John Calvin Commentary Acts 9:17

"And Ananias departed, and entered into the house; and laying his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, [even] Jesus, who appeared unto thee in the way which thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mayest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Spirit." — Acts 9:17 (ASV)

Having laid his hands upon. We have said elsewhere that this was a solemn and, as it were, an ordinary practice among the Jews, to lay their hands upon those whom they commended to God. The apostles adapted that custom, taken from sacrifices, for their own use either when they gave the visible graces of the Spirit or when they appointed a man as a minister of the Church.

To this end, Ananias now lays his hands upon Paul, partly so that he may consecrate him to God, and partly so that he may obtain for him the gifts of the Spirit.

And although no mention is made of doctrine in this place, yet it will appear afterwards from Paul’s narration that Ananias was also commanded to teach him; and from baptism, which was later in order, we gather that he was instructed in the faith.

Let the readers note from the preceding chapter how this ceremony is effective in imparting the Spirit. But since Paul received the Spirit by the hand of Ananias, the Papists are more than ridiculous, who insist that only bishops should lay on hands.