Speaking in Tongues

[Vic]

(05-18-2009 05:07 PM)Liberated by Faith Wrote:  Peter must have spoke in one universal language... perhaps Greek, perhaps another. There were seventeen nations represented in that room at that time, and they all had to have understand Peter's dissertation. So I would think it was one language Peter spoke that was understood by all. But that gets back to... and strengthens my belief that Peter was not one of those who were speaking in tongues. He referred to a specific group when he said 'these.' More specifically... the ones speaking in tongues. Peter used the word 'we' several times in the book of transition...The Acts of the Apostles. So 'we' was in his vocabulary. Had he been one of those speaking in tongues, no doubt he would have used the word 'we' and not 'these.'

One might well ask how Peter knew they were speaking the wonderful works of God, if he didn't receive the speaking of or understanding of tongues.

Let's clarify. There were not seventeen nations represented in the upper room. There were seventeen nations listed for those Jews that were in Jerusalem.

The 120 Galileans who received the Holy Spirit in the upper room, were given languages as the Holy Spirit gave them utterance, and that very well could have been more languages than the listed nations because of the many dialects from each nation. We are not told how many languages or dialects each was given for declaring the things of God.

We do know a multitude of people came together from all of Jerusalem because of what had taken place in that one house, Acts 2:2"and it filled all the house where they were sitting. "

Acts 1:13-15 And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James. 14. These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren. 15. And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples, and said, (the number of names together were about an hundred and twenty,)...

Act 2:37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? ....Act 2:41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.

There is then record of them afterwards meeting daily in the temple. Act 2:46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, ...

It is highly unlikely that over 3000 people would fit into a normal person's house. Which is what you appear to be thinking about where the multitude gathered.

It's not likely one would invite over 3000 unknown people into your home whom you didn't know and who were either thinking your were drunk or otherwise. And certainly, homes in Jerusalem were not large enough to hold over 3000 people, because that is the number that came to Christ after Peter finished speaking. That isn't necessarily all who were in attendance as part of the multitude.

Act 2:41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. "

The issue over the "we" and " these" is done. It is going nowhere.

Other discussion concerning tongues can continue.