Commentaries:
Robertson's Word Pictures (NT)
Laid they their hands (epetiqesan tav xeirav). Imperfect active, repetition. The laying on of hands did not occur at the great Pentecost (Acts 2:4, Acts 2:33) nor in Acts 4:31; Acts 10:44 nor is it mentioned in 1Co. 12; 14. It is mentioned in Acts 6:7 about the deacons and in Acts 13:3 when Barnabas and Saul left Antioch. And in Saul's case it was Ananias who laid his hands on him (Acts 9:17). Hence it cannot be concluded that the Holy Spirit was received only by the laying on of the hands of the apostles or by the hands of anyone. The so-called practice of "confirmation" appeals to this passage, but inconclusively.
They received (elambanon). Imperfect active, repetition as before and pari passu with the laying on of the hands.
Other Robertson's Word Pictures (NT) entries containing Acts 8:17:
Acts 2:38
Acts 10:44
Hebrews 6:2
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