Pt 2
Later in Acts 10:45-46 And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, becaue that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God.
Here is the second instance mentioned of speaking with tongues. Notice again it starts off with "they of the circumcision", who is that? Jewish people. Now it does state which believed so these are converted Jews who have found Christ. But it says they were astonished which implies they were amazed at the action. It was a sign unto them of the power of Jesus and to re-inforce their faith. But what were they amazed at? the gift of speaking in other languages was poured out to the Gentiles and not just the Jews. And again it is Peter and the sort who are speaking and everyone is able to understand them no matter where they came from or what language they spoke. So the language is known and like before it is their own language and not a new language or unknown language or secret language or anything of that nature.
Now that we have seen speaking with tongues in action and see what it is, let us take a look at what we often see today and see if that is Biblical. Let us take a look at what the Bible has to say about speaking in an unknown tongue. You mean to tell me, Brother Jerry, that there were people speaking gibberish back in early church?! Yes I am. The problem of peope speaking gibberish is nothing new.
So now we start looking at what Paul had to say...and he did say alot. First one thing Paul states about it is found in 1 Corinth 12:10-11 "To another the working of miracles, to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues; But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will."
Here Paul is talking about the gifts which God may give us. We see the gift of miracles and such. We see "diverse kinds of tongues" as in being fluent in many different languages. "interpretation of tongues" as in being able to interpret written languages and spoken word. Maybe not able to speak but able to interpret at least one language. So here Paul refers to tongues as different languages.
Now turn a couple of pages over to chapter 14. Here is where Paul really gets into it.
1 Corinth 14:2-4 "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. But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort. He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church."
Here we see it pretty simple. The person who speaks in an unknown tongue speaks not people but to God, for no one can understand him. Paul is not saying that this a good thing. If you are to be preaching to people it does not good to preach in a language the cannot understand. Paul even tells us towards the end there why someone would speak in an unknown tongue that no one can understand "edifieth himself", in otherwords that person is doing it for their own glory and not that of the church.
Skip down to 1 Corinth 14:9-11 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. There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and none of them is without signification. 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.
Paul mentions that there are many voices in the world. Using voices to mean languages. He goes on to state that they are all significant. In other words they all are a means of communication. Paul states if he does not know the language then he will like a barbarian and vice versa. And at the beginning Paul says that if you utter words you should do it in an understandable way, otherwise how are we to tell what you are saying? IF not you are just speaking into the air (talking to youself).
1 Corinth 14:13-19 If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret. But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God. Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge. If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace. For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted. And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.
Paul tells us here that if anyone speaks in an unknown tongue then there should be 2-3 and no more there. The first to speak, the second to interpret. Then the second to speak and the 3rd to interpret. Basically Paul lets us know that one person should not interpret what it was they were saying. If a man gets up and speaks gibberish then tells you what it was he was saying, you should Biblically tell him to sit down and shut up and wait for the interpreter to get there
So in a nutshell we see that speaking with tongues is Biblical. But speaking in an unknown tongue is not. We have seen examples and guidance. Paul has provided us a way to meter and weigh the value of someone speaking in a strange tongue. If it is unknown to us that does not mean it is not a language. For example I probably would not recognize nor understand Swahili if I heard it. But that does not mean it is not a language. I would just need to get an interpreter. Paul told us to have 2 at least for a couple of reasons...If there is one person and he can speak both Swahili and English why is he talking in Swahili if only to translate to English?! But take a load off and get an interpreter to interpret. Also you then do not have to worry as much about putting too much faith in one persons preaching of the word....ie misinterpret or translate.
So we see that the purpose of speaking with tongues is for a sign. The sign is for the Jews because they require a sign. Not only does Paul state this but if you read through the Gospels you will see quite often a Jewish group asking Jesus for a sign. So speaking in tongues is a sign for the Jews, to emphasize that the power is coming from God. And the tongues that is spoken is not in an unknown or gibberish or anything but it is their own language. So you would see the person speaking but hear them in your own language. This is greatly different than what we see in some churches today. You get nothing but a confusing babel of gibberish. And the key word there is confusion...what did Paul state in 1 Corinth 14:33 "For God is not the author of confusion..."
Sincerely
Brother Jerry