Where does Paul's apostleship rank relative to the twelve apostles?
Paul's apostleship is presented as uppermost, with the twelve now behind him. Though others claimed Peter had more authority, Paul declares he was in nothing behind the very chiefest apostles. His authority as apostle of the Gentiles came through the revelation of the mystery, and he brought them out of pagan darkness, not Peter or Apollos.
Les explains that Paul was defending his apostleship against those who said Peter had more authority, or that they followed Jesus, or Apollos. Paul tells the Corinthians they compelled him to show his authority, though he should have been commended because he brought them out of pagan darkness, not Peter or Apollos. Paul says he is in nothing behind the very chiefest apostles, though in humility he says he is nothing. Les teaches that Paul's authority had now become uppermost; the twelve are behind him, still beating a dead horse because God had turned from Israel to the whole human race. This was part of the revelation of the mystery, the secret hid in God but now revealed through this man. Paul was up against opposition, as all in Asia turned against him.