Tongues Part 3

 

Part 3 Where in the Bible did people speak in other tongues when they received the gift of the Holy Ghost?

The first place that people spoke in other tongues was in the upper room in Jerusalem on the Day of Pentecost. 

"And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. ... And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance." - Acts 2:1, 4

Henceforth, tongues would be the sign that a person received the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Tongues were the sign to Peter and the 7 brethren that came with him to the house of Cornelius that God had also given the Gentiles the gift of the Holy Ghost.

"And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning." - Acts 11:15 (Acts 10:44-46). (See also Acts 19:1-7).

On the Day of Pentecost, Jews were gathered from nations from around the world to Jerusalem to worship at the Temple for this holy day. The Jews call this holy day Shavuot, commemorating the giving of the Law on Mount Sinai. (Deuteronomy 16:16). These Jews most likely spoke Hebrew, their religious language, as well as likely speaking Latin or Greek, the languages of the Roman Empire. In addition, they spoke the languages of the nations they were born. (Acts 2:5-6)

"And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. Now when this was noised abroad [the outpouring of the Holy Ghost on the 120 disciples in the upper room] the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them [the disciples] speak in his own language. ."We do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God...' And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this?" - Acts 2:5-6, 11-12

Notice: the people heard the disciples speaking in their tongues "the wonderful works of God." These men were not preaching the gospel in their languages.

Apostle Peter, standing up with the other apostles, was the preacher. He began his Gospel message to the multitudes that had gathered by explaining that what they had just witnessed had been prophesied by the prophet Joel. (Joel 2:28)

"For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day [about 9am]. But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;" - Acts 2:14-16

Henceforth, tongues would be the sign that a person had received the gift of the Holy Ghost.