Yes — Paul was uniquely suited, being God's chosen apostle to the Gentiles, a Roman citizen not among the twelve.
In Romans 11:13, Paul plainly declares, "I am the apostle of the Gentiles." Les Feldick explains that the twelve were apostles of Israel, while Paul was commissioned on Gentile ground — a man who was not just a Jew but also a Roman citizen, prepared through three years alone with the Ascended Lord to bring the Gospel of Grace to the Gentiles.
Romans 11:13 — Paul's own plain declaration that he is the apostle of the Gentiles.
Romans 1:1 — Paul was called as an apostle and separated by God unto the gospel.
Acts 1:21 — The qualification for Judas' replacement, which Paul could not meet — setting his apostleship apart from the twelve.
Scripture plainly records Paul's unique office. In Romans 11:13 Paul writes, "For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office." In Romans 1:1 he introduces himself as "a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God." And in Acts 1:21, Peter lays out the qualification for the man who would take Judas' place: he must be one of those "which have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us."
Les Feldick teaches that Paul is THE apostle of the Gentiles — not one of many, but the unique apostle to whom the Church must look for its basic doctrines. In Romans 11:13, Paul writes, "I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office." Les stresses that Paul does not share this apostleship with anyone else, and that the twelve were apostles of the Jew, not the Gentiles. Les also points to Paul's background and calling as proof of his unique suitability. God took a man who was not just a Jew but also a Roman citizen, commissioning him on Gentile ground — unlike the twelve, who were chosen within the borders of Israel. When Peter laid out the qualification for Judas' replacement in Acts 1:21, Saul of Tarsus could not have filled it, marking Paul's apostleship as a distinct calling. Finally, Les notes that 17 of the 28 chapters of Acts are devoted to Paul, and that Paul spent three years alone with the Ascended Lord receiving the message he would take to the Gentiles — not the Gospel of the Kingdom with Law, but the Gospel of Grace: that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God, who died for our sins, shed His blood, was buried, and rose from the dead. Paul's letters alone, Les stresses, are written to the Church.
No. Les Feldick explains that the twelve were apostles of Israel, chosen within the borders of Israel. Paul, by contrast, was to be the apostle of the Gentiles, so God chose and commissioned him on Gentile ground. When Peter laid out the qualifications for the man to take Judas' place in Acts 1:21, Saul of Tarsus could not have filled the requirement — his apostleship was a distinct calling.
Les points out that God took a man who was not just a Jew but also a Gentile by citizenship — a Roman — to serve as the apostle to the Gentiles. This set Paul apart from the twelve, who were apostles of Israel chosen within the borders of Israel, and suited him for the unique work of carrying the Gospel to the Gentile world.
From three years alone with the Ascended Lord came this apostle, prepared to go to the Gentiles — not with Judaism, not with Law, but with Grace. Paul brought the Gospel of Grace, which is that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God, who died for our sins, shed His blood, was buried, and rose from the dead. This was different from the Gospel of the Kingdom that proclaimed Jesus as the Christ.
Les teaches that we Gentiles have a relation to Paul that we do not have to the other apostles. Paul is the apostle of the Gentiles, and his letters alone are written to the Church. He is the one to whom we must go for our basic doctrines. Les also observes that 17 of the 28 chapters of Acts are given to Paul, underlining the unique place of his ministry and the danger of failing to separate the ministries of Peter and Paul.
Paul Magnifies His Office
Les highlights Romans 11:13, where Paul declares himself the apostle of the Gentiles and magnifies his office — never taking a back seat to anyone.
Paul's Letters Are for the Church
Les notes that God saved Paul out of Judaism and commissioned him as the apostle of the Gentiles — and that Paul's letters alone are written to the Church.
The Twelve Were Apostles of the Jew
Les contrasts the twelve as apostles of the Jew with Paul as the apostle of the Gentiles, urging the reader not to lose sight of this distinction.
Paul's Centrality in Acts
Les observes that 17 of 28 chapters of Acts are given to Paul and that Gentiles have a relation to Paul they do not have to the other apostles.
Paul Is THE Apostle
Les stresses that Paul was uniquely called as THE apostle of the Gentiles — not one of many — and is the one to whom we must go for basic doctrines.
A Jew and a Roman Citizen
Les explains that Paul was not just a Jew but also a Roman citizen, chosen on Gentile ground — and that he could not have met the qualification for Judas' replacement.
An Exclusive Apostleship
Les emphasizes that Paul does not share his apostleship with anyone else — he alone was the apostle to the Gentiles.
The Gospel of Grace Revealed
Les teaches that Paul's three years alone with the Ascended Lord prepared him to go to the Gentiles with the Gospel of Grace, not Law — the message of Christ's death, burial, and resurrection.
Romans 11:13: For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:
Paul's direct declaration that he holds the office of apostle to the Gentiles.
Romans 1:1: Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,
Paul's apostolic calling was a separation by God to the gospel.
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,
The qualification for Judas' successor — something Paul could not claim, marking his apostleship as distinct.
No. Les Feldick explains that the twelve were apostles of Israel, chosen within the borders of Israel. Paul was chosen and commissioned on Gentile ground to be the apostle of the Gentiles, and he could not have filled the qualification for Judas' replacement laid out in Acts 1:21.
In Romans 11:13 Paul writes, "For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office." Les teaches that Paul is THE apostle of the Gentiles — not one of many — and that his letters alone are written to the Church.
Les notes that God took a man who was not just a Jew but also a Gentile by citizenship — a Roman. This set Paul apart from the twelve, who were chosen within the borders of Israel, and suited him for ministry to the Gentile world.
After three years alone with the Ascended Lord, Paul was prepared to go to the Gentiles not with Judaism or Law, but with Grace. He brought the Gospel of Grace — that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God, who died for our sins, shed His blood, was buried, and rose from the dead.
Watch the Teaching: Wild Olive Tree Grafted In — What Romans 11 Says About Gentiles