Scholarly Reflections
McDonnell, Kilian & Montague, George T. "Chapter Seven: Conclusions: Spirit-Baptism in the New Testament." Christian Initiation and Baptism in the Holy Spirit: Evidence from the First Eight Centuries. Collegeville, MN: The Liturgical Press, 1991, 76-80.
Montague sums up the discussion of biblical passages by noting we can't discern an entirely consistent initiation rite from the New Testament. We can, however, identify the presence of water baptism in the name of Jesus or the Trinity, as well as an impartation of the Holy Spirit (McDonnell & Montague 1991, 76). The image of the death and resurrection of Christ was common, as was the image of the Holy Spirit coming upon Jesus (McDonnell & Montague 1991, 77). Some form of expression of the gift of the Holy Spirit was often assumed, though the particular expression of evidence is not always recorded. Montague is clear that a variety of gifts were recognized. He refers to numerous New Testament passages in which some gifts are mentioned specifically and others are assumed to exist (McDonnell & Montague 1991, 78).
Montague further observes an expectation that the gifts of the Holy Spirit grow and even change in individuals over time. He explains this in terms of new outpourings of the Holy Spirit in people who are already known to have become Christians (McDonnell & Montague 1991, 79). Again, Montague emphasizes the wide variety of spiritual gifts, including many which are not particularly spectacular, but of which all are used in Christ's kingdom (McDonnell & Montague 1991, 80).