Lesson 336

(Lesson 336)(07-16-12) Acts 2:5-12, " 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 marvelled, 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. And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this?"

It is very important to note, who was in attendance at this place, these were all devout Jews. The importance of knowing this will become evident as we progress.

Note too, the miracle performed here was not a miracle of "tongues", it was a miracle of 'ears'.

Those who were present for the Passover celebration said, " And how HEAR we every man in our own tongue". No one was speaking "unknown tongues" at this gathering, those present were simply hearing their own language, while the Apostles spoke in a different language, which was, on the part of the Apostles Probably Aramaic, since Aramaic was the common spoken language of the area at that time. As I said, the miracle was in the fact that each of those present could HEAR their own language as the Apostles spoke their own.

There have been many "worship" hours wasted on someone supposedly speaking in "unknown tongues" when in bible reality, no bible character was ever recorded as have spoken in a tongue other than their own.

There will be much more on the misunderstanding concerning tongues, as we proceed.~