On the Other Hand The Spirit at Pentecost When the
holy spirit came upon the assembled disciples in the upper room on the day of
Pentecost, they were able to witness brilliantly to the truth to "devout
men out of every nation under heaven" (Acts 2:5) who spoke languages other
than the Aramaic of Jerusalem. Most people think this "speaking in
tongues" means these disciples spoke languages they did not know.
Certainly there are instances in the New Testament when that kind of miracle
happened and Paul cautions when it does happen, there be someone to interpret
what is said (1 Corinthians 14:27). However, the internal evidence of Acts 2 strongly
implies that on that day the miracle was one of hearing. The people themselves
described it that way in three places:
In Acts 2:14
Peter stands up and speaks. In verse 41 at the end of his remarks we read that
"those who accepted his message were baptized and about three thousand
were added to their number that day." What language did Peter speak? If it
is some language he did not know, a large fraction of his audience would not
understand his words. Yet these "devout men" do understand and they
are baptized. And what a
miracle this would be to those people. If any of us were in a European crowd
where all languages were being spoken, none of us would be surprised if someone
on a street corner began to speak in English. Presumably he learned the
language in school. But if this same person spoke what was clearly not English,
yet we understood his words as though we were wearing earphones delivering a
translation in our own language, that surely would make us excited, so much
that others would be attracted and join with enthusiasm. But if
hearing was the miracle, how are we to understand the words of verse 4 where
those filled with the holy spirit "began to speak in other tongues as the
Spirit enabled them"? It was a fulfillment of Jesus' words said to his
disciples in Luke 12:11,12: "When you are brought before synagogues,
rulers, and authorities, do not worry about how you will defend yourselves or
what you will say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you
should say" (NIV). The holy
spirit inspired the disciples to go forth and speak different truths based on
recent events as prophesied in the Bible. As those in the crowd circulated from
one disciple to another, they heard in their own language what the NIV calls
"the wonders of God." We sometimes say a person is "silver-tongued"
meaning he "has or exhibits the power of fluent and persuasive speech;
eloquent." On that Pentecostal day these disciples were
"silver-tongued." But whether the miracle was one of speaking or one of hearing, we rejoice that God speaks to all who seek him regardless of their native language. He speaks through his word, the Bible, which has been translated into all the major languages of this planet, and most of the minor ones as well. And no matter which language we use to pray to him, "he hears" them all. Michael Nekora
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