Thematic Bible: Power of speaking different


Thematic Bible



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?

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.


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

Jesus) the apostles therefore gave them imposition of hands, and they received the holy spirit.


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.




Peter was yet speaking, when the holy spirit descended on all that heard him. all the Jewish converts, who came with Paul, were astonished to see that the gift of the holy spirit was diffused likewise among the Gentiles. for they heard them express their praises to God in divers languages.


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, read more.
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 there appeared several little flames, and sat upon each of them: and they were all filled with the holy ghost, and began to speak in different languages, as the spirit gave them utterance.