1. Acts 2:1-4
The 120 on the Day of Pentecost: These were men and women, including Mary, the mother of
Jesus. Gathered in the Upper Room on the Day of Pentecost, they were filled with the Holy
Ghost and spoke in tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.
2. Acts 8:5-17
The Samaritans: Saved under Philip's ministry, they received the Holy Spirit when Peter and
John laid hands on them. Simon saw physical evidence of the infilling of the Holy Spirit, which
was probably speaking in tongues.
3. Acts 9:3-18
Saul (later called Paul): When Ananias laid hands on him, Paul received the Holy Spirit. We
know Paul spoke in tongues because later he wrote to the Church at Corinth, "I thank my God,
I speak with tongues more than ye r. 14:18).
4. Acts 10:44-46
Cornelius and his household: This incident occurred years after the Day of Pentecost. As Peter
was preaching the gospel to these first Gentile converts, they were all saved (Acts 11:14) and
filled with the Holy Spirit, and spoke with other tongues.
5. Acts 19:1-7
The Ephesian disciples: This incident occurred many years after the Day of Pentecost. These
Ephesian disciples were saved and baptized in the Name of Jesus after Paul explained the
gospel to them. Then when Paul laid hands on them, they were immediately filled with the Holy
Spirit and they spoke with other tongues.
Thus, in the Bible in the Acts of the Apostles, we see that over many years there are three
recorded incidents of believers receiving the Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking with
tongues. And twice it is inferred that the evidence for believers receiving the Holy Spirit was
speaking in tongues. We should expect to have the same witness of the baptism of the Holy
Spirit in evidence today.
Purposes of Speaking in Tongues
We talked in detail in Chapter 8 about the reasons for speaking in tongues. Let's briefly go over
a few of those reasons again.
Initial Evidence of Receiving the Holy Spirit
Speaking in tongues is the initial evidence or sign of the Holy Spirit's infilling Presence (Acts
2:4). I believe, of course, that there are other evidences that will follow, but this is the first or
initial physical evidence.
Speaking Mysteries Supernaturally to God
Paul gives another reason for speaking with tongues in First Corinthians 14:2: "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" (1 Cor. 14:2).
Moffatt's translation reads, "... he is talking of divine secrets. . . ." Therefore, one reason for
speaking with tongues is so that men may speak mysteries supernaturally to God: ". . . he . . .
.peaketh not unto men, but UNTO GOD . . ." (1 Cor. 14:2).