The apostle Peter offers a strong endorsement of Paul, referring to him as our beloved brother and acknowledging the wisdom given to him by God. Peter categorizes Paul's epistles alongside the other Scriptures, despite noting that some of his writings are hard to understand, often leading untaught and unstable individuals to twist their meaning to their own destruction. Peter's testimony, written after most of Paul's epistles, affirms Paul's status as a gifted writer inspired by God, countering critics who question Paul's apostleship based on private visions without external validation. While Peter does not explicitly call Paul an apostle, he does not dispute his position either, instead implicitly endorsing his letters with a caution about potential misunderstanding. Luke, Paul's traveling companion and the author of Acts, further validates Paul's credentials by directly naming him and Barnabas as apostles, sent forth with a divine message. Acts records the Lord declaring Paul a chosen vessel to bear His name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. Additionally, Luke chronicles Paul's miracles and the spread of God's Word through his bold preaching, including the impartation of the Holy Spirit to Gentiles at Ephesus through Paul's hands. The apostle John, as the last original apostle, provides no warning against Paul despite addressing various false teachings in his epistles. Similarly, Jude, in his short letter focused on false teachers, indirectly identifies Paul as an apostle of Jesus Christ by referencing his writings. Collectively, the support from Peter, Luke, John, and Jude underscores Paul's authenticity and divine commission, affirming his significant role in the early church.

The apostle Paul possessed a remarkable background that shaped his role as a significant contributor to the Scriptures. Born a Jew in Tarsus, a notable city in Cilicia, he described it as no obscure place, reflecting a sense of pride in his origins. Paul also held Roman citizenship, a valuable status likely inherited from his father, granting him certain privileges and protections. Though born in Tarsus, he was raised in Jerusalem under the tutelage of Gamaliel, a renowned Pharisaic teacher, where he was rigorously trained in the strict traditions of the Jewish law and displayed great zeal for God. Paul's early zeal manifested in his fierce persecution of the church, acting with authority from the council of elders to imprison and punish believers, even to the point of death. He boasted a formidable pedigree, being circumcised on the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, from the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews, and as a Pharisee, blameless in the righteousness of the law. His progress in the Jewish religion surpassed many of his peers, earning him recognition and respect among contemporaries and elders alike for his exceeding zeal for the traditions of his fathers. This distinguished background stood in stark contrast to the original apostles, Peter and John, who were perceived as unlearned and ignorant by their peers, while Paul carried the outward appearance and demeanor of a man to be reckoned with. His reputation among the Jewish community was one of respect and authority, far different from the evaluation given to Jesus Himself or the twelve apostles. If Paul chose to trust in the flesh, he had ample reason to boast, yet his credentials served as a foundation for the dramatic transformation that followed his calling by God.