Paul had a special apostleship, received from the Lord at the time of his Damascus Road conversion.
It was Unique in Origin. This conversion experience was unique. Whilst there are many special cases in the book of Acts, none are more striking than Saul who actually met and spoke to the Lord Jesus, not on earth, but in heaven. This is also true of the special ministry given to him. He received his commission directly from the Lord at the time of conversion; this is not clear in Acts chapter 9 but was explained by Paul when speaking to King Agrippa. After Paul’s conversion, the Lord spoke to Ananias who, having voiced a doubt, was told, ‘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’. Later Barnabas, when introducing him to the assembly at Jerusalem emphasized ‘how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him’.
It was Heavenly in Character. Every one of the twelve apostles had seen the Lord and were witnesses to His resurrection; each had seen Him on earth before He ascended to heaven. Paul had also seen Him, and said to the saints at Corinth, ‘Am I not an apostle? … have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord?’, 1 Cor. 9. 1. The difference is that he saw the Lord in the place of heavenly exaltation, and thus became a unique witness to the resurrection, 1 Cor. 15. 8. It also highlights the heavenly character of his apostleship. The promises to the twelve apostles were particularly of an earthly character. To them He had said ‘ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones’, Matt. 19. 28. But to Paul was revealed the truth of ‘the mystery’, Eph. 3. 3; this was not the subject of Old Testament scripture, it had been hidden in God. It was not about Israel, it was about the church, the heavenly people, the bride of the Lamb.
It was Specific in Nature. Paul’s apostleship to the Gentiles was recognized by Peter, James and John who confirmed their fellowship with him on his visit to Jerusalem. He was sent to preach to the Gentiles and fulfilled this. A consideration of Romans 15. 16-19 reveals the remarkable extent of his travels to fulfil such an important ministry.
