Someone might ask, “Well, are tongues a sign to unbelieving Jews or Gentiles?
” They can be. We have already seen Scriptural incidents in which they are not: • When Paul or another believer was praying in tongues in private alone, tongues were obviously not a sign to unbelievers. • And when used in private devotions to worship and praise the Lord, they clearly are a sign to no one but the believer and the Lord. • Tongues were not a sign to unbelievers at Cornelius’ house. • Tongues were not a sign to unbelievers when Paul ministered to the 12 at Ephesus. So Scriptures and common sense limit the use of tongues for a sign to unbelievers to some manifestations of tongues in a public service. Then what is meant by tongues being a sign to unbelievers? I’ve seen this happen in one form or another, a number of times. You see, true speaking in tongues and interpretation is very powerful. These gifts are riveting to observe. Speaking a message in tongues and interpreting it in a public service can have a mighty, convicting effect on an unbeliever. I’ve seen it take place
