Paul's conversion is the hinge—God saved the chief rebel as the pattern, and only after that did He begin opening salvation to Gentiles.
Les Feldick teaches that Saul's salvation in Acts 9 makes him the 'original pattern' of a sinner saved by grace. God immediately told Ananias that Saul was a chosen vessel to bear His name before the Gentiles, and the very next chapter records the first Gentile household saved—Cornelius. The sequence, Les stresses, is essential: chapter 10 follows chapter 9 by content, not merely by numeric order.
Acts 9:15 — God Himself says Saul is a chosen vessel to carry the gospel to the Gentiles.
1 Timothy 1:16 — Paul states that he was shown mercy first, as a pattern for all who would afterward believe on Christ.
The Bible records Saul's conversion as a direct act of the risen Lord. In Acts 9:15, the Lord tells Ananias, '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.' Paul himself explains in 1 Timothy 1:16 that he obtained mercy 'that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.' In the very next chapter, Acts 10, God sends Peter to the house of Cornelius, and the Holy Ghost falls on the Gentiles who heard the word. James later declares in Acts 15:14, 'Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name.' Thus the biblical order sets Paul's conversion immediately before the first recorded household of Gentile believers.
Les Feldick teaches that Saul of Tarsus is the only original pattern of a sinner saved by grace. On the road to Damascus, God saved a raging rebel without any merit—the least meritorious person alive at that time—and made him the head of a long line of sinners who would be saved by grace. Les highlights Paul's phrase 'hereafter' in 1 Timothy 1:16, explaining that this pattern applies from Paul forward, never retroactively. Les also insists on the order of Acts: 'How we thank God that chapter 10 followed chapter 9—not numerically, but content.' Saul was converted in Acts 9 as the head of the grace-saved line, and then in Acts 10 God sent Peter to Cornelius's Gentile home. Had Cornelius been saved before Paul, the biblical argument would fail. Before this, the church was still Jew-only; no one was going to preach to Gentiles. Paul was saved on Gentile ground outside Damascus, and God immediately told him he would be sent to the Gentiles. Les further notes that Paul's conversion is recorded three times in Acts—chapters 9, 22, and 26—emphasizing its importance. He also compares Paul's message with Peter's: Peter's message involved repentance and baptism, while the pattern Paul gives is for those who 'hereafter believe on him'; Paul emphasizes believing the gospel. In the desert of Arabia, God revealed to Paul the doctrines of grace over a period of about three years, and during that same time God commissioned Peter to go to the house of Cornelius.
Les Feldick argues that if Cornelius's household had been saved in chapter 8, the whole picture would fall apart. Instead, Saul is converted in chapter 9 as the head of the line of grace-saved sinners, and immediately in chapter 10 God sends Peter up to a Gentile home. This sequence proves that the Gentile-salvation program begins after Paul becomes the pattern. Before that, the churches were still preaching to 'none but Jews only.'
Les Feldick teaches that immediately after his conversion, God sent Saul into the desert of Arabia, where over a three-year period He revealed the doctrines of grace. These were teachings connected with the Church and matters that had been kept secret. During that same period, God commissioned Peter to go to the house of Cornelius, showing that the Gentile mission was God's timing, not man's planning.
Les Feldick points out that after Peter saw Cornelius saved, he returned to Jerusalem and showed no indication that his eyes were opened to actively go to the Gentiles. Twelve years later, in Acts 15, Paul was called on the carpet by Jewish leadership for his Gentile mission. Eventually Peter came to Paul's defense, saying that 'a long while ago God, by my mouth, took the Gospel to the Gentiles,' and that testimony spared Paul's ministry.
Paul as the Original Pattern
Les explains that 1 Timothy 1:16 makes Paul the original pattern of a sinner saved by grace, and that the word 'hereafter' means the pattern is prospective, not retroactive. He also contrasts Paul's believing message with Peter's repentance-and-baptism message.
Acts 10 Follows Acts 9
Les stresses that God saved Saul in chapter 9 to make him the head of a long line of grace-saved sinners, and only then sent Peter to Cornelius's Gentile house in chapter 10.
Gentiles Called Out as a People
Les shows that James cited Amos to confirm that after this, God would visit the Gentiles to take out of them a people for His name—the body of Christ being called out of the masses.
Paul's Conversion Repeated Three Times
Les points out that Paul's salvation experience is detailed three times in Acts—chapters 9, 22, and 26—showing how central his conversion is to the early church.
Peter Defends Paul at Jerusalem
Les notes that after disputation, Peter defended Paul's Gentile ministry by reminding the Jewish leadership that God had first used Peter's mouth to take the Gospel to the Gentiles.
Saved on Gentile Ground
Les emphasizes that God reached down and saved Saul on Gentile ground outside Damascus, and that this is the first indication in Acts that God is bringing the Gentiles into the picture.
Jew-Only Program Before Paul
Les observes that several years after Pentecost the preaching was still to 'none but Jews only,' so Paul's conversion is the turning point that opens the door to the Gentile mission.
Paul Recounts Conversion Before Jerusalem
Les describes Paul standing before the religious leaders in Acts 22 and recounting his conversion and how Gentiles were coming to knowledge of Israel's God through the gospel.
1 Timothy 1:16: Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.
Paul says his own salvation was the pattern for everyone who would afterward believe on Christ.
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:
The Lord directly tells Ananias that Saul is chosen to carry the gospel to Gentiles.
Acts 10:44-45: While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.
This is the first recorded Gentile household receiving the Holy Spirit, immediately after Paul's conversion.
Acts 15:14: Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name.
At the Jerusalem council, the early church recognized that God had begun calling out Gentiles for His name.
Les Feldick teaches that yes, Paul's conversion is the turning point. Saul is saved in Acts 9, and in the very next chapter God sends Peter to the Gentile Cornelius, where the Holy Spirit falls on his household. Paul is also the original pattern of a sinner saved by grace.
After. Les stresses that Acts 10 follows Acts 9 by content, not just numerically. Since Saul's conversion is recorded first, the Gentile salvation account begins with Paul as the head of that line.
Les compares Peter's message of repentance-baptism with Paul's pattern of 'hereafter believe on him' from 1 Timothy 1:16. Paul's emphasis is on believing the gospel rather than adding repentance and baptism to the message of life.
Watch the Teaching: Paul's Gospel vs. Peter's: What You Must Believe to Be Saved