In Topeka Kansas Parham opened a school to teach students about the Word of God. Parham during the Christmas of 1900 told his students to search the Bible for the evidence of the act of the Baptism in the Holy Spirit.
The students found this evidence as to what they believed in the 2nd chapter of Acts. They came up with the belief that this chapter established that the act of speaking in tongues was the evidence of the baptism in the Holy Spirit. The base of the Pentecostal movement would come from this belief.
In Acts 2:1-4 the 11 apostles speaking in tongues was for a purpose. This miraculous incident was to let all the Jews present to know what Peter was talking about and doesn’t apply to Christians now and them speaking in tongues or other gifts.
In Acts 2:1-4 the 11 apostles received the gift of speaking in tongues. When the day of Pentecost came in Jerusalem 11 apostles were in one place with one accord, when suddenly a sound from heaven as a rushing mighty wind came and it filled all the house where they were sitting. Cloven tongues like as of fire sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
Dwelling at Jerusalem at this time Jews, devout men, out of every nation were confounded, because every man heard them speak in his own language.
Acts 2:14-40, Peter, standing up with the eleven spoke to all present. Peters words were translated by the chosen men who could speak in the language of all those present. Which allowed for the multitude of Jews present to understand what Peter was explaining.
Again, The Pentecostal baptism of the Holy Spirit belief comes from Acts 2:1-4. But that miraculous gift of speaking in tongues was for those 11 apostles only and for a purpose, to translate to those Jews and others present what Peter was talking about. Not for Christians assuming they could speak in tongues.
Jews from all nations were present on this day of Pentecost and Peter in verse 36 said, “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly” that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.”
In verse 37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
Then in Acts 2:38 Peter tells them.
- 38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
In Acts 2:38 the doors to the New Testament church are first opened, to the Jews first, then a little later to the Greek.
Romans 1:16 (KJV) to the Jew first.
- 16 “For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation to the Jew first and also to the Greek.”