The Christian church was at this time entering upon an important era. The work of proclaiming the gospel message among the Gentiles was now to be prosecuted with vigor; and as a result the church was to be strengthened by a great ingathering of souls. The apostles who had been appointed to lead out in this work would be exposed to suspicion, prejudice, and jealousy. Their teachings concerning the breaking down of "the middle wall of partition" (Ephesians 2:14) that had so long separated the Jewish and the Gentile world, would naturally subject them to the charge of heresy, and their authority as ministers of the gospel would be questioned by many zealous, believing Jews. God foresaw the difficulties that His servants would be called to meet, and, in order that their work should be above challenge, He instructed the church by revelation to set them apart publicly to the work of the ministry. Their ordination was a public recognition of their divine appointment to bear to the Gentiles the glad tidings of the gospel.

På dette tidspunkt var den kristne menighed ved at gå ind i en betydningsfuld periode. Nu skulle arbejdet med at forkynde evangeliet blandt hedninger gennemføres med al mulig kraft, og som følge deraf ville menigheden vinde styrke ved en rig høst af sjæle. De apostle, som var udset til at varetage denne tjeneste, ville være udsat for mistanke, fordomme og skinsyge. Deres lære om at nedbryde "det gærde, som skiller," det, der så længe havde skilt den jødiske verden fra den hedenske" ville antagelig gøre, at de blev beskyldt for kætteri, og deres myndighed som ordets tjenere ville blive betvivlet af mange nidkære, troende jøder. Gud forudså de vanskeligheder, hans tjenere ville komme til at møde, og for at ingen skulle kunne kritisere deres tjeneste, åbenbarede han for menigheden, hvordan den offentligt skulle udvælge dem til missionsgerningen. Deres indvielse var en åben anerkendelse af deres guddommelige kald til at bringe hedningerne evangeliets glade budskab.