6 Bible Verses about Speaking In Tongues

And it happened that [while] Apollos was in Corinth, Paul traveled through the inland regions [and] came to Ephesus and found some disciples. And he said to them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit [when you] believed?" And they [said] to him, "But we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit!" And he said, "Into what then were you baptized?" And they said, "Into the baptism of John."read more.
And Paul said, "John baptized [with] a baptism of repentance, telling the people that they should believe in the one who was to come after him--that is, in Jesus." And [when they] heard [this], they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And [when] Paul laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them and they began to speak in tongues and to prophesy. (Now the total [number] [of] men was about twelve.)

to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another {miraculous powers}, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing of spirits, to another kinds of tongues, to another interpretation of tongues.

Now you are the body of Christ, and members {of it individually}, and whom God has appointed in the church: first, apostles, second, prophets, third, teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helps, administrations, kinds of tongues. Not all [are] apostles, [are they]? Not all [are] prophets, [are they]? Not all [are] teachers, [are they]? Not all [are workers of] miracles, [are they]?read more.
Not all have gifts of healing, [do they]? Not all speak with tongues, [do they]? Not all interpret, [do they]? But strive for the greater gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way.

Love never ends. But if [there are] prophecies, they will pass away. If [there are] tongues, they will cease. If [there is] knowledge, it will pass away.

For the one who speaks in a tongue does not speak to people but to God, because no one understands, but by the Spirit he speaks mysteries. But the one who prophesies speaks to people edification and encouragement and consolation. The one who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but the one who prophesies edifies the church.read more.
Now I want you all to speak with tongues, but even more that you may prophesy. The one who prophesies [is] greater than the one who speaks with tongues, unless he interprets, in order that the church may receive edification. But now, brothers, if I come to you speaking with tongues, how do I benefit you, unless I speak to you either with a revelation or with knowledge or with a prophecy or with a teaching? Likewise, the inanimate things which produce a sound, whether flute or lyre, if they do not produce a distinction in the tones, how will it be known what is played on the flute or on the lyre? For indeed, if the trumpet produces an indistinct sound, who will prepare for battle? And so you through the tongue, unless you produce a clear message, how will it be known what is spoken? For you will be speaking into the air. There are probably so many kinds of languages in the world, and none without meaning. Therefore, if I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be a barbarian to the one who is speaking, and the one who is speaking [will be] a barbarian in my [judgment]. In this way also you, since you are zealous of spiritual [gifts], seek for the edification of the church, in order that you may abound. Therefore the one who speaks in a tongue must pray that he may interpret. For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays but my mind is unproductive. {Therefore what should I do}? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my mind. I will sing praise with my spirit, but I will also sing praise with my mind. For otherwise, if you praise in [your] spirit, how will the one who fills the place of the outsider say the "amen" at your thanksgiving, because he does not know what you are saying? For indeed you are giving thanks well, but the other person is not edified. I give thanks to God [that] I speak with tongues more than all of you, but in the church I prefer to speak five words with my mind, in order that I may instruct other [people], than ten thousand words in a tongue. Brothers, do not become children in [your] understanding, but with respect to wickedness be as a child, and in [your] understanding be mature. In the law it is written: "By those who speak a foreign language and by the lips of others I will speak to this people, and not even in this way will they obey me," says the Lord. So then, tongues are for a sign not to those who believe, but to unbelievers, but prophecy [is] not for unbelievers, but for those who believe. Therefore, if the whole church comes together at the same [time] and all speak with tongues, and outsiders or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are out of your minds? But if all prophesy, and some unbeliever or outsider enters, he is convicted by all, he is judged by all, the secret things of his heart become evident, and so, falling on [his] face, he will worship God, proclaiming, "God is truly among you!" {Therefore what should you do}, brothers? Whenever you come together, each one of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has a tongue, has an interpretation. All [things] must be [done] for edification. If anyone speaks in a tongue, [it must be] on one occasion two or at most three, and {one after the other}, and one must interpret. But if there is no interpreter, he must be silent in the church, but let him speak to himself and to God.

So then, my brothers, desire to prophesy, and do not prevent speaking with tongues. But let all [things] be [done] decently and according to proper procedure.