What does the Bible say about speaking in tongues?
Acts 2:11 "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, 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. And they were all amazed and marveled, 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."
You will notice that those who were baptized began to speak in other than their own ethnic dialect, it wasn't some unknown babbling. Everyone there including the un-baptized heard each individual in his own language. No interpreter was needed.
Acts 10:46 "For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God."
"They heard them praising God" It did not say that an interpreter was needed to explain to them that they were praising God, they understood it!
Acts 19:6 "And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spoke with tongues, and prophesied."
Once again, how could they have known they were prophesying?
1Corinthians 12:1-10 "Now concerning spiritual gifts,...Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.... And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which works 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 diversities of languages; to another the interpretation of languages:"
1Corinthians 12:28-30 "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. Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles? Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with different dialects? do all interpret?"
Being able to communicate in a foreign language was a gift of the spirit since there was no formal education at that time in which to learn other languages. That is why God poured out his spirit at that time, to enable the gospel to be preached unto the ends of the earth. It would do no good to preach the gospel if you could not communicate with those you were speaking to.
READ ALL of 1Corinthians 14, The following are some highlights.
1Corinthians 14:6 "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?"
1Corinthians 14:9 "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."
1Corinthians 14:23 "If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad?"
Did you get that last one? Do you really think the Lord wants people to think
the church is crazy?
To sum it up, If you have the ability to speak in a foreign language, do so only
when there is a need to communicate with someone of that language, otherwise who
will understand and profit from it?
1Corinthians 14:33 "For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints."