3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.



Ver. 3. Cloven tongues] Teaching them both ïñèïôïìåéí , to divide the word aright, and also ïñèïðïäåéí , as some will have it; their tongues being cloven, as their feet were into toes, teaching them too to foot it aright. Diodorus Siculus tells us of a certain island beyond Arabia, the inhabitants whereof have cloven tongues, so that therewith they can alter their speech at their pleasure, imitate the tunes of various birds, and (which is more strange) they can perfectly speak to two persons and to two purposes at once; to one with one part of their tongue and to another with the other part; Sed fides sit penes Authorem, believe it who will.