Thematic Bible




Thematic Bible



upon which Paul said, John indeed administer'd the baptism of repentance, but with this admonition, that they should believe in him, who was to come after, that is, in Jesus the Messias. when they heard this, they were initiated by baptism into the christian profession. and Paul having given them imposition of hands, the holy spirit came upon them, and they spoke foreign languages, and prophesied:

for as there are many members in one and the same body, but all the members have not the same office: so we who are many, make all but one body in Christ, and every member subservient to one another. having then different gifts, according to the respective favour bestowed upon us; if it be prophecy, let him prophesy according to the proportion of his gift. read more.
if it be the ministry, let him attend on that ministry; and he that teacheth, on teaching; he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him be disinterested; he that presideth, let him be diligent; he that sheweth mercy, let him do it with cheerfulness.

Now concerning those who are spiritual, my brethren, I would not have you be mistaken. when you were Gentiles, you know how you were seduced by your leaders, to the worship of dumb idols. wherefore I give you to understand, that no man who has the spirit of God, can pronounce Jesus anathema: and that no man can acknowledge Jesus to be the Lord, but by the holy spirit. read more.
Now there are different gifts, but the same spirit. and there are different offices, but the same Lord. and there are different operations, but it is the same God who performs them all in every one. now to particular men the spirit gives particular gifts, that they may be displayed to greater advantage. for to one the spirit gives the knowledge of the prophetical writings; to another the same spirit gives the knowledge of the doctrines of religion; to another faith; to another the gifts of healing; to another the working of miracles; to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits; to another diversity of languages; to another the interpretation of languages. but all are wrought by one and the same spirit, distributing to every one in particular, as he thinks fit.


wherefore let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue, pray for the gift of interpretation.


have all the gifts of healing? do all speak divers languages? do all interpret?

I wish you all had the gift of languages, but rather that you expounded: for greater is he that expounds, than he that speaks unknown languages, except he interpret what he says, that the church may be edified by it.

what is then to be done, my brethren? when you come together, one of you with a psalm, another with a doctrine, another with a strange tongue, another with a revelation, another with an interpretation: let the whole be done to edification. and if any man do speak in an unknown tongue, let but two speak, or three at the most, and that by turns: and let there be but one to interpret. but if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and tacitly address himself to God.



and Paul having given them imposition of hands, the holy spirit came upon them, and they spoke foreign languages, and prophesied:


struck with astonishment and admiration, they said to one another, are not these men who are speaking, all Galileans? how comes it then that we hear every man talking in our own native tongue?

for they heard them express their praises to God in divers languages.








by virtue of the miracles and prodigies wrought by the power of the divine spirit; so that from Jerusalem, and the neighbouring country, quite to Illyricum,

have all the gifts of healing? do all speak divers languages? do all interpret?

to another faith; to another the gifts of healing; to another the working of miracles; to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits; to another diversity of languages; to another the interpretation of languages.



for to one the spirit gives the knowledge of the prophetical writings; to another the same spirit gives the knowledge of the doctrines of religion; to another faith; to another the gifts of healing; to another the working of miracles; to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits; to another diversity of languages; to another the interpretation of languages.



for to one the spirit gives the knowledge of the prophetical writings; to another the same spirit gives the knowledge of the doctrines of religion; to another faith; to another the gifts of healing; to another the working of miracles; to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits; to another diversity of languages; to another the interpretation of languages.



therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the father the promise of the holy spirit, he has diffused that spirit, the effects of which ye now see and hear.

and Paul having given them imposition of hands, the holy spirit came upon them, and they spoke foreign languages, and prophesied:


have all the gifts of healing? do all speak divers languages? do all interpret?

for they heard them express their praises to God in divers languages.

When the day of pentecost was come, they all met together with one accord. when all of a sudden there came a sound from heaven, like that of an impetuous wind, which filled all the house where they were. and there appeared several little flames, and sat upon each of them: read more.
and they were all filled with the holy ghost, and began to speak in different languages, as the spirit gave them utterance. now many devout Jews were residing at Jerusalem, who came from all quarters of the world. and upon the rumour of this event, the multitude came together, and were confounded, every man hearing the disciples speak in his own language. struck with astonishment and admiration, they said to one another, are not these men who are speaking, all Galileans? how comes it then that we hear every man talking in our own native tongue? Parthians, Medes, Elamites, the inhabitants of Mesopotamia, Judea, Cappadocia, Pontus, Asia, Phrygia, Pamphylia, Egypt, the parts of Libya about Cyrene, foreigners from Rome, Jews, and proselytes, Cretes, and Arabians, we hear them all proclaiming in our tongues the wonderful works of God. and they were all amazed, and perplex'd, saying one to another, what can the meaning of this be? others in derision said, these men are full of sweet wine. But Peter standing up with the eleven, and raising his voice, said to them, ye men of Judea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known to you, and observe what I say. these are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is but the third hour of the day. but this is the accomplishment of what was said by the prophet Joel, "it shall come to pass in the last days (saith God) I will pour out of my spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men dream dreams: and on my servants, and on my handmaidens I will pour out of my spirit in those days, and they shall prophesy:




and Paul having given them imposition of hands, the holy spirit came upon them, and they spoke foreign languages, and prophesied:


I wish you all had the gift of languages, but rather that you expounded: for greater is he that expounds, than he that speaks unknown languages, except he interpret what he says, that the church may be edified by it.

for they heard them express their praises to God in divers languages.





have all the gifts of healing? do all speak divers languages? do all interpret?

for he that speaks in an unknown tongue, speaks not to men, but to God: for no man can understand the mysteries he delivers by the spirit. but he that expounds, speaks to the edification, exhortation, and comfort of men. he that speaks in an unknown tongue, edifies himself alone: but he that expounds, edifies the church. read more.
I wish you all had the gift of languages, but rather that you expounded: for greater is he that expounds, than he that speaks unknown languages, except he interpret what he says, that the church may be edified by it. for instance, brethren, if I deliver myself to you in an unknown tongue, what good shall I do you, except I deliver to you the meaning of what is said, whether it relate to revelation, to mystical knowledge, to prophecy, or to doctrine. And even inanimate instruments of sound, whether pipe or harp, except they have a distinct variety of notes, how can they express any significant tune? for if the trumpet give an undistinguish'd sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle? in like manner, if you express yourselves in words of obscure signification, you may as well talk to the wind, for how shall any comprehend you? there are, it may be, as many different languages in the world as there are people, and none of them without signification. therefore if I don't know the meaning of the language, with respect to him that speaks, I shall be a barbarian; and he that speaks shall be a barbarian to me. But since there is emulation among you concerning spiritual gifts, seek to abound in the exercise of such gifts as tend most to the edification of the church. wherefore let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue, pray for the gift of interpretation. for if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit indeed prays, but my meaning is of no benefit to others. what then is to be done? why, I will pray by the spirit, but my prayer shall be intelligible: I will sing by the spirit, but my hymn shall be intelligible. otherwise if you should give thanks by the spirit in an unknown tongue, the hearer cannot but appear unlearned upon this occasion; how then can he say Amen to thy thanksgiving? since he does not conceive what you say. thy thanksgiving indeed is right, but the other is not all edified by it. I thank God, I speak more languages than you all: yet in the church I had rather speak five words that convey my meaning to the instruction of others, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.

in the law it is written, " with men of other tongues and other lips, will I speak unto this people: and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the Lord." wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to believers, but to unbelievers: but expounding the prophets, not for unbelievers so much as for those who believe. when therefore the whole church is assembled, and all speak different languages, if such as are either unlearned, or are unbelievers should come in, will they not say you are all mad? read more.
but if you all expound, and an unbeliever, or one unlearned come in, he is examin'd by all, he is tryed by all: the secrets of his heart become manifest; and so falling down on his face, he will worship God, and declare that God is certainly amongst you. what is then to be done, my brethren? when you come together, one of you with a psalm, another with a doctrine, another with a strange tongue, another with a revelation, another with an interpretation: let the whole be done to edification. and if any man do speak in an unknown tongue, let but two speak, or three at the most, and that by turns: and let there be but one to interpret. but if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and tacitly address himself to God.

wherefore, brethren, zealously exercise the gift of prophecy, and don't prohibit those that speak in an unknown language.