notes for Acts 2:3

Ac 2:3 There appeared unto them cloven tongues. Luminous tongues sat on each of them, "parting asunder" (Revised Version), or "distributing themselves" (margin). Meyer says that the idea is that they parted and distributed themselves on those present. These tongues symbolized the fact that the kingdom now inaugurated was to conquer by the spoken word, by the sword of the Spirit.