Speaking in tongues first appears in a major way on the Day of Pentecost. Acts 2 records that the disciples “began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance” (Acts 2:4, KJV). These tongues were real, known human languages. The people present said, “how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?” (Acts 2:8, KJV). The purpose was to proclaim the gospel clearly to people from many nations, not to create confusion.

The gift of tongues is also discussed in 1 Corinthians 12 to 14. Paul lists tongues as one of several spiritual gifts given by the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:10, KJV). However, he emphasizes that not all believers have this gift, asking rhetorically, “do all speak with tongues?” (1 Corinthians 12:30, KJV). The implied answer is no. This shows that tongues are not a universal sign of salvation or spiritual maturity.

Paul also gives strict guidelines for the use of tongues in the church. Tongues must be interpreted if used publicly, otherwise the speaker should remain silent in the congregation (1 Corinthians 14:27 to 28, KJV). The reason is clear: “except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken?” (1 Corinthians 14:9, KJV). God values edification and understanding, not disorder. Paul concludes, “God is not the author of confusion, but of peace” (1 Corinthians 14:33, KJV).

Scripture also teaches that tongues were a sign, particularly to unbelieving Israel, confirming the authenticity of the apostolic message (1 Corinthians 14:21 to 22, KJV). This helps explain why tongues appear prominently at key transitional moments in Acts and then become less central as the church becomes established.

However, Modern ecstatic babbling, often called tongues today, does not match the biblical gift of tongues and should be rejected because the true gift has ceased and because current practices contradict Scripture. Biblical tongues were real, intelligible languages, not meaningless sounds. In Acts 2, those who heard the apostles said, “we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God” (Acts 2:11, KJV). These were recognizable human languages understood by listeners. There is no biblical example of tongues being random syllables, emotional babbling, or private prayer sounds that no one can identify as language.

The Bible strictly regulated the use of tongues, showing that uncontrolled speech was never acceptable. Paul commanded that tongues in the church must be interpreted, limited, and orderly. “If there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church” (1 Corinthians 14:28, KJV). Modern babbling often ignores this command entirely, with many people speaking at once, no interpretation, and no edification. This alone places the practice outside biblical authority.

Scripture teaches that tongues were a sign gift with a specific purpose, not a permanent feature of church life. Paul explains that tongues were a sign, particularly to unbelieving Israel, quoting Isaiah in 1 Corinthians 14:21 to 22. Once that purpose was fulfilled and the gospel was firmly established, the need for sign gifts diminished. Tongues were never meant to be the normal experience of believers in every generation.

The Bible explicitly teaches that tongues would cease. “Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease” (1 Corinthians 13:8, KJV). Unlike prophecy and knowledge, which are said to fail when perfection comes, tongues are said to cease on their own. This points to an earlier ending of the gift, not its continuation until the end of the age.

Church history supports cessation. After the apostolic era, credible references to genuine tongues largely disappear. Early church writings focus on preaching, teaching, and Scripture, not ecstatic speech. When tongue like phenomena reappear later in history, they are usually associated with fringe movements, doctrinal error, or emotional excess rather than sound doctrine.

Modern babbling often elevates experience above Scripture. Many are taught that tongues are proof of salvation or spiritual maturity. This directly contradicts the Bible. Paul asks, “do all speak with tongues?” (1 Corinthians 12:30, KJV). The expected answer is no. Salvation is by faith alone in Christ, not by any spiritual gift or experience.

The fruit test exposes modern babbling as false. Jesus taught that true works of God produce truth and obedience, not confusion. “God is not the author of confusion, but of peace” (1 Corinthians 14:33, KJV). Practices that produce disorder, pressure, imitation, or emotional manipulation do not come from the Holy Spirit.

Modern ecstatic babbling is not biblical tongues. The true gift was the supernatural ability to speak real languages for a specific purpose, under strict regulation, and for a limited time. Scripture teaches that tongues have ceased, and what is commonly practiced today fails every biblical test. Christians are therefore called to reject counterfeit experiences and remain grounded in the sufficiency and authority of God’s written Word.