SCRIPTURE READING: Acts 9:1-19

GOLDEN TEXT:  1 Timothy 5:22

1. Is the "Laying on of Hands" one of the six foundational doctrines of the New Testament Church? (Hebrews 6:1-2.)

What are the three instructions that the apostle Paul gave Timothy regarding the "Laying on of Hands?" (1 Timothy 5:22.)

Note: These three instructions have much significance. 1. Paul is warning Timothy not to lay hands on a person to quickly but to carefully consider the purpose, the circumstances and the character of the recipient with caution that our motive and character as a participant will not be compromised. 2. Don’t participate in other people’s sins. 3. Keep yourself pure.

2. Was the Laying on of Hands used to set people apart for a special purpose? Did Jacob, whose name was changed to Israel lay his hands on his grandsons Ephraim and Manasseh? (Genesis 48:14-16.)

Note: When it came time for the nearly blind Jacob to pass the blessing on to his grandsons he "guided his hands wittingly." When his son Joseph questioned him, Jacob said "I know my son." He was being careful in imparting the blessing correctly.

Did the children of Israel lay their hands on the Levites? (Numbers 8:10.) Did Moses lay his hands on Joshua and inaugurate him? (Numbers 27:18-23.)

3. Were hands laid on the animal sacrifices at the tabernacle? (Leviticus 1:1-4, 4:15.) Were hands laid on the goat on the Day of Atonement? (Leviticus 16:21.) Note: The offerer transfered his guilt, his sin, to the sacrifice. This is known as the atonement process. Jesus takes our sins on Himself and we become justified through His blood. (Romans 5:9-10.)

4. Was there a Laying on of Hands on criminals and blasphemers to set them apart for judgment and execution? (Leviticus 24:10-22.) Will hands be laid on Satan the devil as he is bound for one thousand years? (Revelation 20:1-3.)

Note: Sinners shall bear their guilt. The witnesses were to lay hands on them to bear public witness of their guilt. Satan will also bear his guilt of causing man to sin.

5. Did Jesus lay His hands on a few sick people and heal them? (Mark 6:5.) Did Jesus say that His apostles would lay their hands on the sick and that they would recover? (Mark 16:14-18.) Did James say: Let the elders pray over the sick, anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord? (James 5:14.) Did Ananias Lay Hands upon Paul and did Paul receive his sight? (Acts 9:10-11, 17-18.)

Note: Ananias was not a minister, he was a disciple, a layman, a student and it was he who did the Laying on of Hands to heal Paul and to impart God’s Holy Spirit and to baptize an Apostle. God did not think of Paul as being such a "big shot" that He had to have "someone important" to minister to him.

Did God work unusual miracles by the hands of Paul so that even handkerchiefs and aprons brought from his body to the sick caused them to be healed from diseases and even evil spirits went out of them? (Acts 19:10-12.)

6. Did Jesus lay His hands on the little children? (Matthew 19:13-15.) Did Jesus take young children up in His arms and put His hands on them and bless them? (Mark 10:16.)

Note: Jesus knew that little children needed special protection. He loved them and encouraged them to come to him and He laid His hands on them and blessed them. The Sabbath keeping Churches of God continues to do this ceremony of the "blessing of little children." Hands are laid on them and God’s blessing is asked upon them.

7. Did Peter and John lay their hands on the baptized Samaritans and did they receive God’s Holy Spirit? (Acts 8:14-18.) Did the apostle Paul baptized disciples and then lay his hands on them and did God’s Holy Spirit come upon them also? (Acts 19:5-7.)

8. Did Samuel anoint David to be the next king? (1 Samuel 16:1,13.)

Note: When you anoint someone, you put olive oil on your hands and put your hands on the person’s head. In a sense, David had hands laid upon him.

Did Jesus lay His hands upon the Apostles when He ordained and appointed them? (Mark 3:13-15, Matthew 10:1-2.)

Note: These scriptures do not say that He did lay His hands upon them, but He probably did. The Laying on of Hands is an important part of ordination.

Is the Laying on of Hands part of the ceremony of ordination of deacons and elders? (Acts 6:1-6.) Were hands laid on Barnabas and Saul before they were sent away? (Acts 13:1-3.)

Note: Barnabas and Paul were ordained by the Laying on of Hands of the prophets and teachers in the congregation of Antioch, not by the Jerusalem (headquarters) congregation. They were sent out as apostles on a mission by the Antioch congregation.

9. Did the apostle Paul lay hands upon Timothy to bestow a spiritual gift upon him? (2 Timothy 1:6-7, 1 Timothy 4:14.) Do all good gifts come from God? (James 1:17.)

Note: The gift in Timothy, whether it was a special gift beyond the gift of the Holy Spirit is unclear. Perhaps it was a special gift do to the special needs of the Church. It appears that it might have been the gift of prophecy and was given with the Laying on of Hands.

In Conclusion: The Laying on of Hands is a ceremony centered around a servant of God who prays aloud as he places his hands on the recipient and makes a formal request to God to impart blessings to individuals, children, the begettal of God’s Holy Spirit and spiritual gifts. The Laying on of Hands is part of the ceremony of ordinations, consecrations and healings.

The Laying on of Hands conveys an important truth, that God works through fallible, imperfect men. When Laying on of Hands is properly administered in the name of God through faith, in a Spirit of harmony, mutual respect, trust, and submission expressed in the right way, special benefits and blessings will be imparted.

(Acts 9:1-19 NKJV) Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest {2} and asked letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. {3} As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. {4} Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?" {5} And he said, "Who are You, Lord?" Then the Lord said, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads." {6} So he, trembling and astonished, said, "Lord, what do You want me to do?" Then the Lord said to him, "Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do." {7} And the men who journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice but seeing no one. {8} Then Saul arose from the ground, and when his eyes were opened he saw no one. But they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. {9} And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank. {10} Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and to him the Lord said in a vision, "Ananias." And he said, "Here I am, Lord." {11} So the Lord said to him, "Arise and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus, for behold, he is praying. {12} "And in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and putting his hand on him, so that he might receive his sight." {13} Then Ananias answered, "Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem. {14} "And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your name." {15} But the Lord said to him, "Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. {16} "For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name's sake." {17} And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and laying his hands on him he said, "Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit." {18} Immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he received his sight at once; and he arose and was baptized. {19} So when he had received food, he was strengthened.

Then Saul spent some days with the disciples at Damascus.

1.) (Hebrews 6:1-2 NKJV) Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, {2} of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.

(1 Timothy 5:22 NKJV) Do not lay hands on anyone hastily, nor share in other people's sins; keep yourself pure.

(Genesis 48:14-16 NKJV) Then Israel stretched out his right hand and laid it on Ephraim's head, who was the younger, and his left hand on Manasseh's head, guiding his hands knowingly, for Manasseh was the firstborn. {15} And he blessed Joseph, and said: "God, before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, The God who has fed me all my life long to this day, {16} The Angel who has redeemed me from all evil, Bless the lads; Let my name be named upon them, And the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; And let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth."

2.) (Numbers 8:10 NKJV) "So you shall bring the Levites before the LORD, and the children of Israel shall lay their hands on the Levites;

(Numbers 27:18-23 NKJV) And the LORD said to Moses: "Take Joshua the son of Nun with you, a man in whom is the Spirit, and lay your hand on him; {19} "set him before Eleazar the priest and before all the congregation, and inaugurate him in their sight. {20} "And you shall give some of your authority to him, that all the congregation of the children of Israel may be obedient. {21} "He shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who shall inquire before the LORD for him by the judgment of the Urim. At his word they shall go out, and at his word they shall come in, he and all the children of Israel with him; all the congregation." {22} So Moses did as the LORD commanded him. He took Joshua and set him before Eleazar the priest and before all the congregation. {23} And he laid his hands on him and inaugurated him, just as the LORD commanded by the hand of Moses.

3.) (Leviticus 1:1-4 NKJV) Now the LORD called to Moses, and spoke to him from the tabernacle of meeting, saying, {2} "Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: 'When any one of you brings an offering to the LORD, you shall bring your offering of the livestock; of the herd and of the flock. {3} 'If his offering is a burnt sacrifice of the herd, let him offer a male without blemish; he shall offer it of his own free will at the door of the tabernacle of meeting before the LORD. {4} 'Then he shall put his hand on the head of the burnt offering, and it will be accepted on his behalf to make atonement for him.

(Leviticus 4:15 NKJV) 'And the elders of the congregation shall lay their hands on the head of the bull before the LORD. Then the bull shall be killed before the LORD.

(Leviticus 16:21 NKJV) "Aaron shall lay both his hands on the head of the live goat, confess over it all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions, concerning all their sins, putting them on the head of the goat, and shall send it away into the wilderness by the hand of a suitable man.

(Revelation 20:1-3 NKJV) Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. {2} He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; {3} and he cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal on him, so that he should deceive the nations no more till the thousand years were finished. But after these things he must be released for a little while.

4.) A Blasphemer Stoned

(Leviticus 24:10-22 NKJV) Now the son of an Israelite woman, whose father was an Egyptian, went out among the children of Israel; and this Israelite woman's son and a man of Israel fought each other in the camp. {11} And the Israelite woman's son blasphemed the name of the Lord and cursed; and so they brought him to Moses. (His mother's name was Shelomith the daughter of Dibri, of the tribe of Dan.) {12} Then they put him in custody, that the mind of the LORD might be shown to them. {13} And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, {14} "Take outside the camp him who has cursed; then let all who heard him lay their hands on his head, and let all the congregation stone him. {15} "Then you shall speak to the children of Israel, saying: 'Whoever curses his God shall bear his sin. {16} 'And whoever blasphemes the name of the LORD shall surely be put to death. All the congregation shall certainly stone him, the stranger as well as him who is born in the land. When he blasphemes the name of the Lord, he shall be put to death. {17} 'Whoever kills any man shall surely be put to death. {18} 'Whoever kills an animal shall make it good, animal for animal. {19} 'If a man causes disfigurement of his neighbor, as he has done, so shall it be done to him; {20} 'fracture for fracture, eye for eye, tooth for tooth; as he has caused disfigurement of a man, so shall it be done to him. {21} 'And whoever kills an animal shall restore it; but whoever kills a man shall be put to death. {22} 'You shall have the same law for the stranger and for one from your own country; for I am the LORD your God.'"

5.) (Mark 6:5 NKJV) Now He could do no mighty work there, except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them.

(Mark 16:14-18 NKJV) Later He appeared to the eleven as they sat at the table; and He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen Him after He had risen. {15} And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. {16} "He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. {17} "And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; {18} "they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover."

(James 5:14 NKJV) Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.

(Acts 9:10-11 NKJV) Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and to him the Lord said in a vision, "Ananias." And he said, "Here I am, Lord." {11} So the Lord said to him, "Arise and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus, for behold, he is praying.

(Acts 9:17-18 NKJV) And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and laying his hands on him he said, "Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit." {18} Immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he received his sight at once; and he arose and was baptized.

(Acts 19:10-12 NKJV) And this continued for two years, so that all who dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks. {11} Now God worked unusual miracles by the hands of Paul, {12} so that even handkerchiefs or aprons were brought from his body to the sick, and the diseases left them and the evil spirits went out of them.

6.) (Matthew 19:13-15 NKJV) Then little children were brought to Him that He might put His hands on them and pray, but the disciples rebuked them. {14} But Jesus said, "Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven." {15} And He laid His hands on them and departed from there.

(Mark 10:16 NKJV) And He took them up in His arms, put His hands on them, and blessed them.

7.) (Acts 8:14-18 NKJV) Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them, {15} who, when they had come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. {16} For as yet He had fallen upon none of them. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. {17} Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. {18} And when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money,

(Acts 19:5-7 NKJV) 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.

8.) Samuel Anoints David

(1 Samuel 16:1 NKJV) Now the LORD said to Samuel, "How long will you mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? Fill your horn with oil, and go; I am sending you to Jesse the Bethlehemite. For I have provided Myself a king among his sons."

(1 Samuel 16:13 NKJV) Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel arose and went to Ramah.

(Mark 3:13-15 NKJV) And He went up on the mountain and called to Him those He Himself wanted. And they came to Him. {14} Then He appointed twelve, that they might be with Him and that He might send them out to preach, {15} and to have power to heal sicknesses and to cast out demons:

Jesus Sends Out the Twelve

(Matthew 10:1-2 NKJV) And when He had called His twelve disciples to Him, He gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease. {2} Now the names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother;

The Choosing of the Seven

(Acts 6:1-6 NKJV) Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a complaint against the Hebrews by the Hellenists, because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution. {2} Then the twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, "It is not desirable that we should leave the word of God and serve tables. {3} "Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business; {4} "but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word." {5} And the saying pleased the whole multitude. And they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch, {6} whom they set before the apostles; and when they had prayed, they laid hands on them.

(Acts 13:1-3 NKJV) Now in the church that was at Antioch there were certain prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. {2} As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, "Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them." {3} Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away.

9.) (2 Timothy 1:6-7 NKJV) Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. {7} For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

(1 Timothy 4:14 NKJV) Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership.

(James 1:17 NKJV) Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.