Acts 13:3

"When they had fasted and prayed and laid their hands on them" Seeing that Paul already was an apostle, this laying on of hands was not for the purpose of conferring spiritual gifts and neither was this some type of denominational "ordination" service. Rather, "this would be. solemn way of impressing upon the church the serious and important duties that were to be performed" (Reese p. 457). These men are being sent on. very important task and the church is praying that God would protect them, that their labors would be successful and it indicates their own support in this endeavor. "It was rather the recognition by the church that God had called them, and it symbolized the identification of the Antioch church with these workers and the bestowal of their blessing" (Kent p. 108). To use this Scripture today and argue that one "feels" that God is either calling them to preach or go somewhere and preach would be. misapplication. Saul and Barnabas do not "feel" that God is directing them, rather God is speaking directly from heaven! And the entire congregation hears this "call".