God was the one who called Paul into service. At his conversion Jesus spoke to him, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?" Then at the church in Antioch, the Holy Spirit said, "Set aside Barnabas and Saul for the work I have for them." That said the human factor remains, and having the endorsement of Peter and James would serve him well - some years later as he writes to the Galatians. This will become evident in Galatians 2 when Paul recounts his confrontation of Peter "to his face." Sometimes even within the church and among those who respect each other there needs to be challenging conversation and clarifying discussion. Paul will speak about that also in Galatians 6 where he urges we handle even the erring in gentleness and as we bear one another's burdens.
