International Broadcasting

During the 2018 winter Olympics, a broadcaster in Europe gained the rights to broadcast to almost fifty countries. Their task was to produce commentary that was not only translated into the language of every viewing country, but also culturally sensitive. The need for culturally sensitive content became even clearer when a commentator made a comparison between two East Asian countries during the opening ceremonies, leading to an angry outcry from many viewers.

God knows the importance of building relationships for the spread of the gospel. People will have a hard time believing the goodness of God and His plan to save them if the Christian cannot speak a distinct version of their native language. Usually, God sends people to live in the nation they are trying to reach so that they can learn the culture along with the language.

Occasionally, however, the Holy Spirit gives people a supernatural gift for the purpose of quickly spreading the gospel. This first took place when the disciples faced a crowed of foreigners. With the intervention of the Holy Spirit, the people heard the good news in their native language and wondered aloud: “How is it that we hear, each in our own language in which we were born?” (Acts 2:8).

This was a fulfillment of the promise Jesus had made soon after giving the disciples their mission. Empowered by this unusual capacity to suddenly speak numerous foreign languages, the disciples were able to use this diverse gathering to jump start the spread of the gospel. This first reception of the gift became the pattern that the Spirit would duplicate. Looking back at subsequent miracles Peter could say: “As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them, as upon us at the beginning” (Acts 11:15).

Apply It:

Learn a phrase in a foreign language. For instance, using an online translation program, practice saying “Jesus loves you” in a different language.

Dig Deeper:

Mark 16:15–17; Acts 2:9–17; Acts 10:1, 44–46

Key Bible Texts

And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; (Mark 16:17 KJV)