THE APOSTLE’S HANDS

1. In New Testament times we find people “laying hands” on others.

2. For Jews, this was not new.

3. They had seen examples of this during the Old Testament era.

4. Tonight we want to study the laying on of hands and especially see how it relates to the Holy Spirit.

AS EARLY AS GENESIS 48 WE READ ABOUT THE LAYING ON OF HANDS.

a) Jacob was on his deathbed and he spoke with his sons (Gen. 48:14, 17-19).

b) As he talked with his children, he laid hands upon them.

c) Laying hands on someone was a common gesture that expressed power/authority/a gift.

2) A similar example but a slightly different point is found in Ex. 29:10, 15, and verse 19.

3) When Aaron and his sons were dedicated to the priesthood , there was a ceremony.

4) These men laid hands on the heads of animals that had been sacrificed.

5) This act indicated the uncleanness in the lives of these men was being transferred to the animals.

6) Later in Biblical history we find Moses laying hands on Joshua (Numbers. 27:18-23).

7) After the Old Testament period ended, this practice continued.

8) Acts 6:6 says the apostles “laid hands” upon 7 men selected to help with special tasks.

9) Hands were laid on Paul and Barnabas as they prepared to enter into Asia Minor (Acts 13:3).

10) We find examples in the New Testament of hands being laid upon the sick.

11) Hands were laid upon the dead when bringing them back to life (Mt. 9:18, 25).

12) Tonight we want to zero in on just one aspect of this subject, and this is found in Acts 8:17-18.

13) Luke makes a very specific point in these two verses – READ Acts 8:17-18.

a) These verses constitute a major battleground in the religious world.

b) Many members of the church have used verses 17 and 18 in this way:

c) Here the “Holy Spirit” refers to supernatural gifts.

d) In the absence of a completed Bible, God temporarily gave people special abilities.

e) These abilities were limited to the first century and given by the apostles.

f) By the time the apostles died, all the scriptures would have been completed.

g) When the scriptures were complete, the need for spiritual gifts ended and the gifts ceased.

14) Simon’s observation has been used to say that supernatural gifts are no longer available.

15) Notice that he said the gifts came through the hands of the apostles.

16) When the last apostle died, there was no one left to transmit the supernatural gifts.

17) Philip had received gifts from the apostles, but he could not pass them on to others.

18) Peter and John (apostles) had to come to this area because only they had the power to impart the gifts.

19) While we have argued this position—and rightly so—others have proposed a different view.

a) Some have said the “Holy Spirit” in Acts 8 is not spiritual gifts; it is something else.

b) This is an assertion, and it is not true.

c) If you like marginal notes you might insert Acts 19:2 by Acts 8:17.

d) At a later time other people became believers but they were incorrectly baptized.

e) Instead of being baptized with the baptism of Christ, they had only responded to John’s baptism.

f) Paul asked these people some questions, and one of his questions was this – Acts 19:2 – READ.

20) Notice three key words in Acts 19:2: receive the Holy Spirit.

21) These words are identical to the words in Acts 8:17.

22) The point in Acts 8:17 is identical to those in Acts 19:2.

23) Can we determine from Acts 19 what it means to “receive the Holy Spirit?”

24) Notice the first part of Acts 19:6 – READ 6a.

25) Here is a second parallel to Acts 8.

26) Acts 8 says “through the apostle’s hands” the Holy Spirit was given.

27) What do we find in Acts 19? An apostle “laid hands on those who had become Christians.”

28) Luke provides much helpful information, but his help doesn’t stop here.

29) Notice what we have in 6b of Acts 19 – READ 6b.

30) This is identical to Acts 8:17; there Luke says Christians “received the Holy Spirit.
In Acts 8, Luke did not add anything to receiving the Holy Spirit, but he did in Acts 19.

a) Receiving the Holy Spirit is carefully described in two different ways in 6b:

b) “Tongue speaking” and “prophesy.”

c) When we look at the Bible—1 Cor. 12-14—these items are listed as gifts of the Holy Spirit.

d) Acts 19 is a divine commentary on Acts 8.

e) When the Samaritans “received the Holy Spirit,” they received spiritual gifts.

f) Spiritual gifts came through the laying on of the apostle’s hands.

g) When the last apostle died, the ability to pass on spiritual gifts ended.

31) Besides these references other verses in the New Testament make this same point.

32) It is important for us to know about these additional verses.

33) One of these additional verses is 2 Tim. 1:6.

a) Young Timothy had a gift—a spiritual gift.

b) In 2 Tim. 1:6 Paul said Timothy’s gift had come through the laying on of hands.

c) It was Paul’s hands that had been laid upon this young man and given me a spiritual gift.

d) 2 Tim. 1:6 – READ.

AGAIN AND AGAIN THE BIBLE TEACHES THAT SPIRITUAL GIFTS CAME THROUGH THE HANDS OF THE APOSTLES. IN SPITE OF THIS INFORMATION THERE HAVE BEEN CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS AND GROUPS WHO DO NOT WANT TO BELIEVE THIS BECAUSE IT DOES NOT FIT IN WITH THEIR RELIGIOUS CONVICTIONS.

a) In order to try and avoid the facts, people have introduced additional passages.

b) These additional verses are pitted against the verses just cited.

c) I am going to share these verses as well as show how they relate to the points just made.

2) Our first reference used by many comes from the life of Paul — Acts 9:17.

3) Most know that Paul was on his way to persecute Christians and God stopped him.

a) As Paul was traveling to hurt God’s people he was blinded.

b) Those who were with him led him to a city where he went into a house and began to pray.

c) As Paul was praying God spoke to a man named Ananias.

d) If you have turned to Acts 9, let’s begin with verses 13-16 – READ.

4) Ananias was a Christian who was instructed to go see Saul.

5) Instead of getting all the facts, many run right to verse 17.

6) We will get to that verse, but let’s include one more detail: verse 12 in this chapter: READ.

7) God told Ananias that he had a specific job for him: restore Saul’s sight.

8) This verse is part of the story, and it provides us with an important fact.

9) God told Ananias that his job was to go lay hands on Paul so sight would be restored.

10) He said nothing about Ananias administering the Holy Spirit.

a) Maybe Luke forgot to say Ananias would also give the Holy Spirit to Paul.

b) Let’s look at verse 18 – READ.

c) There are two times God talks about Ananias laying hands on Saul.

d) In both instances God talks about Ananias doing only one thing: restoring Paul’s sight.

e) Nothing is said about Ananias administering the Holy Spirit.

11) In spite of this many have come to Acts 9:17 and made an assumption.

12) People assume that Ananias gave the Holy Spirit to Paul.

13) God didn’t say this; he said Paul would receive the Holy Spirit but he did not say He would administer it.

14) Ananias was not in a position to offer the kind of Paul was going to have an use.

a) Notice the kind of promise God gave concerning Paul and the Holy Spirit.

b) God said Paul would be “filled” with the Spirit” (Acts 9:17b).

c) Filled is the same word used in Acts 2:4 (the Day of Pentecost).

d) Back in Acts 8 and Acts 19 we read about people “receiving the Holy Spirit.”

15) Paul, like the apostles in Acts 2, didn’t need one or two spiritual gifts.

16) Apostles needed Holy Spirit baptism, and this is what Jesus promised in Acts 1:8.

17) When we think about Holy Spirit baptism, a passages from the gospels should come to mind.

18) John the Baptist spoke about Holy Spirit baptism in Mt. 3:11.

19) He said Jesus would baptize people in the Holy Spirit.

20) Paul needed to be filled (baptized) in the Holy Spirit.

21) Who had the authority (power) to do this? It was Jesus.

22) John the Baptist said this type of task was out of his league.

23) When we study the special miracles of the Holy Spirit, here is what we have.

a) The apostles were baptized in the Holy Spirit but this baptism could only be done by Jesus.

b) In the first century people had special gifts (“receiving” the Spirit), and this power came from apostles.

24) Earlier in this lesson we noted how hands were laid on people for different reasons.

25) Such is the case with Ananias and Saul in Acts 9.

26) Hands were laid upon and he was haled, but he did not receive the Holy Spirit from Ananias .

27) In fact, when hands were laid on him (verses 17-18) Paul was not yet a Christian

28) Saul had hands laid upon him and THEN he was baptized (verse 18).

29) Acts 9 does not disprove the information in Acts 8:17-18.

30) A second common objection to only the apostles giving gifts is found in 1 Tim. 4:14.

a) Earlier we read from 2 Tim. 1:6 – Timothy had a gift and it was given to him by Paul.

b) In 1 Tim. 4:14 we find a statement that seems to contradict 2 Tim. 1:6.

c) Here is how 1 Tim. 4:14 reads – READ.

d) There was a “presbytery” (eldership).

e) These men “laid hands” on Timothy.

f) People have taken this verse and said, “a ha…a spiritual gift from someone besides an apostle.”

g) Does this verse conflict with or prove something different from Acts 8?

h) If you were to take an interlinear Bible you would see that Paul used two different words.

31) In the original text there is a very visible point conerning prepositions.

32) The ASV I read says “with” in 1 Tim. 4:14 and this is a wonderful expression of the thought.

33) Translators of the KJV and NASB also say with.

34) In 2 Tim. 1:6 the preposition is different and the ASV renders it “through.”

35) The KJV says “by” but the NKJV says “through.”

36) Here is the point.

37) Timothy had a gift, and he got it “through” (by) the hands of an apostle – 2 Tim. 1:6.

38) When he got the gift it was also “with” the hands of elders.

39) Elders gave their approval; they said it was a good thing; they endorsed the act.

40) God carefully constructed the text to again and again show that gifts came through the apostles.

41) Later we read about Timothy and laying on of hands in 1 Tim. 5:22.

42) Paul said “lay hands hastily on no man.”

43) Timothy could not impart spiritual gifts, but he did have some influence in appointing elders.

44) Paul said, “be careful; be cautious about giving support to someone.”

45) When we find claims of people alleging supernatural power from God, they need to labeled false.

46) When the last apostle died, the ability to pass along supernatural gifts ceased.

47) The imperfect (1 Cor. 13—the supernatural gifts) have been replaced by the perfect (complete).

48) We have God’s word and this is what we are expected to use.