These Jews heard the believers speaking in each of their native earthly tongues. This demonstration was a sign that God was at work among those who believed the gospel of Jesus, because there was no way the untrained Galileans could perfectly declare the wonders of God in so many languages. Many came to know Jesus because of this expression of the Spirit’s power.

Several years ago I was preaching at a church in Colorado Springs. During the service one of my staff members was sitting in the back of the church. The whole time I was preaching, she felt the urge to quietly pray in tongues. When the service was over, a gentleman who was sitting in front of her approached her and said, “Your French is perfect. You even speak with a perfect accent of the ancient French dialect. I’m a French teacher, and in all my years, I’ve never encountered someone who speaks French as well as you do.”

My staff member responded, “I don’t speak French.” The man was shocked!

He said, “Not only were you speaking perfect French, but you were also quoting scriptures in French. Then John would have the congregation turn to those same scriptures. You quoted them before he even said them.” This experience was a sign to the man affirming the message that God had released through me. The primary purpose of tongues as a sign is to grab the attention of one who is not yet a believer.

Two: Tongues for Interpretation

The second type of tongue is also for public ministry. Unlike tongues as a sign, these tongues are heavenly languages that are not spoken anywhere on the earth. Tongues for interpretation are the type of tongues Paul referred to as a spiritual gift when he said, “...to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues” (1 Corinthians 12:10). Since these tongues are not languages of this earth they have to be interpreted.

Years ago I was getting ready to preach at a church in Singapore. All of a sudden, a man in the service began to speak in an unknown tongue. I knew right away that this tongue was not a language of the earth; it was a heavenly language. Everyone in the room was amazed by this manifestation of the Spirit. After he finished speaking in this heavenly tongue, the man then began to give the interpretation. His interpretation was exactly in line with the message that God had given me for the church. I thought, God, thank You so much for this amazing confirmation! God used this gifting of tongues for interpretation to affirm the word He had placed in my heart. It was a sign for me and for all those in attendance.