*SHOCKING BUT TRUE: THE FIRST “TONGUES” AT PENTECOST WERE REAL HUMAN LANGUAGES!* As we prepare for Pentecost, I would love you to know this… THE LANGUAGE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT WASN’T GIBBERISH. It was every language under heaven. Let me explain “Each one heard them speaking in his own language… Parthians, Medes, Elamites… visitors from Rome…” (Acts 2:6–11) At Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit descended like fire, the Apostles began speaking in actual, existing human languages they had never learned. This wasn't emotional shouting. This wasn’t private prayer. This was a miracle of divine communication. Jews from all nations heard the Gospel in their own native languages. It was the Tower of Babel reversed. God had once scattered mankind by confusing their tongues… Now He was uniting them through the Gospel in every tongue. SO WHAT LANGUAGE WAS SPOKEN AT PENTECOST? Many! The Bible mentions: Parthian Median Elamite Mesopotamian dialects Coptic (Egypt) Libyan dialects Greek Latin Arabic, and more… Each listener understood clearly and directly, without translation. The miracle wasn’t in the hearing. The miracle was in the speaking. BUT IS THIS THE SAME AS “SPEAKING IN TONGUES” TODAY? Not exactly. Many confuse what happened at Pentecost with the “gift of tongues” Paul describes in 1 Corinthians. Here’s the truth that shocks many Pentecost Tongues (Acts 2): Spoken to people In real human languages Understood by all present Used for preaching the Gospel Corinthian Tongues (1 Corinthians 12–14): Spoken to God Often unknown or heavenly languages Not understood unless interpreted Used for prayer or edification So when Paul says, “He who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God,” (1 Cor. 14:2), he’s not describing Pentecost. He’s describing a different spiritual gift. WHY THIS MATTERS TODAY 1. God speaks in every language. The Gospel is not bound to Hebrew, Greek, or Latin. The Holy Spirit crosses every barrier. 2. Pentecost tongues were for the nations. Not for private prayer, but for public proclamation. 3. The mission has not changed. The fire that fell on Pentecost was not just to make the apostles feel good, it was to make them bold enough to preach everywhere. THE WORLD STILL WAITS TO HEAR At Sinai, God gave the Law in fire. At Pentecost, He gave the Spirit in fire, and with words. Not just in one tongue. But in all tongues. Because the Gospel is not for one race, one tribe, or one country. “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations…” (Matthew 28:19) “And this Gospel of the Kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to every nation…” (Matthew 24:14) Pentecost is not a memory, it's a mission. You are filled to be sent. You are empowered to proclaim. You are baptized in fire to carry this fire to the ends of the earth. THE CONCLUSION: GOD SPEAKS YOUR LANGUAGE, SO YOU CAN SPEAK HIS The Gospel must be heard again, in every dialect. In Hausa. In Igbo. In Swahili. In French. In English. In sign language. In whispers. In songs. In sermons. The Holy Spirit came so that you might become His voice. He is still speaking, through those who are willing. “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” (Acts 2:21) Let every tongue confess. Let every nation hear. Let every language proclaim: Jesus Christ is Lord! If this opened your eyes, don’t keep it to yourself. Share it. Teach it. Preach it. Let the fire of Pentecost spread again. *Source: Catholic Online Class* *©️ CATHOLIC CONNECT 🇻🇦✝️☦️*