One again [as with
water baptism] we do not have here a merely symbolic movement on the one hand
or a quasi-magical one on the other. As its Old Testament background indicates
(e.g. Gen. 48:14ff.), the laying on of hands was essentially an enacted prayer –
one that achieved what it was requested. The action did not just accompany the
prayer; it was part of the prayer itself.
As such the action
lent itself to a wide variety of situations. Those, according to Acts, in which
Paul is involved include commissioning of mission-works (Acts 13:3, compare 6:6),
healing of the sick (Acts 28:8 [compare 9:17, 19:11 and 20:10), and recognition
of leaders – as well as conveying of the Spirit. (Robert Banks, Paul's Idea
of Community: The Early House Churches in their Historical Setting [Grand
Rapids, Mich.: Eerdmans, 1988], 83; to be fair, the author does not believe "ordination" carries with it the concept of a [New Covenant] Priesthood. On this, see my book After the Order of the Son of God: The Biblical Evidence for Latter-day Saint Theology of the Priesthood)
