Opening the Gates of Heaven Perry Stone

worship service. However, in private prayer, the mind of the Spirit can be revealed to the mind of the one praying, if the one praying will ask the Lord for the meaning of the words. W HEN AN I NTERPRETATION I S N OT N EEDED There is one occasion when an interpretation is not needed, and that is when the Spirit is praying in a language known to the hearer. On the Day of Pentecost, those in the upper room were “all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance” (Acts 2:4). In the city of Jerusalem at that time, there were Jews representing at least fifteen different nations and regions, and each one heard the disciples speak in his or her own language (v. 6). There was no interpretation necessary, as each hearer was familiar with the language being spoken. Speaking in tongues is called a sign “to unbelievers” (1 Cor. 14:22). During the outpouring on Pentecost in Acts 2, the Jews in Jerusalem had mixed reactions. Some were “confused,” while others were “amazed and marveled.” Others were “amazed and perplexed,” or even “mocking,” and said, “They are full of new wine” (Acts 2:5–13). The fact that uneducated Galileans were speaking in so many different languages was an amazing “sign” to the Jews. These Spirit-filled believers did not know the languages in which they were speaking, but those familiar with each