A.T. Robertson Commentary Acts 8:17

"Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit." — Acts 8:17 (ASV)

Laid they their hands (επετιθεσαν τας χειρας). Imperfect active, repetition. The laying on of hands did not occur at the great Pentecost (2:4,33) nor in 4:31; 10:44 nor is it mentioned in 1Colossians 12; 14. It is mentioned in Ac 6:7 about the deacons and in 13:3 when Barnabas and Saul left Antioch. And in Saul's case it was Ananias who laid his hands on him (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 (ελαμβανον). Imperfect active, repetition as before and παρ πασσυ with the laying on of the hands.