The ordination by the laying on of hands, was, at a later date, greatly abused; unwarrantable importance was attached to the act as though a power came at once upon those who received such ordination, which immediately qualified them for any and all ministerial work, as though virtue lay in the act of laying on of hands. We have, in the history of these two apostles, only a simple record of the laying on of hands, and its bearing upon their work. Both Paul and Barnabas had already received their commission from God himself; and the ceremony of the laying on of hands added no new grace or virtual qualification. It was merely setting the seal of the church upon the work of God—an acknowledged form of designation to an appointed office. {LP 43.3}

Forordningen med håndspålæggelser, blev på et senere tidspunkt meget misbrugt; denne handling blev tilskrevet en uberettiget betydning, som om en kraft kom over dem som fik denne ordination, som straks kvalificerede dem for noget eller alt pastoralt arbejde, som om dydens lå i håndspålæggelsens handling. I historien har vi blot en enkel optegnelse om håndspålæggelse af disse to apostle, og fremførelsen af deres arbejde. Både Paulus og Barnabas havde allerede fået hvervet af Guds selv, og ceremonien med håndspålæggelse gav ingen ny nåde eller virkelig kvalifikation. Det var blot at sætte menigheden segl på Guds værk - en formel anerkendelse at blive udpeget til et bestemt embede.