“He came down in the form of tongues. As one saith well, ‘This wind brought tongues, even a whole shower of tongues’.” The Apostles were not only inspired, for their own benefit, but they had gifts bestowed on them to impart the benefit to more than themselves. But why did the Holy Ghost appear like tongues? I answer, 1. The tongue is a symbol of the Holy Ghost’s proceeding from the word of the Father; as the tongue hath the nearest affinity with the word, and is moved by the word of the heart, to express the same by the sound of the voice; so the Holy Ghost hath the nearest affinity, that may be with the word of God, and is the expressor of his voice, and the speaker of his will. 2. The tongue is the sole instrument of knowledge, which conveys the same from man to man; though the soul be the fountain from whence all wisdom springs, yet the tongue is the channel and the conduit-pipe, whereby this wisdom and knowledge is communicated and transferred from man to man, in like manner the Holy Ghost is the sole author and teacher of all truth; though Christ be the wisdom of God, yet the Holy Ghost is the teacher of this wisdom to men; and hence it is that the Holy Ghost appeared in the form of tongues.
And yet not merely in the form of tongues, but thus qualified; 1. They were “cloven tongues” to signify that the Apostles should speak in diverse languages; if there must be a calling of the Gentiles, they must needs have the tongues of the Gentiles wherewith to call them; if they were “debtors not only to the Jews, but to the Grecians, not only to the Grecians, but to the Barbarians also”, then must they have the tongues not only of the Jews, but of the Grecians, and the Barbarians, to pay this debt, and to discharge this duty, “Go, and teach all nations.” Matthew 28, 19. Surely this gift was bestowed for the propagating of the Gospel far and wide, the tongues were cloven, that the Apostles might speak all languages, and that all nations of the world whithersoever they came might hear them, and understand them speaking in their own tongues. They were fiery tongues, to signify, that there should be an efficacy, or fervour in their speaking; the world was so overwhelmed with ignorance and error, that the Apostles lips had need to be touched with a coal from the altar; tongues of flesh would not serve the turn, nor words of air, but there must be fire put into the tongues, and spirit of life into the words they spake; with such a tongue Christ spake Himself, when they said of Him, “Did not our hearts burn within us, while He spake unto us by the way?” Luke 24: 32. And with such a tongue Peter spake at this time, something like fire fell from him on their hearts, when they were pricked in their hearts, and said, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” Acts 2: 37. Oh, that we of the ministry had these fiery tongues! O that the Spirit would put His live coal into our speeches! Oh that our sermons were warming sermons! May we not fear that the Spirit is gone, whilst the people are dead, and we are no more lively in our ministry? It is said of Luther, that when he heard one preach very faintly, “Cold, cold, says he, this is cold preaching, here is no heat at all to be gotten.” Oh, when the Spirit comes, it comes with a tongue of fire; instead of words, sparks of fire will fall from us on the hearts of hearers.
3. These cloven fiery tongues sat upon each of them; to signify their constancy and continuance; they did not light and touch, and away after the manner of butterflies; but they sat, they abode still, they continued steady without any stirring or starting. This was the privy sign, by which John the Baptist knew Jesus to be Christ, “Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending and remaining on Him, the same is He which baptiseth with the Holy Ghost.” John 1: 33. It was not only the Spirit’s descending, but the Spirit remaining on Him, that was the sign. The Spirit of God is a constant Spirit, Psalm 51: 10. It abides on the soul to whom it is given; and therefore the Psalmist describes these great transactions of Christ to this very end, that the Spirit might dwell with us, “Thou has ascended on high, Thou hast led captivity captive, Thou hast received gifts for men, yea, for the rebellious also, that the Lord God might dwell among them.” Psalm 68: 18. Not only that He might stay and lodge for a night, as a wayfaring man, that comes to His inn, and then is gone in the morning; no, no, but that He might take up His residence, and dwell in them. I know it is a question, whether the Holy Ghost may be lost? But certainly of the elect He has never totally or wholly lost, only I dare not say, but as touching many gifts, he may be lost even of the elect themselves; David after his sin was forced to cry, “Cast me not away from Thy presence, O Lord, and take not Thy Holy Spirit from me; restore unto me the joy of Thy salvation, and uphold me with Thy free Spirit.” Psalm 51: 11, 12.
(An extract from “Looking Unto Jesus” by Isaac Ambrose)