No — Paul was not chosen to replace Judas because God had a separate purpose for him as the apostle of the Gentiles, and the position required a witness of Jesus' earthly ministry.
The man who replaced Judas had to have companied with the disciples from John's baptism until the Ascension and had to be a witness of Christ's resurrection. Saul of Tarsus was not converted until later on the Damascus Road and had no connection with the Twelve. Les Feldick teaches that God kept Paul separate from the Twelve and commissioned him specifically for the Gentiles, so Paul could not have filled Judas' place.
Acts 1:21-22 — This gives the qualifications for Judas' replacement: a follower from John's baptism to the Ascension who was a witness of the resurrection.
Acts 9:8 — This shows Saul of Tarsus on the Damascus Road, after Christ's earthly ministry, being led by hand into Damascus — so he did not meet the qualifications.
Romans 11:13 — This identifies Paul as the apostle of the Gentiles, showing his apostleship was separate from the Twelve.
In Acts 1:21-22, Peter states the qualifications for replacing Judas: the man must be one of those who companied with the disciples all the time the Lord Jesus went in and out among them, beginning from the baptism of John until the day He was taken up, and must be a witness of His resurrection. The vacancy was then filled by Matthias (Acts 1:23-26). Acts 9:8 shows Saul of Tarsus on the Damascus Road, blind and being led by the hand into the city. This was after Christ's earthly ministry and ascension, so Paul had not been a companion of Jesus during those years. Romans 11:13 declares Paul to be the apostle of the Gentiles. This indicates a separate, distinct apostolic role from the Twelve, who were connected with Israel and chosen within Palestine during Christ's earthly ministry.
Les Feldick teaches that Peter was not presumptuous when he moved to fill Judas' empty slot. Peter was in perfect accord with the will of God, expecting the Lord's return in short order. Paul would not have fit in that slot "any more than a square peg in a round hole" because he did not fill the qualifications (clips 2, 4). The qualifications were clear: the replacement had to have been a follower of Christ from John the Baptist at the very beginning of His earthly ministry, all the way through the three years until the Ascension. Saul of Tarsus had only just become a believer on the Damascus Road, and he had been a persecutor of the church before that (clips 0, 1). Les also emphasizes that God deliberately kept Paul far from the Twelve. Paul did not go to Peter, James, and John to be instructed; God wanted to keep Paul separate so the revelations He gave him would not be mixed with what the Twelve already understood (clip 6). Paul was uniquely called as the apostle of the Gentiles, and no one but Saul of Tarsus could have fulfilled that role (clips 5, 7).
From Acts 1:21-22, the man had to be one of those who companied with the disciples from John's baptism until the Ascension and had to be a witness of Christ's resurrection. Les emphasizes that Paul would not have fit those qualifications because he had not followed Christ during His three-year earthly ministry (clips 2, 4).
Les points out that after Paul's conversion, the logical human thing would have been to go to Jerusalem and be instructed by Peter, James, and John. But Paul, by inspiration, says he did not confer with flesh and blood. God kept him as far from the Twelve as possible so that the revelations given to Paul would not be mixed with what the Twelve already understood (clip 6). Paul was instead sent to the pagan Gentile Roman Empire with the gospel of grace (clips 1, 7).
No. Les refutes the idea that Peter was jumping the gun. Peter was right on and in perfect accord with the will of God when he filled the twelfth slot. Paul not only lacked the qualifications, but God's purpose for Paul was different — he was being saved and commissioned for the Gentile mission, not to fill Judas' place among the Twelve (clips 2, 4, 5).
The Twelve Chosen in Palestine
Les shows that all twelve original disciples were chosen within the borders of Palestine, while Saul was encountered on the road to Damascus — on Gentile ground, not in the land where the Twelve were called.
Paul Commissioned After the Twelve
Les explains that Peter and the Eleven were the apostles during and immediately after Christ's ministry, while Saul — the persecutor — was later saved and commissioned for the pagan Gentile Roman Empire.
Square Peg in a Round Hole
Les insists Paul would not have fit Judas' vacant slot because he didn't fill the qualifications, and Peter was right to fill it immediately while expecting the Lord's return.
17 of 28 Chapters Given to Paul
Les notes that 17 of 28 Acts chapters are devoted to Paul, showing that Gentiles have a relationship to Paul they do not have to the other apostles.
The Qualifications Paul Did Not Meet
Les says anyone can see why Paul couldn't be the 12th apostle: the man had to be a follower from John the Baptist's ministry through the three years to the Ascension.
Paul's Unique Calling
Les teaches that no one but Saul of Tarsus could have fulfilled the role of apostle of the Gentiles — his unique background fit the role perfectly.
Kept Far From the Twelve
Les explains that God deliberately kept Paul separate from Peter, James, and John so the revelations given to Paul would not be mixed with those of the Twelve.
The Apostle of the Gentiles
Les points to Romans 11:13 to show Paul was the apostle of the Gentiles, and his letters alone are written to the Church.
Acts 1:21: Wherefore of these men which have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us,
This is part of the standard Peter used for Judas' replacement — the man had to have been with Jesus throughout His earthly ministry.
Acts 1:22: Beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that he was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection.
This is the specific qualification that Paul could not meet, since he was not a follower until after the Ascension.
Acts 9:8: And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus.
This places Paul's conversion on the Damascus Road after Christ's earthly ministry, long after Judas' replacement was chosen.
Romans 11:13: For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:
Paul himself states his distinct role as apostle of the Gentiles, separate from the Twelve.
No. Les Feldick teaches that Peter was right on and in perfect accord with the will of God. Paul would not have fit the qualifications for Judas' replacement, and God's purpose for Paul was to be the apostle of the Gentiles, not to fill a slot among the Twelve.
The replacement had to be one who companied with the apostles from John's baptism until the Ascension and had to be a witness of Christ's resurrection. Paul had not been with Jesus during His earthly ministry, so he could not qualify.
God saved Paul by grace on the Damascus Road and commissioned him to take the gospel of grace into the pagan Gentile Roman Empire. Romans 11:13 identifies Paul as the apostle of the Gentiles, and Les Feldick says no one but Saul of Tarsus could have fulfilled that unique role.
Watch the Teaching: Why Paul Was Never One of the Twelve — Acts 9 Explained