The Apostle Paul

It is interesting that Paul went to the Jews
first, "It was necessary that the word of God should first have been
spoken to you (Israel): but seeing ye put it from you, and judge
yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the
Gentiles." (Acts 13)

He seems to start the first three chapters of Romans out the same
way.

In the first chapter he is saying 'to the Jew first and then to the
Greek' and after showing the sinfulness of all he says, 'For all
have sinned and fall short of the glory of God', in chapter three.

This is so God could, 'conclude ALL in unbelief that He might have
mercy on ALL.' (Romans 11:32)

It seems that God was showing through Paul that Jews were no better
than Gentiles and both needed to be saved by Grace.

Many groups out there religious/secular still need to come to the
realization that they are saved by God's Grace through faith.
(Ephesians 2:8)

Originally God had intended the Gentiles to be blessed through
Israel.

The Woman at the well understood that 'salvation is of the Jews'
(John 4)

In one of the chapters you are looking at it says, "For so hath the
Lord commanded us", saying, 'I have set thee to be a light of the
Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the
earth.' 48 And when the GENTILES heard this, they were glad, and
glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to
eternal life believed." (Acts 13)

But what does God do if Israel doesn't want to be a light and in
fact rejects Messiah.

Enter Plan B, which God really knew about all along, but wasn't
revealed until the N.T. (Colossians 1)

"Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God
which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God; 26 Even the
mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but NOW
is made manifest to his saints: 27 To whom God would make known what
is the riches of the glory of this mystery AMONG THE GENTILES; which
is Christ in you, the hope of glory:" (Colossians 1)

And speaking of grace, Paul seemed to be the ultimate example of
grace. This guy wasn't just apathetic toward the gospel, he was
violently opposed to it, which would qualify him to finally say in
Romans, "For if, when we were ENEMIES, we were reconciled to God by
the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved
by his life. 11 And not only so, but we also joy in God through our
Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement."
(Romans 5)

We can do nothing to be saved but believe.

In the case of Paul, God went so far as knocking him off his ass to
get him to pay attention.

Some people, even religious people still think it is by their own
human actions that they gain approval of God or even salvation.

"for he is a chosen VESSEL unto me, to bear my name before the
GENTILES, and KINGS, and the CHILDREN OF ISRAEL:
16 for I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's
sake." (Acts)

Why was Paul chosen to be a vessel to bear God's name to the
Gentiles?

Part of it may be:

"What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power
known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted
to destruction: 23 And that he might make known the riches of his
glory on the VESSELS OF MERCY, which he had afore prepared unto
glory, 24 Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but
ALSO OF THE GENTILES?" (Romans 9)

Also Paul was a Hebrew of the tribe of Benjamin but was also a Roman
Citizen, so he was created to bear God's name to 'Gentiles' and
to 'Israel'

Being a Jew and a Roman Citizen he was two become One and could
reach both groups.

14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down
the middle wall of partition between us; 15 Having abolished in his
flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in
ordinances; for to make in himself OF TWAIN ONE NEW MAN, so making
peace; 16 And that he might reconcile both unto God IN ONE BODY by
the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: 17 And came and preached
peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. 18 For
through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. 19
Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but
fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; 20 And
are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus
Christ himself being the chief corner stone; 21 In whom all the
building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the
Lord: 22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit. (Ephesians 2)