The example of Acts 4 gives another example of the Holy Spirit being given without a reference to the laying on the Apostle’s hands. However, like Acts 2, all the apostles were in Jerusalem at this time. Therefore, the context supports a Jewish setting among the apostles of Christ. The text has Peter and John returning to their companions to report how they were treated by the Sanhedrin and were threatened if they kept preaching in the name of Jesus. They returned to their companions. They and their companions prayed, “ And now, Lord, take note of their threats, and grant that your bond-servants may speak Your word with all confidence, while You extend Your hand to heal, and signs and wonders take place through the name of Your holy servant Jesus.” These disciples are praying for confidence and the signs and wonders that God would work in conjunction with their teaching. In response to their prayer, the text reads, “And when they had prayed, the place where they had gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God with boldness.” This is the third reference to being filled with the Holy Spirit (cf. Acts 2:4; 4:8). We cannot tell with certainty whether these were only the Apostles. Peter and John gave the report to their own company or companions (verse 23). Were these companions their fellow apostles or all the company of disciples? Perhaps, these companions were the other apostles to be distinguished from the multitude of believers that are referenced in the following verse. Or, perhaps all the disciples are included, here. The evidence that the two apostles reported to the rest of the apostles, who were then filled with the Holy Spirit is supported by the fact that the record of miraculous events in Luke’s record up that time was done only by the apostles. If this is correct, it is another example like Acts 2 where the power was granted to the Apostles, who were promised the direct outpouring of the Holy Spirit. If Acts 4 does not follow this same pattern of concentrated work among Apostles, it is the only one before the selection of the seven.
The verses that follow give support for the conclusion that the power of the Holy Spirit was upon the Apostles in the beginning.
(1) And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles (Acts 2:43).
(2) Verse 33 reads, “And with great power, the apostles were giving testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and abundant grace was upon them all.” The abundant grace could be a reference to spiritual gifts as the word “grace” can refer to the gift of the Spirit.
(3) The next chapter reads, “At the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were taking place among the people; and they were all with one accord in Solomon’s portico. But, none of the rest dared to associate with them; however, the people held them in high esteem (5:12-13). An example of this is when the people carried the sick out in the streets on cots and pallets so that even Peter’s shadow might fall on one of them (5:15; cf. 5:16).
Since the power was directly given to the Apostles, they needed no one to lay hands on them. Besides, no one would have had that power to impart the Holy Spirit except them. The implication is that the apostles, who were directly promised the power of the Holy Spirit, could impart a measure of the Holy Spirit by granting a specific gift according to God’s choice through the laying on of their hands.
Furthermore, the evidence shows that the apostles were a class all their own. Though highly respected, the power of the Holy Spirit set them apart from the rest. This distinction is set early when the disciples continued with the Apostles witnessing the miracles and signs done by the Apostles. (Acts 2:43). Therefore, it seems reasonable to conclude that from Acts 2 to Acts 6, we do not find anyone performing miracles other than the apostles (Acts 3 lame, Acts 4:8-ff.).