So they were all amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, "Whatever could this mean?" Others mocking said, "They are full of new wine." But Peter, standing up with the eleven, raised his voice and said to them, "Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and heed my words.
Acts 2:12-14

When the Holy Spirit uniquely fell on the brand new Church in Jerusalem on that first Pentecost, two things took place immediately.

First, note the reaction of the crowds in (v.12-13). As they heard the believers speaking in tongues, they each heard what was being said in their own languages. This was indeed a miracle, since the disciples did not speak the languages represented by the crowds (v.8-11). The crowds’ reaction? Verse 12 says they were amazed and perplexed, and did not understand what was happening. Verse 13 says others mocked the believers for being drunk (which they were not). The phenomena of speaking in tongues did not cause the mass conversion recorded in (v.37-41) It caused confusion and mocking.

Second, note Peter’s words in (v.14). Peter directed the people to listen to his words—his words in contrast with the words spoken in tongues. And what were Peter’s words that he bid the people to heed? Peter proceeded to preach the Gospel from verse 16 through verse 40.

What takeaways are there in this? While speaking in tongues was a special miracle, what the people then and now need to hear is the preaching of the Gospel. It is the Gospel (not the miracle of tongues) that is “the power of God to salvation” (Romans 1:16). This is why Paul made it clear that preaching and teaching is far superior to speaking in tongues (1 Corinthians 14:6); and that he would rather speak five words of preaching or teaching than ten thousand words in tongues (v.19).

Let us long for clear, compelling preaching and teaching of God’s Word above speaking in tongues, or any other miracle.