Why did Paul become the chosen vessel for the Gospel of Grace instead of Peter, James and John?
God chose Paul as His vessel to carry the Gospel of Grace to the whole world after Peter, James, and John slipped off the scene and lost their authority. Paul then endured twenty years of beatings, imprisonments, and constant opposition from his own countrymen solely for the Gospel, unlike the twelve during the Lord’s earthly ministry.
Les explains that Paul repeatedly stresses that Peter, James, and John were not above him; they had slipped off the scene and lost all their authority. Now Paul is God’s chosen vessel to take the Gospel of Grace, not just to Israel but to the whole world. Les contrasts Paul’s twenty years of ministry—constant beatings, imprisonments, and opposition from his own countrymen—with the twelve, who, as far as we know, endured no such physical suffering during Christ’s earthly ministry, though they were later martyred.