6 Bible Verses about Speaking In Tongues

While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed through the upper country and came to Ephesus. There he found some disciples. And he said to them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?" And they said, "No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit." And he said, "Into what then were you baptized?" They said, "Into John's baptism."read more.
Paul said, "John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was coming after him, that is, in Jesus." On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied. There were about twelve men in all.

to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, and to another the working of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another distinguishing between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues.

Now you are the body of Christ, and individually members of it. And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, then those having gifts of healings, helps, administrations, and those speaking in various kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles?read more.
Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? But earnestly desire the greater gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way.

Love never fails; but where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.

For one who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God; for no one understands him, but in his spirit he speaks mysteries. But everyone who prophesies speaks to men for their edification and encouragement and comfort. He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church.read more.
Now I want you all to speak in tongues, but even more that you would prophesy. He who prophesies is greater than he who speaks in tongues, unless some one interprets, so that the church may be edified. But now, brethren, if I come to you speaking in tongues, what will I profit you unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or teaching? If even lifeless things, such as the flute or the harp, do not give a distinction in the notes, how will any one know what is played? And if the bugle gives an indistinct sound, who will get ready for battle? So it is with you, unless you utter by the tongue speech that is intelligible, how will anyone know what is spoken? For you will be speaking into the air. Undoubtedly there are many languages in the world, and none of them is without meaning. If then I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be a foreigner to the one who is speaking, and the speaker will be a foreigner to me. So it is with you; since you are eager for spiritual gifts, strive to excel in building up the church. Therefore, he who speaks in a tongue should pray that he may interpret. For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful. What am I to do? I will pray with the spirit and I will pray with the mind also; I will sing with the spirit and I will sing with the mind also. Otherwise, if you bless with the spirit, how can any one in the position of an outsider say the "Amen" to your thanksgiving, since he does not know what you are saying? For you may be giving thanks well enough, but the other man is not edified. I thank God that I speak in tongues more than you all; but in the church I would rather speak five words with my mind, to instruct others, than ten thousand words in a tongue. Brethren, do not be children in your thinking; be infants in evil, but in thinking be mature. In the law it is written, "By men of strange tongues and by the lips of foreigners will I speak to this people, and even then they will not listen to me, says the Lord." Tongues, then, are a sign, not for believers but for unbelievers; but prophecy is for believers, not for unbelievers. Therefore if the whole church assembles together and all speak in tongues, and outsiders or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are mad? But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or an outsider enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all; the secrets of his heart are disclosed; and so, he will fall on his face, and worship God, declaring that God is really among you. What is the outcome then, brethren? When you come together, each one has a hymn, or a teaching, or a revelation, or a tongue, or an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification. If anyone speaks in a tongue, it should be by two or at the most three, and each in turn; and one must interpret. But if there is no interpreter, he must keep silent in the church; and let him speak to himself and to God.

Therefore, my brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues. But all things should be done decently and in an orderly way.