There was a laying on of hands for receiving the Holy Spirit for all believers —
as happened with the people of Samaria (Acts 8:17) and the people of Ephesus (Acts 19:6).
When the apostles laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them.
This form of laying on of hands has been replaced by the Holy Anointing (1 John 2:20, 27), and today we use the Holy Myron oil.
There is also a laying on of hands for receiving the priesthood —
such as when Paul laid hands on Timothy (2 Timothy 1:6), and when Barnabas and Saul had hands laid on them (Acts 13:3).
Likewise, hands were laid on the deacons to ordain them as clergy (Acts 6:6).
The specific rank given depends on the type of prayer and proclamation during the laying on of hands.
There is also laying on of hands for healing —
as in Luke 4:40.
And laying on of hands for blessing —
such as when Jacob the patriarch laid his hands on Ephraim and Manasseh and blessed them (Genesis 48:14–20).
