Acts 8:17

Laid they their hands (epetiqesan ta ceira). Imperfect active, repetition. The laying on of hands did not occur at the great Pentecost ( Luke 2:4 Luke 2:33 ) nor in Luke 4:31 ; Luke 10:44 nor is it mentioned in 1 Corinthians 12 ; 1 Corinthians 14 . It is mentioned in Acts 6:7 about the deacons and in Acts 13:3 when Barnabas and Saul left Antioch. And in Saul's case it was Ananias who laid his hands on him ( Acts 9:17 ). Hence it cannot be concluded that the Holy Spirit was received only by the laying on of the hands of the apostles or by the hands of anyone. The so-called practice of "confirmation" appeals to this passage, but inconclusively. They received (elambanon). Imperfect active, repetition as before and pari passu with the laying on of the hands.