Why do you suppose Jesus chose Saul aka Paul to be the Apostle to the Gentiles?

[L.A.M.B.]

Saul was a student of Gamaliel, a Pharisee,a doctor of the law. Acts 5 speaks of Gamaliel as a man held in high esteem by all the Jews. Saul was taught well the letter of the law by this teacher. He was even present at the stoning of Stephen, where the men lay their clothes at his feet. Acts 7:54-59.

We can read in Acts 9 1-2 where he went before the high priest desiring letters to bind any who loved the Lord and bring them before the council
for threats and even slaughtering.

Jesus had other plans for this man and we can see further in this chapter how he was converted from a devout Pharisee unto a blind man; 13-15.

These are the Lord's words to Ananias of Damascus, in Acts V [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:


I, myself, think Paul penned it best in Corinthians.

1 Corinthians 1:24-27

24 But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.

25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

26 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:

27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;

God is still in this business of choosing the foolish things to confound those whom seem to be the wise.
1 Corinthians 1:18-31
18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved IT IS THE POWER OF GOD.
...........................please continue reading.

What are your thoughts ?

 

[synergy]

Saul was a student of Gamaliel, a Pharisee,a doctor of the law. Acts 5 speaks of Gamaliel as a man held in high esteem by all the Jews. Saul was taught well the letter of the law by this teacher. He was even present at the stoning of Stephen, where the men lay their clothes at his feet. Acts 7:54-59.

We can read in Acts 9 1-2 where he went before the high priest desiring letters to bind any who loved the Lord and bring them before the council
for threats and even slaughtering.

Jesus had other plans for this man and we can see further in this chapter how he was converted from a devout Pharisee unto a blind man; 13-15.

These are the Lord's words to Ananias of Damascus, in Acts V [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:


I, myself, think Paul penned it best in Corinthians.

1 Corinthians 1:24-27

24 But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.

25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

26 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:

27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;

God is still in this business of choosing the foolish things to confound those whom seem to be the wise.
1 Corinthians 1:18-31
18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved IT IS THE POWER OF GOD.
...........................please continue reading.

What are your thoughts ?

Evidence of Paul's election is that he comes from and is very must influenced by both of his Jewish and Greek backgrounds. He was educated in both environments. Both worlds are both perfectly aligned in his mind so he's the perfect spokesman of the Gospel for both cultures.

Paul wrote directly to Hellenized Greek-speaking Jews and Gentiles who had recently converted to Christianity. The Hellenized Greek speaking Jews were also elected by God to be dispersed throughout the Empire and to already possess the Greek OT (LXX) in order to properly assess that Paul's teaching were correct, and to spread the Gospel.

Everything elected aligned perfectly in Paul's life.

 

[Grace ambassador]

op: Jesus Chose Saul/Paul to be the apostle of the Gentiles?

The Most Wonderful Way To Show the lost world How God Can:

Save Even His Worst enemy By His Awesome Grace And Mercy!​

​

"Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in​

me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering,​

for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on​

Him to life everlasting." (1 Timothy 1:16 AV)​

Amen.

 

[MatthewG]

I believe, Jesus chose Paul, because it was for him as a persecutor of the Church, to provide help to the church which would be the bride of Christ, once strong in persecuting now the table turns to him being persecuted along with the other Apostles too, who were directly chosen by Yeshua. As you share, “God chose the weak things, of the world to confound the wise.”

Where Paul was weak, Jesus was his strength.

Peter, used a way by casting lots, between Mattias and another persons. They accepted Mattias, as “a chosen apostle only by lots” and not by Jesus himself, we never see or hear from Mattias ever again.

 

[Bob Carabbio]

Why do you suppose Jesus chose Saul aka Paul to be the Apostle to the Gentiles?​

Obviously because Paul was the BEST MAN for the job.

Simple as that. It appears that Jesus was Correct.

 

[L.A.M.B.]

1 Corinthians 1:27
27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;

2 Corinthians 12 :9 ​

And HE said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. ......

1 Samuel 16:7
............,: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.

God saw in Saul the bridge that would span the dark area between the God of the Jews and the God of ALL his creation, giving them a way to partake of the holy nature of God in forgiveness through Christ Jesus.Breaking down the barrier as Paul aptly stated in
Galatians 3:28-29
28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye areALL one in Christ Jesus.
29 And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.

 

[Fred]

Peter, used a way by casting lots, between Mattias and another persons. They accepted Mattias, as “a chosen apostle only by lots” and not by Jesus himself, we never see or hear from Mattias ever again.

We never hear from many of the 12 apostles again.

 

[jeremiah1five]

Well, for one Saul remained a rabbi and a Pharisee. Especially after his conversion. Every Hebrew/Jew who became born-again remained in the calling God called them in. No one rejected the Law of Moses. No one abandoned the Law of Moses. The Holy Spirit of Promise PROMISED TO ISRAEL enabled their obedience to the Law of Moses.

20 And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord, and said unto him, Thou seest, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are which believe; and they are all zealous of the law: Acts 21:20.

And Saul:

24 Them take, and purify thyself with them, and be at charges with them, that they may shave their heads: and all may know that those things, whereof they were informed concerning thee, are nothing; but that thou thyself also walkest orderly, and keepest the law. Acts 21:24.

5 Which knew me from the beginning, if they would testify, that after the most straitest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee. Acts 26:5.

Saul would not be able to enter the Temple or perform his vows as a Nazarene if he had forsaken or rejected his place 'among the Jews.' Saul used his Roman citizenship to great effect just as he used his rabbinical and Pharisaic position 'among the Jews.'

26 Then Paul took the men, and the next day purifying himself with them entered into the temple, to signify the accomplishment of the days of purification, until that an offering should be offered for every one of them. Acts 21:26.

 

[Pancho Frijoles]

Well, for one Saul remained a rabbi and a Pharisee. Especially after his conversion. Every Hebrew/Jew who became born-again remained in the calling God called them in. No one rejected the Law of Moses. No one abandoned the Law of Moses. The Holy Spirit of Promise PROMISED TO ISRAEL enabled their obedience to the Law of Moses.

Well, God had explicitly established circumcision as permanent covenant between Him and the seed of Abraham.

Then God said to Abraham, “As for you, you shall keep My covenant, you and your descendants after you throughout their generations. This is My covenant, which you shall keep, between Me and you and your descendants after you; every male among you shall be circumcised. You shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskins, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between Me and you. (Gen 17:9-11)​

Indeed, there is no verse in the Hebrew Scripture foreseeing that circumcision would someday become optional.
Jesus was circumcised and there is no record of Jesus asking his disciples to stop that practice.

However, Paul preached that circumcision was optional for any person, regardless of whether they were descendants or not of Abraham. Paul faced harsh opposition from Judaizers, who thought that, to enjoy the blessings of Christ gospel, people had to enter first in the covenants made to Abraham and Moses, with all its ritual implications.
In the Council of Jerusalem, the apostles backed Paul.

He is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is external in the flesh. But he is a Jew who is one inwardly. And circumcision is of the heart, by the Spirit, and not by the letter. His praise is not from men, but from God. (Romans 2:2829)​

​

Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God is everything. (1 Corinthians 7:19)​

​

Does this blessedness then come upon the circumcised only, or upon the uncircumcised also? We are saying that faith was credited to Abraham as righteousness. How then was it credited? When he was in circumcision? Or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision. And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith that he had while being uncircumcised, so that he might be the father of all those who believe, though they are uncircumcised, that righteousness might be credited to them also, and the father of circumcision to those who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of the faith of our father Abraham, which he had while still being uncircumcised. (Romans 4:9-12)​

 

[jeremiah1five]

The question had to do with mixed heritage Hebrews who grew up generation after generation in Gentile lands heavily influenced by Greek culture that as Abraham's seed, nonetheless, became born-again and were uncircumcised. The Jerusalem Council was to answer the question post-cross whether these Hebrews should be circumcised and the answer came back, "No." But as Hebrews they were given four instructions under the Law - which the Jewish Christians would never give non-Hebrew Gentiles - to obey and they would "fare well."

First, no Jew would ever compel any non-Hebrew to be circumcised because non-Hebrews were never under the Law in the first place and circumcision was commanded of Abraham and his seed and Gentiles are not the seed of Abraham.
Second, any move to have non-Hebrews circumcised would create an uproar from the religious leaders as well as the Jewish public. One cannot put lipstick on a pig and non-Hebrews were still pigs, unclean, uncircumcised, non-covenant, pigs. Only a voice from God Himself could affect any change in the Law of Moses as the voice of God at Mount Sinai back in Exodus when God spoke directly to the people. Jews being born-again were still a sect within Judaism and was led by fishermen who were of no reputation among the Jews in general that had any say in practiced Judaism.

 

[Pancho Frijoles]

First, no Jew would ever compel any non-Hebrew to be circumcised

Would Jews compel mixed heritage Hebrews to be circumcised?

 

[jeremiah1five]

Would Jews compel mixed heritage Hebrews to be circumcised?

They did. And it led to the Jerusalem Council (Acts 15.)

 

[Pancho Frijoles]

They did. And it led to the Jerusalem Council (Acts 15.)

And then why the apostles decided not to demand that from them?
If those were also seed of Abraham, and God had called that in the Torah a permanent covenant upon all generations, did the apostles break Scripture?

 

[Believe]

All the things Paul accomplished were stumbling blocks to his acceptance with God.

Circumcised when I was eight days old, of the race of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew [and the son] of Hebrews; as to the observance of the Law I was of [the party of] the Pharisees,
6 As to my zeal, I was a persecutor of the church, and by the Law’s standard of righteousness (supposed justice, uprightness, and right standing with God) I was proven to be blameless and no fault was found with me. Philippians 3:5–6


Makes me think of the words of our Lord recorded by the prophet Isaiah:

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
Nor are your ways My ways,” says the LORD.
“For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are My ways higher than your ways,
And My thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:8–9

 

[jeremiah1five]

And then why the apostles decided not to demand that from them?
If those were also seed of Abraham, and God had called that in the Torah a permanent covenant upon all generations, did the apostles break Scripture?

Salvation is a process ordained by God. Through the centuries God is seen in Scripture as leading His people through the desert to a fruitful place. Beginning with circumcision to obedience to His Law in the Ceremonial sacrifices, and then to the Promise of giving His Spirit to those who are circumcised, shown obedience to His Law and the recipients of the sacrificial blood of the lamb, and then to the receiving of His Spirit. For mixed heritage Hebrews who were never circumcised to begin with and were "without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world" (Eph 2:12), to be given the Holy Spirit of Promise never having been part of the ordained plan of God it was because of this they saw no need for circumcision.
It's akin of putting the cart before the horse. And for these mixed heritage Hebrews circumcision was unnecessary, and they were instructed to be obedient to four aspects of the Law of Moses and they would "fare well." Jews and Jewish Christians would never ask non-Hebrew Gentiles or place non-Hebrew Gentiles to be obedient to the Law of Moses since the Law of Moses is a Hebrew covenant that included no non-Hebrew not the seed of Abraham. Besides this, if any Jew was to tell non-Hebrew Gentiles that if they were to obey the Law of Moses, they would be saved would cause an uproar among the people with riots in the Roman-occupied cities and towns. But these riots never happened because these people were not Hebrew to begin with.