There is much controversy over this subject. Let me from the onset say that I do believe that Tongues is the initial sign evidence of the Baptism of the Holy Ghost in the believer’s life.
Let’s look at the Scripture which substantiates this:
Acts 2:1-12
1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
5 And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.
6 Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language.
7 And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans?
8 And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?
9 Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia,
10 Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes,
11 Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.
12 And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this?
What were the signs here associated with them receiving the baptism?
1. a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind
2. cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
3. began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance
Now…when the town came close… what did they notice?
Wind? Tongues of Fire?
No, in fact they may not have even seen the disciples…
BUT they HEARD them speaking in tongues.
Let’s go the our second passage:
Acts 10:44 While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.
45 And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.
46 For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God.
What were the signs here associated with them receiving the baptism?
1. For they heard them speak with tongues
Were the other signs present from Acts ch. 2? NO
What one sign was repeated? Tongues
Let’s go to our third passage:
Acts 19:1-71 And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples,
2 He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.
3 And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John’s baptism.
4 Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.
5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.
7 And all the men were about twelve.
What were the signs here associated with them receiving the baptism?
Vs. 6 they spake with tongues, and prophesied
Were the other signs present from Acts ch. 2? NO
What one sign was repeated? Tongues
Now let’s go to the other 2 outpourings in Acts
Peter and John have been let out of prison… having appeared before the High Priest and the council…. They have been threatened not to teach and preach Jesus.
They are back with their own disciples relaying what took place… Then they had a prayer meeting.
Ac 4:31 And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.
What were the signs here associated with them receiving the baptism?
1. place was shaken
2. they spake the word of God with boldness
Did they speak in tongues? Not recorded, but let’s go back to the first 3 instances where they did speak with tongues:
Acts 2:11 …we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.
(kind of sounds like preaching, don’t it?)
Acts 10:46 For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God.
(kind of sounds like preaching, don’t it?)
Acts 19:6 …and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.
(kind of sounds like preaching, don’t it?)
and what does it say here in Acts 4?
they spake the word of God with boldness
(kind of sounds like preaching, don’t it?)
It doesn’t say in Acts 4 they spoke with tongues, but what followed tongues in the first 3 instances was God glorifying… and that’s what happened here too.
Now let’s go to:
Acts 8:14-20
14 Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:
15 Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost:
16 (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)
17 Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.
18 And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,
19 Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.
20 But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.
What were the signs here associated with them receiving the baptism?
The sign was not recorded.
Was there then a sign? Was it tongues?
Conclusion: there must have been something visible that Simon witnessed for him to know that these people had received the power of the Holy Ghost….otherwise, he wouldn’t have wanted that power.
In 3 out of 5 outpourings… tongues are mentioned.
The other two have some visible happening… why can’t we conclude that it was tongues? That when the HG is given, the evidence of it is tongues.
Paul was filled with the Holy Ghost.
He spoke with tongues
1 Cor. 141 Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.
2 For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.
3 But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.
4 He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.
5 I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.
6 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?
7 And even things without life giving sound, whether pipe or harp, except they give a distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped?
8 For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?
9 So likewise ye, except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye shall speak into the air.
10 There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and none of them is without signification.
11 Therefore if I know not the meaning of the voice, I shall be unto him that speaketh a barbarian, and he that speaketh shall be a barbarian unto me.
12 Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church.
13 Wherefore let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret.
14 For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful.
15 What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.
16 Else when thou shalt bless with the spirit, how shall he that occupieth the room of the unlearned say Amen at thy giving of thanks, seeing he understandeth not what thou sayest?
17 For thou verily givest thanks well, but the other is not edified.
18 I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all:
19 Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.
So there is a tongues, the sign of the HG which is spoken unto God…
NO interpretation is needed, because
It is not God speaking through man
To man…it is man’s spirit speaking to God
The Gift of tongues is God speaking to man through the Holy Spirit through man for the benefit of the body of Christ.
(Gift of Tongues will be studied in Gifts of the Spirit Part 9)
