Most of the rest of the book of Acts is coverage of Paul's three missionary journeys. In 1 Corinthians 15:8, Paul recites the evidence for Jesus' resurrection, citing the many eyewitnesses who saw him after his death, and adds, “And last of all he was seen by me also, as one born out of due time.” This is more than an expression of regret that he was “born too late” to have been in the first group named as apostles. It's closer to Paul's confession elsewhere that he is the least of the apostles, and the chief of sinners.

Some of this humility may be repentance for the role Paul played in the stoning of Stephen and the persecution of the church before his conversion, but more likely it is Paul's adoption of the Beatitudes discussed in Chapter 3, in other words, taking on the self-effacing meekness that puts oneself last in order that Christ can come first.

But in other cases Paul boasts of his sufferings for Christ and of his apostleship. As an apostle he became one of the key leaders of the first-generation church, despite not having been there when the original Twelve were chosen, or when Judas Iscariot's official successor was chosen by lot.