'Foreign' in the Bible

All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in foreign languages as the Spirit gave them that ability.

God spoke in this way:His descendants would be strangersin a foreign country,and they would enslaveand oppress them 400 years.

until there arose a foreign king over Egypt who knew nothing of Joseph.

because they heard them speaking in foreign languages and praising God. Then Peter said,

Then also, some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers argued with him. Some said, “What is this pseudo-intellectual trying to say?”Others replied, “He seems to be a preacher of foreign deities”—because he was telling the good news about Jesus and the Resurrection.

For you are bringing some startling and strange things to our ears; so we want to know what they mean.”

(Now all the Athenians and the foreigners visiting there used to spend their [leisure] time in nothing other than telling or hearing something new.)

When Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began to speak in foreign languages and to prophesy.

In all the synagogues I often tried to make them blaspheme by punishing them. I even pursued them to foreign cities since I was greatly enraged at them.

Not all have the gift of healing, do they? Not all speak in foreign languages, do they? Not all interpret, do they?

For the person who speaks in a foreign language is not actually speaking to people but to God. Indeed, no one understands him, because he is talking about secrets by the Spirit.

The person who speaks in a foreign language builds himself up, but the person who prophesies builds up the church.

Now I wish that all of you could speak in foreign languages, but especially that you could prophesy. The person who prophesies is more important than the person who speaks in a foreign language, unless he interprets it so that the church may be built up.

Indeed, brothers, if I come to you speaking in foreign languages, what good will I be to you unless I speak to you in some revelation, knowledge, prophecy, or teaching?

If, however, I do not know the meaning of the particular language, I shall seem to the speaker of it, and he to me, to be merely talking some foreign tongue.

Therefore, the person who speaks in a foreign language should pray for the ability to interpret it.

For if I pray in a foreign language, my spirit prays but my mind is not productive.

I thank God that I speak in foreign languages more than all of you.

But in church I would rather speak five words with my mind to instruct others than 10,000 words in a foreign language.

In the Law it is written, "By means of foreign languages and through the mouths of foreigners I will speak to this people, but even then they will not listen to me," declares the Lord.

Foreign languages, then, are meant to be a sign, not for believers, but for unbelievers, while prophecy is meant, not for unbelievers, but for believers.

Now if the whole church gathers in the same place and everyone is speaking in foreign languages, when uneducated people or unbelievers come in, they will say that you are out of your mind, won't they?

What, then, does this mean, brothers? When you gather, everyone has a psalm, teaching, revelation, foreign language, or interpretation. Everything must be done for upbuilding.

If anyone speaks in a foreign language, only two or three at the most should do so, one at a time, and somebody must interpret.

Therefore, my brothers, desire the ability to prophesy, and do not prevent others from speaking in foreign languages.

By faith he sojourned as a stranger in the land of promise as a foreign country, having dwelt in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise;

quenched the raging of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, gained strength after being weak, became mighty in battle, and put foreign armies to flight.