Why did God raise up Paul?
God raised up Saul of Tarsus, known as Paul, to send him primarily to the Gentiles. This occurred after Israel rejected and crucified their Messiah, while Peter continued primarily to the Jews. Paul’s calling did not mean God was through with Israel; individual Jews can still be saved during the age of grace.
Les explains that when Israel rejected their Messiah and crucified Him, and Peter could not get them to believe in the early chapters of Acts, God raised up that other little Jew, Saul of Tarsus, whom we know as Paul, and sent him primarily to the Gentiles. Just as Peter went primarily to the Jew, Paul’s mission was primarily to the Gentiles. Yet this does not mean God is through with Israel; there are individual Jews who can be saved in the age of grace. The tribulation is primarily God’s dealing with Israel, not the church.