of hands was not ordination to the ministry, for these men had been active, recognized ministers for a long time. Evidently, it was an act whereby the church identified themselves with Paul and Barnabas on their mission and openly and formally gave their public endorsement to it. If hands could be laid on these men for a temporary task, there is no reason why hands should not be laid on laymen when given a temporary assignment in an office of the church. However, it should be clearly understood that