Fifth Witness: Saul
The other account in Acts that infers that speaking in tongues was the evidence of receiving
the Holy Spirit is found in Acts 9. In the case of Saul (who
was later named Paul), the account in Acts 9 says Ananias was sent by Jesus to lay his hands
upon Saul that Saul might be filled with the Holy Spirit.
ACTS 9:17
17 And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him
said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou
camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and BE FILLED with the Holy
Ghost. "But it doesn't say Saul, or Paul, spoke with tongues," someone might object.
While it is true the Bible doesn't specifically say in Acts 9:17 that Paul spoke with tongues, we
do know that Paul spoke with tongues because he said in another passage, "I thank my God, I
speak with tongues more than ye all" (1 Cor. 14:18).
We know that Paul didn't begin speaking with tongues before he received the Holy Ghost, so it
is logical to assume that when Ananias laid hands on him, Saul received the Holy Ghost just
as everyone else did — with the evidence of speaking in other tongues. Paul received the Holy
Ghost and spoke in tongues just like the rest of us do when we receive the Holy Ghost,
because tongues go along with this biblical experience.
The Baptism of the Holy Spirit And Speaking in Tongues Go Hand in Hand
I know in my own case as a denominational pastor more than fifty years ago, that as I read the
New Testament and the Spirit of God helped me understand these verses, I was convinced
that if I received the same Holy Ghost the Christians in the Book of Acts received, I would have
the same initial sign or evidence they had — I would speak with tongues too. I wasn't satisfied
with anything else.
We need to understand that speaking in tongues is not the Holy Ghost and the Holy Ghost is
not speaking in tongues, but the two do go hand in hand. For example, it is just like the tongue
of a shoe. The tongue isn't the shoe and the shoe isn't the tongue, but the tongue is a part of
the shoe, and it's an integral part of the shoe; a shoe is not a shoe without it.
To further illustrate this point, when you buy an automobile in the United States, you receive a
certificate of title. That certificate of title is evidence that the automobile is yours. Certainly the
automobile is not the certificate of title, and the certificate of title is not the automobile. But
you'll never get very far in the automobile without the certificate of title because the car would
not be considered legally yours without it! Therefore, the automobile is not fully of benefit to
you without the certificate of title.
It's the same way with receiving the Holy Spirit. If you have the infilling of the Holy Ghost, then
you should have the biblical evidence that goes along with that experience, which is speaking
in tongues.
To answer the question, Is it necessary to speak in tongues? let me put it this way: If you want
a New Testament experience of the baptism in the Holy Ghost and you want the same Holy
Spirit the apostles and the Early Church had, then you will want to speak with tongues. That is