In the first chapter of Acts, the apostles are trying to determine the person who will replace Judas Iscariot as an apostle. They had a few requirements.
The next apostle had to:
- Have accompanied Jesus between:
- Jesus's baptism,
- And his death;
- Be ordained as a witness of Jesus's resurrection;
- Be present in hiding with the apostles and their company (implied);
- Be male (implied);
- Be chosen by Jesus with lots.(See Acts 1:24, 25.)
Let us go through these qualifications.
First, Paul had not seen Jesus's baptism. In fact, Paul is not even mentioned in the Gospels at all. Nor does the scripture record Paul as attending Jesus's death. Paul himself does not testify to either of these facts either.
Second, Paul was not a witness to Jesus's resurrection. Paul claimed he saw Jesus in visions and revelations, not in person. During his Damascus experience, Paul only claimed to see a blinding light, not seeing Jesus in person. Paul only heard Jesus.
Third, Paul was not hiding with the apostles and their disciples. He was likely happy that all this ruckus with this "Jesus fellow" was over with, and he could go back to being a Pharisee.
Fourth, Paul was male. He qualifies here.
Fifth, Paul was not chosen from the prayer of the apostles via the casting of lots. Paul claims apostleship of himself, with no one who was present during his Damascus experience speaking on his belief. This is unlike Matthias, who had the other eleven apostles and many disciples with them.(Acts 1:14.)
Value of this Evidence
This is decent evidence against Paul's case for apostleship. Paul's case for apostleship is weakened because he did not and does not qualify for apostleship on the conditions put forth by the eleven apostles.