So...by the same token, the passage doesn't say the Spirit came AFTER they heard, does it? How 'bout this 'novel" idea" They believed at the point of their new birth?
Hearing preceded repenting toward God; Repentance precedes listening; listening precedes believing; believing precedes justification; justification precedes the new heart; the new heart is where the Holy Spirit comes to dwell.
37 Now when they
heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers,
what shall we do?” 38 And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” 40 And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.” 41
So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.
The Fellowship of the Believers
42
And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.