Speaking in Tongues

What does the Bible say about speaking in tongues? Let us first look at Acts 2:2-9, “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 there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded because that every man heard them speak in his own language. And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galileans? And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?”  Please note that the tongue was not unknown. Everyone understood in his own language.

There is much controversy in our world today about speaking in tongues. I want to couch my words in love as Paul does in the Corinthian letter. Before giving instructions in chapter fourteen, he speaks concerning love in chapter thirteen. Let all our dealings with the tongues issue be in a spirit of love.

[From the Introduction]