Did people receive the Holy Spirit and speak in tongues? Or did they speak in tongues ....?

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Dave L

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Did people receive the Holy Spirit and speak in tongues? Or did they speak in tongues and receive the Holy Spirit?

Both. The Apostles received the out-poured Holy Spirit and spoke in tongues. Those who heard and understood also received the Holy Spirit, through hearing. Paul said those who speak in tongues speak not to man but to God. So the devout Jews who heard the message in their own native tongues must have received the Holy Spirit as well and the gift of tongues interpretation.

The apostles passed the Holy Spirit on in ways similar to the outpouring, through their hands. First at Samaria where they laid hands on Philip’s superficial converts, (who believed not by faith, but because of the miracles they saw). And later at Ephesus on finding John the Baptists’ disciples who also received the Holy Spirit through their hands. Those people spoke in tongues and those who heard also received the Holy Spirit through their word.

And so it is today. We have the word through which we receive the Holy Spirit. And those who listen to us also receive the Holy Spirit through the gospel words we speak to them.

God always provided the Holy Spirit through his word. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God (Romans 10:17). And faith is a fruit of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22). So the Holy Spirit comes to all believers through the spoken word (1 Peter 1:23). Jesus said his words are Spirit and they are life (John 6:63). So apart from the two outpourings. And through the apostles’ hands, it is through the word of God believers of all-time receive the Holy Spirit. When we speak Christ to others, we speak the Holy Spirit and his life into their hearts. And this develops through repentance.

How do we receive the fullness of the Holy Spirit? Through repentance. Peter said repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38). But we must realize, only believers would consider repenting. And Jesus says whoever believes has eternal life. So the more believers repent, the more we experience the Holy Spirit. The less time we spend in the flesh, the more time we spend in the Spirit. Less sin = more Spirit. More bible, more Spirit....
 
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Deborah_

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This interpretation doesn't make sense. If those who heard the apostles received the Holy Spirit (and the gift of interpretation) just through hearing the tongues, why did Peter then tell them that they would receive the Holy Spirit when (and if) they were baptised as followers of Jesus (Acts 2:38)?

It is generally assumed that the apostles were speaking supernaturally in languages that were understood by their audience - so on this occasion (unusually) the gift of interpretation was not needed for understanding. This doesn't contradict Paul's assertion that we speak to God when we speak in tongues. The apostles were speaking to God on the Day of Pentecost - praising Him (Acts 2:11) - and the crowd simply 'overheard' what they were saying.
 
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Dave L

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This interpretation doesn't make sense. If those who heard the apostles received the Holy Spirit (and the gift of interpretation) just through hearing the tongues, why did Peter then tell them that they would receive the Holy Spirit when (and if) they were baptised as followers of Jesus (Acts 2:38)?

It is generally assumed that the apostles were speaking supernaturally in languages that were understood by their audience - so on this occasion (unusually) the gift of interpretation was not needed for understanding. This doesn't contradict Paul's assertion that we speak to God when we speak in tongues. The apostles were speaking to God on the Day of Pentecost - praising Him (Acts 2:11) - and the crowd simply 'overheard' what they were saying.
Keep in mind, there were around 3000 people who Peter dealt with at Pentecost. Not just the devout Jews who understood the message. Paul says whoever speaks in tongues does not speak to people. But to God. So these who understood also received the Holy Spirit transmitted through the word having also received the gift of interpretation. Thanks for considering this.
 
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1stCenturyLady

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So the devout Jews who heard the message in their own native tongues must have received the Holy Spirit as well and the gift of tongues interpretation.
Exactly. That is why they were referred to as "devout" Jews. They belonged to God already and being called. What others "heard" was gibberish and thought they were drunk. My thoughts on who those were is they were Romans or other Gentiles that the gospel was not yet for.

But I do not believe they had received the actual infilling of the Holy Spirit until they obeyed Peter's words to repent. Acts 2:38. The gifts are from God, and he can use them as a sign on anyone being called. For instance, you don't have to be a Christian for you to receive healing. But may come to God, BECAUSE of the healing.

Anyway, I haven't read the rest of your post. I just got up a while ago and need COFFEE!
 
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Dave L

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Exactly. That is why they were referred to as "devout" Jews. They belonged to God already and being called. What others "heard" was gibberish and thought they were drunk. My thoughts on who those were is they were Romans or other Gentiles that the gospel was not yet for.

But I do not believe they had received the actual infilling of the Holy Spirit until they obeyed Peter's words to repent. Acts 2:38. The gifts are from God, and he can use them as a sign on anyone being called. For instance, you don't have to be a Christian for you to receive healing. But may come to God, BECAUSE of the healing.

Anyway, I haven't read the rest of your post. I just got up a while ago and need COFFEE!
This is true, but the Holy Spirit does not live in a sinful heart. So repentance always precedes the fullness.
 

1stCenturyLady

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This is true, but the Holy Spirit does not live in a sinful heart. So repentance always precedes the fullness.

I agree. All I'm saying is God sovereignly allowed them to interpret the tongues to draw them to Christ and repentance.
 
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CoreIssue

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Did people receive the Holy Spirit and speak in tongues? Or did they speak in tongues and receive the Holy Spirit?

Both. The Apostles received the out-poured Holy Spirit and spoke in tongues. Those who heard and understood also received the Holy Spirit, through hearing. Paul said those who speak in tongues speak not to man but to God. So the devout Jews who heard the message in their own native tongues must have received the Holy Spirit as well and the gift of tongues interpretation.

The apostles passed the Holy Spirit on in ways similar to the outpouring, through their hands. First at Samaria where they laid hands on Philip’s superficial converts, who believed not by faith, but because of the miracles they saw. And later at Ephesus on finding John the Baptists’ disciples who also received the Holy Spirit through their hands. Those people spoke in tongues and those who heard also received the Holy Spirit through their word.

And so it is today. We have the word through which we receive the Holy Spirit. And those who listen to us also receive the Holy Spirit through the gospel words we speak to them.

God always provided the Holy Spirit through his word. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God (Romans 10:17). And faith is a fruit of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22). So the Holy Spirit comes to all believers through the spoken word (1 Peter 1:23). Jesus said his words are Spirit and they are life (John 6:63). So apart from the two outpourings. And through the apostles’ hands, it is through the word of God believers of all-time receive the Holy Spirit. When we speak Christ to others, we speak the Holy Spirit and his life into their hearts. And this develops through repentance.

How do we receive the fullness of the Holy Spirit? Through repentance. Peter said repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38). But we must realize, only believers would consider repenting. And Jesus says whoever believes has eternal life. So the more believers repent, the more we experience the Holy Spirit. The less time we spend in the flesh, the more time we spend in the Spirit. Less sin = more Spirit. More bible, more Spirit....

Where does it say the apostles spoke in tongues when Christ gave them the Holy Spirit? It does not.

It does talk of some speaking in tongues later, as a gift of the Holy Spirit, not as a sign.

And on the day of Pentecost only some are said to have spoken in tongues.

You spoke of others who spoke in tongues when receiving the Holy Spirit. But you did not mention the others who did not.

Tongues is a gift of the Holy Spirit, it is always given for a purpose, sometimes as a sign, sometimes to aid in witnessing and so forth. Sometimes the gift is not given to a born-again believer, the norm, not the exception.

Every believer receives a gift, but not the same gift. The body of Christ has many parts that serve many functions.
 
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Dave L

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Where does it say the apostles spoke in tongues when Christ gave them the Holy Spirit? It does not.

It does talk of some speaking in tongues later, as a gift of the Holy Spirit, not as a sign.

And on the day of Pentecost only some are said to have spoken in tongues.

You spoke of others who spoke in tongues when receiving the Holy Spirit. But you did not mention the others who did not.

Tongues is a gift of the Holy Spirit, it is always given for a purpose, sometimes as a sign, sometimes to aid in witnessing and so forth. Sometimes the gift is not given to a born-again believer, the norm, not the exception.

Every believer receives a gift, but not the same gift. The body of Christ has many parts that serve many functions.
“And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.” (Acts 2:4) (KJV 1900)
 

CoreIssue

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“And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.” (Acts 2:4) (KJV 1900)

There were more than the apostles there.

As well the apostles had already been given the Holy Spirit by Christ and they did not speak in tongues.

John 20:21-22 New International Version (NIV)

21 Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” 22 And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.
 
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Dave L

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There were more than the apostles there.

As well the apostles had already been given the Holy Spirit by Christ and they did not speak in tongues.
Not necessarily. It was a different time and place from the 120 that gathered.
 

CoreIssue

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Not necessarily. It was a different time and place from the 120 that gathered.
Again you failed to read. So I post again.

John 20:21-22 New International Version (NIV)
21 Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” 22 And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.
 
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Dave L

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Again you failed to read. So I post again.

John 20:21-22 New International Version (NIV)
21 Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” 22 And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.
All born again have the Holy Spirit. But the baptism of the Holy Spirit happened on Pentecost and continues today along with the new birth.
 

Deborah_

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Keep in mind, there were around 3000 people who Peter dealt with at Pentecost. Not just the devout Jews who understood the message. Paul says whoever speaks in tongues does not speak to people. But to God. So these who understood also received the Holy Spirit transmitted through the word having also received the gift of interpretation. Thanks for considering this.
I'm not convinced. At all.
 

CoreIssue

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All born again have the Holy Spirit. But the baptism of the Holy Spirit happened on Pentecost and continues today along with the new birth.


Does Acts 2 say baptism of the Holy Spirit? No. Does it say receive the Holy Spirit? Yes.

Does John say the apostles received the Holy Spirit? Yes.
 
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Dave L

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Does Acts 2 say baptism of the Holy Spirit? No. Does it say receive the Holy Spirit? Yes.

Does John say the apostles received the Holy Spirit? Yes.
“for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”” (Acts 1:5) (NASB95)