Yes, Saul's conversion changed God's plan by interrupting the prophetic program to initiate the dispensation of grace for the Gentiles.
According to Les Feldick, Saul's conversion was not part of the Old Testament prophetic program but rather God sovereignly interrupting that program to call out a Gentile bride for the Son. This marked a shift from Israel's prophetic timeline to the church age, a mystery not previously revealed.
Acts 9:15 — This verse introduces Saul's conversion and reveals that he is a chosen vessel to bear God's name before the Gentiles, indicating a new direction in God's plan.
In Acts 9, Saul, a zealous persecutor of the early church, encounters the risen Jesus on the road to Damascus. He is struck blind and receives a vision of Ananias, who is instructed to go to him, for 'he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel.' After his conversion, Saul immediately preaches Christ in the synagogues, but he remains within the Jewish context, still ‘Jew only’ in his understanding.
Les Feldick teaches that Saul's conversion was a pivotal moment where God sovereignly interrupted His prophetic program for Israel. Saul, the most zealous persecutor, was stopped in his tracks by the heavenly light. Rather than destroying him, God saved him by grace, making him the primary apostle to the Gentiles. This marked the beginning of the mystery program—the calling out of a Gentile bride—which had not been predicted in the Old Testament. Even after his conversion, Saul initially still preached only to Jews, not yet realizing the full scope of the new program.
Les Feldick notes that after Saul's conversion, his body was replenished, he regained his sight, and he went straight to the synagogue to preach that Jesus is the Christ. However, he was still in the Jewish prophetic framework, preaching only to Jews. He had no idea yet that God would go to the Gentiles with a separate program.
Les Feldick emphasizes that God sovereignly interrupted the Old Testament prophetic program to make room for the church. Peter, on the day of Pentecost, was still on the prophetic timeline, expecting tribulation and the kingdom. Israel rejected the risen Christ, so the King could not pour out the tribulation wrath. The conversion of Saul initiated a new, previously unrevealed dispensation where God is calling out a bride for His Son.
Les Feldick explains that Saul was the last person who deserved grace. He was breathing slaughter and threatenings against believers. Yet, in His grace, God saved him in an instant, transforming him from a religious zealot into the apostle to the Gentiles. This demonstrates that salvation is not based on human merit but on God's sovereign grace.
The Prophetic Program and Saul's Conversion
Les teaches that Saul's conversion in Acts 9 marked a turning point where God, after Israel's rejection, could begin the mystery program of the church age.
Saul's Unmerited Grace
Les emphasizes that Saul was transformed in a moment by grace, not after any self-improvement, highlighting the power of God's calling.
Saul Preaching in the Synagogue
Soon after his conversion, Saul preached Jesus as the Christ in the synagogues, still within the Jewish prophetic framework, showing the gradual revelation of the new plan.
Interrupting the Prophetic Program
Les explains that God sovereignly interrupted His Old Testament program to call out a Gentile bride, which is the reason for the interval in the prophetic timeline.
Why Paul Didn't Learn From Peter — Galatians Chapter 1 Explained
And so on the road to Damascus with that heart of absolute hatred for anything contrary to Judaism, which of course those who had embraced Jesus as Messiah would be, here he is trying to go to Damascus and arrest and bring back to Jerusalem for trial anybody in the synagogue that he could find who were believers in Christ.
Saul's Sudden Stop and Ananias
Saul's encounter with the light stopped him in his tracks, and God prepared him through Ananias for a special mission, indicating a new direction in God's plan.
Saul's Initial Limited Understanding
Even after conversion, Saul knew only the Old Testament and preached Christ to Jews only, not yet aware of the Gentile program.
God's Grace in Stopping Saul
God's grace stopped Saul in his tracks, not waiting for second thoughts, demonstrating sovereign intervention to change the course of history.
Acts 9:15: But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:
This verse reveals that Saul's mission included Gentiles, indicating a shift in God's plan.
Acts 9:5: And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.
Saul's direct encounter with Jesus changes his identity and purpose.
Yes, according to Les Feldick, Saul's conversion was a sovereign interruption of God's prophetic program for Israel, initiating the dispensation of grace for the Gentiles.
God's new plan was to call out a Gentile bride for His Son, the church, which was a mystery not previously revealed in the Old Testament.
No, Les Feldick notes that initially Saul still preached only to Jews in the synagogues, not yet fully understanding the new Gentile program.
Watch the Teaching: Why the Old Testament Never Predicted the Church Age