Disciples Digital Library

On Pentecost, the church received the gift of the Spirit, an event accompanied by the sound “ like a rushing might wind ” and what appeared to be “ tongues of fire .” The 120 disciples began to “ speak in other tongues ” as the Spirit gave them “ utterance .” These phenomena were “ seen and heard ” by many Jewish pilgrims who were present to celebrate the feast of Pentecost.

Assuming that speaking in tongues is the sole “sign” of receiving the gift of the Spirit creates a problem. In 1 Corinthians, Paul indicates that not all believers do, in fact, speak in tongues, but elsewhere, he teaches that genuine believers have God’s Spirit. And if they do not, they are not true disciples of Jesus.

In Acts , all converts repent, are baptized in water, and receive the Spirit, but not necessarily in that order. Likewise, when the disciples received the gift of the Spirit on Pentecost, they were all “ filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance .”

When the Spirit was poured out on Pentecost, all 120 disciples present in the “ upper room ” were “ filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance .” Additionally, what appeared to be “ tongues of fire ” came to rest on each disciple. And so, two supernatural manifestations accompanied the arrival of the Spirit, one visual and the other audible.

In Samaria, something about the gift of the Spirit impressed Simon the Magician, but did the gift’s recipients speak in tongues? Saul of Tarsus began persecuting the church in Jerusalem. This caused many “ brethren ” to scatter throughout “ Judaea and Samaria ,” but God used the situation to advance the gospel as the scattered brethren preached wherever they went.

In  Acts , the activity of the Spirit is essential to the life and growth of the church. The church was inaugurated by the outpouring of the Spirit on the day of Pentecost, and the young faith spread quickly from Judea to Samaria, Syria, Asia Minor, Greece, and finally, to the heart of the Roman Empire.