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.
Ordination
62-1104E §7
Now in the Bible times, like it says ... they take the scripture over there when Paul said to Timothy that he had the gift ministered to him. Well, he said it come from his grandmother Lois, see. This gift that come from his grandmother Lois was handed down to him. They noticed in him, being a staunch Christian, also a gift of speaking, and they laid hands upon him as a recognition. The elders of the church laid hands upon him, recognizing this man, and placing the apostolic ministry of laying hands on him, that he...
Expectations and what Love is
54-0228A §24
Now, we know that people that don't believe in divine gifts, and yet they're preachers, how did they get their inspiration then to preach from? If there's not a gift of preaching, then according to that, every person is a preacher. But the Bible said, "God has set some in the church..." God has. "Apostles, prophets, teachers, evangelists," and so forth, all in the church. God has set them in there. And they're inspired for a certain work. And then some people may possess more than one gift. But there would at least...
Conferences
61-0410 §79
There was another conference held right away. Those men went forth, preached the gospel, healed the sick. Peter and James passing the gate called Beautiful, and there laid a man crippled from his mother's womb. Said, "Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have, I'll give you: In the name of Jesus Christ rise up and walk." And away he went. And then what happened? They wanted to put them in jail. The news columns had criticism of all kinds in it. And they just criticized them, and snatched them up before the co...
Hear ye Him
58-0301E §25
Isn't that just the kind of people that we are, yet, today? All excited. When the Pentecostal Blessing fell on the third reformation, the first thing, they organized the Assemblies of God. And after that, they organized the United, or the PA of JC, the PA of W, the Church of God, the Church of Prophecy (Oh, mercy!), till there's hundreds of them, nearly. All want to build a denomination. Peter said, "I'll tell you what: those who want to serve the law, let's let them serve it." I'm glad that something taken place:...
The impersonation of Christianity
57-0120M §31
Now, to try to place this new program, this new deal that God has with the church that was presented at Pentecost. Not an intellectual at all! But a hundred and twenty fishermen, tent makers, and housewives went up in the upper room and waited until God's prophecy was fulfilled, and they received the baptism of the Holy Ghost. Jesus said, "Stop your preaching, don't go any farther. Don't do anything more about it, but wait at the city of Jerusalem until ... until you're endued with power from on high." Not "...unti...