What does the Bible say about the gift of tongues?

Bible Topic · WEB

The Bible presents tongues as a sovereign gift of the Holy Spirit, given to magnify God and build up the church under orderly, intelligible oversight. At Pentecost, Acts 2:1-13 shows believers speaking real languages so that the gathered nations heard God's mighty works, a sign of the gospel's worldwide reach. In 1 Corinthians 12-14, Paul teaches that love is greater than every gift and that gifts must serve the common good. Tongues without interpretation edify the speaker, but interpreted speech can edify the congregation; therefore public use should be limited, orderly, and accompanied by interpretation (1 Corinthians 14:4, 27-28). Paul prefers understandable instruction in church and reminds believers that tongues, like other temporary gifts, will cease when God's purposes are fulfilled.