Development of ACOP Doctrine

[Margie]

• The part that stands out the most to me is, “They also recognized them as men who had been with Jesus.” I’d love this verse to speak of all Christians regardless of denomination, but I know that’s not exactly what’s being asked. I can’t comment so generally about “Pentecostals today,” but the Pentecostals I know through my church and the ACOP certainly show evidence of “having been with Jesus.” Education is so very important, but knowing Jesus by spending time with Him shapes our character into something that more resembles Him.
• When I was baptized in the Spirit, I hadn’t been taught what it was about, when it should happen or what happens afterwards. It was all through experience. But, my experience and understanding do line up with what ACOP teaches and believes. It just wasn’t all at once. I was born again, then a few months later, I was baptized in the Spirit, and then a few months after that, I began speaking in tongues.

[Melanie]

The early Pentecostals are easily described as bold, they were willing to do something new and follow what they believed Holy Spirit was calling them to. I think that in some ways today's Pentecostal members could be described as bold. In some ways we are not bold enough. There is comfort in staying the status quo and it's easy to get stuck there.

My understanding of the Baptism of Holy Spirit was jaded by popular cultures depiction in movies and books. As I have been committed to learning and growing in my faith I realize more and more what was not true and what is true in how Holy Spirit works.

[Deleted User]

The early Pentecostals were similar to Peter and John. They were ordinary people with no special training in the Scripture and it was also evident they had an encounter with Jesus through the Holy Spirit that people recognized. Pentecostals today have better access to education, however, the encounter with Jesus through the Holy Spirit remains the same.

[Chris]

The verse was used to describe the early Pentecostals, as they also did not have special training in the scriptures, and some came from poor and racially marginalized communities. For the most part, modern Pentecostals now attain a certain level of ministry training prior to engaging in vocational ministry, however, it seems to be less regulated when compared to some other denominations. As an example, some denominations require a minimum of an MDiv prior to Ordination, whereas some Pentecostal ministers may have a 2 or 3-year diploma. Many Pentecostal ministers have also chosen to earn post-graduate degrees, but generally it seems as though that would be more of a preference, as opposed to a strict denominational requirement. So, all of that to say that I do think the verse still describes some Pentecostals and Pentecostal denominations today, but perhaps not to the extent that it did in the early 1900's.