Acts 6:6 - Exposition

When they had prayed, they laid their hands on them . They did not pray without imposition of hands, nor did they lay hands on them without prayer. So in the sacraments, in confirmation, and ordination, the outward sign or rite is accompanied by prayer for the thing signified. And God's grace is given through the sacrament or rite in answer to the prayer of faith (see Acts 8:15 , and the Office for Baptism, the Prayer of Consecration in the Office for Holy Communion, and the Confirmation and Ordination Services). (For the laying on of hands as a mode of conveying a special grace and blessing, see Numbers 27:3 ; Deuteronomy 34:9 ; Matthew 19:13-15 ; Luke 4:40 ; Acts 8:17 ; Acts 13:3 ; 1 Timothy 5:22 ; Hebrews 6:2 .)