"For I continually make known to you brothers, that the gospel being once then preached by me is not ever according to man.  For I neither at intervals received it from man, nor was I once then taught it by man, but it came through a revelation of Jesus Christ" (Gal. 1:11,12, Expanded Greek Translation – EGT).

Paul was called an apostle by Jesus Christ on the road to Damascus to kill Christians. He was blinded for three days and Ananias was sent to lay hands upon Paul and speak Christ's word to him.  Paul's blinded eyes were opened and he was told that he would have to suffer many things, but that he would be the witness of Christ to kings and to the Gentiles (Acts 9:1-16)  Why was Paul called by Christ?  What was the gospel message to the church at that time?

The church did not have the full gospel of grace being presented.  There was still a lot of law and religion being mixed and commingled with the truth.  Jesus Christ had paid for 100% justification and reconciliation for everyone.  Anyone who would hear the voice of the Holy Spirit and would receive the Word of Christ for Lord and Savior would be Spirit rebirthed and placed into the body of Christ (I Cor. 12:13).  Jesus came to Paul and specifically commissioned him as an apostle, seemingly out of due season, so he might go and bring Christ's divine correction to the church.

Cornelius, a Gentile, feared God (Acts 10:2).  God had him send for the apostle Simon Peter. God lets a net out of heaven three (3) times to be a divine teaching to Peter about God's acceptance of Gentiles by His grace (Acts 10:9-18).  Peter did not fully get it.  Peter went to see Cornelius and continued to preach his standard Jewish message of Jesus and about his temporal works of the Spirit (Acts 10:21-43. While Peter was still speaking about whoever believes in Christ, the Holy Spirit interupted his message by falling on those Gentiles as he did on the Day of Pentecost, and anointed them to speak with tongues and magnify God (Acts 10:43-46).  Later Paul had to withstand Peter to the face for exercising favoritism with Jews and attempting to get Gentiles to be circumcised as Jews back under the law.  Where is God's message of grace in that?