Tongues & the Book of Acts
Article #8 on Baptism
The great truths of the Bible, like the Gospel, are sometimes presented with associated minor doctrines that are easily misunderstood and hard to interpret. The miracle of tongues is one of those doctrines. This phenomenon alone makes the reading of the Book of Acts more challenging. Combine this with the heresies of modern times, and the situation is greatly complicated. The popularity of various heretical doctrines on tongues makes a difficult subject nearly impossible to comprehend by new believers. However, we can be sure about one thing: God never intended for the miracle of tongues to distract from the Gospel.
If the death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus Christ are fully understood without subtracting any of the import provided in the Book of Acts, everything falls into place and makes perfect sense. The doctrine of tongues falls into place and beautifies the Gospel rather than distracting from it. Luke is pointing us in this direction by providing two scenes of the ascension as a contextual introduction to the Book of Acts. The first scene is in Luke 24:49-53, and this is followed by the second scene in Acts 1:1-12. The author is making it clear that the ascension is critically important for understanding the Book of Acts.
First century believers who knew Christ in bodily presence were very sad to hear about the departure of the Lord. The apostles were devastated when they heard the news of the Lord’s soon departure (Jn. 16:6). Peter asked, “Lord, whither goest Thou?” (Jn. 13:36). Again, he asked, “Lord, why cannot I follow Thee now?” (Jn. 13:37). Thomas said, “Lord, we know not whither Thou goest; and how can we know the way?” (Jn. 14:5). Many questions would come to mind as 1st-century believers read about the ascension.
Where did Christ go? Why did He go?Why didn’t Christ ask the Father for the Holy Ghost while on Earth in bodily presence? What was Christ going to do in Heaven that could not be done on Earth, and how does this thing correspond with the gift of the Holy Ghost and the miracle of tongues on the Day of Pentecost?
Some people are confused about when Jesus Christ ascended into Heaven. We can be sure that Jesus Christ did not ascend into Heaven immediately after resurrection Sunday (Jn. 20:17). What about over the next 40 days? Some people probably think that Christ was going back and forth between Heaven and Earth frequently over the 40-day period of visitation after the resurrection. This interpretation is unbiblical because there is a sense of finality to the departure of Christ in the ascension. When the Bridegroom departs from Earth in bodily presence, He isn’t coming back until the second coming of Christ. You can get a sense of the finality in Matthew 9:15 and Revelation 22:17. The same emphasis is made in Acts 1:1-3.
Until the day in which he was taken upalivebeing seen of them forty days
Luke, the author of Acts, is the only one who informs us that Jesus Christ visited the disciples for 40 days after the resurrection. The Lord visited them for 40 days. Luke says, “until the day in which He was taken up” (Acts 1:2-3). The ascension happened only one time on a specific “day”, the day after the 40 days of visitation, bringing an end to the 40 days of visitation, as recorded in Acts 1:1-11. God does not want the ascension to be a subject of debate and speculation. It is too important! The ascension is a climactic event that had to be recorded in history with the eyewitness testimonies of the apostles (Luke 24:49-53, Acts 1:1-12).
Keep in mind that Jesus Christ already told the apostles why He was going away during the upper room discourse, when He said, “I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter” (Jn. 14:16). The Father promised the Holy Ghost to Jesus Christ, and this promise was then communicated to the apostles at length in John 14-17 (Acts 1:4). The same promise was repeatedly emphasized, like when Christ said, “It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send Him unto you.” (Jn. 16:7). The Father promised to give the Holy Ghost to Jesus Christ, and then Jesus Christ promised to “send” the Holy Ghost to the believers (Jn. 16:7). That is the order of things. “The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into His hand.” (Jn. 3:35). Once all this happens, it is then that the Messiah would become the great Baptizer of the Book of Acts (Acts 1:5). These things were uppermost in the mind of the apostles as they watched Jesus Christ ascend into Heaven (Acts 1:4-5).
Right after the apostles witnessed the ascension, something was being done in Heaven while the apostles were waiting for 10 days in Jerusalem. Then it happened! What do you see in Acts 2:1-41? I am seeing that “the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand” (Matt. 3:2, 4:17, 10:7). The coronation, exaltation, and enthronement of Jesus Christ as the King of the World necessitates a public declaration to everyone everywhere simultaneously in every language. Anything short of this, and the rocks would have cried out! We need to get a clear look at this beautiful scene. However, before we proceed, the unwanted presence of false doctrine must be addressed.
Knowing Christians by Their Tongues?
The spiritual gift of tongues is controversial in modern times. Some sects of Christianity claim that everyone who gets saved will speak in tongues as a sign that they have received the Holy Ghost in a new birth experience. These people believe that all true converts to Christianity must be identified by tongues. They are looking for tongues. They are listening for tongues. They want everyone to speak in tongues! Essentially, they are saying, “You shall know them by their tongues”, but this verse isn’t in the Bible. Rather, Jesus Christ said, “Ye shall know them by their fruits.” (Matt. 7:16).
Ye shall know them by theirfruitsgrapesfigsgood fruitevil fruitevil fruitgood fruitgood fruitWherefore by their fruits ye shall know them
Authentic and biblical Evangelists aren’t looking for tongues as they preach to sinners. No! They are looking for the fruits of true conversion to Christ. Why? Because the Holy Ghost produces certain identifiable fruits in the lives of all true Christians without exception. Appropriately, these fruits are affectionately called, “the fruit of the Spirit” (Gal. 5:22-23). As for tongues, there were many exceptions to this gift even in the 1st century Church. Not everyone spoke in tongues! This is clearly stated in the Bible through the following rhetorical questions.
tongues
Do all Christians speak with tongues? No. Did all the Christians at Corinth speak with tongues? No. All the Christians at Corinth did not speak in tongues because every member of the body of Christ is uniquely gifted. Tongues is not a universal gift that is distributed to all believers. Only some of the Christians spoke in tongues when they received the gift of the Holy Ghost in a new birth experience. Is that how you read the Book of Acts? If all Christians spoke in tongues when they received the gift of the Holy Ghost, then every Evangelist on earth should be looking for tongues as a sign of true conversion. Granted, many people spoke in tongues in the Book of Acts. But God had a specific purpose for tongues in the early days of the Church.
The Coronation, Exaltation, and Enthronement of Jesus Christ as the King of the World Necessitates a Public Declaration to Everyone Everywhere Simultaneously in Every Language
Peter was compelled to stand up and deliver a sermon on the Day of Pentecost partly because a great crowd of Jews was confused by the miracle of tongues (Acts 2:12-14). They didn’t know why the twelve apostles would be declaring “the wonderful works of God” in 15 different languages all at once. Peter then defended and confirmed the necessity of tongues to mark a momentous occasion, namely, the coronation, exaltation, and enthronement of Jesus Christ as the King of the World.
raised upby the right hand of God exaltedascendedinto the heavensSit thou on my right handthat God hath made the same Jesusboth Lord and Christ
Jesus Christ sitting down on the Throne of Heaven is the highest station ever possessed by a member of humanity. Look closely at the text. God “made” Jesus “both Lord and Christ” through the enthronement (Acts 2:36). Hence, this is a real coronation for the incarnated Christ. The title “Christ” is a Greek translation of the Hebrew title “Messiah”, meaning “Anointed One”, and this is how the Jews referred to the coming King that God promised to raise up for them.
It was foretold that an earthly Messiah would “reign on David’s Throne” (Isa. 9:6-7, Jer. 23:5), even as God promised David that one of his descendants would sit upon “the Throne” of the Kingdom forever (2 Sam. 7:12-13, Ps. 132:11, Lk. 1:32-33, Acts 2:29-30). But who could have predicted that the Davidic Throne would first be situated in Heaven? Who could have predicted that the Kingdom of Christ would not commence until Jesus of Nazareth departed out of this world? We can all remember when Pilate asked Jesus Christ, “Art Thou the King of the Jews?” (Jn. 18:33). And our Lord responded, “My Kingdom is not of this world” (Jn. 18:36).
The apostle Peter was correctly interpreting the prophetic vision that David received in Psalm 110:1-2, while very boldly saying, “David is not ascended into the Heavens” (Acts 2:34). In other words, Peter was saying that when Christ ascended into the Heavens, the Throne of Heaven then became the Davidic Throne. Acts 2:32-36 is the fulfillment of Psalm 110:1-2. Can you see both Father and Son sitting side-by-side on heavenly Thrones? Our beloved Christ said, “I…overcame, and am set down with my Father in His Throne” (Rev. 3:21). No wonder then that Jesus Christ taught us to pray, “Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done in Earth, as it is in Heaven.” (Matt. 6:10).
Allow me to take some time to explain the significance of this moment of messianic climax in the light of the resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ. We will be looking at a series of “firsts” for humanity that climaxed in the enthronement of Jesus Christ.
Jesus Christ was the First Man to be Resurrected in a Glorified, Indestructible, and Eternal Human Body
Several people were raised from the dead in biblical history, even in the Old Testament. But what happened to Jesus Christ was unique and unprecedented. Elijah and Elisha performed miracles of resurrection, but then these people lived out their days and died again even after they were resurrected (1 Kg. 17:17-24, 2 Kg. 4:32-37, 2 Kg. 13:20-21). The same could be said about Lazarus and everyone else who was raised from the dead by Jesus Christ during His earthly ministry (Lk. 7:11-17, Matt. 9:18-26, Jn. 11:1-44). All these people died and were buried, and their dead bodies will remain thus until the 1st resurrection, which will take place at the second coming of Christ (Rev. 20:5-6).
and that he should be the first that shouldrise from the dead
Jesus Christ was “the first” Man to be raised from the dead in a glorified, indestructible, and eternal human body (Acts 26:23; 1 Cor. 15:20, 23; 2 Tim. 1:10, 1 Cor. 15:54). Death was abolished from the body of Jesus Christ making it impossible for Him to die anymore (2 Tim. 1:10, Rom. 6:9), and yet with the same body our Lord was eating and drinking with some human normalcy in the presence of the apostles (Lk. 24:36-45). Granted, there are many mysteries to this glorification. Some things simply cannot be understood (1 Jn. 3:2, Lk. 20:35-37). But we are supposed to see what is happening here in the grand scheme of condemnation and salvation.
Condemnation can be traced back to Adam in the Garden of Eden. Adam’s sin brought a fallout of inescapable consequences for all mankind, especially as it pertains to spiritual, physical, and eternal death being imposed upon sinners (Gen. 2:17, 3:22-24, Rom. 5:12-14, Mat. 10:28, Rev. 20:14, 21:8). This was an unsolvable problem until the Son of God appeared in the fulness of times (Eph. 1:10). Now, as of 2,000 years ago, the eternal and uncreated Son of God became a Man, affectionately called, “the Only Begotten Son” (Jn. 3:16), thus introducing a second Adam into the Family Tree of humanity.
MandeathManthe resurrection of the deadAdamdieChristalive
Salvation can be traced back to the coming of a second Adam. The downstream effect of the second Adam is the exact opposite of the first Adam (Rom. 5:12-21). The second Adam has come to undo what was done by the first Adam. God-incarnate was on a rescue mission to recover humanity, while knowing full well what it would require: the incarnation, death, burial, descension, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 15:21-22, 45-49). The resurrection of Jesus Christ has reconstituted the Family Tree of humanity, and the ascension will reposition it in Paradise. In a physical sense, the resurrection is a kind of new birth for mankind (Acts 13:32-33, Ps. 2:6-7, Col. 1:18; Rev. 1:5). This is why Jesus Christ was repeatedly called, “the Firstborn from the Dead” (Col. 1:18, Rev. 1:5). In “the regeneration” of “the body” everyone will understand these mysteries perfectly (Matt. 19:28, Lk. 20:35-37, Rom. 8:18-23, 1 Cor. 15:45-49).
Jesus Christ was the First Man to Ascend into Heaven in a Glorified, Indestructible, and Eternal Human Body
“And no man hath ascended up to Heaven, but he that came down from Heaven, even the Son of Man which is in heaven.” – John 3:13
The apostle John plainly declared, “no man hath ascended up to Heaven” (Jn. 3:13). You might be wondering about Enoch and Elijah in the Bible? Jesus Christ was the first Man to ascend into Heaven in a glorified, indestructible, and eternal human body. All others proved themselves unworthy for the task. Enoch and Elijah were taken up, transported, or translated for divine purposes, and perhaps for no other prophetic reason than to reveal messianic typology. These prophets did not ascend into Heaven, nor could they, as it is impossible for them to ascend because they lacked merit to answer the call (Rev. 5:1-5).
Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?
The power of ascension is unique to the sinless Son of God, as stated in John 16:10. You could say that this mountain of heavenly glory could only be climbed and conquered by the Son of God. Therefore, when Jesus Christ “ascended up far above the heavens” it was the first of its kind (Eph. 4:10). The sudden appearance of the Lion of the Tribe of Judah in glory is a triumphant moment for humanity (Rev. 5:1-14).
It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him untoyouOf righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more
Jesus Christ was also the first Man to enter the courts of the Temple in Heaven (Rev. 7:15, 11:19, 15:5, 8, 16:1, 17; Heb. 8:1-3). Keep in mind that prophetically seeing into Heaven, like Moses, isn’t the same thing as an ascension. Moses saw into Heaven while his feet were firmly planted on the Earth as he stood on the peak of mount Sinai (Ex. 24:15-18, 25:40, 26:30, 27:8; Heb. 8:4-5). Granted, Moses was uniquely able to ascend the holy mountain of Sinai, but even this was a prophetic message of messianic typology (Ex. 32:30-32, 33:11, 18, 20, Deut. 18:15-19, 34:10; Jn. 1:18, 1 Tim. 6:16, Col. 1:15).
The “righteousness” required for a Man to ascend into Heaven is unique, exceptional, and unparalleled (Jn. 16:10). Holy angels gazed in awe as the earthborn feet of a Man walked across the sacred courts of the high and holy place of eternity. Jesus Christ crossed the court and then entered the Temple! Why? Only Priests could enter the Temple (Num. 3:10, 18:7, 2 Chron. 26:18).
that is passed into the Heavens
The Priesthood was hard at work on the Day of Atonement in the Old Testament (Matt. 12:5-6). Something parallel was happening in the Temple of Heaven. “For every High Priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God” (Heb. 5:1). Jesus Christ was taken from among men and then ordained for men, and thus He became the first Man to enter the sanctuary of the Temple. “We have such a High Priest; who is…in the Heavens; A Minister of the Sanctuary, and of the true Tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man.” (Heb. 8:1-2). Finally, upon approaching the veil of the Holy of Holies in the Heaven of heavens, Jesus Christ then entered “within the veil” as a “High Priest forever after the Order of Melchizedek” (Heb. 6:19-20, 9:8). The implications of this moment are absolutely staggering.
The High Priest after the Order of Aaron entered within the veil of the Holy of Holies only once a year. It was for the sprinkling, purging, and purifying of reconciliation on the Day of Atonement (Lev. 16:14-17). A blood-sprinkled Seat in the Holy of Holies made the Throne of God a Mercy Seat in the Old Testament. Something parallel was being performed by the priestly ministry of Jesus Christ, as stated in Hebrews 9:16-24, but it was being done for the reconciliation of Heaven to Earth and God to Man in the substantiation of divine forgiveness (Col. 1:20, Heb. 2:17, Dan. 9:24).
reconcileall thingsthings in earththings in heaven
This is how Jesus Christ “prepared a place” for the elect in Heaven (Jn. 14:2-3, Heb. 9:8). The bloody passion of the Cross has merited a legal and substantial justification for sinners once and for all, and for the first time ever in human history (Acts 13:39, Rom. 3:24-26, Heb. 9:15, 10:1, 4, 11; Jer. 23:6, 33:16, Acts 3:14, 7:52, 22:14, 1 Jn. 1:9). The incarnated and resurrected Son of God ascended to present Himself to the Father in the Holy of Holies, even as the High Priest would sprinkle blood upon the Mercy Seat of old, only this time the Man of Atonement sat down on the Throne of God in eternity.
Sonwhen he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on High
The Creator was incarnated. The invisible God became a visible Man, even “the express Image of His Person” (Heb. 1:3). The sacrifice of the Lamb of God was accepted. The ministry of the great High Priest after the Order of Melchizedek was executed flawlessly. As stated by Paul, “when He had by Himself purged our sins”, only one thing remained to be done as it pertains to the exaltation of Jesus Christ in Heaven (Heb. 1:3). Jesus Christ then became the first Man to sit upon the Throne of God in Heaven, a Seat that was situated in the Holy of Holies of eternity (Heb. 1:3). The exaltation of Jesus Christ is the enthronement (Acts 5:31, Php. 2:9). Speaking of this, it was written, “He…sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on High” (Heb. 1:3).
Humanity now has an “Anchor” in the Holy of Holies (Heb. 6:19-20)! We are looking at a second Adam in Paradise – a new and improved Man with no equal (Rev. 1:12-18). Peter then expands upon this glorious scene in Acts 2:32-36 by telling us about what happened next, right after the exaltation and enthronement of Jesus Christ.
Exaltation, Enthronement, & then Baptism
Immediately after Jesus Christ was fully “exalted” by enthronement, the great King then “shed forth” the Holy Ghost in an outpouring on the Day of Pentecost that enacted a spiritual operation of salvation that harnesses the powers of the New Testament.
raised upby the right hand of God exaltedHe hath shed forth thisascendedinto the heavensSit thou on my right handthat God hath made the same Jesusboth Lord and Christ
The Day of Pentecost was the elect day on earth that corresponded with the divine exploits of Heaven climaxing in the enthronement of Jesus Christ. It was coronation day! Everything was said and done in glory, and then the exalted Christ asked the Father for the Holy Ghost (Jn. 14:16). Upon receiving Him, Jesus Christ fulfilled the promise that He gave to the disciples: “I will send Him unto you” (Jn. 15:26, 16:7). This corresponds with Peter’s sermon, when he said, “He hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.” (Acts 2:33). The Holy Ghost was given to Jesus Christ because He is the Baptizer – the one and only Person who baptizes people with the Holy Ghost.
The freshly baptized apostles arose from their place in a certain house and went out into the city of Jerusalem to preach the Gospel. At the time, devout Jews from every nation under heaven were assembled for worship in Jerusalem (Acts 1:5). The apostles spread out in the same area to reach the multitudes. Their conduct was temperate, composed, and orderly (1 Cor. 14:40). They all opened their mouths and began declaring “the wonderful works of God” in 15 different languages “as the Spirit gave them utterance” (Acts 2:4, 11). And this was followed with a sermon from Peter in Hebrew. Peter’s sermon indicates that the wonderful works of God pertained to the crucifixion (Acts 2:23), death (Acts 2:23), burial (Acts 2:24, 26-27), descension (Acts 2:27), resurrection (Acts 2:24-26, 31-32), ascension (Acts 2:30, 33-36), and enthronement of Jesus Christ (Acts 2:30, 33-36).
the wonderful works of God
The coronation, exaltation, and enthronement of Jesus Christ as the King of the World necessitates a public declaration to everyone everywhere simultaneously in every language. Peter’s inspired sermon penetrated into the hearts of the people in Acts 2:14-41, and before the day expired 3,000 souls were saved. Look to Christ! And see for yourself the first act of His reign. The newly enthroned King of kings “shed forth” the Holy Ghost to personally baptize sinners who were repenting and believing in the Gospel (Acts 2:33). The Day of Pentecost was the long-looked-for day that even John the Baptist heard about 3 ½ years earlier. Hear John speak of it in his own words.
Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, the same is He which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost
The great prophet, John the Baptist, essentially knew three things about Jesus of Nazareth. Firstly, the Man is the Christ, the Son of God (Jn. 1:34). Secondarily, the Man is the Lamb of God that will take away the sin of the world (Jn. 1:29, 36). Thirdly, the Man will baptize sinners with the Holy Ghost (Jn. 1:33). Obviously, these three things are connected. John the Baptist knew a lot about the baptism of the Holy Ghost because he personally witnessed the heavenly baptism of Christ. God the Father personally and publicly baptized Jesus Christ with the Holy Ghost as a sign of good things to come.
and, lo, the Heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him
God the Father baptized Jesus Christ, and now Jesus Christ is the one baptizing converting sinners as they repent and believe in the Gospel. The baptism of Christ was a turning-point in the earthly life of Jesus. Before baptism, Jesus Christ lived a sinless life for three decades as a Man under the confines of the Old Testament. After baptism, Jesus Christ lived the sinless life of a Reformer as He demonstrated the power and blessing of the New Testament during 3 ½ years of public ministry (Heb. 9:10). Forgiveness, healing, liberation, restoration, and resurrection were on full display through innumerable miracles (Matt. 8:14-17). The embodiment of Eternal Life itself then rained down the Holy Ghost as showers of blessings, in fulfillment of the word, “I will pour out of My Spirit upon all flesh” (Acts 2:17).
The Advancement of the Gospel into New Territory
The Book of Acts tells the story of evangelization as the Gospel spread to “all Judaea”, “Samaria”, and then to “the uttermost part of the earth” (Acts 1:8). Only a few days after Pentecost another 5,000 Jews were saved in Jerusalem (Acts 3:1-4:4). However, there is no mention of the miracle of tongues. The miracle of tongues was markedly present as the Kingdom of God advanced into new territory through the preaching of the Gospel. New races and nationalities of people encountered the preaching of the Gospel and heard the wonderful works of God proclaimed in their own languages. God, who divided sinners through miraculously dividing their tongues at Babel (Gen. 11:9), condescends to preach the Gospel to sinners in their own languages as proof that Jesus Christ is the King of the World. Hence, the miracle that was originally used to divide the world is now being used to unite it under Christ.
The Samaritans
The Jews and the Samaritans had bad history. Animosity and prejudice were commonplace. “For the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans.” (Jn. 4:9). Other factors like the origin of these people as presented in biblical history tended to maintain racial divisions even among Christians (2 Kings 17:24-41, Jn. 4:9, 8:48). Nevertheless, in obedience to the LORD, Philip the Evangelist went and preached the Gospel in Samaria. Eventually, the Holy Ghost fell on the Samaritans, and their baptism in the Holy Ghost was accompanied with a visible sign to validate the spread of the Gospel to a new people group (Acts 8:17-18). Of note, it is implied that Simon the Sorcerer “saw” and heard the people speaking in tongues, and by this he knew that the Holy Ghost had come (Acts 8:18). Acts 8 should be understood in the light of Acts 10-11. The miracle of tongues among the Samaritans was promoting unity in the body of Christ during the fragile times of the early Church.
Philip wasn’t the only one who brought the Gospel to a new race of people. Peter was eventually compelled to bring the Gospel to the Gentiles. However, even he was subjected to the objection, disagreement, and contention of others due to racism and prejudice (Acts 11:2-3). Therefore, we can be sure that Philip became the target of accusation and slander, especially because he was isolated from the apostles while preaching in Samaria. This could be why the Holy Ghost was withheld from the Samaritans at first, preventing them from receiving the baptism of the Holy Ghost immediately as they repented and believed in the Gospel like the Gentiles in Acts 10:44-46. God surrounded Phillip with Peter and John and then confirmed Phillip’s evangelistic work with the baptism of the Holy Ghost and the miracle of tongues. Unity was preserved in the Church, and the authority of the apostles was underscored, as all doubt and suspicion was expelled. Tongues is a wonder-working-miracle that brought unity in the rapidly growing Kingdom of the Messiah. Contrastingly, the miracle of tongues brought division in the rapidly growing Kingdom of Nimrod as sinners worldwide unitedly built the tower of Babel (Gen. 10:8-10, 11:1-9).
The Gentiles
The Jews and the Gentiles had bad history. Once again, animosity and prejudice were commonplace. The Jews refused to associate with the Gentiles (Acts 10:28, Jn. 18:28). Other factors like zeal for the ceremonial law tended to maintain racial divisions even among Christians. Nevertheless, in obedience to the LORD, Peter preached the Gospel to the Gentiles at Cornelius’ household, and for the very first time they were repenting and believing in Christ. They too “received” the “gift” of the Holy Ghost exactly like the Jews (Acts 10:47, 11:17). And Peter was immediately subjected to objection, disagreement, and contention by his peers, the Jews, because they were doubting if the door of the Kingdom was truly being opened to the Gentiles (Acts 11:2-3). Obviously, this occasion required a sign of confirmation through the miracle of tongues, and God provided it.
tongues
All suspicion and skepticism among Jewish Christians was immediately put down through this miracle. “The Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word” (Acts 10:44) because God “poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost” (Acts 10:45), even as He did to the twelve apostles “at the beginning” (Acts 11:15, 17, 15:8-9). There was no room left to doubt! The door of the Kingdom had been opened to the Gentiles, and the Church unitedly accepted it with thanksgiving and praise.
The Gospel should advance among the Gentiles without any problem now that these miracles were performed to ensure the unity of the Church. Therefore, it should come as no surprise that the miracle of tongues was not mentioned at all in the Book of Acts as the Gospel continued to spread among the Gentiles. Testimonies of salvation are provided as the Galatians, Philippians, and Corinthians were repenting and believing the Gospel to receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, but there is no mention of tongues (Acts 13:48, 52, 16:14-15, 30-34, 18:8, 19:9). Of note, Saul, who was later called Paul (the great Evangelist of the Gentiles), repented and believed the Gospel and was “filled with the Holy Ghost” (Acts 9:17) without any mention of tongues. However, that is not to say that there were no miracles of tongues being performed at all. The original merit of for these miracles is for the public proclamation that Jesus Christ is the King of the World in every language, even as the Gospel advanced from nation to nation. This suggests that the miracles continued intermittently and infrequently as each occasion required according to the will of God (1 Cor. 14:18).
Outlier Groups
Paul eventually encountered some disciples of John the Baptist in Ephesus who were likely Jewish, and they seemed to be an outlier people group of controversy due to the fact that they had not yet come to faith in Christ. It is not clear how this is possible except these men had been offended and subverted by slander. The Gospel was spreading far and wide, reaching the likes of Kings and Caesars (Php. 4:22, Acts 26:27). It was available. Therefore, it is likely that this group didn’t know about the full Gospel because they didn’t want to know about it. The disciples of John the Baptist were not immune to offence, especially after John was imprisoned and beheaded by Herod. Even John the Baptist faltered in faith on one occasion (Matt. 11:2-6). Speaking about this occasion, Jesus Christ said, “Blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in Me” (Matt. 11:6). We don’t know about all the drama between various groups who didn’t fully convert to Christ and thus follow the apostles, but we can be sure that there was a lot of division and confusion among almost Christians and pious unbelievers. Therefore, when Paul reasoned with these disciples of John and effectually converted them to Christ as a mighty Evangelist, “the Holy Ghost came on them” with the confirming signs of “tongues” and prophecy (Acts 19:1-7). This was an impressive feat to 1st century readers because a notorious outlier group was brought under the authority of the apostles of Christ.
