With Other Tongues, Acts 2:4-13

 

Back in Moses’ day, God told them to wait for Him.

So, they did.

On the day, when He came, He made a grand entrance that couldn’t be ignored, thunder roared, lightning flashed, smoke billowed, ram’s horn sounded louder and louder, the mountain shook, as the Lord descended in fire. Exodus 19:16-20

About 14-1,500 years later, Jesus told them to wait for Him.

So, they did.

On the same day as before (Pentecost), He did it again. He made a grand entrance that couldn’t be ignored; with the sound of a rushing mighty wind and the appearance of fire, tongues of fire, He descended on them.

The first time He came to one man, Moses.

The second time, He came to those waiting for Him; men and women, all 120; and He filled them with His Holy Spirit.

This is that moment the Lord’s been waiting for since Adam and Eve sidestepped with that sidewinding serpent. The plan of redemption finished. The moment of reconciliation come. Finally, He is able to reunite His family, be one with them, again.

Those watching were like those at the end of a Lone Ranger episode; in awe and asking: “Who was that masked man?”

Only, they’re saying:

Who is this Holy Spirit?

The Holy Spirit is God. The third Person of the Godhead. God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit. Three in One. The Trinity.

Therefore, He should never be referred to as, “it”. 

He should never be shunned.

He should never be mocked.

He is mentioned 56 times in the Book of Acts.

Jesus repeatedly prepared them, for the coming of His Holy Spirit. He continuously taught them about Him.

So much so, that it was probably like one of those moments when you say: “Hi, nice to meet you. I’ve heard so much about you, I feel I already know you.”

Jesus tells us His Holy Spirit is our, Helper, Teacher, Guide, and Spirit of Truth; He abides with us, reminds us, testifies through us, and tells us of things to come. John 14:15-16, 15:26, 16:13.

And that, is just a small introduction.

He has a whole bushel basket full of fruit, just waiting for you to taste and see that the Lord is Good.

Galatians 5:22-23

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

The Holy Spirit, is extraordinarily awesome.

And we haven’t even gotten to His Gifts.

Speaking of gifts; upon the Holy Spirit’s arrival, the first thing He does, is hand out a wonderful gift.

⁴ And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

Notice the text does not say, “they were filled with the Holy Spirit, SO they began speaking in tongues. Or, thus, or therefore.

They were all filled with the Holy Spirit AND began to speak with other tongues.

The word for “and” in the original text is, kai. And it means: and. It’s the most common NT conjunction, used over 9,000 times.

This is important to note because, some denominations (my childhood one) said that speaking in tongues is the evidence of receiving the Holy Spirit. If you receive the Holy Spirit, you will speak in tongues, they said.

Some folks take it further and claim that if you don’t speak in tongues, you aren’t even saved.

On three occasions in Acts, we see folks being filled with Holy Spirit and speaking in tongues, Acts 2:4, 10:44-46, 19:6.

However, on other occasions folks are filled with the Holy Spirit, and speaking in tongues is not mentioned.

Well, maybe they didn’t need to say they spoke in tongues, because it was implied. Like saying, they went swimming and they got wet. The last part wasn’t necessary.

Paul speaks at length about tongues 1 Corinthians 12-14. 

Gifts of the Holy Spirit can be found in, Romans 12:6–8; 1 Corinthians 12:8–11, 28; Eph. 4:11.

Speaking in Tongues is listed as a gift of the Holy Spirit, never as the gift of the Holy Spirit.

1 Corinthians 12:8-11, lists gifts of the Holy Spirit, and concludes by saying they are all given by the same Spirit, distributed individually as He wills. Over and over, seven times, we're told that the gifts are from the same Spirit, same Lord, same God, the obvious emphasis is on the Giver, not the gift.

1 Corinthians 12:29-31, sums it up by asking rhetorical questions.

“Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? 30 Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? 31 But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way.”

And then it goes directly into the more excellent way. The Love chapter, 13.

1 Cor. 13:1, Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.

The greatest gift, the most excellent evidence of being filled with the Holy Spirit is, His Love flowing through us.

Paul writes in 1 Cor. 14:5, “I wish you all spoke with tongues.” And then, in verse 18 he says, “I thank God that I speak in tongues more than you all…”

According to Scripture; Tongues are a gift, a gift to earnestly seek, but not the gift of the Holy Spirit. Not the evidence of the Holy Spirit.

(There’s more. What are Tongues? Are they for today?)

⁵ And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven.

Folks from all over the known world were there in Jerusalem for Pentecost.

The Lord brought the world to them. They were able to minister to the whole world right from their Church in the Clubhouse.

Same with us. Same with you.

When filled with the Holy Spirit everything we need is within our reach. 

 

        6 And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own language.

This sound? 

Acts 2:2, said there came a sound from heaven as a rushing mighty wind.

So maybe, that sound was this sound that caused the multitude to come together.

And then, they were confused because everyone heard them speak in his own language.

The 120 spoke in tongues; however, the multitude heard, each in their own native tongue.

 

Acts 2:7
 Then they were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, “Look, are not all these who speak Galileans?

Do something out of the ordinary just to honor God, and folks get confused.

What are you doing? Bringing me food? Groceries? Secretly slipping me a gift card? Doing my yard work? Being so nice, when I don’t even like you? What are you up to? What’s in it for you?

Then, they’re amazed. Wow. Those crazy Christians must really believe that God stuff.

Then, they’ll marvel when God shows up, steps in, helps out, softens their heart.

Because you allow the Holy Spirit to speak through you, before long they’ll be asking, “What must we do to be saved?”

They will know it’s not you. Aren’t these Galileans? Aren’t they rednecks? Folks from fishing villages on the Sea of Galilee. Look there’s Mary from Magdala, you know, that place where the hookers hang out. Oh, and there’s Joe’s wife, the mother of Jesus from Nazareth—Hicksville. 

What’s going on? How are these uneducated country bumpkins articulating with such excellence, in our language? 

They just ain’t that cotton pickin’ smart.

8 And how is it that we hear, each in our own language in which we were born?

It’s like the Lord reverses the curse of Babel.

At Babel God confused language and they scattered.

Here, He clarifies language, and they come together.

We hear each in our own language.

Please note; this is the second time we’re told that the 120 spoke in tongues; however, the multitude heard, each in their own native tongue.

 

9 Parthians and Medes and Elamites, those dwelling in Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya adjoining Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, 11 Cretans and Arabs…

What a day that was.

What a day it will be.

When every nation under heaven, gathers and hears the wonderful works of God.

11—we hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God.”

Now, for the third time we’re told that the 120 spoke in tongues; however, the multitude heard, each in their own native tongue.

And what are the 120 speaking?  

The wonderful works of God.

They are worshipping God.

They are not preaching to people, they are speaking praises to God, in a language they don’t even know.

That is the definition of speaking in tongues.

In, 1 Corinthians 14:2, Paul says that, he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him.

He goes on to say that speaking in tongues edifies the one praying but not the ones listening, unless, the tongues are interpreted. 1 Corinthians 14:2-5, 14.

If tongues are spoken and there’s no interpretation, those who hear will think you’re out of your mind (or drunk). 1 Corinthians 14:23.

Therefore, if there’s no interpretation, keep silent. Let all things be done decently and in order. 1 Corinthians 14:28, 40.

So, putting the events of Acts 2 with 1 Corinthians 12-14, we conclude that the gift of tongues is a prayer language to God, primarily personally, unless there is an interpreter.

It is a language spoken like any other language, not forced, or coerced, the speaker is not overpowered or possessed. The Holy Spirit gave them utterance, He offered the gift, but did not force them to receive it. Like Salvation, they believed and received, and acted, in faith.

So, to be sure, let’s say it one more time; the 120 spoke in tongues; however, the multitude heard, each in their own native tongue.

On the day of Pentecost, the 120 spoke in tongues; however, the multitude heard, the interpretation, each in their own native tongue.

This event in Acts 2 appears to be a unique onetime event where the multitude receives the interpretation.

On this glorious birthday of the Church, the Lord poured out two gifts, (tongues and interpretation), as His introduction to every nation under heaven.

12 So they were all amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “Whatever could this mean?”

They were amazed. God is amazing.

They were perplexed. His ways are above and beyond all we could ever ask or even think.

Whatever could this mean? That is a great question.

It means many things, but here's just three:

Jesus kept His promise to send His Holy Spirit
Salvation is available to every nation under heaven.
God will use any willing vessel. All who were willingly, watching and waiting for His coming were filled with His Holy Spirit.

13 Others mocking said, “They are full of new wine.”

There’s always mockers.

Rather than inquire, they insult. It’s called, ad hominem argument. It’s ignorance on steroids.

They’re unwilling to understand, or even think for two seconds.

How many drunks suddenly become fluent in a foreign language?

Then again, giving the mockers the benefit of the doubt, perhaps they couldn’t hear them speaking the wonderful works of God. Maybe they only heard them speaking in tongues, and so, it sounded like… babbling drunks. (Just like Paul writes in 1 Cor. 14:23).

Today, some folks still mock speaking in tongues. They claim tongues no longer exist; as well other gifts like miracles and healings.

They point to, 1 Corinthians 13:8-10.

Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away.  For we know in part and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.

 

They say, when that which is perfect has come, then gifts like tongues, will cease, because they are no longer necessary.

So, what is, that which is perfect?

Well, they say, that which is perfect came when the Bible was completed.

However, the best commentary on the Bible, is the Bible, and context is king.

So, in context, we see the answer in the very next verse.

1 Corinthians 13:11
When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 12 For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.

A child maturing into an adulthood. We’re talking about people.

Now and then. We’re talking about time. Now we see dimly, then, we’ll see clearly. Now we know partly, then, we’ll know completely.

Now, we see and know in our current, corruption. However, there’s coming a then, a time, when the foggy veil of this life is lifted and we will see clearly; there’s a day, perhaps today, when we shall be changed, in the twinkling of an eye, we’ll be glorified, and then we’ll know what was once a mystery.  

When we reach heaven, then, we’ll see and know—that which is perfect has come.

Until then, what has been written, has been written. We dare not delete entire chapters of the Bible to fit our experience.

The Church as a whole believed in all the gifts and operations of the Holy Spirit, as written, up until the early 1900s.

However, the Azuza Street revival, set religious spirits on edge.

Perhaps out of jealousy, or religiosity, some who had not received gifts, invented a school of thought that said, certain gifts were dead.

They tried to put the Holy Spirit on the shelf.  

But we know, God’s not dead, can’t be put on a shelf, or locked in a tomb. He’s alive and well and coming back soon!

 

Let’s pray.

Lord, thank You for Your written Word, that’s forever settled in heaven.

Thank You for Your spoken Word, that flows through us as Rivers of Living Water.

Thank You that Your Word will not return void but will prosper to the saving souls; ours, and all those You’ve given us.

Thank You.

We love You, forever.

Amen.

Prayer Requests:

Call or text: 612-554-2522

Email: pray4measap@aol.com

Facebook: Church at WPV

Books: amazon.com/author/dougspurling

Watch online:

Facebook: With Other Tongues, Acts 2:4-13

You tube: With Other Tongues, Acts 2:4-13

 

This was feed for you to read. Now it’s Seed for you to sow.

Thank you for sharing.