This IMPERFECT PARALLEL SYMMETRY introduces the first manifestation by the Holy Spirit upon the people. Some might include verse 13 in this literary unit, suggesting that not all in the crowd were amazed at this event, and some might not because that contrast between drunkenness and Peter's explanation of this event belongs to the next literary unit. I chose to include verse 13 in both literary units.
1) The sudden and violent noise in the FIRST/FIRST elements, A and A', brought the crowd together but possibly in fear. That noise was accompanied by a very strong rushing wind. Just as the sound and wind brought the crowd, it engaged me as the reader.
2) The EXTRA B element, verses 3 and 4A, presents the tongues as a fire which were distributed onto the disciples -- they were filled with the Holy Spirit. To me, this is very emphatic. In their shoes, I picture myself overwhelmed with both fear and wonder at the same time.
3) The LAST/LAST elements, C and C', introduce their speaking in tongues. And the crowd was bewildered as they spoke the mighty works of God. The skeptic within me would ask, “What is this?”, while the lover within me would proclaim “Wow, wow, wow” in a loud voice.
4) I have read this story about the impartation of tongues many times, a powerful move of the Holy Spirit. What particularly struck me as I prepared this analysis came through the CLOSING SUMMARY. There are two groups of people: those from many nations that spoke tongues, identified in the x CENTER POINT in verses 9-11A, and devout Jewish people from Jerusalem (verse 5) that were potentially some of the same ones that called for the crucifixion of Jesus. The FIRST/LAST elements, a and a', state that the Jewish people were amazed, astonished, and perplexed. As I pondered this, I understood there was an equally powerful move of the Holy Spirit to open their hearts and minds. That revelation, especially seen in the SUBSTRUCTURE SUMMARY in verse 13, is the CONTRAST between those who were amazed and the skeptics.
5) Within the closing summary, there are three QUESTIONS as "Why is this?", "How is this possible?", and "What does this mean?". I suggest that questions such as these are part of the narrative but are also intended for readers to answer for themselves. That is, the Holy Spirit seems to have placed these queries so that the reader must struggle with the meaning of all this. These questions are highly emphatic to me.