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to that person. No two from the upper room went into the streets speaking the same
language (Acts 2:8-11).

Act 2:4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as
the Spirit gave them utterance.

And they were all filled (pletho) with the Holy Ghost (pneuma), and began to speak with
other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance (the words to speak).

Speaking in tongues began on the day of Pentecost and continued from that day on (Acts
4:31). But the personal experience of speaking in tongues is not one that continues on its
own; we must choose to remain filled with the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 5:18). The speaking
comes from man, the words we speak come from the Holy Spirit. The language we receive
is supernatural, but the Holy Spirit uses our voice and will.

The Holy Spirit came on the first disciples the same way He comes upon us today. When
the Holy Spirit comes upon us, He must be received (Acts 8:15), and His words are spoken
through us as we are filled (pletho) to overflowing.

The disciples had an experience with the Holy Spirit when the tongues like fire sat upon
them, but they spoke with tongues when they were filled. When believers now are filled,
they also speak with tongues. This has never changed since the day the Holy Spirit was
given. There may be no initial outward evidence of the Spirit’s indwelling (which is the
new birth), but the infilling, the coming on and equipping with power, does have a
manifestation: speaking in other tongues.

Through the new birth (the indwelling), we enter into the fruits of the Spirit. Through the
infilling, we enter into the gifts of the Spirit. The gifts are manifestations of the Holy Spirit
(1 Corinthians 12:7) and the initial entering of this area has a manifestation also.

For the disciples, speaking with tongues was a fulfillment of Isaiah 28:9-13. It was also a
sign of the coming church age, not only to the believer but also to the Jews concerning
their coming destruction and dispersion. This manifestation of the Spirit was heard by
the Jews first (Acts 2) and then carried to the rest of the world. Isaiah foretold tongues
would be heard by the Jew first as an opportunity to receive the Lord or be destroyed in
the upcoming Roman invasion. Tongues was one of three signs given to the Jews in the
book of Isaiah.

THREE SIGNS GIVEN TO THE JEWS IN THE BOOK OF ISAIAH

1. The Virgin Birth (Isaiah 7:14)
2. Tongues (Isaiah 28:9-13)
3. The Crucifixion (Isaiah 53)

THE CROWD’S REACTION (VERSES 5-13)