To understand the purpose of tongues in the local church. David guzik commentary on acts 2, where the holy spirit is poured out on the church, and peter gives his sermon on the day of pentecost. The abuse of tonguesspeaking in corinth did not arise from the belief in speaking in tongues, but rather in the neglect of the scriptures which teach its proper use. As previously stated, the main scriptures that are used to justify tongues as seen in paganism and nonchristian cults which made its way into the church in 1901, come from 1 corinthians 14. The fire on the day of pentecost appeared in the form of tongues to symbolize gods holy power through the proclamation of his word, burning into people in a way that purifies them.
Taming the tongues of fire phoenix guides to the new testament shelly matthews on. The presence of god in acts 2 is also accompanied by an act of god. In addition to the fire bible notes, we also released a commentary on the book of acts by pentecostal scholar stanley horton. Acts 2 commentary william barclays daily study bible. Tongues of fire isbe tongues of fire glossai hosei puros. The gift of tongues is viewed as a holy, mystical ability that somehow operates in a persons spirit and comes out the mouth and bypasses the mind. Youll get this book and many others when you join bible. When discussing salvation experiences from the scriptures, revivalist groups almost universally focus on a select few accounts from the book of acts generally acts 2, acts 8, acts 10 and acts 19. Ezekiels mission was confirmed by a vision of burning coals of fire, and isaiahs by a coal of fire touching his lips, acts 6. Apr 21, 2016 in the book of acts, the gift of tongues was a miraculous sign gift, which was given for the purposes of. The spirit, like fire, melts the heart, separates and burns up the dross, and kindles pious and devout affections in the soul, in which, as in the fire. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. Mar 19, 2018 that is not, however, the normal purpose of tongues in the bible or subsequently. Sep 30, 2019 in acts 2, jews in jerusalem are still celebrating pentecost, but this pentecost is different.
Apr 27, 2020 the fire begins to burn in their hearts luke 24. James writes about how great a matter a little fire kindleth. Acts 2 commentary james burton coffman commentaries on the. Tongues of fire and sacred mysteries the economist. Yet luke has a special reason to highlight this special occurrence of recognized tongues in acts 2. And there appeared to them tongues as of fire, distributed and resting on each one of them. Tongues of fire definition and meaning bible dictionary. What are the tongues of fire over the head of those in the upper room in acts 2. This commentary is very readable and features study questions after each major section, so it is suitable for personal and group study. Fifty days after passover, they celebrated the feast of pentecost. It must be the last, because the final passover took place fifty days earlier when jesus, the spotless lamb of god, was crucified for the sins of gods people. No attempt is made here to deal with those issues that arise out of 1 corinthians 14, the passage that ad dresses the matter of abuses of tongues within one particular local congregational setting.
Acts 2 commentary james burton coffman commentaries on. Enrich your faith and grow in spiritual maturity with the incredible bible study and devotional books listed below. Commentary on the book of acts of the apostles matthew henrys bible commentary. Dennis johnson, the message of acts in the history of redemption. An early church definition of tongues can be presented as follows.
In the book of acts, the gift of tongues was a miraculous sign gift, which was given for the purposes of. After his resurrection the lord bade his disciples to tarry in jerusalem until he should fulfill to them the promise of the father, and until they should be clothed with power from on high. Posts about tongues of fire in acts written by lehunt. The book of acts opens with the dramatic story of tongues of flame descending upon believers at pentecost and the prophecy of an egalitarian dispensation of the spirit being fulfilled. The following is an english translation of a text relating to tongues and pentecost. A study in the book of acts purpose to understand the purpose of tongues in the local church. The holy spirit at pentecost 2 suddenly a sound like a mighty rushing wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting.
Salvation throughout acts surprisingly, there are around fifteen other salvation accounts recorded in the book of acts. All of them were filled with the holy spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the spirit enabled them. Jan 07, 2018 the phrase tongues of fire is taken from acts 2. And while they are all waiting together, a loud noise fills the whole house. Not only did it not change mans nature, but the passion play was also full of lies. Such activities are escapes from the realities of ordinary life. Speaking in tongues was a gift bestowed by the holy spirit, but it, or any other gift, can be misused. It acted like a religious drug, the effects of which were shortlived. And they are simply overwhelmed with the greatness of god. In the book of acts, the disciples were all in the temple praising god. A medieval commentary of the book of acts from a fragment attributed to the fifth century church father, cyril of alexandria.
This significance can be explored by understanding the purpose and use of tongues as used by luke in the book of acts. In the opening chapters of acts johnson describes the role of the disciples as spiritrepaired men who have their eyes opened and spirits healed. The spirit appears as tongues of fire because the spirit will enable the apostles to speak articulately and in languages they did not otherwise know. And then tongues of fire begin to appear over the heads of each one of the disciples. Barnes seems inclined to apply it only to the messiah 222.
It was an abnormal experience, somewhat like a modern pentecostal meeting where worshippers pray down the spirit and speak in tongues. One of the phenomena that occurred at the outpouring of the holy spirit on the day of pentecost. We, just as they, can be all filled with the holy spirit. So tongues becomes a sign, but not to the believeri mean, if you just believe which is the gift of god, and receive the holy spirit, that is great. Our the king james version cloven tongues is somewhat misleading, for it is likely to suggest that each fire like tongue was cloven or forked, as one sometimes sees in the pictures representing the scene. And suddenly a sound came from heaven like the rush of a mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. The journey is an online commentary of the daily reading over todays scripture passage. Everyone was filled with the holy spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the spirit enabled them. Next, the eye was arrested by the appearance of tongues of fire which rested on each of the gathered company. The galilean disciples began to immediately speak and prophesy in a multitude of languages that they did not know. They celebrated the feast of the passover to remember the time in egypt they had been passed over when the firstborn of the egyptians had died in the plagues. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. Commentary on the book of acts bible study lessons. And many charismatics are even told they have to purposefully switch off their mind to enable the gift to function.
And they were all filled with the holy ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the. While it would be wrong to expect a rushing mighty wind or tongues, as of fire, to be present today when the holy spirit is poured out, we can experience the true gift. That is not, however, the normal purpose of tongues in the bible or subsequently. Acts 2 commentary, one of over 110 bible commentaries freely available, this commentary, by the leading authority in the church of christ, presents a verse level look at the bible. We encourage you to take a few minutes to read over the passage for yourself, and to reflect on any. Acts 2 commentary, one of over 110 bible commentaries freely available, this commentary, as set of 17 volumes on the new testament, the result of barclays dedicated work. The reference in this topic is to the marvelous gift of the holy spirit on the day of pentecost acts 2.
But it is a sign to the believer in christ who thinks, well i have to speak in tongues before i can rejoice and say god has filled me, or before i have been baptized. This is all which the phrase, tongues of fire, means in the language of the seventy. And they were all filled with the holy spirit and they began to speak in other tongues as the spirit gave them the power of utterance. In the book of acts, holy men gave into the treasury of a common fund. In acts 2, jews in jerusalem are still celebrating pentecost, but this pentecost is different.
This is the second time in short order that heaven and earth. Speaking in tongues was no mark of spirituality, because the corinthian church was unspiritual, having manifested carnality 3. This is the typical charismatic perspective, by the way. As paul later stated, the gospel is the power of god for salvation to everyone who believes rom. The tongues of fire were symbolic of the holy spirit, who came in power on the church. These selected texts are then presented by revivalists in a very specific manner in an endeavour to seek support for their all must. This article seeks to examine the function of the gift of tongues as it is treated in the book of acts. Acts free bible commentary on the book of acts in easy english.
Believers assembled in an upper room saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them acts. Acts chapter 2 matthew henry complete commentary on. What the bible says about speaking in tongues from forerunner commentary acts 2. What are the tongues of fire over the head of those in the. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat.
Since the immanuel prophecy and the prince of peace prophecy 9. Several important questions arise from this phrase what is the meaning of tongues of fire. And tongues, like tongues of fire, appeared to them, which distributed themselves among them and settled on each one of them. An examination of salvation in the book of acts introduction. The spirit, like fire, melts the heart, separates and burns up the dross, and kindles pious and devout affections in the soul, in which, as in the fire upon the altar, the spiritual sacrifices are offered up.
An emblem of the various tongues and languages, in which they were to preach the gospel. For a more detailed study of these acts accounts, see the following articles summary acts 2,8,10,19 also pentecost, acts 8, acts 10, acts 19. Below is the whole chapter minus the issue of woman speaking in the church with commentary included in. It comes from a supplement to cyrils works as found in migne patrologia graeca. His presence is confirmed by the direction from which the sound comes. Apr 21, 2020 the journey is an online commentary of the daily reading over todays scripture passage. The point of speaking in tongues in acts 2 bible background. Click chart to enlarge chart from jensens survey of the nt used by permission. There were staying in jerusalem, jews, devout men from all the races under heaven. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. This purpose of the gift of tongues, namely to communicate gods message to israel, is verified in the three passages in acts where speaking in tongues is mentioned. And there appeared to them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat on each of them. Tongues of fire and the fullness of god desiring god.
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