Could you please elaborate on the " already knew how to but hadn't yet received the baptism of the Holy Ghost"? I've never heard this statement and wonder where in scripture I would find it.
The Samaritans heard Philip’s preaching Jesus Christ, and were joyful that they could be saved, when they were considered ‘outside, looking in’. They were then baptized in the name of Jesus. At that point, they were faithful in all they could do: hearing the Word and keeping it. The Holy Ghost came later. How much later? However long it took the news to reach Jerusalem (no cell phones), and for Peter and John to come down to Samaria. (Acts 8:5-17)
The Philippian ‘keeper of the prison’, was preached to by Paul and Silas, baptized while at a water hole/trough somewhere, after washing their stripes. They returned to his house, ate, and rejoiced, ‘believing in God with all his house’. It doesn’t specifically state that they received the Holy Ghost right then. It’s a promise, and God gives it to them that obey him (Acts 5:32).
My wife and I believed and were baptized in the name of Jesus. A week later that she was filled with the Holy Ghost speaking in other tongues. It was over five months later for me. (No, we don’t turn tongues ‘on and off’ like a light switch, like some folks, who I am skeptical of)
One thing is for sure: God gives his Spirit when HE knows it is the time to do so.