‘But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and spoke forth to them, saying, “You men of Judaea, and all you who dwell at Jerusalem, be this known to you, and give ear to my words.” '
Peter stood up with the eleven. He did not sit as did the Rabbis, and put forth blessed thoughts, he stood and proclaimed. He did not wait for them to come and sit around, he lifted up his voice so that all the great crowds within the Temple courtyard could hear. For what he had to say was for all who were present.
He addresses the Judaeans present and all who dwelt at Jerusalem. The Jerusalem dwellers always saw themselves as distinctive from the Judaeans who did not live in Jerusalem (compare Mark 1:5; Isaiah 1:1; Isaiah 2:1; Isaiah 3:1; Isaiah 5:3; Jeremiah 4:3 etc.). His address draws attention to how many Judaeans were present, and explains why Judaeans were mentioned in Acts 2:9. He calls on them to listen to his words, stressing with twofold emphasis the importance of listening carefully.