While the disciples received the Holy Spirit after Christ's resurrection, the eleven apostles were already justified by grace through faith, and were somehow empowered to preach the Gospel and perform miracles even before receiving the Spirit.
You can say whatever you want, but the fact is, they were not empowered by the Holy Spirit until after Jesus rose from the grave and gave them the Holy Spirit. Which means, they were not converted until they received the Holy Spirit. Before that, they were the same ones who abandoned Jesus for fear of their own lives, but after they received the Holy Spirit they were not afraid to preach in His name?
Matthew 26:31 (KJV)
31 Then saith Jesus unto them,
All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written,
I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad.
John 7:37-39 (KJV)
37 In the last day, that great
day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.
38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.
39 (
But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)
Acts 4:8-13 (KJV)
8
Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel,
9 If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole;
10 Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead,
even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.
11 This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.
12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
13
Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.