In the Epistle of Barnabas, the hand clasp is mentioned in connection with Christ's descent to redeem the spirit prisoners out of darkness, (citing Isaiah 2:6-7): "I, the Lord Thy God, have called Thee in righteousness, and will hold Thy hand, and will strengthen Thee; and I have given Thee for a covenant to the people, for a light to the nations, to open the eyes of the blind, & to bring forth from fetters them that are bound, and those that sit in darkness out of the prison-house." Note the words that are so often illustrated in art works, how that the Lord "will hold Thy hand."
(Isa.lxi I, 2.), The Ante-Nicene Fathers, 1: p.46, Ep. of Barnabas, chap. xiv.)
Melito, [A.D. 160-170-177], bishop of Sardis, said that Christ arose from the dead and cries to us saying, among other things: "I lead you up to the heights of heaven, I will show you the Father who is from the ages, I will raise you up by my right hand."
(Robert M. Grant in collaboration with David Noel Freedman, The Secret Sayings Of Jesus, p. 118; The Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 8, pp. 750, 756-8.)
