Paragraph 31.1
Chapter 31: Of Laying on of Hands
We believe that laying on of Hands (with Prayer) upon baptized Believers, as such, is an Ordinance of Christ, and ought to be submitted unto by all such Persons that are admitted to partake of the Lord’s Supper; and that the End of this Ordinance is not for the extraordinary Gifts of the Spirit, but fora a farther Reception of the Holy Spirit of Promise, or for the Addition of the Graces of the Spirit, and the Influences thereof; to confirm, strengthen, and comfort them in Christ Jesus; it being ratified and established by theb extraordinary Gifts of the Spirit in the Primitive Times, to abide in the Church, as meeting together on the first Day of the Week, was Acts 2. 1. that being the Day of Worship, or Christian Sabbath, under the Gospel; and as Preaching the Word was, Acts 10. 44. and as Baptism was, Mat. 3. 16. and Prayer was, Acts 4. 31. and singing Psalms, &c. was Acts 16. 25, 26. so this of laying on of Hands was, Acts 8. & ch. 19, For as the whole Gospel was confirmed byc Signs and Wonders, and divers Miracles and Gifts of the Holy Ghost in general, so was every Ordinance in like manner confirmed in particular.d
a. Hebrews 5:12; 6:1–2; Acts 8:17–18; 19:6
Hebrews 5:12
5:12 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.
5:12 Although by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to reteach you the basic principles of God's word. You need milk, not solid food!
Hebrews 6:1–2
6:1 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, 6:2 Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.
6:1 Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith in God, 6:2 instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment.
Acts 8:17–18
8:17 Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost. 8:18 And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,
8:17 Then Peter and John laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. 8:18 When Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered them money.
Acts 19:6
19:6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.
19:6 And when Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied.
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b. Ephesians 1:13–14
Ephesians 1:13–14
1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, 1:14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.
1:13 And in Him, having heard and believed the word of truth-the gospel of your salvation-you were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 1:14 who is the pledge of our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession, to the praise of His glory.
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c. Acts 8; 19:6
Acts 8
8:1 And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judæa and Samaria, except the apostles. 8:2 And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him. 8:3 As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison. 8:4 Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word. 8:5 Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them. 8:6 And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. 8:7 For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed. 8:8 And there was great joy in that city. 8:9 But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one: 8:10 To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God. 8:11 And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries. 8:12 But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. 8:13 Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done. 8:14 Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: 8:15 Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: 8:16 (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) 8:17 Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost. 8:18 And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, 8:19 Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost. 8:20 But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money. 8:21 Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God. 8:22 Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee. 8:23 For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity. 8:24 Then answered Simon, and said, Pray ye to the Lord for me, that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me. 8:25 And they, when they had testified and preached the word of the Lord, returned to Jerusalem, and preached the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans. 8:26 And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert. 8:27 And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship, 8:28 Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet. 8:29 Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot. 8:30 And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest? 8:31 And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him. 8:32 The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth: 8:33 In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth. 8:34 And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man? 8:35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus. 8:36 And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? 8:37 And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. 8:38 And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him. 8:39 And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing. 8:40 But Philip was found at Azotus: and passing through he preached in all the cities, till he came to Cæsarea.
8:1 And Saul was there, giving approval to Stephen's death. On that day a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. 8:2 God-fearing men buried Stephen and mourned deeply over him. 8:3 But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off men and women and put them in prison. 8:4 Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went. 8:5 Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Christ to them. 8:6 The crowds gave their undivided attention to Philip's message and to the signs they saw him perform. 8:7 With loud shrieks, unclean spirits came out of many who were possessed, and many of the paralyzed and lame were healed. 8:8 So there was great joy in that city. 8:9 Prior to that time, a man named Simon had practiced sorcery in the city and astounded the people of Samaria. He claimed to be someone great, 8:10 and all the people, from the least to the greatest, heeded his words and said, "This man is the divine power called the Great Power." 8:11 They paid close attention to him because he had astounded them for a long time with his sorcery. 8:12 But when they believed Philip as he preached the gospel of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. 8:13 Even Simon himself believed and was baptized. He followed Philip closely and was astounded by the great signs and miracles he observed. 8:14 When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. 8:15 On their arrival, they prayed for them to receive the Holy Spirit. 8:16 For the Holy Spirit had not yet fallen upon any of them; they had simply been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. 8:17 Then Peter and John laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. 8:18 When Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered them money. 8:19 "Give me this power as well," he said, "so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit." 8:20 But Peter replied, "May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money! 8:21 You have no part or share in our ministry, because your heart is not right before God. 8:22 Repent, therefore, of your wickedness, and pray to the Lord. Perhaps He will forgive you for the intent of your heart. 8:23 For I see that you are poisoned by bitterness and captive to iniquity." 8:24 Then Simon answered, "Pray to the Lord for me, so that nothing you have said may happen to me." 8:25 And after Peter and John had testified and spoken the word of the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel in many of the Samaritan villages. 8:26 Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, "Get up and go south to the desert road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza." 8:27 So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official in charge of the entire treasury of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians. He had gone to Jerusalem to worship, 8:28 and on his return was sitting in his chariot reading Isaiah the prophet. 8:29 The Spirit said to Philip, "Go over to that chariot and stay by it." 8:30 So Philip ran up and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. "Do you understand what you are reading?" Philip asked. 8:31 "How can I," he said, "unless someone guides me?" And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. 8:32 The eunuch was reading this passage of Scripture: "He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb before the shearer is silent, so He did not open His mouth. 8:33 In His humiliation He was deprived of justice. Who can recount His descendants? For His life was removed from the earth." 8:34 "Tell me," said the eunuch, "who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?" 8:35 Then Philip began with this very Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus. 8:36 As they traveled along the road and came to some water, the eunuch said, "Look, here is water! What is there to prevent me from being baptized?" 8:38 And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and Philip baptized him. 8:39 When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord carried Philip away, and the eunuch saw him no more, but went on his way rejoicing. 8:40 But Philip appeared at Azotus and traveled through that region, preaching the gospel in all the towns until he came to Caesarea.
Acts 19:6
19:6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.
19:6 And when Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied.
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d. Hebrews 2:3–4
Hebrews 2:3–4
2:3 How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; 2:4 God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?
2:3 how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? This salvation was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard Him, 2:4 and was affirmed by God through signs, wonders, various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to His will.
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