HOW DOES THE BIBLE DESCRIBE THE DAY OF PENTECOST?

And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.

And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.

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

And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language. Acts 2:1-6

NOTE: Does the modern charismatic movement exhibit these biblical components?

DID ANYONE NEED AN INTERPRETER?

And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans?

And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?

Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia, Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes,

Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God. Acts 2:7-11

DOES EVERYONE RECEIVE THE SAME SPIRITUAL GIFT?

Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.

Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led. Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.

Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.

And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.

And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.

But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.

For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;

To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: 1 Corinthians 12:1-10

NOTE: In the modern charismatic movement it is claimed that all must receive the gift of “unknown” tongues.

ARE THE GIFTS TO BENEFIT THE BELIEVER OR THE BODY?

But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. 1 Corinthians 12:7

WHO DECIDES WHO GETS WHAT GIFTS?

But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will....

But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. 1 Corinthians 12:11, 18

WHAT PLACE DOES TONGUES HOLD IN THE LIST OF GIFTS?

And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. 1 Corinthians 12:28

NOTE: Of the three lists of the gifts of the Spirit (Ephesians 4:11-14; Romans 12:6-8; 1 Corinthians 12-14), only Corinthians lists tongues, (and even then at the bottom of the list) and that in seeking to correct a problem that had arisen from a corruption of the true gift.

WHAT IS NEEDED FOR ANY GIFT TO BE EFFECTIVE?

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity [love], I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.

And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. 1
Corinthians 13:1-3

WHICH GIFT IS THE MOST DESIRABLE?

Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy. For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.

But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort. He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.

I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying. 1 Corinthians 14:1-5

WHY IS PROPHECY GREATER THAN AN UNKNOWN TONGUE?

He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church. 1 Corinthians 14:4

WHY SHOULD OTHERS UNDERSTAND WHAT IS SAID?

Now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, except I shall speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine? And even things without life giving sound, whether pipe or harp, except they give a distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped? For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle? So likewise ye, except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye shall speak into the air.

There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and none of them is without signification.

Therefore if I know not the meaning of the voice, I shall be unto him that speaketh a barbarian, and he that speaketh shall be a barbarian unto me. 1 Corinthians 14:6-11

WHAT IS THE PRIMARY PURPOSE OF THE GIFTS?

Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church. 1 Corinthians 14:12

WHAT SHOULD ONE ALWAYS HAVE WHEN PRAYING?

What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also. 1 Corinthians 14:15

WHAT DID PAUL SAY ABOUT TONGUES IN THE CHURCH?

I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all:

Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice

I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue. 1 Corinthians 14:18, 19

TO WHOM ARE TONGUES TO BE A SIGN?

Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe. 1 Corinthians 14:22

NOTE: In the modern charismatic movement it is taught that the gift of tongues is the sign to the church that one has received the Holy Spirit. This is in direct opposition to what Scripture teaches.

WHAT WAS THE APPARENT PROBLEM IN CORINTH?

How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying....

For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints. 1 Corinthians 14:26, 33

WHAT IS PAUL'S CLOSING COUNSEL?

Let all things be done decently and in order. 1 Corinthians 14:40