The Distribution of Charisms

He said to them: 'It is not for you to know the times or the seasons which the Father has set in his own authority' (Acts 1:7).

For it is not necessary to be overly curious about things that are too secret and hidden in God, and through these things he taught; rather, they wanted to go and were very youthful towards what is beneficial, and they wanted to fulfill the ministry of the apostleship, having entrusted the knowledge of all things to God.

And there appeared to them divided tongues like fire.

Some spoke with tongues, although they did not know them before; others understood, interpreting, although they had not previously been accustomed to such things.

The divine Paul boasts of those who then received the grace to speak in tongues, not as a portion of charisma, but as a sign in order to the faithful, and he also set forth a prophetic word: 'That I will speak in different tongues and different lips to this people, and even so they will not believe' (Isaiah 28:11).

The Spirit distributed the gifts of charisma in different ways.

Just as, he says, this thick body from the earth was composed of small particles, so also Christ—that is, his body, which is the Church—has a constitution that is most perfect in its spiritual unity through a great multitude of holy people.

And after a little while: when those who were mystagogues under the sun were about to proclaim the evangelical and saving message to every nation and every language, the tongues gave them a sign.

Being men of Galilee and having been brought up in Judea, Hebrews and from Hebrews, Medes and Parthians, and indeed Elamites, and those from the middle of the flowing rivers, Cappadocians and Egyptians, they spoke in their own languages; and the matter was being accomplished for them by the Spirit's working and grace.

For it is written that there appeared to them divided tongues like fire, and the following things.

But the manner of the economy was what was being done; however, not all understood.

Since they once spoke in other languages, they made a display of the grace done through the Spirit, receiving the sign as an occasion for boasting and an opportunity for greed; they were careless about discussing the things of the holy prophets and the evangelical doctrines with the crowds, as it had been proclaimed from above and from long ago.

They were revering the ability to speak in tongues as the only thing, and thought it necessary to be transformed only in this; and the matter was among the most urgent preoccupations.

'And I will give wonders in the heaven above, and signs on the earth below' (Mark 16:18).

The holy Cyril says that the things that happened upon the cross of Christ are clearly taught, as are the things happening to the Jews through the Roman war; he says that the great and manifest day of Christ is the day of his resurrection: 'the sun will be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood' (Joel 2:31).