Pentecostal Sermons and Bible Studies by Pastor Jim Feeney, Ph.D.

Speaking in Tongues: Initial Evidence of Baptism with the Spirit

The Bible uniformly presents speaking in tongues as the first outward evidence of receiving the baptism with the Holy Spirit.

In Short

The Book of Acts consistently records one immediate outward sign when believers received the baptism with the Holy Spirit: they spoke in other tongues as the Holy Spirit enabled them. This Bible study examines the three principal accounts—Acts 2, Acts 10, and Acts 19—and explains why Scripture teaches that speaking in tongues is the initial evidence of Spirit baptism.

Key Takeaways

Key Scriptures

Acts 2:1–4; Acts 10:44–48; Acts 19:1–7; Mark 16:17; Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4–8; 1 Corinthians 12:7–11; 1 Corinthians 14:1–5

Share this page on WhatsApp

Welcome to Original Pentecostal
Sermons and Bible Studies
by Pastor Jim Feeney, Ph.D.

Pastor Jim Feeney, Ph.D.

Brief Bio

Pastor Jim Feeney, Ph.D., is a Pentecostal Bible teacher with more than 50 years of Spirit-filled ministry experience. His sermons and Bible studies are personally written and drawn from decades of service as a church planter, senior pastor, Bible college teacher and Dean, and as a trainer of ministers internationally in the Pentecostal tradition.

Introduction

Among Pentecostal Christians, few doctrines have generated more discussion than the question of the initial evidence of baptism with the Holy Spirit. Rather than beginning with later theological traditions or denominational positions, this study begins where Christian doctrine should always begin—with the Scriptures themselves. We'll examine the principal New Testament accounts of Spirit baptism and ask what the biblical evidence consistently reveals.

Speaking in tongues — is it the unique, universal initial evidence that someone has received the baptism with the Holy Spirit? You'll often hear Pentecostals say that they have been "baptized (or filled) with the Holy Spirit with the initial evidence of speaking in tongues." Are they biblically correct? Or should we look for another sign?

Pentecostal Christianity worldwide is believed by some researchers to number at least half a billion members. The vast majority of Pentecostals have historically held the doctrinal position that a person baptized with the Holy Spirit will speak in tongues as the initial evidence of that Holy Spirit baptism. That is the position that will be put forth in this Bible study. Let’s examine three primary Scripture portions that lead to this conclusion.

On Pentecost They Were Baptized in the Spirit and Spoke in Tongues

Acts 1:4-5; 2:1-4 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. [5] For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” ... [2:1] When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. [2] Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. [3] They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. [4] All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

•• What is unique here? — the speaking in other tongues. Glossolalia is the technical term used by theologians to describe this experience.

•• What is not unique here? — the manifestations of wind and fire.
• 1 Kings 19:11   The LORD said [to Elijah], “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by.” Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind.
 
• 1 Kings 19:12a  After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire.
 
• 1 Kings 19:12b  And after the fire came a gentle whisper [KJV: a still small voice]. It was in the voice, the speaking, that Elijah discerned the Lord. So he went out to the mouth of the cave to meet with the Lord who spoke to him.
•• Elijah met with God at Mount Horeb. God granted him dramatic manifestations of wind and fire, also an earthquake. But the Bible specifically states that “the Lord was not in the wind ... not in the fire.” Elijah sensed the Lord in the “still small voice.”
 
•• At Pentecost in Acts 2:1-4, the disciples likewise experienced dramatic, God-sent manifestations of wind and fire — similar to Elijah at Mt. Horeb. But the only unique manifestation on that day of Pentecost was the talking in tongues, not the wind and fire.

During Peter's Preaching They Were Likewise Filled with the Spirit and Spoke in Tongues

Acts 10:44-46  While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. [45] The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles. [46] For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God.

•• Again, what was unique here? — the speaking in tongues.
 
•• What was not unique here? — the praising of God, which is common throughout the Old and New Testaments.

Under Paul's Ministry They Too Received the Spirit and Spoke in Tongues

Acts 19:6  When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied.

•• Once more, what was unique here? — the speaking in tongues.
 
•• What was not unique here? — the prophesying, which is commonly seen in both Testaments.

The Bible Truth? Tongues Are the Initial Evidence of the Baptism of the Spirit

The Scriptural conclusion? The baptism with the Holy Spirit (as we have seen in Acts 2, 10, and 19) is a uniquely New Testament experience. And it has a unique initial evidence — speaking in tongues!

The sound of a rushing, mighty wind (Acts 2:2) is not an evidence, nor is it “the evidence”. It occurred on only one of the New Testament instances of the baptism of the Holy Spirit. And it had occurred in the Old Testament (e.g., 1 Kings 19:11), where it was clearly not the evidence of the Pentecostal baptism with the Spirit.

Fire, or tongues of fire (Acts 2:3), is not an evidence, nor is it “the evidence” of the Holy Ghost baptism. It also occurred in only one of the New Testament cases. And fire was a fairly common occurrence in the Old Testament when God revealed Himself, and again clearly not in the context of the Holy Spirit baptism.

Praising God (Acts 10:46) is universal throughout Scripture. So it cannot be singled out as an evidence that one is Spirit-filled. Many non-Spirit-filled people praised God in the Old Testament and continue to do so today.

Prophecy (Acts 19:6) is likewise common in the Old Testament among those not baptized in the Holy Spirit in the abiding, Acts 2, Pentecostal way. So it too cannot be put forth as a unique evidence that one has received the baptism of the Spirit.

Other Things May or May Not Happen, But the Every-Time Biblical Evidence of Being Filled with/Baptized with the Holy Spirit Is Speaking in Tongues

What conclusions can be drawn from the Scriptures we have examined?

• Neither wind nor fire are necessary evidences of the baptism with the Holy Spirit.
 
• And if they do occur, as they already had in the Old Testament, they do not therefore uniquely certify that the person has received the Holy Spirit baptism.
 
• Neither praise nor prophecy is a necessary evidence. They may indeed occur, but many Old Testament persons did one or both, but were not baptized in the Spirit.
 
• Other things — like love, or renewed zeal — may flow from the baptism with the Holy Spirit. But they also characterize many Old Testament saints without this Pentecostal, spiritual filling.
 
• Only speaking in tongues (as in Acts 2, Acts 10, and Acts 19) is the unique evidence of the unique New Testament experience called the baptism with the Holy Spirit.

Pastor Jim's Perspective

For more than fifty years of Pentecostal ministry, I have continued to find that this doctrine is best settled by patiently reading the Book of Acts rather than beginning with later theological debates. Acts records three principal accounts in which people receive the baptism with the Holy Spirit, and each points to the same initial outward evidence: speaking in tongues. That consistent biblical pattern has shaped my conviction throughout decades of ministry, Bible teaching, and training pastors. My desire is not to promote a denominational distinctive but to encourage every believer to examine the Scriptures carefully and allow God's Word to establish doctrine.

Study This Topic More Deeply

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the Bible teach that speaking in tongues is the initial evidence of Spirit baptism?

Yes. The Book of Acts consistently records speaking in tongues as the first outward evidence when believers received the baptism with the Holy Spirit. Careful examination of the principal biblical accounts in Acts 2, Acts 10, and Acts 19 reveals that this is the New Testament pattern.

Do all Christians receive the baptism with the Holy Spirit at conversion?

The new birth (salvation) and the baptism with the Holy Spirit are two different experiences, that may or may not occur at the same time. The Book of Acts teaches that the baptism with the Holy Spirit is a distinct New Testament experience that is accompanied by speaking in tongues as its initial evidence.

Why does this doctrine matter?

Because Christian doctrine should be established by the consistent teaching and example of Scripture. This study encourages believers to examine the biblical record itself rather than relying primarily on later traditions or theological opinions.

Shortcuts to Major Topics:

Christian Living
Doctrine & Theology
Evangelism
Faith
Gifts of the Holy Spirit
Healing
Hearing from God
Holy Spirit | Pentecostal Topics
Jesus Christ
Ministry
Power of God
Prayer
Salvation
The Church
Various Topics Not Listed Elsewhere
Victory over the Devil
Word of God

Sharing is great!
Boys show it's good to share
If you've been blessed by our
Bible verses and sermon on
Speaking in Tongues Is
the Initial Evidence of the
Baptism of the Holy Spirit,
please share it with your friends. It
might change their lives for the better.
Email them the browser link. Or
you can post the link on your social
media (Facebook, X, WhatsApp, etc.).
Thank you for sharing God's Word!

©2005, 2015, 2026, James H. Feeney.
Copyright statement.
 



 

Pentecostal Sermons and Bible Studies
by Pastor Jim Feeney, Ph.D.