Is Tongues The Initial Evidence Of The Holy Spirit?

Acts: 2:3,4 - Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

When I was reading an article on the 7 Reasons Every Believer Should Speak in Tongues this was the first Scripture that they quoted. Of course, looking at this Scripture without reading further in Acts 2 would be a good defense for those who believe speaking in tongues is the initial evidence. We need to look further on to figure out the purpose God had for these people to speak in tongues.

Acts 2:5-11 - And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven. And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own language. Then they were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, “Look, are not all these who speak Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each in our own language in which we were born? Parthians and Medes and Elamites, those dwelling in Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya adjoining Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs—we hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God.”

Now we see that several people from different countries that spoke in different languages were gathered around. All these people heard the believers speak in their own language. Let me give you a modern day analogy. Let’s say there is a church in England where all the members only know English. Let’s say that one day there is a big event going on which draw people from France, Germany, Spain, etc. People from all these countries enter that church and the people that can only speak English all of a sudden speak German, French, Spanish, etc. This would take a miracle. What we see in Acts 2 is a miracle. God was demonstrating the power of the Holy Spirit and showing that the apostles were on the right path. I challenge any church who claims that tongues is the initial evidence to pull something like this off.

Let’s see if the Bible says that all speak in tongues.

1 Corinthians 12:27-31 - Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually. And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way.

After getting done discussing how there are different people for different purposes in the body of Christ, Paul asks the question “do all speak in tongues?” verse 30. The obvious answer is “no.” Paul is saying that all people can’t do all things and therefore there needs to be diversity in the body in order for it to function properly. Paul compares the body of Christ to a human body in previous Scriptures. The questions in vs. 29 & 30 would be similar to asking questions such as: “Can all parts of the body hear? Do all parts of the body see? Are all hands? Are all feet? Etc. This Scripture alone should destroy the doctrine of tongues being the initial evidence of the Holy Spirit, however, they get around it. They argue that there are the tongues that are spoken once and then there is the separate gift of tongues. I have yet to find a really clear Scripture to prove that there is a separation of tongues.