LIBERTY UNIVERSITY
THE GIFT OF TONGUES DISPLAYED IN
THE BOOK OF ACTS
A RESEARCH PAPER SUBMITTED TO PROFESSOR DOUGLAS PETERSON
IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR
BIBL364
LIBERTY UNIVERSITY ONLINE
BY
SEAN HIGGINS
LYNCHBURG, VIRGINIA
DECEMBER 5, 2012
TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION 2
PENTECOST 2
THE CONVERSION OF CORNELIUS 5
TONGUES AT EPHESIAN BAPTISM 7
CONCLUSION 9
BIBLIOGRAPHY 10
Introduction
The gift of Tongues has been becoming more and more popular over the past 10 years. Christians appear to have differing views on the matter. Some think it is a sign of the HOLY SPIRIT, other think it is a manifestation of demonic forces. There are Bible verses to
…show more content…
Jesus had commissioned His followers to take the gospel to the whole world. If these Apostles were supposed to go all over the world they would need to know multiple languages, something that these Apostles did not know beforehand. There was also the practical advantage of communicating the gospel to the pilgrims in Jerusalem in their own languages so that they might take it back to their own regions.
If you look at Jerusalem as the center for Judaism, then you realize the need for such a miraculous sign. If God hadn’t bestowed the gift of tongues and had everyone hear their own langue there wouldn’t have been enough force to start the Christian movement. Quite apart from practical considerations, the gift of tongues on the day of Pentecost was a divinely provided demonstration that the movement being inaugurated that day was not of human origin. The miracle God used on Pentecost for the believers is the same kind of thing He would do for the Jews. It served as a self-authenticating advertisement for the gospel. Thus the people must have felt that if God had used tongues at Sinai on the first Pentecost to communicate a very special message to them, He was now communicating again in many tongues another special message on another day of Pentecost.
The conversion of Cornelius
The unique experience of the Jerusalem church at Pentecost in Acts 2 occurred in similarly public and significant ways for
Paul preaches sermon of remembrance that ends in Jesus at King in the line of David
What many western missionaries began to figure out was “they were powerless without indigenous partners who could express the gospel in their own framework.” With that being said, the western missionaries who decided to spread the gospel and to do God’s work, based on God’s agenda did, in fact, serve a very good purpose in spreading the gospel. Throughout the history of time, there have been missionaries who have been very successful in spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ. There is a “pressing need for his (Jesus) followers to become agents of the Good
Acts of the Apostles chronicles the rapid advancement of the Gospel by way of the gift of the Holy Spirit. “The Holy Spirit in the Acts of the Apostles: The Charismatic Community in Mission” takes into account the narratives succeeding Pentecost including Spirit Baptisms from Samaria to Ephesus (Acts
The book of Acts is known as 'the birth of the church'. Acts recounts the story of
The heavenly language was and is used to pray to Jesus when we want to have fellowship with Jesus. The Holy Spirit can help us to communicate with Him in a very special way. Jesus provides a spiritual language to make up for what our natural minds do not know or comprehend. His spirit intercedes directly with our reborn spirit, and can also provide an interpretation of what was said. This gift is a personal, private, and individual prayer language provided by Jesus himself for our
The Gifts of Prophecy and tongues are still important Gifts that the Holy Spirit uses within us today. Prophecy is a message inspired by God and used to encourage, strengthen and build up people in their faith by the Holy Spirit, 2 Peter 1:20-21. It’s a way for God to communicate to His people however we must be aware at how people translate prophesy’s because it must show the love of God, Corinthians 13:2. Acts 2:4 shows us the power of tongues and that when we are filled with the Holy Spirit we are able to connect to God on a spiritual level and communicate and worship Him. However, Paul gives the church a warning saying that it is better to prophesize in church than to speak in tongues, because if there is no one to interpret the tongues then it would introduce an element of confusion where prophecy is a more effective way to lead non-believers to God 1 Corinthians 14:24-25.
Jesus tells the church before his ascension that they would receive power when the Holy Spirit come upon them and the power of the Holy Spirit was going to bring them from Jerusalem to the ends of the earth they would be a witness in all the earth. We are told in this scripture that they would receive power; Jesus told them that they were going to receive power, there is no reason for these believers to not except his word for everything He had said thus so far had come to pass. They where an expectant believers waiting on the promise
Our source of knowledge of the apostolic work of Paul comes first from the Book of Acts. The epistles written by Paul serve to further our knowledge of his mission. These letters were written to churches that he had founded or churches that were known to him. Luke’s account of Paul introduces us to the basic facts about this important biblical figure. A more complete understanding of Paul’s journeys can be gleaned from his letters. These epistles were written almost at the time they occurred and they comprise some of the earliest works contained in the New Testament.
How have you seen some of these dichotomies in the life of the Church? Provide at least 1 example and subsequent explanation of what happens when one side gets emphasized (doctrine) while the other is neglected (e. love)? I grew up in the Pentecostal church where speaking in tongues was essential to be filled with the Holy Spirit. For example, a person that accepts Jesus Christ as their personal savior but does not speak in tongues is not saved. That's been contradictory to the bible and makes people believe they are not saved because they do not speak in tongues. How do you reconcile the tension that exists on such apparent dichotomies? I believe speaking tongues is not an essential element of the Holy Spirit. I think should just focus on
The New Testament is characterized by the existence of imperative Biblical figures, with the likes of Jesus Christ, the Apostles, among many others. Peter was among Jesus’ first disciples. From his turning point, as manifested in the book of John 21, to his progress as a dedicated leader as manifested in Acts, to his final emergence as a co-elder as manifested in the Epistles of 1st and 2nd Peter, Peter exhibited traits of a transformational and charismatic biblical figure (Neil & William 409).
Speaking in tongues is initial evidence of Spirit baptism. Scriptural evidences include Acts 2:4, 10:45-46, 19:6. 8:17-18 also suggests this, although it is not directly stated. It is also interesting that speaking in tongues occurred in all five of the narratives in Acts.
“The grandeur of the ancient city is evident in the remains uncovered by archaeologists, including the ruins of the Artemision, the civic agora, the temple of Domitian, gymnasiums, public baths, a theater with seating for 24,000, a library, and the commercial agora, as well as several streets and private residences” (Holman, np). This was a big city, full of culture, and full of ungodly people and activities. Among the many religious groups in the city, there were many Jews there who were brought the gospel right after Pentecost (Orr, np). Because of the pluralism of religions in the city, new Christians didn’t know exactly what to believe or how to worship. On top of this, the city was constantly bombarded with false teachers trying to tell people that salvation came from works, not faith (MacArthur, np).
Also in Acts when the Apostles where filled with the Spirit they started to speak in languages.” This is absolutely important because without language we could not receive the intended message as set in motion by God.
As we look into the scriptures of Acts 2:1-11 we see the things that took place on the day of Pentecost. “And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord and in one place.” (Acts 1:1) Not only had the people began to gather together in one place but they were all in one accord and all were there for the same purpose all agreeing on the same thing. “And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.” (Acts 2:2) Imagine sitting in a room when suddenly a rushing mighty wind fills the room. When we think of the force of hurricane type winds entering the room in which we are sitting we would not be able to even fathom how it would be.
First, he grounds the use of all the gifts in the Lordship of Jesus Christ (“Therefore... no one speaking in the Spirit...”1 Cor. 1:3). Here, it is seen that the “gift and gifts of the Spirit serve as the external manifestation of the triumph and enthronement of Christ.”4 Furthermore, in 1 Cor. 1:7-11, the point is made that the “exercise of any gift of the Spirit is the ministry of the word given to God’s people,” and that “the ministry of God’s revelatory word is central to the use of all other gifts... they give expression to that word in various ways.”5 This is why, in an eclectic grouping of the various giftings (found in 1 Cor. 12:8-11, 1 Cor. 12:28, Rom. 12:6-8, Eph. 4:11, and 1 Pet. 4:11), the work of the ministry of the word of God is paramount, that is, “the revelatory word through the apostle and prophet is foundational, while all else is informed by and flows from this.”6