How many times in Scripture did the Holy Spirit give the gift of speaking many languages?
Scripture records exactly three such occasions—all in the Book of Acts and, in fact, in all of Scripture—when the Holy Spirit manifested Himself by giving the gift of speaking a multitude of languages. Those were known languages, understandable to anyone present from that same background.
Les teaches from Acts 19 that Paul came to Ephesus and found certain disciples who had only John's baptism. After they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus, Paul laid his hands upon them, and the Holy Spirit came upon them; they spoke with languages other than their own and prophesied. Les emphasizes that this is one of only three times in the whole Book of Acts—in fact in all of Scripture—where the Holy Spirit manifested Himself by giving out the gift of speaking a multitude of languages. He notes that those were known languages, understandable if someone from that same background happened to be present.