Paul taught that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God — not the cross, burial, and resurrection.
Acts 9:20 says Paul "preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God." Les Feldick repeatedly stresses that the text stops at that confession and does not add "who died for me and rose again." For Les, this shows that Paul's first recorded preaching after his conversion was the same foundational confession that Peter, Martha, and the Ethiopian eunuch made.
Acts 9:20 — This is the direct biblical record of what Paul preached in the synagogue immediately after his conversion.
Acts 9:20 records that immediately after receiving food and his sight, Paul "preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God." The verse does not mention the cross, Christ's shed blood, His burial, or His resurrection. The same simple confession appears in Matthew 16:16, where Peter says, "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God"; in John 11:27, where Martha says, "I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God"; and in Acts 8:37, where the eunuch says, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God."
Les Feldick emphasizes that Paul's synagogue preaching was not the cross-centered gospel that Paul would later proclaim. Les says Paul simply preached "that he is the Son of God" — period. He points out that Paul did not go out into the Gentile marketplace; he went to the synagogue and preached to Jews, consistent with the Jewish program that began with John the Baptist. Les repeatedly contrasts the actual text with what "a lot of people think it should say" (who died for me and rose from the dead) and shows that the text stops at "the Son of God." He connects this to the Gospel of the Kingdom, noting that Saul was converted before the Gospel of Grace had been revealed, and that this confession — while foundational — was not yet enough to be the gospel for the Gentiles.
Les Feldick notes that after Paul received food and his sight back, "straightway he preached Christ" — but the text and Les both place him in the synagogue, not the marketplace. Les says he "didn't go out into the Gentile marketplace and approach Gentiles. He goes to the synagogue. He's still Jew only." The Gentile mission had not yet been revealed.
No. Les teaches that Saul was converted under the Gospel of the Kingdom, because "nothing else has been revealed as yet." The message — that Jesus is the Son of God — was the same confession that Peter, Martha, and the eunuch made. Les says this message was not enough to be the gospel for the Gentiles, and God moved Paul out.
Les uses this text to show that people often add words to Scripture that are not there. He shows that people think Acts 9:20 says "who died for me and rose from the dead," but it does not. The text simply says Paul preached that Jesus is the Son of God. For Les, this is how the Bible carefully distinguishes the Gospel of the Kingdom from the Gospel of Grace.
Misreading the Confession
Les shows how people commonly add the cross and resurrection to the confession that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, even though the actual text does not say that.
Paul's Synagogue Preaching
Les contrasts the actual text — "preached Christ in the synagogue" — with the assumed addition about dying and rising, emphasizing that Paul preached Jesus as the Son of God.
The Same Confession, Period
Les repeats that Paul's profession was "that he is the Son of God. Period" and questions why God could not let that message be the Gentile gospel.
Same Confession Across Scripture
Les lists Peter, Martha, and the eunuch and contrasts their confession with Paul's synagogue message, saying it was not Christ crucified but "He is the Son of God."
Text Corrected
Les corrects the common misreading, showing that Paul preached Christ in the synagogue, not the marketplace, and that the message was that He is the Son of God.
Gospel of the Kingdom
Les says Saul was converted under the Gospel of the Kingdom and preached that Jesus is the Son of God, period.
Old Testament Covenant Context
Les places Paul's synagogue message in the context of the Old Testament covenant promises to Israel — that the Messiah, the Son of God, would come.
Not Enough Now
Les says the confession "He is the Christ, the Son of the living God" is not enough now, so God moved Paul out.
Acts 9:20: And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.
This is the direct record of Paul's synagogue preaching after his conversion.
Matthew 16:16: And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
Les pairs this identical confession with Acts 9:20 to show the same faith statement.
John 11:27: She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.
Martha's confession is another example Les uses of the same profession of faith.
Acts 8:37: And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
The eunuch's response shows the same confession that Jesus is the Son of God.
No. Acts 9:20 says he preached "that he is the Son of God." Les Feldick repeatedly notes that the verse does not mention death, shed blood, burial, or resurrection — that gospel would come later through Paul.
Les explains that Paul was still going to the Jew first; the Gentile mission had not yet been revealed. The text says he preached in the synagogue, and Les emphasizes that he did not go out to the Gentile marketplace.
No, according to Les. Saul was converted under the Gospel of the Kingdom, preaching that Jesus is the Son of God. Les says that message was not enough for the age of grace, and God moved Saul out to give him the gospel that would go to the Gentiles.
Watch the Teaching: Why the Gospel Changes After the Cross — Romans 3 Explained