John Calvin Commentary 1 Corinthians 14:23

"If therefore the whole church be assembled together and all speak with tongues, and there come in men unlearned or unbelieving, will they not say that ye are mad?" — 1 Corinthians 14:23 (ASV)

If therefore the whole Church come together (1 Corinthians 14:23). Since they did not see their fault, because their minds were preoccupied with a foolish and depraved desire, he tells them that they will be exposed to the scorn of the wicked or the unlearned if anyone, upon entering their assembly, should hear them uttering a sound but not speaking.

For what unlearned person will not consider those to be out of their minds, who, instead of speech, utter empty sounds and are absorbed in that futility, when they have gathered to hear God's doctrine? This statement is very cutting: “You congratulate yourselves secretly, but the wicked and the unlearned laugh at your foolishness. Therefore, you do not see what is perfectly manifest to the unlearned and unbelieving.”

Here Chrysostom raises a question: “If tongues were given to unbelievers for a sign (1 Corinthians 14:22), why does the Apostle now say that they will be derided by them?” He answers that they are for a sign to fill them with astonishment—not to instruct or reform them. He also adds that it is due to their wickedness that they regard the sign as madness.

This explanation does not satisfy me. For however an unbeliever or unlearned person may be affected by a miracle and may regard God's gift with reverence, he does not on that account cease to deride and condemn an inappropriate use of the gift, thinking to himself: “What do these men mean by wearying themselves and others to no purpose? What good is their speaking if nothing is to be learned from it?” Paul’s meaning, therefore, is that the Corinthians would be justly convicted of madness by the unbelieving and unlearned, however much they might please themselves.