The Gift of Tongues Displayed in the Book of Acts
LIBERTY UNIVERSITY
THE GIFT OF TONGUES DISPLAYED IN
THE BOOK OF ACTS
A RESEARCH PAPER SUBMITTED TO PROFESSOR DOUGLAS PETERSON
IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR
BIBL364
LIBERTY UNIVERSITY ONLINE
BY
SEAN HIGGINS
LYNCHBURG, VIRGINIA
DECEMBER 5, 2012
TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION 2
PENTECOST 2
THE CONVERSION OF CORNELIUS 5
TONGUES AT EPHESIAN BAPTISM 7
CONCLUSION 9
BIBLIOGRAPHY 10
Introduction
The gift of Tongues has been becoming more and more popular over the past 10 years. Christians appear to have differing views on the matter. Some think it is a sign of the HOLY SPIRIT, other think it is a manifestation of demonic forces. There are Bible verses to support both of these opinions, so the issues can become rather confusing. This paper is meant to show exactly everything that the Book of Acts mentions on the subject of tongues. This paper doesn’t refer to any other parts in the Bible regarding tongues. There are three different incidences in the Book of Acts that refers to speaking in tongues. First in Acts 2:4, 6-11 at the day of Pentecost, then in Acts 10:46 at the conversion of Cornelius, and finally in Acts 19:6 at the baptism of the 12 men in Ephesus. I am going to look solely at these events in order to study exactly what the Book of Acts says about tongues.
Pentecost
The experience of the Spirit on Pentecost is a fulfillment of the prophecy of John the Baptist concerning the one who would baptize in the Holy Spirit (Matt. 3:11; Mark 1:6; Luke 3:16; John 1:33). This promise is also stated by Jesus Christ in Acts 1:5. The coming of the Spirit at Pentecost is thus tightly tied to a redemptive-historical motif. The day of Pentecost is a Jewish holiday that happens during Passover. It was also known as the “Feast of Weeks” or “Day of First Fruits”. It was a celebration of the harvest. It came after the seven weeks of harvesting that started with the waving of the first
THE GIFT OF TONGUES DISPLAYED IN
THE BOOK OF ACTS
A RESEARCH PAPER SUBMITTED TO PROFESSOR DOUGLAS PETERSON
IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR
BIBL364
LIBERTY UNIVERSITY ONLINE
BY
SEAN HIGGINS
LYNCHBURG, VIRGINIA
DECEMBER 5, 2012
TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION 2
PENTECOST 2
THE CONVERSION OF CORNELIUS 5
TONGUES AT EPHESIAN BAPTISM 7
CONCLUSION 9
BIBLIOGRAPHY 10
Introduction
The gift of Tongues has been becoming more and more popular over the past 10 years. Christians appear to have differing views on the matter. Some think it is a sign of the HOLY SPIRIT, other think it is a manifestation of demonic forces. There are Bible verses to support both of these opinions, so the issues can become rather confusing. This paper is meant to show exactly everything that the Book of Acts mentions on the subject of tongues. This paper doesn’t refer to any other parts in the Bible regarding tongues. There are three different incidences in the Book of Acts that refers to speaking in tongues. First in Acts 2:4, 6-11 at the day of Pentecost, then in Acts 10:46 at the conversion of Cornelius, and finally in Acts 19:6 at the baptism of the 12 men in Ephesus. I am going to look solely at these events in order to study exactly what the Book of Acts says about tongues.
Pentecost
The experience of the Spirit on Pentecost is a fulfillment of the prophecy of John the Baptist concerning the one who would baptize in the Holy Spirit (Matt. 3:11; Mark 1:6; Luke 3:16; John 1:33). This promise is also stated by Jesus Christ in Acts 1:5. The coming of the Spirit at Pentecost is thus tightly tied to a redemptive-historical motif. The day of Pentecost is a Jewish holiday that happens during Passover. It was also known as the “Feast of Weeks” or “Day of First Fruits”. It was a celebration of the harvest. It came after the seven weeks of harvesting that started with the waving of the first
Bibliography: Bock, Darrel L. ACTS. Michigan: Baker Academics, 2007. Holcomb, Justin. “Tongues in Acts.” IIIH Magazine, July 29, 2001. Johnson, S. Lewis “The Gift of Tongues and the Book of Acts” Bibliotheca sacra 480 (1963), p 309-311. Lowe, Harry W. Speaking in Tongues: A Brief History of the Phenomenon Known as Glossolalia, or Speaking in Tongues. Idaho: Pacific Press Publishing Association, 1965. White, Ellen G. The Acts of the Apostles. California: Pacific Press Publishing Association, 1911. Yarnell, Malcolm B. Speaking of “Tongues,” What Does the Bible Teach? Texas: Center for Theological Research, 2006.