THE PHENOMENON OF SPEAKING IN TONGUES

Tongues inspired by the Holy Spirit - Human tongues at Pentecost

Tongues of men, inspired tongues, tongues of angles, ecstatic tongues.

THE PHENOMENON OF SPEAKING IN TONGUES Tongues of men, inspired tongues, tongues of angles, ecstatic tongues. Copyright: Ionel Plesa

Translation from Romanian into English: Dianne Bailey

Biblical texts are from the New International Version Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society

1In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 2but in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son (Hebrews 1:1,2). The aim of the Word becoming flesh in the person of our Savior Jesus Christ was the salvation of the human race, diversified into a lot of nations that speak in different languages and dialects. The Savior, after rising from the dead, commanded His disciples, ―Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the Name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. And teach them to obey everything I‘ve commanded you.‖ (Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 16:15; Luke 24:47).

In order to fulfill the mission of preaching the Gospel to all the nations of the earth, the disciples, normally, would have had to learn all the human languages. Greek, at that time, was the language of universal circulation, but it is absurd to believe that this language was known by all the people of all cultural levels. The overwhelming majority of people were illiterate. The barbaric cannibal tribes lived isolated from urban centers in which the Hellenic processes developed. The Lord‘s disciples spoke Aramaic (the language of the people) and even managed to be understood in Greek, this fact being an advantage of the educated people. However, the problem of communication with all the nations of the earth was not yet resolved. It is known that the New Testament was written in the Greek language, but this does not lead us to believe that the writing of the four Gospels, together with the apostles‘ Epistles, would have had access in the illiterate tribes. Preaching of the Gospel is by word of mouth, in contact with the crowds of people that are estranged from God and seeped in pagan superstitions. At the mission‘s beginning, at the Lord‘s command, the disciples were sent to preach the Gospel, only to the ―lost sheep of the house of Israel‖ (Matthew 10:5-6). In this case, they communicated in their native language without having to know a foreign one. The miracle of Pentecost ―resolved their communication‖ with all the peoples of the earth, who had gathered together in Jerusalem to celebrate that festival. Let‘s read the Biblical text: 1When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. 5Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. 6When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking in his own language. 7Utterly amazed, they asked: "Are not all these men who are speaking Galileans? 8Then how is it that each of us hears them in his own native language? (Acts 2:1-8).

The public reaction was to be expected, great confusion among the devout, as well as among the non-believers. Some of them began to taunt the disciples, accusing them of having ―had too much wine‖ (Acts 2:12-13). Galileans were known for their consumption of alcohol. They grew grapes and were disowned by their brothers in Judea because many of them caused great scandals while under the influence of alcohol. Their facial features as well as their clothing gave the disciples away as being from Galilee, being considered without culture (John 1:45-46; 7:52). Actually, this was true, because the disciples were not educated at the best schools, but were ordinary people (Acts 4:13). In following the Saviour, they had been freed from the bad habits inherited from their parents (1 Peter 1:18-20). Speaking in other tongues was not a result of the consumption of alcohol, but the miracle of being filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:4). To put an end to this confusion, the apostle Peter rose to his feet together with the eleven disciples and said, 14―Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. 15These men are not drunk, as you suppose. It's only nine in the morning! 16No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: 17'In the last days, God says, I will pour out My Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. 18Even on My servants, both men and women, I will pour out My Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy. (Acts 2:14b-17; Joel 2:28-29; Acts 7:55-56; 21:8-9 etc.). The mystery of Pentecost is resolved here. Being filled with the Holy Spirit and speaking in different languages which the disciples didn‘t know, was the material needed to preach the Gospel to all nations of the earth. When the celebration had finished, all the foreigners returned to their own geographic areas, taking the Good News of the resurrection of Jesus Christ and the forgiveness of sins through faith in His Name. It was quite possible that the same message which the apostle Peter spoke in front of the Jews (Acts 2:22-39) was heard by all nations, through speaking in (foreign) languages that were inspired by the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:4-8).