Were There People in the New Testament Who Did Not Have a Formal Church Ordination, Yet Preached the Gospel?
Yes. The New Testament shows many who preached by the call and anointing of the Holy Ghost without a formal church ordination.
Scriptural Explanation
- The man casting out devils in Jesus’ Name who didn’t follow the apostles (Mark 9:38–40; Luke 9:49–50). Jesus said, “Forbid him not.”
- The seventy were sent by the Lord Himself, not by a council (Luke 10:1, 9).
- The delivered man of Gadara was told, “Go home…and tell,” and he published Christ in Decapolis (Mark 5:19–20).
- Persecuted believers “went everywhere preaching the word,” not just ordained officers (Acts 8:1, 4).
- Philip, originally chosen as a deacon, preached Christ in Samaria with signs following (Acts 6:5; 8:5–8, 12).
- Stephen, full of the Holy Ghost, preached with wisdom and power (Acts 6:8–10; ch. 7).
- Apollos preached Christ powerfully before any recorded formal ordination; Aquila and Priscilla instructed him more perfectly (Acts 18:24–28).
- Saul/Paul preached Christ “straightway” after his conversion, before consulting men (Acts 9:20; Galatians 1:15–17, 23).
- Men of Cyprus and Cyrene preached the Lord Jesus at Antioch, and “a great number believed” (Acts 11:19–21).
- The promise is broad: “Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy” (Acts 2:17–18). The Great Commission is to all believers (Mark 16:15; Matthew 28:19–20).
Simple Clarifying Logic
Now notice, the Bible shows a clear pattern: God calls and fills; the Church recognizes and sends. Laying on of hands in Acts 13:2–3 confirmed those whom the Holy Ghost had already separated. Authority to preach the gospel comes from the Word and the Spirit, not from human papers. If God vindicates the message with Scripture and the fruit, that is Heaven’s endorsement.
Final Word
So yes—there were many who preached without formal ordination. The New Testament puts the emphasis on the Holy Ghost calling and the Scriptures being proclaimed.
Ask a Follow-up Question
What did the Laodicean Church Age (our age) Angel (- messenger) Say about this?
Ranked passages from the local William Branham sermon and Church Age Book database. Relevance is relative, not a statement of doctrinal certainty.
Taking sides with Jesus
62-0601 §17
Now, I notice that how the churches, the evangelism started scattering out everywhere. And then we'll take, for instance, Paul becoming a great missionary to our people. We find out that he went about wherever the Lord led him, and he established a church. And it was a new faith. The churches of those days, like in Asia Minor, all throughout Europe, they didn't believe that message. And when he had preached the message, and many was converted to it, then there was no one... If he left the people in that condition,...
Church Ages, part 3: The Ephesian Church Age
60-1205 §87
Now, "I've not shunned to declare unto you the whole counsel of God." Is that right? Now, Christians, look this a-way. I'm going to ask you something. Who was it that commanded the people that had been baptized another way, besides the name of Jesus Christ, to come and be baptized over again? He preached the whole counsel. Is that right? And what did Paul say in ... I believe it was the... I'm not sure, now, whether it's Thessalonians, the 1st chapter and the 8th verse. "If we or an angel from heaven would preach a...
Who is this?
59-0510E §25
I had an interview Friday afternoon with the Roman Catholic priest from the Irish church in Louisville. And no more than I'd been introduced to him, a fine scholarly man, he said, "Mr. Branham, what denomination are you with?" I said, "I'm not with any." And he said, "Then, were you ordained?" I said, "Yes, sir." He said, "Who ordained you?" I said, "The Lord Jesus gave me the Holy Spirit to preach the Gospel, and gave me a commission." Well, that's the ordination that we need. Jesus never said to His disciples, "G...
An Exposition Of The Seven Church Ages
CAB 1:E-69
Now not only is what I have just said true, but let us go a step further. Today we have some students who claim that the original manuscripts were written in the Aramaic which was the language of Jesus and the people of His day. It is claimed by them that the people did not speak and write in the Greek as is so commonly supposed. And the fact is our historians are divided on that. For example, Dr. Schonfield, a most brilliant student has from research proved to his satisfaction that the New Testament was written in...
The End-time Evangelism
62-0603 §29
The first time He ever ordained any persons to preach the Word and go throughout the country, He said, "Heal the sick, raise the dead, cast out devils; as freely as you have received, freely give." St. Matthew, the 10th chapter, sending out the seventy, two by two. That was the first commission He gave to His church. Now, the last commission He gave to His church just before He was received up into glory, He said, "Go ye into all the world." He had just risen from the dead. And many of them was sitting together, an...