Speaking in Tongues. Part 2, following 'The Holy Spirit and Languages'

What was meant by 'speaking in tongues' in Acts chapter Two.

What strikes me most about Paris is the historic nature of it … the age of the buildings, streets, and statuary—the exquisite detail and beauty.  ‘The building that has taken my breath away?  The Cathedral of Notre Dame, or Notre Dame de Paris, where mass was first celebrated in 1185.  Yes, I said history!  As for the people of Paris, they are quite a varied lot, to be sure, nothing like the homogeneous lot of folk from Southern California with whom I live, work and play.   Whether riding the Metro, (the underground railway), or walking by one of hundreds of outdoor cafes, different languages are being spoken all around—German, Dutch, Italian, Mandarin, Spanish, and of course, French … very little English . . . some people are connected in conversation, many are separated by the barrier of foreign language.  But one day in history, God made the message clear in everyone’s language . . .

On the appointed day that God sent the Holy Spirit, Luke says that 'suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind filled the house'--how do you describe what that sounds like?  Things moving... particles vibrating in the air, wind has a lot of energy--a lot of power.  Wind was a symbol the people understood as the activity of the Spirit and also symbolized the coming of new life.  As the tongues of fire rested on each person, he was filled with the Holy Spirit, and began speaking in tongues.  Wait!  While the gift of tongues was exercised, this is probably not the same thing as ‘charismatics’ of our day refer to as 'speaking in tongues.'  It is helpful to look at the Greek word that we simply translate 'tongues.' In this setting, xenoglossia, or 'speaking in an unlearned language' is used, whereas the word ‘glossolalia’ is used for 'speaking in tongues' as Paul used it in 1 Corinthians 12, when discussing the various gifts the Spirit imparts to believers.  The difference:  unlearned language vs. an unknown tongue given by the Holy Spirit.  On that day, it was languages from different nations imparted by the Holy Spirit—and an electrically-charged scene, to say the least!

As the people inside started speaking in other languages, a crowd of Jewish pilgrims, (remember--having traveled from near and far to observe Pentecost), formed outside as they heard their native tongues spoken.  It was God's way of drawing them to himself, as they heard the people telling the great things God had done, and in their own languages!  Somehow they knew that the speakers were Galileans, though they were shocked by the clarity with which their languages and dialects were uttered.  (Galileans were looked at as less-refined, backward, and even peculiar because of their dialect).  Yet, these were the messengers of God's goodness to all of these travelers who would hear the Gospel and then take it back to the towns from which they came.  Incredible!  In short order, missionaries would go out from Jerusalem--men like Paul, Barnabas, John Mark, and Silas--but for now, from one central place, the Holy Spirit infused the faithful with the unique, simultaneous message that would change listeners forever.

While many of the Jews heard, believed, and began figuring out what it meant to them, there were some who scoffed and accused them of being drunk.  What folks don't understand, they often dismiss in such a manner. Two thousand years later, what are we to take from that momentous day?

~God keeps his promises,

~His timing is perfect - while you and I may grow tired of waiting for an answer or to see a change . . . our perspective is totally different than an infinite, all-knowing, all-powerful, holy God.

~As the Holy Spirit came to each believer that day, so he comes to each believer today.

~Believers need never be without God's presence again . . .

la grace de vous . . . 

Christine