Speaking in Tongues in Acts
SPEAKING IN TONGUES IN ACTS
INTRODUCTION Speaking in tongues has been a very controversial subject for many churches for decades. The Pentecostal Churches have a positive outlook on this subject, but many other Churches believe speaking in tongues is not for today’s believers.
THE DAY OF PENTECOST “When the day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it Filled the whole house where they were sitting. 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.” 1 Acts 2:1-4 NKJ. This was the beginning of the phenomenon of glossolalia. There are several reasons in scripture for the purpose of tongues. The first is there were a multitude of people from many different nations with different languages that were present on the day of Pentecost in the upper room. Then they heard tongues spoken in their own language and they were all amazed and perplexed. They asked what this could mean because some were confused, but others were amazed. Some mockers thought they were full of wine or drunk. Second, the Holy Spirit with the evidence of tongues empowered the apostles to witness the gospel of Jesus Christ.
1. The Holy Bible. New King James Version Acts. “And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness .”2 Acts 4:31 NKJ
“God fulfills His promise given in Luke 24:49 and Acts 1:4 when Pentecost arrives.” 2
Dunn states, “Proclamation is inspired utterance that creates the community of believers.” 3
In Charismatic Theology, Stronstad
INTRODUCTION Speaking in tongues has been a very controversial subject for many churches for decades. The Pentecostal Churches have a positive outlook on this subject, but many other Churches believe speaking in tongues is not for today’s believers.
THE DAY OF PENTECOST “When the day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it Filled the whole house where they were sitting. 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.” 1 Acts 2:1-4 NKJ. This was the beginning of the phenomenon of glossolalia. There are several reasons in scripture for the purpose of tongues. The first is there were a multitude of people from many different nations with different languages that were present on the day of Pentecost in the upper room. Then they heard tongues spoken in their own language and they were all amazed and perplexed. They asked what this could mean because some were confused, but others were amazed. Some mockers thought they were full of wine or drunk. Second, the Holy Spirit with the evidence of tongues empowered the apostles to witness the gospel of Jesus Christ.
1. The Holy Bible. New King James Version Acts. “And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness .”2 Acts 4:31 NKJ
“God fulfills His promise given in Luke 24:49 and Acts 1:4 when Pentecost arrives.” 2
Dunn states, “Proclamation is inspired utterance that creates the community of believers.” 3
In Charismatic Theology, Stronstad
Cited: Bock, Darrell L. Acts. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic. 2009. Columbia University Press. “Glossolalia.” Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th Edition. (October 2009): http://search.ebscohost.com Dunn, Jesus and the Spirit Gromacki, Modern Tongues Movement, pp. 82-87; MacDonald, “Glossolalia”, pp. 59-60. EBSCO host. (accessed July 15, 2010). Kelsey, Tongue-Speaking, pp. 39-40; Harold D. Hunter, Spirit-Baptism: A Pentecostal alternative (Lanham, MD: University Press of America, 1983), p. 134. EBSCO host. (accessed July 20, 2010). Morton T. Kelsey. Tongue-Speaking. An Experiment in Spiritual Experience (New York: Doubleday. 1964) p. 151. EBSCO host. (accessed July 16, 2010). Powers, Janet Evert. “Missionary Tongues?”. Journal of Pentecostal Theology 8, no. 17 (October 2000): EBSCOhost (accessed July 19, 2010). Samarin, Tongues of Men. P. 110; EBSCOhost (accessed July 15, 2010). Stronstad, Charismatic Theology, pp. 68-69. EBSCO host. (accessed July 15, 2010). Watson E. Mills, Understanding Speaking in Tongues. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1972. Pp. 56-58.http://search.ebscohost.com. ( Accessed July 20, 2010)