Miracle of Speaking in Tongues
MIRACLES OF SPEAKING IN TONGUES
The miraculous power of the Holy Spirit enabled the early Christians to perform great and mighty works. One of the most marvelous works of the Spirit was that of speaking in "tongues" by the apostles on the day of Pen-tecost, as recorded in Acts 2:1-11. Apart of that text reads as follows: "And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language. And they were all amazed and marveled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galileans? And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?"
This was a great miracle! If men could speak in tongues today it would be as much a miracle as it was on Pentecost , because speaking in tongues would be as impossible today as it was nineteen hundred years ago, without direct in-tervention of the Holy Spirit.
What Was Speaking In Tongues?
It seems quite obvious that many people today do not understand what is meant by speaking "with other tongues." A careful study of the text should leave no doubt, however "other , as to the Bible meaning and purpose of speaking in tongues."
In this case, of Acts , 2 nd Chapter, the speaking in tongues was the result of the miraculous baptismal measure of the Holy Spirit, which enabled the apostles to speak in "other tongues." Notice carefully that it is said, "OTHER TONGUES." Furthermore, it should be observed that these men, uttered a special message, dictated by the Holy Spirit; "as the spirit gave them utterance."
The text, Acts 2:4-11, clearly states that the multitude was "confounded because that every man heard them speak in his own language" and they concluded: "and how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?" They concluded: "We do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God." Although there are records of other early Christians speaking in tongues, there is no other record in the Bible of speaking in different languages. As in this case: "other tongues," "our own tongue," "our tongue wherein we were born." The reason: these men, the apostles received the baptism of the Holy Spirit which en-abled them to speak by divine revelation, to proclaim the gospel of Christ "as the Spirit gave them utterance." There is no other record of the baptism of the Holy Spirit in the Bible. It is inconceivable that one could conclude from this text that these men, "speaking in tongues," were speaking to God and not to man!
Unknown Tongues? In this text speaking in tongues was not a matter of speaking a language unknown to anyone, but it was the ability, by guidance of the Holy Spirit, to speak a language which was known and understood by the hearer, but unknown to the speaker, a language he had never known or spoken before.
The text reveals that there were at least fifteen different countries or provinces represented in the audience which heard the apostles in "tongues," therefore, some fifteen different languages or dialects. The people from each coun-try heard them speak in their own native tongue, or language. Benson's Commentary, Vol. 4, page 687, states "These disciples had not only never learned any of these languages, but had not learned any foreign tongue . . .”
Most of them had never so much as heard any of these languages spoken, or had any idea of them . . . They did not speak now and then a word of another tongue, or stam-mer out some broken sentences, but spoke each language which they spoke as readily, properly, and elegantly, as if it had been their own mother tongue: for whatever was produced by miracle was the best of the kind."
The fact that the great miracle of speaking in tongues by the apostles, enabling every man to hear them "speak in his own language," caused the multitude to marvel and be amazed.
Not Unintelligent Sounds The apostles preached the gospel to more than 3, 000 people, representing at least fifteen different nations, and "every man heard them speak in his own language" where-in he was "born." When they spoke in tongues, it was not a jabber, jargon, conglomeration of unintelligent sounds. They spoke words that brought conviction to the hearts of the people. Yes, it was a miracle! The gospel was directed in languages, never studied or spoken by the speak-ers, to the people of at least fifteen different nationalities. The baptism of the Holy Spirit, received by the apostles, made it possible for them to preach the gospel to the three thousand people who heard and understood in their own different languages.
Men Speak In Tongues Today?
Many people, and not a few religious leaders, have become confused about the possibility of speaking in "tongues" today. Some claim to speak in "unknown tongues."
It is quite evident that men today do not and cannot speak in "tongues," as was done in New Testament times. Where is the man or woman who can speak fifteen dif-ferent languages that he has never heard and has never learned? Would it not be amazing today, as on Pentecost, for a man to preach the gospel to an audience of fifteen different nationalities and every man hear and under-stand in his own tongue, or language, wherein he was born; yet the speaker had never known the different languages? That would be as much a miracle as it was on Pentecost!
If there are people today who can speak in "tongues," as a result of the baptism of the Holy Spirit, like those of New Testament times, may I suggest a most opportune place to do so. Why not go before the Assembly of the United Nations in New York and preach the gospel to the representatives of the nations of the world? If one could speak in "tongues," by the power of the baptism of the Holy Spirit, he could speak so that every man of every nation could hear and understand in his own native lan-guage! The arrangement for such a meeting is not un-realistic. If a person can be found who could really speak in "tongues," I am sure the arrangements could be made because this accomplishment in communications would be so amazing that the United Nations and the world would welcome it. No doubt, every radio and TV station in the world would want to broadcast such "speaking in tongues" without charge because it would be as "unheard of," amazing, and an astonishing performance as on Pentecost. If a person who claims to speak in "tongues" will give assurance of his power and ability to speak in "tongues," and will volunteer his services, your speaker will take the responsibility of providing a worldwide audience to hear the message in their own native languages.
My friends, be not deceived! Men do not speak in "tongues" today, as in New Testament times, because they do not have that miraculous power of the Holy Spirit, which would enable them to speak in "tongues." The baptism of the Holy Spirit was the source of miraculous power which enabled the apostles to speak "with other tongues" (Acts 2:2-4).
"And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance."
Apostles Received Power The antecedent of the pronouns, "they" and "them ," is the apostles, as stated in the last verse of the first chap-ter of Acts. The apostles, therefore, were they who received this baptismal measure of the Holy Spirit: "And they began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance," the text declares in verse 4.
The Holy Spirit made sure that identity would not be mistaken: "And there appeared unto them" remember, "them," the apostles "cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each one of them" (verse 3).
From this text we would conclude that each apostle, who was speaking "with other tongues," was identified by the tongue, "like as of fire," which sat upon his head, all of which caused the multitude that gathered to be amazed. There can be no doubt that the apostles were they who received the baptism of the Holy Spirit and did the speaking in "tongues" because in verse seven it is said: "Are not all these which speak Galileans?" The apostles were all Galileans. The one hundred and twenty disciples, also present, were not all Galileans. Furthermore, there can be no doubt that the apostles were identified as those who were to receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Read very carefully Acts 1:2-8. It must be observed that the apostles are identified in Verse 2, and they were commanded to "wait for the promise of the Father," Verse 4; that promise was: "ye shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days hence" (Verses 5 and 8).
Spoke As Spirit Gave Utterance From this text under consideration (Acts 2:4), we must conclude that the apostles were "filled with the Holy Spirit" before they could speak "with other tongues." Further-more, they spoke "as the Spirit gave them utterance."
Again I quote from Benson's Commentary, Vol. 4, page 687, "They spoke not from any previous thought, but as the 'Spirit gave them utterance' He furnished them with the matter, as well as the language."
My friends, I say, are you listening? . . . Where is the person today, whom the Holy Spirit has identified as one to "speak with other tongues," by miraculously pointing him out with a "cloven tongue like as of fire" upon his head? I say, where are the persons today who can "speak with other tongues," languages they have never known, a message they had never known, "as the Spirit gave them utterance"?
It must be concluded that men do not speak in "tongues" today, as in New Testament times, because men do not receive the miraculous measure of the Holy Spirit, as did the apostles and other early Christians in Bible times; neither are men divinely guided in delivering a message, as were the apostles who spoke "with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance."
The Gift of Tongues But someone may claim to speak in "tongues" because he claims to possess the gift of tongues, although he did not receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit as did the apostles. It seems evident from the scriptures that there were some early Christians, during the days of miracles, in the church, who could speak in tongues, but did not receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
As pointed out in a former address, miracles were per-formed not only by the power received from the baptism of the Holy Spirit, but miraculous gifts of the Spirit were con-ferred by the laying on of the apostles' hands. (Acts 8:14-21; Acts 19:1-6). In verse 6 of Acts 19, it is recorded:
"And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spoke with tongues, and prophesied."
As the church of our Lord grew in New Testament times, some congregations were made up of men and women of different nationalities, different tongues, therefore, God, in His divine arrangement, continued the miraculous gift of "divers kinds of tongues" for a time (1 Corinthians 12:10), as well as other "spiritual gifts" (1 Corinthians , 14 th Chapter). Paul's estimation of the value of speaking in "tongues," as the church grew more to maturity, was revealed when he said, "Now brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, except I shall speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine?" (1 Corinthians 14:16). The apostle concluded, "I thank God, I speak with tongues more than ye all; yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understand-ing, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue" (1 Corinthians 14:18-19).
Speaking Tongues, Raising The Dead, Healing Sick From the study of the scriptures it is evident that those who were to perform miraculous works of the Spirit were promised, "In my name shall they cast out devils they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover" (Mark 16:17-18).
In view of this declaration of our Lord and other references considered, may I propose the following questions for consideration by those who might claim to speak in tongues.
1. If one can speak in tongues, can he "drink any deadly thing" and not be hurt?
2. If one may speak in tongues today, may he not "lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover" from an incurable disease?
3. If one can speak in tonguest by the miraculous power of the Holy Spirit, could he not by the same power "raise the dead"? (Matthew 10:8).
4. If one is able to speak "with other tongues," as some did in the Corinthian church, would there not also be some who could prophesy, or speak by divine revelation, "as the Spirit gave them utterance"?
Ladies and gentlemen, I submit to you that "speaking in tongues" was done so by supernatural power, by those with miraculous power of the Holy Spirit. Such miraculous power enabled the apostles and some Christians, during the infancy period of the church, to perform such miracles as raising the dead, healing the sick, and speaking in languages never known, by direct revelation of the Holy Spirit. For one to affirm that "speaking in tongues" may be done today will also necessitate the affirmation of performance of other miraclous work of the Holy Spirit. The absence of any one of the miraculous works of the Spirit, performed today , is proof of the absence of all.
The apostle Paul, referring to the miraculous works in the early church, declared that they would cease or vanish away (1 Corinthians 13:8-13). He specifically included speaking in tongues: "Whether there be tongues, they shall cease."
QUESTIONS FOR MEDITATION 1. What was the purpose of speaking in "tongues?"
2. What was "speaking in tongues"?
3. Were the "tongues" spoken unknown tongues?
4. Were those who spoke in' "tongues" able to perform other miraculous works?
5. Was speaking in "tongues" a miracle?
6. Was there a difference in "speaking in tongues," as a result of the Holy Spirit, received by the apostles, and "speaking in tongues" by other Christians?