“I am the least
Of the apostles.
I am unfit
To be called an apostle,
Because I persecuted
The church of God.”
Ἐγὼ γάρ εἰμι ὁ ἐλάχιστος τῶν ἀποστόλων, ὃς οὐκ εἰμὶ ἱκανὸς καλεῖσθαι ἀπόστολος, διότι ἐδίωξα τὴν ἐκκλησίαν τοῦ Θεοῦ·
Paul said that he was the least of the apostles (Ἐγὼ γάρ εἰμι ὁ ἐλάχιστος τῶν ἀποστόλων). He was not fit to be called an apostle (ὃς οὐκ εἰμὶ ἱκανὸς καλεῖσθαι ἀπόστολος), because he persecuted (διότι ἐδίωξα) the church of God (τὴν ἐκκλησίαν τοῦ Θεοῦ). Paul admitted that he was not like the twelve original apostles. He was the least of the apostles, not fit to be called an apostle. He had, in fact, persecuted the followers of the risen Lord Jesus Christ, the assembly of God. Paul did not hide the fact that he had originally persecuted the early followers of Jesus and even was there for the stoning of Stephen, the first Christian martyr. However, he was not afraid to use the title of apostle in all his epistle letter writing. Do you know anyone who persecuted Christians and then converted to being a strong follower of Jesus Christ?
