No, Paul could not have replaced Judas, because he did not meet the eyewitness qualifications for that office.
Peter required the replacement to be a man who had accompanied the disciples from John's baptism until Christ's ascension and who could witness His resurrection. Paul was not yet a believer and had been an enemy of the faith, so he had no connection to that early ministry. Les Feldick says Paul would not have fit that slot any more than a square peg in a round hole.
Acts 1:21-22 — Peter states the eyewitness qualifications that Paul could not possibly meet.
After Judas's death, Peter addressed the group of about 120 disciples and declared that the one to take Judas's place had to be a man who had companied with them 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. That man also had to be ordained to be a witness with them of Christ's resurrection. After they gave forth their lots, the lot fell upon Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.
Les emphasizes that Peter was right to fill the twelfth slot immediately and that waiting for Paul would have been a mistake. Paul simply did not fill the qualifications. Les also stresses that Paul had no connection whatsoever with the Twelve and that he separated himself from them. The Twelve were apostles of Israel, chosen within Israel, while Paul was the apostle of the Gentiles, commissioned on Gentile ground after his Damascus road salvation. Les further points out that 17 of the 28 chapters of Acts are given to Paul because we Gentiles have a relation to Paul that we do not have to the other apostles.
Scripture says the replacement had to be one of the men who had companied with the apostles all the time Jesus went in and out among them, beginning from John's baptism until the day He was taken up, and he had to be a witness of His resurrection. Les notes that Paul had no connection to any of these things—he had not been a follower during Christ's earthly ministry.
Les rejects the idea that Peter got ahead of God. He says Peter was right on and in perfect accord with the will of God when he immediately took steps to fill the twelfth slot, because Peter was expecting the Lord's return in short order and did not see 1900-plus years down the road.
Les teaches that the Twelve were apostles of Israel, chosen within the borders of Israel, whereas Paul became the apostle of the Gentiles, commissioned on Gentile ground. Paul had been Saul the persecutor, wreaking havoc among the early Jewish believers, but after God saved him on the road to Damascus, he was sent into the pagan Roman Empire with the gospel of grace. Les points to Galatians 1 to show that Paul separates himself from the Twelve by inspiration of the Holy Spirit.
What Really Happened at Pentecost? Acts 2 Explained
reward of iniquity. Now remember what he did when he took his 30 pieces of silver, he took them back to the priest at the temple, and threw it at their feet because of his own guilt. The priest, knowing it was blood money of course, couldn�t put it into the treasury, so they took it and bought the potter�s field with the money that Judas had thrown on the floor.
Peter Was Right to Replace Judas Immediately
Les says Peter was in perfect accord with God's will to fill Judas's place; Paul wouldn't have fit because he didn't fill the qualifications.
The Eyewitness Qualifications for Judas's Replacement
The replacement had to be a follower from John's baptism through Christ's entire ministry and resurrection — qualifications Paul never met.
Paul Had No Connection to the Twelve
Les corrects the idea that Peter should have waited for Paul, emphasizing that Paul had nothing to do with the Twelve and separated himself from them.
Apostle to the Gentiles, Not an Apostle of Israel
The Twelve were chosen within Israel, while Paul was commissioned on Gentile ground as the Apostle of the Gentiles; he never met Peter's requirements.
Saul the Persecutor Becomes the Sent Apostle
Saul had been destroying the early Jewish believers, and it was this former persecutor whom God saved on the Damascus road and sent to the Gentiles with the gospel of grace.
Why So Much of Acts Is Given to Paul
Seventeen of Acts' 28 chapters are given to Paul because Gentiles have a relationship to him that they do not have to the other apostles.
Paul Separates Himself in Galatians
Peter was the apostle of the Jew and Paul the apostle of the Gentile; Paul separates himself from the Twelve by inspiration in Galatians 1:11ff.
Acts 1:21-22: Wherefore of these men which have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, 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.
Peter's qualification statement is the core reason Paul could not replace Judas.
Acts 1:26: And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.
Matthias was chosen in Judas's place before Paul's later conversion.
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 by revelation, aligning with Les's point that Paul had no connection to the Twelve.
Paul did not meet the qualifications Peter set: he had not accompanied Jesus from John's baptism to the ascension and had not been a witness of the resurrection. He had been an enemy and persecutor of the faith, so Les says he would never have fit in that slot.
No. Les says Peter was right on and in perfect accord with God's will when he filled Judas's place. Peter expected the Lord to return soon and had no reason to wait for someone like Paul.
Peter was the apostle of the Jew, while Paul was the apostle of the Gentile. Les explains that Paul separates himself from the Twelve, and that the Twelve were chosen within Israel while Paul was commissioned on Gentile ground.
No. Les says Paul had absolutely no connection with the Twelve and separated himself from them. Although 17 chapters of Acts are devoted to Paul, he was not one of the original twelve and was converted long after Pentecost.
Watch the Teaching: What Really Happened at Pentecost? Acts 2 Explained