1 Corinthians 14:2
For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.
Primary
What this passage establishes
Speaking in an unknown tongue directs speech to God and communicates mysteries in the Spirit.
Why it matters in the argument
Acts gives observable accounts of people receiving the promised Spirit. Those narratives supply the Bible’s clearest pattern for recognizing Spirit reception.
Apostolic connection
Apostolic teaching distinguishes the initial sign of tongues when the Spirit is received from the later congregational gift that requires interpretation.
Common misunderstanding
Paul’s question ‘do all speak with tongues?’ concerns distributed gifts in the assembled body, not the repeated initial sign in Acts.
How to use it in conversation
Start with the promise, then compare Acts 2, 10, and 19. Use 1 Corinthians only after distinguishing initial sign, private prayer, and public gift.
Scripture connections
See which passages advance, clarify, or answer the argument