Why did God have the Gentiles in Cornelius's house speak in other languages?
God had the Gentiles speak in other languages to prove to the seven Jews there—Peter and the six men who came with him—that He was doing something totally different than had ever been done before. It showed these Gentiles had heard the salvation message, believed it, and received the Holy Spirit.
Les teaches that while Peter was preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom in Cornelius’s house, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word. The believing Jews of the circumcision were astonished that Gentiles were hearing a salvation message and believing it. In order for God to prove to these seven Jews that He was doing something totally different than had ever been done before, He proved it by having these Gentiles speak other languages.
For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter,
More Questions
Were the Gentiles at Cornelius's house speaking to God or to men when they spoke in tongues?
When the Gentiles in Cornelius's house spoke in tongues, they were talking to fellow men, not to God, and were magnifying God in the presence of the seven Jews and Cornelius's household.
What did speaking in tongues prove to the Jewish believers at Cornelius's house?
For the Jewish believers, hearing the Gentile believers speak with tongues and magnify God proved that God was doing something they had never thought possible: saving Gentiles without making them proselytes first.
What did the Gentiles' speaking in tongues and magnifying God prove to the Jewish believers?
Hearing the Gentiles speak with tongues and magnify God proved to the Jewish believers that God was doing something they had not thought possible: saving a Gentile without making him a proselyte.