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Acts describes the disciples at Pentecost speaking in other languages as the Spirit fills them. When Cornelius's household later speaks in tongues, no language barrier is described, and Peter says they received the Holy Spirit just as the disciples did.
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2500 BCE
1000+ CE
Acts 2:4
New Testament
1 Now when the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like a violent wind blowing came from heaven and filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3 And tongues spreading out like a fire appeared to them and came to rest on each one of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit, and they began to speak in other languages as the Spirit enabled them. 5 Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven residing in Jerusalem. 6 When this sound occurred, a crowd gathered and was in confusion because each one heard them speaking in his own language.
Acts 10:46
New Testament
44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell on all those who heard the message. 45 The circumcised believers who had accompanied Peter were greatly 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. Then Peter said, 47 “No one can withhold the water for these people to be baptized, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we did, can he?” 48 So he gave orders to have them baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay for several days.
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Notes and References
“... Such a suggestion is partly confirmed by the observation that when glossolalia is mentioned at other points in Acts (10:46; 19:6; cf. 4:31), the phenomenon appears much more similar to the picture we receive in 1 Corinthians 12-14. In Acts 10, for example, there is no reference to language difficulties. Rather, the point is that God has to overcome Peter’s hesitations concerning Gentile membership in the church by having Cornelius and his people show the spectacular evidence of the Spirit, all of which led Peter to declare that there could be no reason not to baptize those who had received the Holy Spirit “just as we have” (Acts 10:47). Here the Spirit—manifested by glossolalia—does not cross linguistic or geographical barriers, but the barrier between Jews and Gentiles. ...”
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