Does speaking in tongues show a person has the Holy Spirit?

TL;DR:

Speaking in tongues can accompany the Holy Spirit’s work but is not a universal sign that someone has received Him. True evidence of the Spirit is seen in heart transformation, obedience, and the fruit of the Spirit, not in miraculous displays.

what does the bible say?

Speaking in tongues was associated with receiving the Holy Spirit in three specific New Testament instances—Pentecost, the Gentiles in Caesarea, and the twelve disciples in Ephesus—but these cases involved a small number of people and were not normative for all believers. The Bible never presents speaking in tongues as a universal sign of salvation or the Spirit’s presence.

Not every believer has all spiritual gifts, including tongues, and many early Christians received the Holy Spirit without speaking in tongues. Tongues are a spiritual gift, not a requirement or evidence of salvation. All believers are indwelt by the Holy Spirit at the moment of faith in Christ. The Spirit’s work is best seen in heart transformation, obedience to God, and the fruit of the Spirit. Assurance of the Holy Spirit comes through faith and His ongoing presence, not through outward displays of miraculous ability. Therefore, while tongues may occur for some, they are not a universal or necessary sign of the Holy Spirit’s presence.

from the old testament

Speaking in tongues in relation to receiving the Holy Spirit does not occur in the Old Testament.

from the new testament

The book of Acts records three times when receiving the Holy Spirit was associated with speaking in tongues. The first instance occurred in the early church on the Day of Pentecost when 120 believers in the upper room experienced the Holy Spirit at work in a unique way that included speaking in other languages that visitors in Jerusalem could understand: ”"They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance" (Acts 2:4). This
The second occasion where receiving the Holy Spirit was associated with speaking in tongues is found in Acts 10:45-46: "And the believers from among the circumcised who had come with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out even on the Gentiles. For they were hearing them speaking in tongues and extolling God." This event confirmed God's inclusion of both Jews and Gentiles in His plan of salvation through Jesus Christ.
The third occasion where receiving the Holy Spirit was associated with speaking in tongues is found in Acts 19:6-7: "And when Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking in tongues and prophesying. There were about twelve men in all." These twelve men gained the ability to speak in other languages and prophesy as a confirmation that the Holy Spirit was at work in them.

implications for today

Is is the norm for all people who receive the Holy Spirit at salvation to speak in tongues? No. Paul noted that no one has every spiritual gift, meaning not everyone would speak in tongues (1 Corinthians 12). Second, many people came to faith in the New Testament without speaking in tongues. If God intended every believer to show evidence of the Holy Spirit through the speaking of tongues, much more emphasis would have been placed on this practice in Scripture.

Further, speaking in tongues would then not be a spiritual gift, but something available to every believer. Because it is listed as a spiritual gift, not every believer could have that ability, meaning it could and should not be used to evaluate a person's salvation or whether a person has the Holy Spirit. In fact, the Bible teaches every believer has God's Spirit at work within them from the point of salvation: "In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit" (Ephesians 1:13).

Ultimately, the Holy Spirit in a believer’s life is evidenced not by a single miraculous sign but by the transformation of the heart, a growing desire to obey God, and the fruit of the Spirit in daily life (Galatians 5:22–23). While tongues may be a gift for some, the assurance of the Spirit comes through faith in Christ and the ongoing work of God within us, not through outward demonstrations.

understand

In the New Testament, speaking in tongues was associated with receiving the Holy Spirit on three recorded occasions with specific purpose.
Speaking in tongues is rare and not a universal sign of the Holy Spirit.
The Spirit’s true evidence is heart transformation, obedience, and the fruit of the Spirit.

reflect

How do you understand the purpose of the connection between speaking in tongues and salvation in the early church?
How has your heart, obedience, or character been transformed by the Spirit’s presence?
How do you recognize the Holy Spirit’s ongoing work within you?

engage

How do we discern the difference between spiritual gifts and the evidence of the Spirit?
How can we encourage one another to focus on the Holy Spirit’s heart transformation in our lives rather than outward signs?
How does understanding that the Holy Spirit indwells every believer change our perspective on assurance of salvation?