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What the Fathers say
Eastern Fathers
John Chrysostom
"And there appeared unto them," it says, "cloven tongues like as of fire." Observe how it is always, "like as;" and rightly: that you may have no gross sensible notions of the Spirit. Also, "as it were of a blast:" therefore it was not a wind. "Like as of fire." For when the Spirit was to be made known to John, then it came upon the head of Christ as in the form of a dove: but now, when a whole multitude was to be converted, it is "like as of fire. And it sat upon each of them." This means, that it remained and rested upon them. …
Cyril of Jerusalem
They partook of fire, not of burning but of saving fire. This is a fire that consumes the thorns of sins but gives luster to the soul. This is now coming upon you also in order to strip away and consume your sins, which are like thorns, and to brighten yet more that precious possession of your souls, and to give you grace, the same given then to the apostles. The Spirit descended upon them in the form of fiery tongues, that they might crown themselves with new and spiritual diadems by fiery tongues upon their heads. …
Theophylact of Ohrid
"Divided tongues, as of fire." The Lord, who suffered in the flesh by voluntary passion and rose from the dead, co-raised with Himself us also, who were dead in sin, and destroyed the power of the devil. Therefore, from Pascha until Pentecost, we do not make prostrations during prayer, celebrating the victory over our enemies: "They stumbled and fell, but we have risen and stand upright" (Ps. 19:9). …
Western Saints
Gregory the Dialogist
For you have heard that the Holy Spirit appeared upon the disciples in tongues of fire and gave them knowledge of all languages. What indeed was signified by this miracle, except that the holy Church, filled with the same Spirit, would speak with the voice of all nations? Those who attempted to build a tower against God lost the communion of one language, but in these who humbly feared God all languages were united. Here therefore humility merited virtue; there pride earned confusion. …
Bede
And there appeared to them divided tongues as of fire, and one sat upon each of them, etc. This fire, not this fire. For in Greek it is πυρὸς, not πῦρ. This distinction would be easier to see if, adding a word, it were said: Divided tongues appeared as if of burning fire, or as if of shining fire, so that it may be understood that the tongues were divided in the appearance of fire.
Bonaventure
After an interval of ten days, He sent upon the Apostles the promised Holy Spirit, through whom the Church of the nations was gathered together and ordered according to the diverse distributions of offices and graces. In order to inflame to charity, he sent the fire of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost. …
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