The main distinctive of us, Classical Pentecostals, is the baptism in the Holy Spirit. It is the promise of the Father, that Jesus will baptise believers in the Holy Spirit, and this is separate and subsequent to regeneration. This is a second blessing or second reception of the Spirit for supernatural empowerment (Acts 1:4-5, 8). So, there are two receptions of the Spirit – one at conversion (for the new birth), the other at Spirit baptism (for empowerment as Jesus’ witnesses). We have very strong and sound biblical basis to believe in this.

To Classical Pentecostals, the initial, outward evidence of the Spirit baptism is speaking in tongues. This explains why the 120 stopped tarrying in the upper room after the Day of Pentecost. The moment they spoke in tongues, they knew that they had received the promise of the Father (Acts 2:1-4). It must be the same for us.