Acts 15:8 God, who knows the heart, showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he did to us. 9 and he made no distinction between us and them, having cleansed their hearts by faith.
>>In that context, what if anything did the laying on of hands do, if all that is necessary for transmission of the faith is just to hear it with your ears or read it with your eyes?<<
2 Timothy 3:15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
1 John 2:27 As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit--just as it has taught you, remain in him.
Do not neglect the spiritual gift within you, which was bestowed on you through prophetic utterance with the laying on of hands by the presbytery.
The way I read it, the presbyters or elders (in the plural) laid hands on them and spoke prophetic words and thus transmitted a spiritual gift. It seems to suggest that there is more to the transmission of the faith than words alone. Or at least that the Apostles thought there was. Am I reading it wrong?