Tongues of fire and the fullness of god desiring god. The presence of god in acts 2 is also accompanied by an act of god. The first 12 chapters of the book of acts deal with peter, and the remainder of the book, the last 16 chapters is devoted to the apostle paul. Speaking in tongues was no mark of spirituality, because the corinthian church was unspiritual, having manifested carnality 3. The reference in this topic is to the marvelous gift of the holy spirit on the day of pentecost acts 2. The frequent occurrence of the greek word for with one accord acts 1. Since the immanuel prophecy and the prince of peace prophecy 9. His presence is confirmed by the direction from which the. Tongues of fire and sacred mysteries the economist. I wanted a acts 2 experience rivers of living water.
For christians, the same festival is known as pentecost and also recalls the events of acts chapter 2, when tongues of fire descended on 120 followers of jesus gathered in the upper room, fulfilling his promise that the comforter would soon come to them. From this section, chapters 12 14, we learn that the gift of tongues is the choice of the spirit alone and is not intended for everyone. For the believer, this book gives personal insight on the significance of the holy spirit and importance of him the holy spirit dwelling on the inside of humankind. According to the book of acts, this event involving the sound of a whirling wind, tongues of fire, and speaking in foreign languages, and galvanizing the christian movement into action, was called. Chapters 8 14 carries us into the story of sauls conversion and ministry, along with peters continuing story as an apostle. This paper doesnt refer to any other parts in the bible regarding tongues. Jesus of nazareth, a man approved of god among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which god did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know. Believers spoke in acts 2, 10, and 19, but there is no record of tongues in chapter 8. But when answering our first question, we begin to run into problems. No attempt is made here to deal with those issues that arise out of 1 corinthians 14, the passage that ad dresses the matter of abuses of tongues within one particular local congregational setting. Out of these 19 accounts, on only three occasions are tongues mentioned, all finding their place in a corporate setting.
Several important questions arise from this phrase what is the meaning of tongues of fire. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Men and women will be having their say until our lord returns to settle this matter once and for all time. Jan 07, 2018 the phrase tongues of fire is taken from acts 2. Continuing the theme of gospel expansion, acts 10 records the first instance of gentile conversions and baptisms acts 10. In verse 12 the demonstration of gods power in the miracle of tongues. The book of acts tells the story of both the glorious and tumultuous early years of the church. Many christians use the book of acts to teach this principle. So, if your belief that acts 2 is a normative salvation account then we must also expect wind, tongues of fire, and immediate translation of the tongues by someone who naturally speaks that.
What are the tongues of fire over the head of those in the upper room in acts 2. And they were all filled with the holy ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the spirit gave them utterance. In acts 10 and 19, believers were baptized in the spirit at the moment of belief. You see in both greek and latin, the word for tongue s glossa and lingua respectively is also the word or language and speech. Devout jews visiting from other countries are attracted and amazed as they hear wonderful works of god proclaimed in their own languages 5. What looked like flames or tongues of fire appearing and settling on each of them. The tongues of fire which we have been considering appear to have differed in one important aspect from the like gift bestowed on the corinthians 1 corinthians 12. Wind blew throught the house and the people there spoke in tongues of fire and the international crowd that had gatherd to celebrate. Nor is it simply a random example of this sort of speech. This sunday was the third installment of our new sermon series on the book of acts entitled swell. Alliance of confessing evangelicals, inc the essay presented here was first published in biblical theology bulletin 1997, vol. In chapter 6 stephens face was like the face of an angel. If you missed the first two lessons in this series, you can find them here and here.
I spoke in tongues and i acted like us was drunk on new wine it was the sweetist and strongest peace and it was the sweetist and strongest joy. This article seeks to examine the function of the gift of tongues as it is treated in the book of acts. As paul later stated, the gospel is the power of god for salvation to everyone who believes rom. Acts 2 the holy spirit comes at pentecost bible gateway. It thrills our heart to know that folks are learning, and so many are writing and calling and telling us that for the first they are beginning to see the difference between god dealing with israel and the church. Surprisingly, there are around fifteen other salvation accounts recorded in the book of acts. The point of speaking in tongues in acts 2 bible background. After his resurrection the lord bade his disciples to tarry in jerusalem until he should fulfill to them the promise of the father, and until they should be clothed with power from on high.
And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. There is a whole chapter in corinthians on tongues, you cant find a whole chapter on tithing or prayer. Paley has remarked the accuracy of the historian here. The lord jesus christ at work by the holy spirit through the apostles to the uttermost part of the earth, chapters 28 a. Acts 2, english standard version 2016 esv the bible app. Only in acts 2 and 8 do believers receive the spirit after salvation.
And there appeared to them tongues as of fire, distributed and resting on each one of them. People heard these tongues as being their own diverse languages. This is all which the phrase, tongues of fire, means in the language of the seventy. Some say that this verse means that they all began to speak in tongues. We have been studying the book for many, many, many months now, and we are in what has to be the most difficult chapter of the b. The cloven tongues pointed out the diversity of those languages. On pentecost, according to the acts of the apostles, jesuss followers. Also, what one later encounters at corinth seems to be an abuse of a gift whose legitimate function is clearly presented in acts. The initial evidence of tongues heresy dividetheword. And while they are all waiting together, a loud noise fills the whole house.
Sep 30, 2019 in acts 2, jews in jerusalem are still celebrating pentecost, but this pentecost is different. At pentecost the disciples spoke in the languages of the various persons who heard them. Throughout the bible, fire symbolizes gods holy presence. This significance can be explored by understanding the purpose and use of tongues as used by luke in the book of acts. For instance, in acts chapter 3 verse 22, peter appealed to the words of moses to prove to the jews that jesus was the longawaited messiah. And then tongues of fire begin to appear over the heads of each one of the disciples. Tongues of fire definition and meaning bible dictionary. The second chapter of acts presents us with one of the most striking pictures in all of sacred scripture. It seemed as if tongues of fire came and rested on the early disciples. It is filled with all the drama, thrills, adventure and suspense. Acts 2 new international version niv the holy spirit comes at pentecost.
And in acts chapter 23 verse 6, paul appealed to the jewish belief in the resurrection of the dead that derived from old testament scriptures. And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the lord shall be saved. The book of acts chapters 814 the book of acts is a true and compelling account of the first church. It becomes readily apparent that the greek word glossa, tongue, refers to the organ in the mouth. Does someone have to pray in tongues to be filled with the. When people hear of cloven tongues, they almost immediately think of acts 2. It must be the last, because the final passover took place fifty days earlier when jesus, the spotless lamb of god, was crucified for the sins of gods people. Cloven tongues like as of fire the tongues were the emblem of the languages they were to speak. We come to the fourteenth chapter again in our study of 1 corinthians. On pentecost, according to the acts of the apostles, jesuss followers saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of.
In acts 8, the gospel comes to the historic enemies of the jewsthe samaritansand they are baptized acts 8. What are the tongues of fire over the head of those in the. The fire on the day of pentecost appeared in the form of tongues to symbolize gods holy power through the proclamation of his word, burning into people in a way that purifies them. Now we turn to pauls account in first corinthians 14, where is set forth the major passage concerning the true gift of tongues. January 12, 2012 august 14, 2016 curt parton last week, we talked about how to read the book of acts. But we can see it the other way, in which tongues is the noun, described as being on fire or of fire. Speaking in tongues was a gift bestowed by the holy spirit, but it, or any other gift, can be misused. In the many pamphlets and books i have examined opinions differ. The book of acts opens with the dramatic story of tongues of flame descending upon believers at pentecost and the prophecy of an egalitarian dispensation of the spirit being fulfilled. Lukes narrative highlights in acts 2 a particular dimension about tonguesspeaking that is distinctive. The holy spirit at pentecost 2 suddenly a sound like a mighty rushing wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting.
Posts about tongues of fire in acts written by lehunt. Herod the kinggrandson of herod the great, and son of aristobulus. Inspiring and encouraging christian videos to grow your faith. But for those who read its words more purposefully, they will find blessing and encouragement, as they take in the powerful events that would begin to shape the church into the mighty organism that it is. If we include the four supposedly pentecostal accounts that are listed above, there are 19 accounts in total. This is most often used to distinguish a nation, the language of that nation. Mar 19, 2018 like witness and prophecy in the narrower sense, worship in tongues is speech for god and moved by the spirit of god. A book about the holy spirit is an anointed book for both believers and nonbelievers in the holy trinity god the father, god the son and god the holy spirit. The problem of tongues in i corinthians 14 alliance of. There are three different incidences in the book of acts that refers to speaking in tongues.
Barnes seems inclined to apply it only to the messiah 222. We started into the second chapter with the story of. Sure, we can look at fire as the noun described as it parts and rests on each in the form of tongues, the descriptor. As the holy spirit filled the 120 disciples in the upper room on the day of pentecost, there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them kjv. In acts 2, jews in jerusalem are still celebrating pentecost, but this pentecost is different. Dec 12, 2019 first off, the word tongues as found in the book of acts chapter 2, verse 4, is glossa, which literally means a language. Apr 17, 20 welcome to ivy baptist churchs bible study on demand before beginning this study, please take an opportunity to download the worksheet for this bible study. The gift of tongues displayed in the book of acts, sample of. Does this not explain the connection between acts 1. With the sound of a rushing mighty wind, and with tongues of fire appearing above their heads, those filled with the holy spirit begin to speak in other tongues 14. Acts 2 niv the holy spirit comes at pentecost bible gateway. Throughout the book of acts, and all of christian history, the church gathers at these hours. Jesus of nazareth, a man attested to you by god with mighty works and wonders and signs that god did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know 23this jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of god, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. The conclusion from the whole chapter is, accordingly, that the tongues were not the power of speaking in a language which had not been learnt by the common ways of learning, but the ecstatic utterance of.
Taming the tongues of fire phoenix guides to the new testament shelly matthews on. Acts chapter 2 comments page 18 king james version. Later in the same chapter, the gospel reaches an ethiopian proselyte acts 8. A study in the book of acts purpose to understand the purpose of tongues in the local church. The chapter occurs at pentecost, the second annual feast of the jewish. Verse click for chapter new international version they saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest. Our story starts off where the gospel of luke left offjesus is back now that hes resurrected, jesus decides to hang out and chat with his disciples whom luke calls apostles for forty days.
Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire, which parted and came to. So the doctrine of subsequence cannot be convincingly defended even from the book of acts. Acts 12 commentary commentary critical and explanatory on. The church was born that day, and endued with power to fulfill its great commission. He at this time ruled over all his fathers dominions. He was from rome and it affects the book of acts because he has wealth and power. Acts 1 in the first book, o theophilus, i have dealt with. This verse says, and they were all filled with the holy spirit and began to speak in different tongues, even as the spirit gave to them to speak forth. It is difficult to say how, when and where the modern tongues movement began. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And they are simply overwhelmed with the greatness of god.