Let's talk about how the Holy Spirit has different roles in dealing with individual believers and groups in churches.
What happens when someone believes in Jesus? They receive the Holy Spirit in their soul.
John_6:27 Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.
2Corinthians_1:22 Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.
Now-- what happens when they are gathered with other believers as a church?
In Acts-- you see empowerment from the Holy Spirit in a different role to giving eternal salvation in sealing someone who believes. Instead they are working in churches , 'in the midst' of them. In the early churches-- the Holy Spirit was doing signs and wonders with the empowering.. now He is more in encouragement, empowerment, rebuke, teaching, without extensive signs and wonders.
What you see though-- is there is receiving the Holy Spirit for an individual believer.. then there is also a group of believers receiving the Holy Spirit as a new church, or a whole group being empowered.
For eg.. group/church situations..
Act 2:1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
Act 2:2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
Act 2:3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
(Act 19:1) And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples,
(Act 19:2) He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.
(Act 19:3) And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism.
(Act 19:4) Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.
(Act 19:5) When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
Mat 18:19 Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.
Mat 18:20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
So then.. when Paul had asked the disciples he saw-- disciples taught by Apollos.. have you received the Holy Spirit since you believed?
Had they received the Holy Spirit when they believed-- but had not received the Holy Spirit as a group to be empowered?
Not knowing about the Holy Spirit does not mean they did not each get sealed by the Holy Spirit when they believed. They would have believed in Jesus-- knowing Him.. that is enough.
There is a big difference between being empowered by the Holy Spirit as a church/group and being individually given eternal life.
So what are your thoughts?