Yes, Paul considered himself the least of the apostles because he had persecuted the assembly of God before his conversion.
Paul's own words in 1 Corinthians 15:9 state that he was not meet to be called an apostle because he persecuted the church of God. Les Feldick explains that this persecution of Jewish believers, which Paul did in his zeal for Judaism, left him feeling unworthy of the title. His past never left his mind, making him consider himself the least among the apostles.
1 Corinthians 15:9 — This verse directly states Paul's self-assessment as the least of the apostles due to his persecution of the church.
In 1 Corinthians 15:9, Paul writes, "For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God." This verse explicitly connects Paul's low view of himself to his past persecution of believers. In the same chapter, Paul recounts the appearances of the resurrected Christ, noting that he saw the Lord "as one born out of due time" (1 Corinthians 15:8), indicating his unique and unexpected calling. Additionally, in Ephesians 3, Paul refers to himself as "less than the least of all saints" (Ephesians 3:8), further emphasizing his humility.
Les Feldick emphasizes that Paul's self-description as the "least of the apostles" stems from his past as a persecutor of the church. Before his conversion, Saul of Tarsus was a zealous Pharisee who actively tried to stamp out Jewish believers who followed Jesus of Nazareth. He saw these believers as opposition to Judaism and thought he was doing God a favor by arresting them. This background made Paul feel unworthy of his apostolic title. Les also highlights that Paul was a "nobody" after his conversion, having lost his status in Judaism, which further contributed to his humility. Furthermore, Les points out that Paul's unique calling as the apostle to the Gentiles required him to constantly defend his apostleship, as his background differed so greatly from the Twelve.
Paul described his experience of seeing the resurrected Christ as "one born out of due time," using an agricultural analogy. Les explains that just as a calf is born at its due date, Paul's experience was like a premature birth—he saw the resurrection and the birth of Israel's kingdom ahead of its scheduled time. Paul was a sampling of what Israel will experience later, but he came 1900 years early. This unique timing set him apart from the other apostles.
Paul had to constantly defend his apostleship because he had been steeped in Judaism and was a Pharisee of the Pharisees. He was a Jew's Jew, possibly even a member of the Sanhedrin. His past as a persecutor of the church made his apostolic credentials questionable in the eyes of some. Additionally, his unique calling to the Gentiles was hard for many to accept, even leading some to think his letters shouldn't be in the Bible. Les remarks that no one but Saul of Tarsus could have fulfilled the role of the apostle to the Gentiles, as everything about his background fit perfectly.
Paul never forgot that he had persecuted the assembly of God. His zeal for Judaism led him to arrest and try to stamp out Jewish believers, thinking he was serving God. This awareness of his past made him regard himself as unworthy to be called an apostle. Les describes Paul as having been "brought down to nothing" after his conversion, no longer held in high esteem by the Jews. This humility was evident in his writings, as he called himself the chief of sinners.
Born Out of Due Time
Les explains Paul's analogy of being born before the due time, using the illustration of a calf's birth, to show Paul experienced the resurrection ahead of Israel's future national birth.
Least of the Apostles
Les reads 1 Corinthians 15:9 and explains that Paul called himself the least of the apostles because he persecuted the assembly of God, referring to the Jewish believers in Acts.
Persecutor of the Church
Les describes Paul's past as a religious fanatic who persecuted Jewish followers of Jesus, thinking he was doing God a favor by stamping out anything connected with Jesus of Nazareth.
Defending Apostleship
Les explains that Paul had to defend his apostleship because he was steeped in Judaism, a Pharisee of the Pharisees, and a Jew's Jew, making his unique calling hard to accept.
Brought Down to Nothing
Les notes that Paul was a nobody after his conversion, no longer high up in Judaism, which contributed to his humility.
Unique Calling to Gentiles
Les emphasizes that no one but Saul of Tarsus could have fulfilled the role of apostle to the Gentiles, and that his unique background justified his constant defense of his apostleship.
Grace of God
Les highlights that Paul marveled at being made the greatest despite being the least, attributing it to the grace of God.
Separated from the Twelve
Les explains that Paul was totally separated from the Twelve because he had been an enemy of the faith, and that he was separated to be the apostle of the Gentiles.
1 Corinthians 15:9: For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.
This is Paul's direct statement of his unworthiness based on his past persecution.
1 Corinthians 15:8: And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.
Paul uses this analogy to describe his unexpected and premature experience of seeing the resurrected Christ.
Ephesians 3:8: Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;
Paul again expresses his humility, calling himself less than the least of all saints.
1 Timothy 1:15: This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.
Paul calls himself the chief of sinners, reflecting his deep sense of unworthiness.
Paul said he was the least of the apostles because he had persecuted the church of God before his conversion. He felt unworthy to be called an apostle because of his past actions against Jewish believers who followed Jesus.
Paul persecuted the assembly of God, which refers to the Jewish believers in the early church who recognized Jesus as their Messiah. He was zealous for Judaism and tried to stamp out anything connected with Jesus of Nazareth.
Paul's past as a persecutor never left his mind. It made him consider himself unworthy of his apostolic title and contributed to his humility, as he often described himself as the least of the apostles or the chief of sinners.
Watch the Teaching: What Is Paul's Gospel? 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 Explained Verse by Verse