That was not the question Paul asked
19 And it happened, while Apollos was at Corinth, that Paul, having passed through the upper regions, came to Ephesus. And finding some disciples 2 he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?”
So they said to him, “We have not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit.”
3 And he said to them, “Into what then were you baptized?”
So they said, “Into John’s baptism.”
4 Then Paul said, “John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on Him who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.”
5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied. 7 Now the men were about twelve in all.
The Baptism of Jesus is the Empowerment of the Holy Spirit which Jesus does. John 1:33
33 I did not know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘Upon whom you see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’
Jesus said in Luke 24:49
49 Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.”
The Disciples were saved already.
Jesus said in Acts 1:8
8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
Before Jesus' Accending, these are the last words Jesus said to those who saw him resurrected. And were saved. They Had the Holy Spirit already in them, as Jesus said in John 20:22
22 And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.
As John 14:16-17
16 And I will pray the Father, and He will give you "another Helper," : (in the Greek means like the same kind) that He may abide with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.
In this context, Jesus said they know HIM, and He will be in you. This did not happen yet. But they fully knew Jesus as God. Now, those who argue Thomas was not there don't matter Because when thomas saw Jesus he believed and confessed Jesus was God and Lord.
28 And Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!”
All believed in the Lord Jesus and were saved. Yet they have not been empowered to be a witness as the scriptures say.