What is the significance of Acts 1:8?

Acts 1:8 is significant because it is the time of preparation of the disciples to perform the task of the Great Commission. The fact that the disciples were eyewitnesses to the death and resurrection of Christ Jesus deems them competent to teach Christianity and carry out the commission. However, their task would not be one of ease and Christ, therefore, equipped them with the empowerment they would need to be witnesses to Him. Jesus gave the disciples the gift of the Holy Spirit so they would be able to testify with boldness the message of Christ unto the end of the earth (1:8). What kinds of tongues were being spoken at Pentecost? Were any of them unknown (so-called heavenly) languages? The tongues spoken on the day of Pentecost were foreign languages that were understood by the believers of every nationality present at Pentecost. Those present could hear the message in their own language as the disciples spoke to them in tongues (2). The tongues spoken at Pentecost are different from tongues in 1 Corinthians 14. In I Corinthians 14, tongue speaking, by Pauls description, is the separate gift of interpretation to be used for the edification of the church and the conviction of unbelievers. Without interpretation, tongues are not to b used in the assembly1.

Bock, Darrell L. Acts: Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament. Grand Rapids. Baker Academic. 2007, 97.