still. Try to imagine the spectacle. As would appear from verse 33,
the tongues of fire remained lambently glowing on each head ('which
ye see'), and the whole hundred and twenty, thus strangely crowned,
were pouring out rapturous praises, each in some strange tongue. When
the astonished ears had become accustomed to the apparent tumult,
every man in the crowd heard some one or more speaking in his own
tongue, language, or dialect, and all were declaring the mighty works
of God; that is, probably, the story of the crucified, ascended
Jesus.

We need not dwell on subordinate questions, as to the number of
languages represented there, or as to the catalogue in verses 9 and
10. But we would emphasise two thoughts. First, the natural result of
being filled with God's Spirit is utterance of the great truths of
Christ's Gospel. As surely as light radiates, as surely as any deep
emotion demands expression, so certainly will a soul filled with the
Spirit be forced to break into speech. If professing Christians have
never known the impulse to tell of the Christ whom they have found,
their religion must be very shallow and imperfect. If their spirits
are full, they will overflow in speech.

Second, Pentecost is a prophecy of the universal proclamation of the
Gospel, and of the universal praise which shall one day rise to Him
that was slain. 'This company of brethren praising God in the tongues
of the whole world represented the whole world which shall one day
praise God in its various tongues' (Bengel). Pentecost reversed
Babel, not by bringing about a featureless monopoly, but by
consecrating diversity, and showing that each language could be
hallowed, and that each lent some new strain of music to the chorus.