Speaking in tongues

[Presbyterian Continuist]

I have spent far too much time today trying to argue... and it's all for nothing.
1stcenturylady, you are far too literal. It goes against common sense.
And Oscarr, if I am at an international airport in a foreign land, and am surrounded with languages I do not understand, and I hear ONE voice speaking MY language, all those other voices fade into the background.

I had an interesting experience on the bus the other day. In front of me was an Indian lady speaking in Hindi over the telephone. After a while I heard what I thought was the same voice speaking English in a pure New Zealand accent. I thought, "Wow! That lady can speak pure New Zealand when she is not speaking Indian!" Then I realised that it was a New Zealander behind me speaking on the phone! What fooled me was that the voices sounded exactly the same. That does not prove anything, but it is just a useless piece of information just for interest. I guess it's just my Kiwi sense of humour. I wonder if the same thing would happen if you landed at Auckland airport and among all the New Zealand accents you heard someone speaking with your own region's accent. Would you have the same experience? Just asking....

 

[1stcenturylady]

I explained it above.
The little word FOR in the middle means BECAUSE.

And the little word "however" also has a meaning, and a bearing on the overall meaning of the verse.

And that little word "however" helps us understand also.
Because "however" (according to the dictionary) "is used to introduce a statement that contrasts with something that has been said previously."

Therefore,
"no one understands him" is contrasted with "in the spirit, he speaks mysteries."

It is obvious the overall meaning is simply that when we are speaking in tongues, we speak from our spirits, to God. We speak without understanding what we are talking about. And we don't expect anyone else to understand them, either.

Tongues are not directed from, nor are they directed toward, human brains.
That is the WHY that the "for" (because) means.


It is possible to get so literal with the Scriptures that we actually unintentionally twist the real meaning.

I knew a man once who was so literal that he said since Jesus is the Word, and the Bible is the Word, then the Bible he read was actually Jesus.
That man tipped over into schizophrenia soon after that.

God expects us to have common sense.

And using common sense, we see the unbelievers on the day of Pentecost said they heard them SPEAK in their own languages. They would have been able, by watching their mouths, to tell if the 120 were actually speaking their languages or not.
And if they weren't, they would have made mention of the even greater miracle of watching them speaking a foreign language, but hearing it in their own.

But they didn't. Because what they saw matched what they heard.
The 120 SPOKE those foreign languages.

The problem is you just quoted that "they heard them SPEAK in their own languages." No, it says " 6 And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own language. 7 Then they were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, “Look, are not all these who speak Galileans? 8 And how is it that we hear, each in our own language in which we were born?

Singular.

Each person only heard his own language, while someone else only heard their own. But, I'm being too literal, aren't I? I doubt God thinks so. I believe what it actually says, not my human reasoning, or yours.

You don't want to believe 1 Cor. 14:2 as it is written, and now you want to re-write Acts 2 so it makes sense to you. Oh well, let's not argue. You just go on and believe your human reasoning, and I'll believe the Word as He chose to write it.

 

[1stcenturylady]

I had an interesting experience on the bus the other day. In front of me was an Indian lady speaking in Hindi over the telephone. After a while I heard what I thought was the same voice speaking English in a pure New Zealand accent. I thought, "Wow! That lady can speak pure New Zealand when she is not speaking Indian!" Then I realised that it was a New Zealander behind me speaking on the phone! What fooled me was that the voices sounded exactly the same. That does not prove anything, but it is just a useless piece of information just for interest. I guess it's just my Kiwi sense of humour. I wonder if the same thing would happen if you landed at Auckland airport and among all the New Zealand accents you heard someone speaking with your own region's accent. Would you have the same experience? Just asking....

What part of New Zealand do you live? My relatives on my mother's side all live in Queensland, Australia. One of my fondest memories was in NZ at the cave with all the glow-worms. It started with a "W". Have you been there?

 

[swordsman1]

And using common sense, we see the unbelievers on the day of Pentecost said they heard them SPEAK in their own languages. They would have been able, by watching their mouths, to tell if the 120 were actually speaking their languages or not.
And if they weren't, they would have made mention of the even greater miracle of watching them speaking a foreign language, but hearing it in their own.

But they didn't. Because what they saw matched what they heard.
The 120 SPOKE those foreign languages.

You are quite right in this regard. There can be no doubt that the disciples spoke in foreign languages in Acts 2:

• Acts 2:4 "And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance."
  
  The word for tongue (glossa) in this context means language, just as it does it in English. It says they spoke in 'other languages' as the Spirit gave them utterance. There is no mention of hearing in this verse. In fact there was no audience present at this point.
  
  The other use of the phrase 'other tongues' (heteros glossa) occurs in 1 Cor 14:21 where it refers to foreign languages.
  
  The word utterance (apophthengomai) is only ever used in reference to intelligible speech (Acts 2:14, 26:25;1 Chron 25:1, Ps 59:7. Ezk 13:9,19; Mic 5:12, Zech 10:2).

• Acts 2:6 " When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken."
  
  The plain reading of this verse is that they were speaking foreign languages. If I said "I heard a Frenchman speaking in English" it means he was speaking in English, not that I miraculously heard him in English.

• There is no mention in Acts 2 of any interpretation. If this was the miracle that occurred at Pentecost then Luke would have told us, not kept silent. It would be a far greater miracle than the disciples speaking gibberish.
  
  
• Instead it tells us the Holy Spirit was poured out upon the disciples giving them the gift of tongues, not upon the unregenerate crowd giving them the gift of interpretation. The Holy Spirit is poured out on believers, not unbelievers. Spiritual gifts are given to believers, not unbelievers.
  
  
• The scoffers did not think the disciples were drunk because they were speaking in gibberish, but because they didn't recognize the languages spoken. They were the local Jews, not the foreign pilgrims gathered for the Feast of Pentecost. We know this because Peter begins his sermon by addressing them - "Men of Judea and all you who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you and give heed to my words. For these men are not drunk, as you suppose". They were the local Jews who were responsible for Jesus death - "this Man, delivered over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross"
  
  
• The vast majority of commentators, including charismatic and Pentecostal ones, agree the disciples spoke in foreign languages.

 

[1stcenturylady]

You are quite right in this regard. There can be no doubt that the disciples spoke in foreign languages in Acts 2:

• Acts 2:4 "And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance."
  
  The word for tongue (glossa) in this context means language, just as it does it in English. It says they spoke in 'other languages' as the Spirit gave them utterance. There is no mention of hearing in this verse. In fact there was no audience present at this point.
  
  The other use of the phrase 'other tongues' (heteros glossa) occurs in 1 Cor 14:21 where it refers to foreign languages.
  
  The word utterance (apophthengomai) is only ever used in reference to intelligible speech (Acts 2:14, 26:25;1 Chron 25:1, Ps 59:7. Ezk 13:9,19; Mic 5:12, Zech 10:2).

• Acts 2:6 " When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken."
  
  The plain reading of this verse is that they were speaking foreign languages. If I said "I heard a Frenchman speaking in English" it means he was speaking in English, not that I miraculously heard him in English.

• There is no mention in Acts 2 of any interpretation. If this was the miracle that occurred at Pentecost then Luke would have told us, not kept silent. It would be a far greater miracle than the disciples speaking gibberish.
  
  
• Instead it tells us the Holy Spirit was poured out upon the disciples giving them the gift of tongues, not upon the unregenerate crowd giving them the gift of interpretation. The Holy Spirit is poured out on believers, not unbelievers. Spiritual gifts are given to believers, not unbelievers.
  
  
• The scoffers did not think the disciples were drunk because they were speaking in gibberish, but because they didn't recognize the languages spoken. They were the local Jews, not the foreign pilgrims gathered for the Feast of Pentecost. We know this because Peter begins his sermon by addressing them - "Men of Judea and all you who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you and give heed to my words. For these men are not drunk, as you suppose". They were the local Jews who were responsible for Jesus death - "this Man, delivered over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross"
  
  
• The vast majority of commentators, including charismatic and Pentecostal ones, agree the disciples spoke in foreign languages.

So you don't believe they were speaking in tongues then? Because Paul clearly teaches that tongues are to God and NO MAN UNDERSTANDS THEM, except by the supernatural gift of interpretation of tongues when the tongues are FROM God to man. Yes, they understood, but if you believe God's word, not understood naturally. Remember, each man heard THEM (plural) speaking his his own language (singular). Open your mind to the Spirit and read it again.

I don't blame you. For years scholars and "experts" have not taken 1 Cor. 14:2 into consideration but would rather not be in awe of God but go just by their human reasoning. What's more, they teach their human reasoning to others creating pre-programed robots. I can't blame you, because I was just like you. We become denominationalized, taking comfort being spoon-fed, rather that rightly dividing the only truth. There are over 30,000 denominations, all starting with an argument over interpretation of scripture. Can they all be right? No. There is only one interpretation that is correct, and that is God's. That is what we should all be humble enough to seek. What is God saying. After all, He is the author.

 

[swordsman1]

So you don't believe they were speaking in tongues then? Because Paul clearly teaches that tongues are to God and NO MAN UNDERSTANDS THEM, except by the supernatural gift of interpretation of tongues when the tongues are FROM God to man. Yes, they understood, but if you believe God's word, not naturally.

I don't blame you. For years scholars and "experts" have not taken 1 Cor. 14:2 into consideration but would rather not be in awe of God but go just by their human reasoning. What's more, they teach their human reasoning to others creating pre-programed robots. I can't blame you, because I was just like you. We become denominationalized, taking comfort being spoon-fed. There are over 30,000 denominations, all starting with an argument over interpretation of scripture. Can they all be right? No. There is only one interpretation that is correct, and that is God's. That is what we should all be humble enough to seek. What is God saying. After all, He is the author.

There is only one description in scripture of what the gift of tongues actually is, Acts 2:4-11. There is no doubt it is miraculously speaking foreign human languages you have never learned. 1 Cor 14:2 says nothing about what the gift of tongues actually is. This verse only describes the effect of untranslated tongues in a congregational setting. The context of the whole of chapter 14 is church meetings (v4,5,12,19,23,26,28,30,32,34). And the specific problem that Paul deals with throughout this chapter is speaking in tongues that no one in the congregation understands. Clearly there were people in Corinth speaking in an unrecognized tongue. So Paul begins his correction of the Corinthians by spelling out their problem - "For one who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God; for no one understands". Paul is stating the obvious - when someone speaks in an unrecognized tongue no one in the congregation understands, only God who knows all languages understands. That doesn't mean it was a non-human language. If someone was speaking say Persian in a small Greek congregation then it is no surprise that no one understood.

 

[1stcenturylady]

There is only one description in scripture of what the gift of tongues actually is, Acts 2:4-11. There is no doubt it is miraculously speaking foreign human languages you have never learned. 1 Cor 14:2 says nothing about what the gift of tongues actually is. This verse only describes the effect of untranslated tongues in a congregational setting. The context of the whole of chapter 14 is church meetings (v4,5,12,19,23,26,28,30,32,34). And the specific problem that Paul deals with throughout this chapter is speaking in tongues that no one in the congregation understands. Clearly there were people in Corinth speaking in an unrecognized tongue. So Paul begins his correction of the Corinthians by spelling out their problem - "For one who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God; for no one understands". Paul is stating the obvious - when someone speaks in an unrecognized tongue no one in the congregation understands, only God who knows all languages understands. That doesn't mean it was a non-human language. If someone was speaking say Persian in a small Greek congregation then it is no surprise that no one understood.

I agree. The languages are real languages. That is not what I'm saying. It is God who creates all languages, even those of the angels. And God understands them all. However, the point still remains, that they must be interpreted to those present. Let me ask you - on the Day of Pentecost, did those present understand naturally, or supernaturally? Don't you realize the wording is, each man heard everyone speaking his own language? It was not a cacophony, no matter what "scholars" may think. That is not how it is WRITTEN by inspiration of God, and not what happened. Each person only heard their own language, and they talked among themselves and found it was true of everyone else's experience. It was more than our rational minds can grasp. God is greater than our reasoning, that is why He tells us NOT to lean on our own understanding, but to trust Him and be in awe.

 

[Presbyterian Continuist]

What part of New Zealand do you live? My relatives on my mother's side all live in Queensland, Australia. One of my fondest memories was in NZ at the cave with all the glow-worms. It started with a "W". Have you been there?

I live in Auckland which is in the North Island up near the top. I think you mean the Waitomo glow worm caves. I've been there too and it's quite spectacular. There are also gloworm caves at Lake Te Anau in the lower South Island. You can only get to them by boat across the the lake. They are spectacular too.

 

[Presbyterian Continuist]

I agree. The languages are real languages. That is not what I'm saying. It is God who creates all languages, even those of the angels. And God understands them all. However, the point still remains, that they must be interpreted to those present. Let me ask you - on the Day of Pentecost, did those present understand naturally, or supernaturally? Don't you realize the wording is, each man heard everyone speaking his own language? It was not a cacophony, no matter what "scholars" may think. That is not how it is WRITTEN by inspiration of God, nor what happened. It was more than our rational minds can grasp. God is greater than our reasoning, that is why He tells us NOT to lean on our own understanding, but to trust Him and be in awe.

I went through all the translations of the verse in Biblehub. I found that out of all the translations only two fairly obscure ones said that they heard the disciples "speak" the languages. The other translations, including the more prominent ones said that the people "heard" the languages. I agree that if 120 people spoke all different languages at once it would just be a confusion of sound, like three insurance salesmen making their sales pitch all at one time. The customer would hear just a babble. But if the disciples spoke in tongues and the Lord caused by a miracle for every person in the crowd to hear his own dialect in his ears, then I find that, according to common sense and logic alone, quite believable.

 

[1stcenturylady]

I live in Auckland which is in the North Island up near the top. I think you mean the Waitomo glow worm caves. I've been there too and it's quite spectacular. There are also gloworm caves at Lake Te Anau in the lower South Island. You can only get to them by boat across the the lake. They are spectacular too.

We flew to Wellington (I think - it started with a "W") and drove for seven days up to Auckland. On the way, we visited the largest and deepest boiling lake where someone had died the week before. I won't go into detail... That was the most nerve-wracking week of my life. I was afraid the country was going to explode any minute with all the steam being released everywhere! We visited a cemetery with all the tombs above ground, like New Orleans, and there was steam coming out of the ground everywhere. Looked like ghosts. LOL!

 

[ImAllLikeOkWaitWat]

Swordsman1 you seem to be very anti-tongues. So my question to you is do you speak in tongues yourself? if not do you think if you did it would change your view on it? I personally have always been fascinated by those who say they spoke in tongues so when I began to do it myself I was thrilled. I'd assume if you don't speak in tongues and began one day you would understand the perspective of those who do speak in tongues. Although there are some who can speak in tongues who claim it to be hogwash. So its possible you fit in one of these two camps.

 

[Presbyterian Continuist]

We flew to Wellington (I think - it started with a "W") and drove for seven days up to Auckland. On the way, we visited the largest and deepest boiling lake where someone had died the week before. I won't go into detail... That was the most nerve-wracking week of my life. I was afraid the country was going to explode any minute with all the steam being released everywhere! We visited a cemetery with all the tombs above ground, like New Orleans, and there was steam coming out of the ground everywhere. Looked like ghosts. LOL!

You went through Rotorua. You saw the thermal area there. It is a big New Zealand Tourist destination. I've been there trout fishing. It is only around 2-1/2 hours drive away from where I live. The whole place and town reeks of sulphur. Homes there use thermal bores for heating. It can look like Hell for someone who has never seen such sights before. It is steeped in pagan Maori legend and folklore. That can make the place seem spooky. But it is a good place for a holiday!

 

[1stcenturylady]

You went through Rotorua. You saw the thermal area there. It is a big New Zealand Tourist destination. I've been there trout fishing. It is only around 2-1/2 hours drive away from where I live. The whole place and town reeks of sulphur. Homes there use thermal bores for heating. It can look like Hell for someone who has never seen such sights before. It is steeped in pagan Maori legend and folklore. That can make the place seem spooky. But it is a good place for a holiday!

Yes, I remember the name, Rotorua. We took health baths in hot sulfur water at the place we stayed at. Gorgeous country! I saw a few glow-worms in Australia too, in a rainforest we visited in the middle of the night. They were in a cave behind this large waterfall we had to get behind on a rock ledge.

 

[Presbyterian Continuist]

I have made mention before of a person who went into a Pentecostal meeting in order to fool the congregation and to prove that tongues was false. He stood up and gave a message in classical Latin. One of the members, in good faith, gave the interpretation. Afterwards the visitor ridiculed the members of that church after telling them that he had spoken in Latin and the interpretation was nothing like what he said.

It surprised me that the visitor got out of that church alive. Here is the reason why:

You remember the story about Ananias and Saphyra in Acts where they told a lie about how much they sold their property for and deceived the church into believing they were giving the full amount of the sale when it was only a part of it. Peter discerned that they were lying to the Holy Spirit, and both husband and wife fell down stone dead and were carted out and buried.

I believe that the visitor who went and gave a false tongues message in Latin was effectively lying to the Holy Spirit. He was pretending to be inspired by the Holy Spirit in the message he gave in order to trick the church. In fact, he was committing the same insult to the Holy Spirit that Ananias and Saphyra did. By rights, he should have died. I believe he would have, if that church had been moving in the same power and presence of the Holy Spirit that the Early Church where Peter was. But there is a day of judgment coming, and that visitor will be faced up with what he did by Jesus Himself, and he will be lucky to be able to get into heaven saved as by fire. But then, he may have since seen the error of his ways and gone to the Lord in repentance and forgiveness and has apologised to the members of that church. That's would be the only way that he could be saved.

It is a serious warning to anyone else who would try the same trick on a congregation of faithful believers who enjoy the ministry of the Spirit in their midst. The next person to try it might end up falling down dead.

 

[1stcenturylady]

I have made mention before of a person who went into a Pentecostal meeting in order to fool the congregation and to prove that tongues was false. He stood up and gave a message in classical Latin. One of the members, in good faith, gave the interpretation. Afterwards the visitor ridiculed the members of that church after telling them that he had spoken in Latin and the interpretation was nothing like what he said.

It surprised me that the visitor got out of that church alive. Here is the reason why:

You remember the story about Ananias and Saphyra in Acts where they told a lie about how much they sold their property for and deceived the church into believing they were giving the full amount of the sale when it was only a part of it. Peter discerned that they were lying to the Holy Spirit, and both husband and wife fell down stone dead and were carted out and buried.

I believe that the visitor who went and gave a false tongues message in Latin was effectively lying to the Holy Spirit. He was pretending to be inspired by the Holy Spirit in the message he gave in order to trick the church. In fact, he was committing the same insult to the Holy Spirit that Ananias and Saphyra did. By rights, he should have died. I believe he would have, if that church had been moving in the same power and presence of the Holy Spirit that the Early Church where Peter was. But there is a day of judgment coming, and that visitor will be faced up with what he did by Jesus Himself, and he will be lucky to be able to get into heaven saved as by fire. But then, he may have since seen the error of his ways and gone to the Lord in repentance and forgiveness and has apologised to the members of that church. That's would be the only way that he could be saved.

It is a serious warning to anyone else who would try the same trick on a congregation of faithful believers who enjoy the ministry of the Spirit in their midst. The next person to try it might end up falling down dead.

Good word of warning. I've been to meetings where people fall down as if slain in the Spirit. I know the power of God can do that to people, just like in the New Testament, but I've never experienced it, but some of my friends have. If the Spirit isn't slaying me in the Spirit, I'm not falling down or even letting myself be pushed down to not cause the pusher embarrassment. Let him be embarrassed if he thinks he or anyone can manipulate the Holy Spirit. If it isn't authentic, I will not do anything for a religious show.

 

[Presbyterian Continuist]

Good word of warning. I've been to meetings where people fall down as if slain in the Spirit. I know the power of God can do that to people, just like in the New Testament, but I've never experienced it, but some of my friends have. If the Spirit isn't slaying me in the Spirit, I'm not falling down or even letting myself be pushed down to not cause the pusher embarrassment. Let him be embarrassed if he thinks he or anyone can manipulate the Holy Spirit. If it isn't authentic, I will not do anything for a religious show.

Quite right. I was a skeptic for years about that. I was in a Christian Advance meeting with my Baptist pastor. We sat down the back like naughty boys. During the altar call we call people being prayed for, and we saw the preacher put her hands on the heads of people and rock them back and forth until they over balanced and fell backward. From that time I felt that falling backwards was false, and I still do. The only ones who fell backwards were the group of evil men who came to arrest Jesus.

Now, having said that. I was praying for a lady in a tent meeting once, and suddenly she wasn't there! She had crumpled at the knees and fallen straight down. I never pushed her over because I had one hand on her shoulder. I never lay hands on people's heads. In our country's Maori culture that is an insult because they consider the head to be sacred to them.

When I read the accounts of Kathryn Khulman and read about people falling down, they also just crumpled at the knees. They said that they felt such a peace and relaxation as the power of the Holy Spirit came upon them, they just sank to the floor. Later on, I saw videos of her ministering and saw it happen for myself.

I was in a conference praying for a lady and she became very unsteady on her feet. I hung on to her and guided her back toward a chair, where she sat down.

So, my faith in the Holy Spirit causing people to have such a peace come over them that they do become unsteady and crumple at the knees, has been restored.

But I do oppose the doctrine that one has to fall down to be more spiritual than anyone else, and those who don't fall down are not in the Spirit. I think that is a demonic lying doctrine to point people away from faith in Christ and on to a sensual experience. I believe if people are looking for a sensual experience then the devil is always there to give them one.

 

[1stcenturylady]

Quite right. I was a skeptic for years about that. I was in a Christian Advance meeting with my Baptist pastor. We sat down the back like naughty boys. During the altar call we call people being prayed for, and we saw the preacher put her hands on the heads of people and rock them back and forth until they over balanced and fell backward. From that time I felt that falling backwards was false, and I still do. The only ones who fell backwards were the group of evil men who came to arrest Jesus.

Now, having said that. I was praying for a lady in a tent meeting once, and suddenly she wasn't there! She had crumpled at the knees and fallen straight down. I never pushed her over because I had one hand on her shoulder. I never lay hands on people's heads. In our country's Maori culture that is an insult because they consider the head to be sacred to them.

When I read the accounts of Kathryn Khulman and read about people falling down, they also just crumpled at the knees. They said that they felt such a peace and relaxation as the power of the Holy Spirit came upon them, they just sank to the floor. Later on, I saw videos of her ministering and saw it happen for myself.

I was in a conference praying for a lady and she became very unsteady on her feet. I hung on to her and guided her back toward a chair, where she sat down.

So, my faith in the Holy Spirit causing people to have such a peace come over them that they do become unsteady and crumple at the knees, has been restored.

But I do oppose the doctrine that one has to fall down to be more spiritual than anyone else, and those who don't fall down are not in the Spirit. I think that is a demonic lying doctrine to point people away from faith in Christ and on to a sensual experience. I believe if people are looking for a sensual experience then the devil is always there to give them one.

It doesn't bother me which way a person falls, as long as it was the Spirit that overcame them. If you recall Jesus never healed anyone the same way each time. Once He had to do it twice for it to be complete. I just let God do what He wants. LOL

BTW, it was a friend of mine who was Jewish who went to a Kathryn Khulman service as a non-believer. He went along with the person who brought him to KK's dressing room, and as soon as he entered the room, he felt a power slam into him and he went down to the floor. He became a believer that night. I guess its not always gentle. LOL

 

[Presbyterian Continuist]

It doesn't bother me which way a person falls, as long as it was the Spirit that overcame them. If you recall Jesus never healed anyone the same way each time. Once He had to do it twice for it to be complete. I just let God do what He wants. LOL

BTW, it was a friend of mine who was Jewish who went to a Kathryn Khulman service as a non-believer. He went along with the person who brought him to KK's dressing room, and as soon as he entered the room, he felt a power slam into him and he went down to the floor. He became a believer that night. I guess its not always gentle. LOL

There is a story that Charles Finney told about going to a town where the Methodists and the Presbyterians would not fellowship with each other. He found it that it was because the Methodists fell in the Spirit and the Presbyterians didn't believe in that sort of thing so they refused to have combined meetings. Somehow Finney persuaded them to have a combined meeting and I guess they agreed because they knew of his anointing to save souls. So the meeting got started and lo and behold a man fell off his chair onto the floor. It was a Presbyterian! A lot of others fell down that night and they were all Presbyterians and no Methodists fell that night. From then on, both groups had much better fellowship together. It shows that God has a sense of humour and is able to show that when the Holy Spirit wants people to fall off their seats, He can do it to those who don't believe it!

 

[swordsman1]

However, the point still remains, that they must be interpreted to those present.

Yes, because no one in the Corinthian congregation knew the language spoken.

Let me ask you - on the Day of Pentecost, did those present understand naturally, or supernaturally?

The hearers at Pentecost understood naturally. The Holy Spirit was poured out on the disciples and they "began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them" (v 4). When the disciples were miraculously speaking Parthian, Mesopotamian, Arabic etc, the foreigners from those lands recognized their own native language being spoken.

Don't you realize the wording is, each man heard everyone speaking his own language?

I don't recognize that wording. Which verse are your referring to? Verse 6? - "When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken."

 

[swordsman1]

I went through all the translations of the verse in Biblehub. I found that out of all the translations only two fairly obscure ones said that they heard the disciples "speak" the languages. The other translations, including the more prominent ones said that the people "heard" the languages.

Acts 2:6

NIV When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken.

NASB And when this sound occurred, the crowd came together, and were bewildered because each one of them was hearing them speak in his own language.

ESV And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language.

KJV Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language.

RSV And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in his own language.

ISV When that sound came, a crowd quickly gathered, startled because each one heard the disciples speaking in his own language.

NKJV And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own language.

NET When this sound occurred, a crowd gathered and was in confusion, because each one heard them speaking in his own language.

CEB When they heard this sound, a crowd gathered. They were mystified because everyone heard them speaking in their native languages.

NABRE At this sound, they gathered in a large crowd, but they were confused because each one heard them speaking in his own language.

NRSV And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each.​

etc​

Acts 2:4

NIV All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

NASB And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance.

ESV And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.

KJV And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

RSV And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

ISV All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in foreign languages as the Spirit gave them that ability.

NKJV And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

NET All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit, and they began to speak in other languages as the Spirit enabled them.

CEB They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages as the Spirit enabled them to speak.

NABRE And they were all filled with the holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues, as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim.

NRSV All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.

etc​