1

LIBERTY UNIVERSITY

THE PURPOSE OF THE MANIFESTATION OF THE GIFT OF TONGUES 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

Susan Richardson

Bloomington Springs, Tennessee

December 16, 2010

 2

Table of Contents

Introduction…………………………………………………………………………………..……3

Circumstances Surrounding the Instances of Speaking in Tongues

Circumstances Surrounding Pentecost……………………...……………………………………..3

Circumstances Surrounding Peter’s Sermon…........................................................................…...5

Circumstances Surrounding Paul’s Return to Ephesus………………………………...………….5

Common Factors in each Occurrence of Tongues

The Precursors…………………………………………………………………………………….6

The People Present………………………………………………………………………………...7

The Purpose……………………………………………………………………………...………..7

Conclusion…………………………………………………………………………………….…..9

Bibliography………………………………………………………………………………..……10
 3

Introduction

The desire to return to “the old paths” and seek the “fullness of the Spirit” has caused

many to examine the workings of the early church as the model of ideal Christian spirituality.

One of the most misunderstood portions of the churches early history is the recounting of the

occurrence of the “gift of tongues”. The first mention of speaking in tongues takes place in the

book of Acts. Upon examination of the book of Acts one can see that tongues had a specific

context and purpose in the founding of the Early Church. As important as this sign gift was it is

only mentioned in 3 chapters of the book of Acts, in chapters 2, 10 and 19. Each of these

instances was to very different groups of people yet the common purposes of the manifestation

were the same.

Circumstances Surrounding the Instances of Speaking in Tongues

At Pentecost- Acts 2

To deal correctly with the subject of tongues speaking in the book of Acts we must

thoroughly examine the circumstances in which the occurrence happened. Just about ten days

earlier, as pointed out by Bock in his commentary on Acts, Jesus had told his disciples that they

would not have to wait long.1 It would be just a few days after His ascension that the Holy Spirit

would be given. The scripture in Acts 1:13-14 tells us that the disciples, upon returning to

Jerusalem, had gone into an upper room where they continued in one accord with prayer and

supplication. Polhill conjectures that the upper room may have been near the temple.2 Verse 2:1

1
Darrell L. Bock, Acts. (Grand Rapids: Baker, 2007) p 58
2
John B. Polhill, The New American Commentary Vol. 26. (Nashville: Broadman, 1992).p 95
 4

tells us that the believers had met in Jerusalem at the time of the celebration of Pentecost. The

verse also states that they were all together in one place. Longenecker says about the location,

“As to just where the believers were when they experienced the coming of the Spirit, Luke is

somewhat vague. His emphasis is on the ‘when’ and not at all on the ‘where’ of the event. So all

he tells us is that ‘they were all together in one place’, which he refers to in the following verse

as ‘the house’. 3

The scripture in Acts 1:13-14 tells us that there were one hundred twenty disciples in the

place where they met. It was upon these disciples that the Spirit of God fell. Three signs of the

Spirits coming are reported to have appeared, each of them in Jewish tradition as a sign of God’s

presence.4 In 1Corinthians 1:22 we see the writer confirming the Jews need for a sign of

affirmation as to God’s workings, “For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after

wisdom”.5 These signs were the sound of a mighty rushing wind, tongues of fire that sat on each

of them and the filling of the Holy Spirit which manifested itself in the speaking in other

tongues. People from many nations began hearing the message of the gospel, the wonders of

God declared, in their own native languages. F.F. Bruce states, “At the beginning of the Christian

era all Jews throughout the world looked on Palestine and Jerusalem as their home, but the

majority of them came from a field”.6 The feast of Pentecost was one of the times during the

Jewish year that Jews from far and wide chose to”come home” to celebrate. This speaking in

tongues attracted much attention, drew a crowd and bewildered that same group. Beginning in

Acts 2:14, Peter stands with the Eleven and addresses the crowd. His address begins with a

3
Richard N. Longnecker, The Expositor's Bible Commentary: Acts. (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1995) p 65
4
Ibid.
5
John, MacArthur, Acts The Spread of the Gospel. (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2007) p39
6
F.F. Bruce, New Testament History. (New York: Doubleday, 1969) p 135
 5

quotation from Joel 2:28-32. Peter expounds how this prophesy is fulfilled with the events that

have just taken place. The result of Peter’s complete message was the salvation of more than

three thousand souls.

Peter’s sermon to the Gentiles- Acts 10

The second occurrence of tongues was at Peter’s sermon to the Gentiles in the tenth

chapter. This chapter begins a certain God fearing centurion named Cornelius seeing a vision of

an angel. The angel tells Cornelius to summon Peter from Joppa (vv.7-8). Even though he did

not receive much detail, Cornelius obeys and sends trusted messengers after Peter. Peter has also

received a message from God that makes it clear that God is no respecter of persons. When Peter

arrives at Cornelius’ house he is greeted with a receptive audience and is freely able to proclaim

the gospel. The Holy Spirit suddenly falls and cuts Peter’s message short. Fernando says “In

spite of all the leading that God had given up to this point, Jewish believers are astonished that

these Gentiles have received the Holy Spirit (10:47-48).” 7 Peter baptizes these believers

immediately. Upon Peters return to Jerusalem, he finds the Jewish believers terribly upset that

Peter had eaten in the house of uncircumcised men (11:3). According to Gutzke “Peter had done

something which in that day was not socially done.”8 Peter responded by relating what had

happened and even offered to present six witnesses (11:12) to the fact that the Holy Spirit had

come upon the Gentiles as it had in the beginning (Pentecost). For a time this pacified the “hard

core” Jewish believers. Later, this same argument arises and is dealt with in a definitive manner.

Paul’s Return to Ephesus-Acts 19

The background of Acts 19 is that of Paul making his final missionary journey across the

Roman Empire. In verse one Paul has arrived in the interesting and diverse city of Ephesus.
7
Fernando Ajith, The NIV Application Commentary:Acts,(Grand Rapids:Zondervan, 1998) p 101
8
Manford G. Gutzke, Plain Talk on Acts. (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1966) p 104
 6

More is disclosed in Acts about the city of Ephesus than any other city found in the book. 9 Also

in verse one we see Paul confronting twelve disciples as to whether they had received the gift of

the Holy Spirit. According to Dunn, this is the only time in Acts that the word “disciples” occurs

without a definite article and argues that this is Luke’s way of distinguishing them from

Christians.10 These men explain that they have never heard that there is a Holy Spirit. Paul then

asks them into what then were they baptized. They replied, “Into John’s baptism”. Paul goes on

to explain to them the finished work of Christ. Paul did not instruct them how to receive the Holy

Spirit but about Jesus Christ.11 Up until this time they had failed to recognize Jesus as the

promised Messiah.12 When they understood they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus

(v.5). In verse 6 Paul lays his hands on these believers and they receive the Holy Spirit and they

spoke in tongues and prophesied.

Common Factors in each Occurrence of Tongues

The precursors

In each instance in the book of Acts there were precursors to the speaking in tongues. The

first precursors have to do with the gospel message. The gospel was both given out and received.

In the case of the original disciples on the day of Pentecost, the gospel had been experienced

through their sharing Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection and their acceptance of Christ’s

finished work. In the case of the Jews that were saved through the speaking in tongues of the

Galileans and the preaching of Peter that same day, the gospel was given and they received the

9
A.N. Sherwin-White, Roman Society and Roman Law in the New Testament. (Oxford: Oxford University Press,
1963) p 92
10
J.D.G. Dunn, Baptism in the Holy Spirit. (Philadelphia: Westminster, 1970) pp 83-88
11
Acts The Spread of the Gospel. p 101
12
. The New American Commentary Vol. 26. p 399
 7

word. In chapter 10 we see it is the Gentiles who hear and receive as do the disciples of John in

chapter 19.

The next precursor is that the Holy Spirit fills the believer. Speaking in tongues does not

always come after a filling of the believer; never the less the Holy Spirit is given to all who

believe. Longenecker states that “‘The gift’ is the Spirit himself given to minister the saving

benefits of Christ’s redemption to the believer”.13 In Acts 2:38 we see Peter preaching

repentance, identification with Christ and the remission of sins with the result that the Holy Spirit

will be received. There is no tag line on this verse that states “with the evidence of speaking in

tongues” as some modern groups espouse. Saul (9:17) was empowered for service after Ananias

had laid his hands on him. He received the Spirit without any apostles being present because

Christ personally chose him.14

The People Present

In every instance of speaking in tongues in the book of Acts, Jews are present or directly

affected by the event. Of course, this is obvious in the account of Pentecost but what about the

Gentiles at Cornelius house? When Peter returns to Jerusalem after the Gentile conversions, the

Jews were upset that the Gentiles were sharing in what they considered to be their prophetic

birthright of salvation. Also, John’s disciples that Paul’s encountered were Jewish by birth.

Through the speaking of tongues the salvation of the Gentiles could not be denied.

The Purpose

In the book of Acts there seems to be a three-fold purpose for the manifestation of

speaking in tongues. The first part of this purpose is to fulfill prophecy. Just as Peter related in

his sermon on the day of Pentecost, that Jesus was the Messiah from Psalm 16:8-11 and then

13
The Expositor's Bible Commentary: Acts. p 79
14
Acts The Spread of the Gospel p 47
 8

uses scriptural proof from Psalm 110:1 that depicts how the risen Christ is now both Messiah and

Lord,15 so Peter uses scripture to prove the prophetic descent of the Spirit. Fernando says that

Peter then points to the real reason for the surprising phenomena: the fulfillment of a prophecy

by Joel (Joel 2:28-32) that all devout Jews have been longing to see fulfilled (Acts 2:17a).16

Another purpose was to herald the receiving of salvation and the gift of the Holy Spirit.

In Acts 2, this takes place in the upper room. In chapter 10 this heralding takes place at the house

of Cornelius the centurion and is met by astonishment of the Jerusalem Jews. Lastly, the

disciples of John in Ephesus receive the message of Jesus and are witness to and partakers of this

heralding.

A very important purpose, somewhat over looked, is that of the signs beneficial effects on

the whole body of the church. Each time this sign is given it is not for the sake of the individual

but for the edification of the body as a whole. One may conclude, because so few of those who

speak in tongues are named, that the individual who does the speaking is not to be the center of

attention. As is brought out by John MacArthur, “The book of Acts is largely a record of

apostolic preaching. Preaching has always remained central to the church’s mission. There is

always a close connection between the activity of God’s Spirit and the proclamation of the

gospel. Time and time again those who experience the baptism or filling of the Spirit begin

immediately speaking with others the truth about God and His Son, Jesus Christ.” 17 Tongues

were given to enhance the effectiveness of the local church not to be an individual’s means of

showing God’s favor on his life.

Conclusion

15
New American Commentary Vol. 26 p 111
16
The NIV Application Commentary: Acts p 101
17
, Acts The Spread of the Gospel, p 11
 9

In summary, there is strong evidence that each time tongues were manifest in the book of

Acts they did so within an individual context yet, followed a certain order of events within that

context: gospel presented, gospel received, Spirit received, tongues spoken and gospel presented.

The speaking of tongues was not present without the gospel or the receiving of the Holy Spirit

without salvation. When tongues happen, God is glorified. Tongues were a physical

manifestation of an unseen Spirit who was promised by the Old Testament prophets hundreds of

years earlier. This sign, a necessity for the Jew, came to unify two very different groups of

believers: the Jew and the Gentile and form one body in Christ. As Peter stated, “Of a truth I

perceive that God is no respecter of persons” (10:34).

Bibliography
 10

Bock, Darrell L. Acts. Grand Rapids: Baker, 2007.

Bruce, F.F. New Testament History. New York: Doubleday, 1969.

Dunn, J.D.G. Baptism in the Holy Spirit. Philadelphia: Westminster, 1970.

Fernando, Ajith. Acts, The NIV Application Commentary. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1998.

Gutzke, Manford G. Plain Talk on Acts. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1966.

Longnecker, Richard N. The Expositor's Bible Commentary: Acts. Grand Rapids: Zondervan,

1995.

MacArthur, John. Acts The Spread of the Gospel. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2007.

Polhill, John B. Acts, The New American Commentary. Nashville: Broadman, 1992.

Sherwin-White, A.N. Roman Society and Roman Law in the New Testament. Oxford: Oxford

University Press, 1963.