Acts 2:4- “And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.” NKJV
and-they-spoke-with-tongues_.mp3
My last post found me with too much to say and too little space to say it in. Needless to say, this is a love topic for me. Today, I want to actually talk about speaking in tongues. Because I am going through the book of Acts, I am revisiting some former posts and improving on them, but most of my posts will be new.
It was the day of Pentecost. The disciples had remained in Jerusalem, as instructed by Jesus. It’s been 50 days since their last human contact with Him. Dr. Keener explains that there were two major reasons why Luke points out that it was the feast of Pentecost. The first reason was to reiterate that it wasn’t a long time since Jesus gave the Promise of sending the Holy Spirit, and the second reason was to explain why so many Jews were present in the city and therefore were able to recognize their language. Also, feasts served as times of communal and religious celebrations (C. S. Keener, Acts: An exegetical commentary, vol. 1, p. 797).
Luke wrote, that when the Day of Pentecost was fully come, they were still all on one accord and in one place. Dr. Keener stated that this meant the time had arrived, or the waiting period was over! Suddenly, “there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and the whole house was filled”. The reference to the house being filled was probably a way of connecting what was happening to former times when God’s glory “filled” the temple.
Many tend to think this was a little quiet prayer meeting with a little wind that was more like a breeze. But I live in the Windy City and understand the power of blowing wind. I believe this rushing mighty wind, came with force, blowing things and possibly, people around. Luke references the “sound” of the wind, and Keener agrees that it gives a picture of “a sudden and violent” imparting of God’s Spirit. Now, I hope we understand that I am not stating that anyone got hurt during the imparting of the Holy Spirit! What I am suggesting is that it was such a powerful experience that none could deny it was the Presence of God!
Luke informed us about this event by saying, that there appeared to them, divided tongues as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. There were 120 people and 120 tongues, that sat upon them like fire. Keener points out that the reference to both wind and fire was often regarded as the presence of divine power. Although there are many allusions in scriptures where wind and fire are noted, there’s no time and space for it in this blog!
Luke wrote, that they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. People differ on what these tongues are. Some believe that tongues are a “heavenly language” that no one understands. Others believe that tongues are a language that the individual hasn’t learned, which empowers them to be able to witness to others in another culture. I believe there is scripture for both!
Keener points out that to be “filled with the Spirit” applied to the Holy Spirit’s enablement upon people to do specific tasks they had no former knowledge of being able to do. He uses examples of the men God enabled to work on the temple in the wilderness, of people being able to lead or prophecy, and for others to understand the will of God. While individuals can receive multiple fillings, the word baptize is only associated with the initial experience.
As we continue through the Acts, we will see that Luke made a point of identifying individuals as being “filled with the Spirit” or “full of the Spirit”. These individuals were able to speak prophetic messages from God and do works of miracles. Dr. Keener stated that Luke explained tongues as “Spirit-inspired speech, a fulfillment of the eschatological promise of the prophetic Spirit.”
We can’t stop there in the recount of what happened. Luke doesn’t! He informed us that there were all kinds of people in Jerusalem that day, from every nation under heaven. And when this sound happened, they all heard their own language. All the people in the house spoke the same natural language, yet now, they are all speaking supernaturally, all kinds of languages that they have not learned. The people who heard them were truly amazed at this strange event, wondering what was going on!
They didn’t have to wait long to gain insight into what was happening. Peter stood up and preached a powerful message that caused great fear to come upon every soul, resulting in many crying out to be saved. They had come into contact with power from on high, just as Jesus had said. Peter’s key text, as we call it today was:
“And it shall come to pass afterward that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh;
your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions. And also on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days.Joel 2:28-29 NKJV
Peter was basically saying, this day, this scripture is fulfilled in our midst!
The fire is an important aspect of this baptism, because John the Baptist told the people that he baptized with water, but Jesus would baptize with the Holy Spirit and with fire! (Matthew 3:11) On this Day of Pentecost, He did just that! The baptism was so great, that after they were heard speaking with tongues, they became a different group of disciples. After the crucifixion they were fearful. After the resurrection they had joy mixed with apprehension. But after the baptism of the Holy Spirit, with tongues of fire, they became a mighty force against the kingdom of darkness. They were transformed!
Today, tongues have become, just that, speaking in tongues. Not many speak of the baptism with the evidence of tongues and fire. But the fire was as much a part of the baptism as the tongues.
Tongues were mentioned by Jesus before He left. In His great commission He said:
“Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”
Mark 16:15-18 NKJV
Notice that He said that one of the signs that would follow those who believe is “they will speak with new tongues”.
When Peter was sent to Cornelius’ home to share the gospel, the Holy Spirit fell upon the Gentiles as they listened to the gospel (Acts 10:44-46). Some argue that this baptism was only for the apostles, but not only were they not apostles, they weren’t even Jews. Yet, they heard the gospel, received it, and spoke in tongues!
If Jesus said that we would speak with new tongues, then we should be doing just that! Although there is some concern that it should be in a “known” language since that was how the baptism initially happened, Paul tells us differently:
Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries.
1 Corinthians 14:1-2 NKJV
Paul wrote that when we speak in a tongue man doesn’t understand us because we are speaking mysteries to God. I agree both are correct. I have heard testimonies of both happening, people get a new language, or they speak in an unknown language. However, God’s Spirit releases tongues for you, I encourage you to embrace it and to go beyond speaking in tongues to walking in miracles. Because tongues are for us today to do work on the kingdom. Wonderful Jesus!
Wonderful Jesus! 