"And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance." The Holy Spirit, assuming the form of tongues of fire, rested upon those assembled. This was an emblem of the gift then bestowed on the disciples, which enabled them to speak with fluency languages with which they had heretofore been unacquainted. The appearance of fire signified the fervent zeal with which the apostles would labor and the power that would attend their work.

"Og der viste sig for dem tunger som af ild, og de fordelte sig og satte sig på hver enkelt af dem. Og de blev alle fyldt med Helligånd, og de begyndte at tale i andre tungemål, efter hvad Ånden gav dem at forkynde." Den hellige Ånd hvilede i skikkelse af ildtunger over alle de forsamlede. Dette var et symbol på den gave, som dengang blev skænket disciplene, og som satte dem i stand til uden vanskelighed at tale sprog, som de hidtil ikke havde kendt. Tilsynekomsten af ild betegnede den brændende iver, hvormed apostlene skulle arbejde, og den kraft, som skulle ledsage deres arbejde.