Saul of Tarsus's purpose after his conversion was to be God's chosen vessel to carry the Gospel of Grace to the Gentile world.
God saved Saul by grace on the road to Damascus and revealed to Ananias that he was a chosen vessel to bear Christ's name before the Gentiles (Acts 9:15). Paul later wrote that God separated him from his mother's womb and called him by grace "to reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen" (Galatians 1:15-16). Les Feldick emphasizes that Saul was converted primarily to be the apostle of the Gentiles, though he also preached to Jews.
Acts 9:15 — God directly tells Ananias that Saul is a chosen vessel to bear Christ's name before the Gentiles — the clearest biblical statement of Saul's post-conversion purpose.
Galatians 1:15-16 — Paul himself states that God separated him and called him by grace so he might preach Christ among the Gentiles.
After Saul's encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus, God made his purpose clear to Ananias. The Lord said, "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" (Acts 9:15). The Lord added, "For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake" (Acts 9:16). Saul's earliest preaching was "straightway" in the synagogues, declaring that Jesus is the Son of God (Acts 9:20). Later, Paul himself explained his divinely appointed purpose in Galatians 1:15-16: "But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace, To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen." Paul also emphasized that the gospel he preached came by direct revelation: "For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ" (Galatians 1:11-12).
Les Feldick emphasizes that Saul of Tarsus was a zealous religious Jew and persecutor, saved entirely by grace on the road to Damascus. He points out that the first thing God revealed to Ananias was that Saul was a chosen vessel to take the Word to the Gentiles [Clip 6]. However, at first Saul preached only in the synagogues to Jews because he had no idea that God was going to go to the Gentiles with a different program [Clip 1]. According to Les, God had a path for Saul out among the Gentiles and had to get him out of town to enlighten him [Clip 3]. God took Saul into the desert for three years and "seminary trained" him between the Glorified Lord and Saul himself, then sent him not to the Jew but to the Gentile with a whole new program [Clip 4]. Les stresses that Saul was converted primarily to be the apostle of the Gentiles, even though he would also go to Jews [Clip 2]. Paul himself wrote that God separated him from his mother's womb and called him by grace to reveal His Son in him that he might preach him among the heathen — the Gentiles [Clip 7]. Les also points out that Paul went through great suffering "for the sole purpose of getting the gospel out to the Gentile world" and left behind any wealth he had as a religious Jew to fulfill that calling [Clip 5].
God told Ananias that Saul of Tarsus was "a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel" (Acts 9:15). Les notes that this was the first thing God revealed concerning Saul — that he would take the Word to the Gentile [Clip 6].
No. Les explains that Saul would go to the Jew too, but he was primarily the apostle of the Gentiles [Clip 2]. In fact, Saul's first preaching was in the synagogues, setting forth that Jesus is the Son of God (Acts 9:20). At that point, he had no idea God would later send him to the Gentiles with a different program [Clip 1].
Paul made clear that the gospel he preached was not after man and that he did not receive it from man, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ (Galatians 1:11-12). Les points out that this revelation came from the risen, glorified Christ in heaven after the work of the cross was accomplished, and that Paul was to tell the whole world — not just the Jew, not just the Gentile [Clip 0].
Les explains that in the Old Testament, the promise was that Israel — every Jew — could be a priest of God to bring Gentiles to a knowledge of Jehovah. But Israel missed it. Instead of taking the whole nation of Israel, God raised up one little Jew, Saul of Tarsus, saved him by grace on the road to Damascus, and sent him far hence to the Gentiles [Clip 2]. God saved Saul on Gentile ground, took him into the desert for three years, and seminary-trained him directly between the Glorified Lord and Saul himself [Clip 4].
Les observes from 2 Corinthians 11 that Paul went through tremendous suffering for the sole purpose of getting the gospel out to the Gentile world, and he was getting no compensation or material wealth. If Saul had wealth as a Jewish Pharisee, he evidently left it all behind; he "chucked it all for the sake of being the apostle of the Gentile" [Clip 5].
Paul's Gospel Came by Revelation from the Glorified Christ
Les teaches that Paul received the gospel he preached directly from the risen, glorified Christ in heaven after the work of the cross, and was commissioned to tell the whole world — not just Jew or Gentile.
Saul's Earliest Preaching Was Still Jew-Only
Les points out that immediately after his conversion Saul preached Christ in the synagogues, showing he had no idea God was about to go to the Gentiles with a different program.
Saul Was the Chosen Apostle of the Gentiles
Les teaches that God raised up one little Jew, Saul of Tarsus, saved him by grace, and converted him primarily to be the apostle of the Gentiles — 'I'll send you far hence to the Gentiles.'
God's Path for Saul Among the Gentiles
Les teaches that God had a path for Saul out among the Gentiles and had to take him out of town to enlighten him about what He wanted.
Three Years of Seminary Training in the Desert
Les teaches that God saved Saul on Gentile ground, took him into the desert for three years, trained him directly between himself and the Glorified Lord, and then sent him to the Gentiles with a whole new program.
Paul's Suffering for the Sake of the Gentiles
Les teaches that Paul went through all of his suffering for the sole purpose of getting the gospel to the Gentile world, and he left behind any wealth he had as a religious Jew.
A Chosen Vessel to Take the Word to the Gentiles
Les teaches that the first thing God revealed to Ananias about Saul was that he was a chosen vessel who would take the Word to the Gentile, which is why Paul constantly writes 'to you Gentiles.'
Called by Grace to Preach Among the Gentiles
Les teaches from Galatians 1:15-16 that God separated Saul from his mother's womb, called him by grace, and revealed His Son in him so he might preach Him among the heathen — the Gentiles.
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:
God's direct statement to Ananias defining Saul's purpose after his conversion.
Acts 9:16: For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake.
Saul's purpose would include great suffering for Christ's name.
Acts 9:20: And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.
Saul's initial preaching was to Jewish audiences, before his Gentile commission was fully revealed.
Galatians 1:11-12: But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Paul's gospel came directly from the risen Christ, confirming his unique commission.
Galatians 1:15-16: But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace, To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood:
Paul's own testimony that God called him by grace to preach Christ among the Gentiles.
Not at first. After his conversion, Saul straightway preached Christ in the synagogues to Jewish audiences (Acts 9:20). Les notes that Saul had no idea God was going to go to the Gentiles with a different program until God revealed it to him later [Clip 1].
Les thinks Saul was at one time a wealthy religious Jew, but he left it all behind for the sake of being the apostle of the Gentile. He received no compensation or material wealth for his apostolic work [Clip 5].
God told Ananias that Saul was a chosen vessel to bear Christ's name before the Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel, and that he would suffer great things for Christ's name (Acts 9:15-16).
Because God's first revelation concerning Saul was that he would take the Word to the Gentile [Clip 6]. While he also preached to Jews, his primary calling was to the Gentile world [Clip 2].
Watch the Teaching: Why Paul's Gospel Was Different — Galatians 1:11 Explained