This paper examines the gift of tongues in the New Testament, in both the Book of Acts and First Corinthians, against the background of the story of the tower of Babel. Pentecost does not reverse Babel, but rather transforms it, so that the divided nations are united in prayer and worship of God through their various languages. Confusion or contention over the nature and purpose of the gifts of the Spirit has been evident even from early in the churches’ history (1 Thess. 5:19-21), and the gift of tongues has been a particular locus (1 Cor. 12-14), up until the present time. The paper, however, is focused contemporary use of tongues, but on the biblical witness to this gift. Contrary to those who see tongues as a form of missionary preaching, as a sub-lingual psychological phenomenon, as the ability to study and learn multiple languages, or as an ecstatic spiritual experience, this paper emphasizes the nature of tongues as a gift portraying the prayers of the nations, in the multiple languages of the nations. That is the meaning of “speaking in our tongues the mighty things of God” (Acts 2:11), and “For the one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God” (1 Cor. 14:2). Thus, contrary to those who distinguish tongues in Acts from those mentioned in First Corinthians, the phenomena mentioned in both books are the same, expressing prayer and worship in languages imparted by God, as signs of the work of the Holy Spirit among the nations. The effect of the gift of tongues is to dramatically connect the churches (1 Cor. 12-14) or mission scenarios (Acts 2, 10, 19) where tongues is happening, to the larger mission of the gospel among the nations, and to the worship of God in the many languages which is going on earth – and perhaps even in heaven (1 Cor. 13:1).