Bible Verses About Speaking in Tongues

“And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues.” – Mark 16:17 (NIV)

“They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.” – Acts 2:3-4 (NIV)

“When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. Utterly amazed, they asked: ‘Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language? Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!’” – Acts 2:6-11 (NIV)

“These people are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning! No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:

‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy.’” – Acts 2:15-18 (NIV)

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

“When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied.” – Acts 19:6 (NIV)

“Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.” – 1 Corinthians 12:7-11 (NIV)

“And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? Now eagerly desire the greater gifts.” – 1 Corinthians 12:28-31 (NIV)

“If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.” – 1 Corinthians 13:1 (NIV)

“Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” – 1 Corinthians 13:8-13 (NIV)

“I would like every one of you to speak in tongues, but I would rather have you prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be edified.” – 1 Corinthians 14:5 (NIV)

“Now, brothers and sisters, if I come to you and speak in tongues, what good will I be to you, unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or word of instruction?” – 1 Corinthians 14:6 (NIV)

“For this reason the one who speaks in a tongue should pray that they may interpret what they say. For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful. So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my understanding; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my understanding. Otherwise when you are praising God in the Spirit, how can someone else, who is now put in the position of an inquirer, say “Amen” to your thanksgiving, since they do not know what you are saying? You are giving thanks well enough, but no one else is edified.” – 1 Corinthians 14:13-17 (NIV)

“But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit” – Jude 1:20 (NIV)

“I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you.” – 1 Corinthians 14:18 (NIV)

“In the Law it is written: ‘With other tongues and through the lips of foreigners I will speak to this people, but even then they will not listen to me, says the Lord.’

Tongues, then, are a sign, not for believers but for unbelievers; prophecy, however, is not for unbelievers but for believers. So if the whole church comes together and everyone speaks in tongues, and inquirers or unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are out of your mind?” – 1 Corinthians 14:21-23 (NIV)

“Therefore, my brothers and sisters, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues.” – 1 Corinthians 14:39 (NIV)

If you would like more teaching about speaking in tongues and the gift of interpretation of tongues, please see this page: Speaking in Tongues

Readers can get a copy of Called Writers Christian Publishing’s newest release Speaking in Tongues: Enjoying Intimacy With God Through Tongues and Interpretation on Amazon.

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Chris McKinney

Author and Co-Author at Various Christian Books (Click to View Them on Amazon)

Chris founded Called Writers Christian Publishing out of his extraordinary passion for writing, editing, and publishing Christian material. Chris was formerly the executive editor for GODSPEED Magazine. His articles have also been featured by CBN, Crosswalk, Engage Magazine, and many other publications and websites. He has written and edited for several ministries such as The Foundry and Church of the Highlands, which is the second-largest church in America. His books, Calling All Writers! - A Small Group Curriculum for Christian Writers, Speaking in Tongues: Enjoying Intimacy With God Through Tongues and Interpretation, Cancel the Culture: Securing Our Identity as Christians, and One of the First: Lessons I Learned While Overcoming the Challenges of Integration, can be purchased on Amazon.

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