How did Paul become an apostle—was he ordained by the Twelve or by other men?
Paul did not become an apostle through ordination by the Twelve or by any other group of men. Scripture indicates he entered apostleship by the Lord Jesus miraculously laying it upon him. Similarly, the Holy Spirit sent him out, not the Antioch church.
Les explains that Paul makes it plain he did not come into the role of apostleship because the Twelve ordained him, or some other group ordained him, or taught him, or set him down. No way, Les says. Instead, Paul came on the scene by the miraculous laying of the Lord Jesus on him of this apostleship. Les also points to the earlier example of Paul and Barnabas leaving Antioch, where Scripture was careful to say it was not the church that sent them, but the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit sent them, not the Antioch church. In the same way, Paul’s apostleship was not humanly conferred or commissioned; it was directly from the Lord Jesus.
Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;)
More Questions
How did Paul become an apostle according to Galatians 1?
Paul's apostleship did not come from men and was not given by any man; he was commissioned by Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised Christ from the dead.
Who gave Paul his authority as an apostle?
Paul's apostolic authority had nothing to do with men appointing him, since he was made an apostle by Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead.