Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Acts 8:14-17
Acts 8:14-17. When the apostles heard that Samaria That the inhabitants of that country, or of the chief city thereof; had received the word of God By faith; being desirous that these new converts should be further settled in their Christian profession, by receiving those spiritual gifts which no inferior teacher or officer in the church could be the instrument of communicating; they sent unto them Peter and John Two of the most eminent of their number, made remarkable by the miracle... read more
Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Acts 8:17
Then laid they their hands ... - This was an act of “prayer,” expressing an invocation to God that he would impart the blessing to “them.” On “how many” they laid their hands is not said. It is evident that it was not on “all,” for they did not thus lay hands on Simon. Perhaps it was done on a few of the more prominent and leading persons, who were to be employed particularly in bearing witness to the truth of the gospel. It was customary to lay the hands on any person when a “favor” was to be... read more