Objection: Acts 8 Proves That the Apostles Had Unique Powers

The gist of this objection is that Philip, who was not an apostle, did not get the Samaritans filled with the Holy Spirit.  This only happened after Peter and John (who were apostles) came down from Jerusalem and laid hands on the Samaritans who were already believers.  Therefore (supposedly) only the apostles had the authority to impart the Holy Spirit to people through the laying on of hands.  We know that Paul, who was also an apostle, also imparted the Holy Spirit through the laying on of hands at Ephesus (Acts 19:1-6).

However, this objection is disproved by Acts 9:17, where Ananias, who was NOT an apostle, laid hands on Saul of Tarsus to be filled in the Holy Spirit.  We know that this was successful because Paul told the Corinthians that he spoke in tongues more than any of them (1 Corinthians 14:18).

This objection is also disproved by the fact that someone who was NEVER commissioned by Jesus as an apostle was going around doing Jesus’ works in His name anyway (Mark 9:38-39)!

Stephen’s “wonders and miracles” ministry in Jerusalem (Acts 6:8) shows that signs and wonders weren’t limited to the apostles because Stephen wasn’t an apostle.

Philip’s successful healing ministry in Samaria (Acts 8:5-8) also shows that dramatic, city-changing healings weren’t limited to the apostles, because Philip wasn’t an apostle either.

Of course, Jesus’ statement that believers would lay hands on the sick and they would recover (Mark 16:18) also demonstrates that miracles can be done by regular believers.  Paul spoke of miracles in Galatia being done “by the hearing of faith” (Galatians 3:5-6), not by special apostolic power.