23. Suppose the whole church meets together and you all speak in different languages. If some people come in who are without understanding or don’t believe, they will say you are crazy.
24. But suppose you are all prophesying and someone comes in who does not believe or who is without understanding. Their sin will be shown to them, and they will be judged by everything you say.
25. The secret things in their heart will be made known. So they will bow down and worship God. They will say, “Without a doubt, God is here with you.”
26. So, brothers and sisters, what should you do? When you meet together, one person has a song, another has a teaching, and another has a new truth from God. One person speaks in a different language, and another interprets that language. The purpose of whatever you do should be to help everyone grow stronger in faith.
27. When you meet together, if anyone speaks to the group in a different language, it should be only two or no more than three people who do this. And they should speak one after the other. And someone else should interpret what they say.
28. But if there is no interpreter, then anyone who speaks in a different language should be quiet in the church meeting. They should speak only to themselves and to God.
29. And only two or three prophets should speak. The others should judge what they say.
30. And if a message from God comes to someone who is sitting, the first speaker should be quiet.
31. You can all prophesy one after the other. This way everyone can be taught and encouraged.
32. The spirits of prophets are under the control of the prophets themselves.
33. God is not a God of confusion but a God of peace. This is the rule for all the meetings of God’s people.
34. The women should keep quiet in these church meetings. They are not allowed to speak out but should be under authority, as the Law of Moses says.
35. If there is something they want to know, they should ask their own husbands at home. It is shameful for a woman to speak up like that in the church meeting.
36. God’s teaching did not come from you, and you are not the only ones who have received it.
37. If you think you are a prophet or that you have a spiritual gift, you should understand that what I am writing to you is the Lord’s command.