Bible Discussion Thread

This message is to no one in particular , I would just like to give my understanding of speaking in tongues .

Acts chapter 2 verses 1 onwards to 13 thereabouts . It seems pretty clear in this account that no one was actually speaking a foreign language , verse 6 . Verses 8 and 9 10 and 11 , lists a lot of different people of different nationalities and languages who heard the Apostles as if they were speaking in their own languages ! So the Apostles were speaking in their own language but many people of different nationalities heard , that's the Word , heard , as if what was said was said in their own specific language .

Somewhere later on in Acts I think , it mentions again how people went to Christian meetings or maybe even Jewish synagogues , and heard in their own different languages , the Words of God spoken by the Apostles who were speaking in their own language .

What is this the forerunner of ? It seems to me that it is the forerunner of the Bible , printed in almost every language that exist on earth ! See the link ? Isn't it awesome ?

Hi Jackieboy80. I understand what you're writing, as I have heard of an instance (whether actual or not), of a missionary who could only speak in his language (not having grasped his target group's language), but when he spoke, the group heard his words in their own language. So, I can see how this could happen by the Holy Spirit's Power. Yet, when I read Acts 2:4, "And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance", the picture presented to us is that of the disciples gathered together alone on the day of Pentecost at which time the Holy Spirit was poured out upon them. And this first evidence of the Spirit's Presence in them was that they actually spoke in other languages; languages that they did not know, for had they learned them, then nothing miraculous could be said to have taken place. Now if they all spoke in Hebrew, Greek or some dialect, it could not be said that they "began to speak with other tongues", for the new unlearned language had to be spoken for this verse to have a natural meaning.

And while they were still in this intense spiritual state, maybe for several hours, this amazing phenomenon was noised abroad in Jerusalem & those people who came to see & hear these men, were astounded that they could hear their own language spoken. I don't believe this was a case as I related the story above (though this could happen of course), but one where even the disciples would have been wondering about, yet being confirmed that this could only be an Act of God in them now & Who would be with them in their ministry to others.