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.
An Exposition Of The Seven Church Ages
CAB 1:E-73
Now don't let anyone be misled by what I have said and think that I do not believe in the accuracy of the Word as we now have it. I believe this Bible is accurate. Jesus completely authenticated the Old Testament when here on earth and it was compiled exactly as was our New Testament. Make no mistake about it, we have the infallible Word of God today and no man dares take from it or add to it. But we need the same Spirit that gave it, to teach it to us.
Divine Healing
54-1219M §73
And of this great storm of formality, a great storm of indifference, a great storm of denial of God. "O God, don't let me try to beat the light out. Let me use it to walk in. I believe it, Lord." There you are. Walk in the light. "As I see it in the Scripture, that's light. It's God's Word, and let me walk in it. Lord, Lord, let me walk in it; never, never try to deny it." And he shall send Jesus ... which was before preached unto you: Whom the heavens must receive, until the time of restoration of all things, whic...
Ordination
62-1104E §6
Now the Bible times, the way that they ordained a minister was by recognizing a gift of God in this minister ... ministry. That's where that I think that our Latter Day Saint ... not Latter Day Saint, I beg your pardon, Latter Rain brethren made such a terrible mistake by laying on hands, and saying, "We give you the gift of healing. We give you the gift of prophecy." There is no such thing. Gifts and callings are without repentance. God gives. God has set in the church apostles, prophets, and so forth, see. There...
Watching His Star
59-0411E §25
...sterday, today, and forever. The church don't have the answer for that. They say, "He's partly what He was. He still wants us to preach the Gospel, but signs and wonders do not appear yet." Jesus said, "Go into all the world." How far? "All the world." And two-thirds of the earth has never heard the gospel yet. How long is it to last? "All the world." Who to? "Every creature." Preach the Gospel. What is the gospel? Paul said, "The gospel come not only through the Word, but through power and demonstrations of the Ho...
An Exposition Of The Seven Church Ages
CAB 4:E-118
To understand what I have just said is to clear up why students have never ever found Paul saying at any time, "Be born again and THEN be Spirit-filled." They have inferred it is there, and they have put their own meanings to make it say it, BUT SCRIPTURE DOES NOT SAY THAT. Jesus never said it either. Look at John 7:37-39, and read it now with understanding. "In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto Me and drink. He that believeth on Me, as th...