The first outward manifestation of the baptism with the Holy Spirit is speaking in tongues.

• A. speaking in tongues
• B. prophecy
• C. healing
• D. discernment

Answer: (A)

Speaking in tongues is the first outward manifestation tied to receiving the Holy Spirit. The biblical pattern, starting in Acts 2:4, shows believers filled with the Spirit and beginning to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. This moment provides the clear outward sign that the baptism with the Holy Spirit has occurred in this teaching tradition. While other gifts like prophecy, healing, and discernment are real works of the Spirit and can appear, they are not identified as the initial outward sign of the Spirit’s baptism. Scripture also records instances where Gentiles received the Spirit with tongues as confirmation (Acts 10:46; 19:6), reinforcing that tongues often accompanies the baptism. In everyday practice, tongues may function as a personal prayer language or be spoken publicly with interpretation, but the key point for this item is that speaking in tongues is the first outward demonstration of the baptism with the Holy Spirit.