Why was Paul set apart from the twelve apostles?
Paul was set apart from the twelve because he was never called within Israel’s borders. He was called on Gentile ground outside Damascus and sent to the Gentiles, and he had nothing to do with the twelve in Jerusalem, as Galatians 1–2 emphasizes.
Les explains that Jesus chose the twelve within the borders of Israel, mostly up along Galilee. But the other apostle, whom many people try to force into the twelve, would never fit, because he was never called within Israel’s borders. He was called on Gentile ground outside Damascus, which sets him totally apart from the twelve. Les points to Galatians 1 and 2, where Paul emphasizes he had nothing to do with the twelve in Jerusalem. That is why the Lord called him from Gentile ground and sent him to the Gentiles.