Paul's ability and
learning made him at that time probably the most learned of the young rabbis
(teachers.) In fact in his testimony before King Agrippa, (Acts 25 and 26,) he made
a point of mentioning that he had been taught by Gamaliel, who was one of the
most revered teachers of the Law ever in Israel. His head knowledge was
beyond dispute, and together with his even more important quality, (his
heartfelt dedication,) led him to persecute to death the early Christians.
These very qualities, (particularly the Lord's knowledge of his sincere and
dedicated heart,) led to that most favoured of pronouncements from the Lord;
"he is a chosen vessel!" (Acts 9:15.) Also, as shown in his
testimony before King Agrippa.
John the Baptist, Jesus and the Apostle Paul berated the Jewish Hierarchy of the day for adhering to the Pharisaic writings, instead of the Originals given to Moses, known as "Biblical Judaism". It is recorded and well known by the Jews, that the Pharisees in particular were "very flexible" in their interpretations of Torah, and this is confirmed by the Qumran Scrolls. Of the main 'schools', or Groups of the day, the Pharisees, the Sadducees and the Essens; the Pharisees became dominant, and at the time of the destruction of the Temple in AD 70, only the "Judaism of the Pharisees", known as "Rabbinic Judaism" prevailed! This grew, and by AD 300, all the Pharisaic Interpretations had been tabulated in the "Mishnah". This is the basis of "Modern Judaism".
This is why the Truths of the Messiah of Almighty God, as depicted and prophesied in the "Biblical Judaism" of the Old Testament (OT), are not accepted by the Jews who adhere to the current "Rabbinical Judaism" which is derived from the Pharisees.
Paul made it clear that at his encounter with the Risen Christ on the Damascus road, that He (Christ) would be in constant contact with him, and that there would be initial instructions, and that later instructions would be forthcoming from Christ.
Those latter instructions were withheld until the Jews had finally rejected Christ,
at the last of the synagogues in Rome
(Acts 28:25-27.) It is well known that individual Jews become Christians,
then and now. However, for the Jewish nation to be fully in God's favour and
fulfilled as per prophecy, the Ruling Groups (the Elite) must accept "Him whom
they pierced" (Zech. 12-10,) and when that
happens, then "National Israel" will be reborn, and all the promises of Jehovah
God relative to them will start to be fulfilled, including the land borders
promised!
When National Israel rejected Christ as Messiah at Acts 28:25-27, Paul immediately turned to the Gentiles, in the profound statement in Acts 28:28, which indicated the change in the administration (dispensation!) That point also was when Paul could no longer heal on request, (2Tim. 4:20) as the Jewish race became "Lo Ammi," (not my people,) and the special powers given for the drawing together of that people, declared by Peter at Pentecost, ceased.
It is argued by some that there is no proof in Scripture that Paul had such powers, but Acts 19:5-15, shows otherwise, amongst many other verses! The power for "spiritual gifts" that was evident with the Jews in Acts etc. has ceased, in the sense of their then manifestation. That was exclusively God's Jewish dealings. The Holy Spirit does act now through people and events, but not in the same way, and not for the same reasons and effect. There will be quite similar happenings when the events of Revelation are current, but the prime object will again be the Jewish nation, in the contest between Satan and Jehovah Zebaoth, on a much larger scale, but reminiscent of the spiritual battle between Moses and Pharaoh.
There is a continuing emphasis in "churches" and sects, to apportion to themselves those things which properly belong to the Nation of Israel, when God is dealing with them as a Nation, instead of realising that the Gospels and the early Acts period are in fact a continuation of the Old Testament, and a propagation of the New Testament, offered by Christ to His people the Jews! The final rejection of Christ as Messiah at Acts 28:26-30, and the rejection of the New Covenant by Israel, introduced the Gentiles for the first time as the prime object of God's Mercy and Plan! Acts 28:28 states; "Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God, is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it." Paul is here speaking to the Roman Jews, v25-27, but by extension to all Israel! That critical point specifically started the "age of Grace," which is still in play, when "all who will, may come" from Gentile and Jew! The Jew though has an inability to "see" at this present time, which will be removed at a later date, when they become "Ammi," (my people) again.
That is the present Dispensation, in which all people of all races can be Saved from destruction because of their sin and sin nature, and is the free gift of God in Christ's substitutionary death on the cross of Calvary, which God the Father accepts as sufficient for all sin! This Great Salvation can be obtained now! All that is required is the sincere decision by a person, which can only be genuine, for this most wondrous of gifts to be obtained! This offer is still available, and has been for nearly 2000 years, but will only last for a definite period of time. That timing is in the hands of God the Father, and many think that it will be withdrawn soon, as the events of prophecy start to take place!
The last seven of Paul's writings (Eph., Phil., Col., Tim. 1 & 2,
Titus, Philemon,) give the change of emphasis in the Gentile period, which is
from Acts 28:28, until sometime in the future, when the Body of Christ is taken
to Him, (The Rapture.) It is the writer's opinion that this takes place prior
to "Ammi," (my people) condition of the Jews, but there is much dispute and
difference of opinion on this.
In conclusion, Paul was a "chosen vessel," (Acts 9:15,) to give Israel
guidance and understanding, the
understanding they needed of the "New Covenant" (Jer. 31:31- 37) had they accepted Christ as Messiah, to guide them
into the "Kingdom age." Had they accepted Paul's message, and Christ, John
the Baptist would have "been as Elijah" as Jesus stated! When they
rejected, he became 100% "the Apostle to the Gentile" (Romans 11:13.) This
statement refutes the oft made comment by church leaders and teachers, that
"Paul's teaching, and Christ's teaching contradict"
Apostle Paul's accusers:
It
is a profound truth, that Paul was the mouthpiece of Christ after His
resurrection, and therefore the words of Paul are the words of Christ Himself!
To understand that, is to see
that Paul's words must be revered and used for understanding of the complex
events following Pentecost, and the events that Peter was describing! When it is
realised that Paul's words are Christ's Words, a new impetuous and accuracy is
added to the interpretation of the Bible, in the sense that instead of Christ's
and Paul's teachings appearing to conflict, as so many churches teach, they are
interwoven in the Truth of the Word! The onus is on us to see the real
meanings!