Thinking about Tongues

Acts

We have the event that we read about this morning in .

We also have a couple of other events like this in Acts

Acts 10:44–48 ESV

While Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word. And the believers from among the circumcised who had come with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out even on the Gentiles. For they were hearing them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter declared, “Can anyone withhold water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to remain for some days.

Acts 19:1–7 ESV

And it happened that while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed through the inland country and came to Ephesus. There he found some disciples. And he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” And they said, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” And he said, “Into what then were you baptized?” They said, “Into John’s baptism.” And Paul said, “John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, Jesus.” On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking in tongues and prophesying. There were about twelve men in all.

Speaking in tongues, this is the greek word glossa.

This word is used and is translated tongue (like the literal tongue), or tongue or tongues (referring to language), or translated languages like in Revelation

Revelation 5:9 ESV

And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation,

Revelation 7:9 ESV

After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands,

But we also this word used to refer to languages her in Acts and in the other 2 places we looked and then a lot to refer to languages in

One question is what exactly is going on here?

Some have suggested that what we have here is an unintelligible language maybe even a heavenly language.

But that does not seem to be what is going on in Acts at all

It seems to be known languages, notice v.6-8

They began to speak in other tongues or other languages.

Even the word other points to it being known languages not ecstatic utterances.

Now that we have that nailed down we need to move one more step.

What does Paul mean when he uses this word in 1 Corinthians.

1 Cor. 12.4-

1 Corinthians 12:4–11 ESV

Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.

First thing, to the holiness that say that speaking in tongues is the sign that one is filled with the Spirit Paul is clear here that not everyone has the same gift and that all of the gifts have different purposes but serve the same Lord.

We see the gift of tongues.

I think this is the same gift that we saw in , , and 19.

This gift is given by the power of the Holy Spirit, this gift is the using of normal words for speaking a foreign language and being able to translate it and it was a sign gift authenticating the message and those who preached the message of salvation in Christ Jesus our Lord.

As we continue to read in this section Paul makes it clear that the giving of these gifts are for the glory of God and for the building up of the church.

Paul also makes it clear that all of these gifts necessary (v.12-19), are to be accompanied by love (13:1-10), not self centeredness, not a desire to look like you are spiritually elite.

Then in chapter 14 Paul begins to deal specifically with tongues.

Tongues is a true gift that was given, we see it on display in Acts in three places but there seems to have been a counterfeit in the culture that was disproportionately exalted and seriously abused in Corinth.

As you read through you will see the word glossa used in the singular and in the plural.

Notice v.2, 4, 13, 14, 19, 27

John MacArthur notes this and states that “the distinction between the singular tongue and the plural tongues is foundation to the proper interpretation of this chapter. Paul seems to use the singular to distinguish the counterfeit gift of pagan gibberish and the plural to indicate the genuine gift of a foreign language.

If you have the KJV you will notice that translators added consistently the word unknown before very singular form, some think it was because of the recognition that this is what was going on.

MacArthur gives a helpful outline here I believe

He says this

Against the back drop of carnality and counterfeit ecstatic speech learned from the experience of the pagans, Paul covers 3 basic issues with regard to speaking in languages by the gift of the Holy Spirit

It’s position, it is inferior to prophecy (v.1-19)

It’s purpose, a sign to unbelievers not believers (v.20-25)

Its procedure, systematic, limited, and orderly (v.26-40)

I. It’s position

v.2 seems to be speaking not about languages but an unknown tongue, there are not many unknown tongues if you think about it, I think that is why Paul uses the singular when talk about the gibberish of an unknown language

When Paul says that he speaks not to men but to God, MacArthur says that it should be translated “a god”