To the Jew this form was a significant one. When a Jewish father blessed his children, he laid his hands reverently upon their heads. When an animal was devoted to sacrifice, the hand of the one invested with priestly authority was laid upon the head of the victim. And when the ministers of the church of believers in Antioch laid their hands upon Paul and Barnabas, they, by that action, asked God to bestow His blessing upon the chosen apostles in their devotion to the specific work to which they had been appointed.

For en jøde var denne skik meget betydningsfuld. Når en jødisk fader velsignede sine børn, lagde han højtideligt hænderne på deres hoved. Når et dyr blev indviet til ofring, lagde han, der sad inde med præsteværdigheden, sin hånd på offerdyrets hoved. Og når de ældste indenfor den kristne kirke i Antiokia lagde hænderne på Paulus og Barnabas, bad de ved denne handling Gud om at skænke de udvalgte apostle sin velsignelse til den særlige tjeneste, hvortil de var udset.