Luke 9:
[49] John answered, "Master, we saw a man casting out demons in your name, and we forbade him, because he does not follow with us."
[50] But Jesus said to him, "Do not forbid him; for he that is not against you is for you."
Interesting. Do you think that if these folks were "against" Jesus, that Jesus would approve of them?
If they were doing in contradiction to what the Apostles taught, is that just hunky dory? Or is the message given to them optional?
SD
Luke 9:49 John answered, "Master, we saw a man casting out demons in your name, and we forbade him, because he does not follow with us."50 But Jesus said to him, "Do not forbid him; for he that is not against you is for you."
Interesting. Do you think that if these folks were "against" Jesus, that Jesus would approve of them?
Obviously not. The Pharisees (in general) were against JESUS, and He certainly didn't approve of them.
If they were doing in contradiction to what the Apostles taught, is that just hunky dory? Or is the message given to them optional?
I believe that this passage is telling us that what is important is doing the will of JESUS, and that there is no need to be under any particular earthly authority to do it.
Was he acting under the "authority" of the apostles?
Was any formal "apostolic succesion" required?
Let me answer for you. NO! Not then, not now.