


In the New Testament, there is a phenomenon commonly known today called “Speaking in tongues.”
It’s a point of great debate. The first time it is recorded, the response to those who beheld it was distinct.
“And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.” Acts 2:4
This is what happened of note when the waiting disciples were in Jerusalem by command of Jesus. Jesus told them to wait for the promise, and while they were waiting, this happened. Spirit fell and filled them, and they all spoke in other tongues as “the spirit gave them utterance.”
It’s essential to keep this specific thing that happened in this particular place in direct connection to the command and promise of Jesus.
The response from those observing this,
1. ”and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language.”
Confounded why? Because these local Jews, followers of Jesus, were geographically connected at that time, while those observing this were people who lived around the world and traveled to Jerusalem only for religious purposes. The observers lived in places with different and distinct languages.
”And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans? And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?”
It goes on to describe all of the places they lived, 16 specific and general descriptions.
It is plausible that each person was speaking a different language, 120 different languages at the very same time..
As a point of understanding, there are over 7,000 different languages in the world today. Languages can include sounds that resemble clicking, guttural, and a wide range of other sounds.
Knowing this fact, they were confounded that these people who lived in the area of Jerusalem were speaking languages they had only heard in their hometown.
Keep in mind that these are Jews who spoke the Hebrew language. They also likely shared another common language, such as Greek, which was the language of the Roman Empire. These people were devout jews who spoke many languages.
Peter would soon preach to them in a common language, but these men were confounded by hearing 120 individuals speaking diverse languages simultaneously.
What were they saying?
The Bible says,
“we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.”
I suggest they heard the 120 who had just been filled with the Holy Spirit and were speaking in a language they did not know, utterances of praise. They were not preaching or teaching to the crowd, but rather praising and glorifying God, and the crowd heard them.
Because I have experienced the biblical phenomenon described as speaking in tongues, the spirit gives utterance; the impulse of this spiritual ecstatic utterance is praise.
What was the response of these confounded people?
4. ”And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this? Others mocked, saying, These men are full of new wine.”
Now, notice how Peter addresses this confounded, amazed, and marveled group of devout Jews from all over the world.
“ For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day.
But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;
And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:
And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:”
Peter specifically declared what was happening; this supernatural utterance is a specific fulfillment of biblical prophecy.
Again, pay attention to the specific text, Peter further describes,
“For David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved: Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope:”
He continues,
6. ”This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.”
What you hear and see right now, confounding, amazing, and some of you find ridiculous, Jesus has poured the promise of the Holy Spirit out. Joel and David both prophesied it’s coming.
What we read in black text on white paper does not fully communicate the power of that moment; however, we can grasp that it was powerful. Watch how Peter concludes this.
These same people, who were here at Pentecost, had been there 50 days earlier, at Passover. These were the very most devout. If it were possible, they would travel to Jerusalem three times a year. Many of them had been there, and those who had not had heard what happened with Jesus fifty days before. The Law commanded them to appear these three times.
7. ” Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made the same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.
Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.
And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.” Acts 2:36-40
What was the response?
3,000 of those watching were persuaded to be added to the church in one day.
Devout Jews converted. That was a miracle.
What prompted this?
The Miracles of Jesus had not persuaded them.
The teaching of Jesus had not persuaded them.
However, this spiritual phenomenon, which Peter explained and exclaimed, did.
This most spiritual experience created an atmosphere of wonder and faith that Peter stood forth and preached a short and simple message, which caused the very same people who, no doubt, had added their voices to crucify Jesus, to declare their faith in Jesus.
Because of what they heard and saw. People praising God in languages they could not have known except by the power of the Holy Ghost!
Think of this in the context of the subject, “Speaking in tongues,” in the rest of the Scripture.
Jesus foretold this, “And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name, they shall speak with new tongues;” Mark 16:17
Read the interaction of Peter and the rest of the Jews in Acts 10,
“While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God.”
There was no need for interpretation; they all understood that they were praising God. This supernatural outpouring and hearing them speak with tongues, they knew the Gentiles had received the Spirit just like they did.
To put a finer point on it, “Then answered Peter,can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord.”
This was a normative, expected sign of the baptism of the Holy Spirit. It did not just happen because someone had faith or had been baptized. Refer to Acts 8, which brings this into high relief.
The Apostle Paul had a similar understanding when he visited Ephesus. He would later write to the church he established in Acts 19. How were they initiated into the Kingdom? Would it not be vital for us to grasp precisely what Paul expected and commanded of those who would be believers?
“Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.”
I encourage you to read from the beginning of Acts 19, but for the sake of space,
“When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.”
Those who had not received the Holy Ghost did receive it and spoke with tongues and prophesied.
Don’t get mad at me for pointing this out; get mad at your Bible. smile.
The baptism of the Spirit does not happen when you believe or even when you are baptized in water.
A conclusion that was understood by the Apostles, including Paul.
The baptism of the Spirit, you know it happens, just like the Apostles knew it happened.
When you experienced the “This is That” in Acts 2, you can have the same testimony to say, “I got this Holy Ghost baptism, just like they did in the Bible!”
“ For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful. What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.”
Paul declared for himself and read closely what he said of others,
” I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all:” 1 Corinthians 14
He clarifies, “But when I am in church, I want to be understood so that others are edified.”
Paul further makes an admonition that speaks to us through time and is an indictment for too many in modern Christianity
“Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues. Let all things be done decently and in order.” 1 Corinthians 14:39-40
Here is the challenge. Most people who read Paul's teaching on spiritual gifts, and specifically speaking in tongues, have not experienced it. How can someone teach with knowledge on a thing they have not experienced and in many cases don’t believe in?
IF they do believe in it, it’s all on the downlow.
Let it be firmly established in your mind,
Speaking in tongues, as described in Acts 2, 8, 10, and 19, was not accompanied by an interpreter; these events were not the gift of tongues, but rather the New Tongues, which were a sign of the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
Often, when this happened, it was not for the benefit of others, but rather praise and worship to God, as the individual was being edified by their spirit as they prayed directly to God.
I will wrap this up,
“ In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
Quench not the Spirit.
Despise not prophesyings.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18-20
We, each of us, should seek to pray in the spirit and with understanding also. Daily.
We should speak in tongues when we are alone; some refer to this as a prayer language.
“But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,” Jude 20
What if you heard some of the following languages coming from people in praise and worship?
Why Tongues?
Where did the profusion of tongues begin? Tower of Babel. God is the source of ALL languages. At Babel, it created division. At Pentecost, we find unity in our shared experience of the Holy Spirit's baptism.