Don't mean to interfere with the questions. I just wanted to add something here for anyone that reads it.
Over the years I've had interactions with several different types of Jews, for lack of a better word. There are the secular Jews. I worked with one, they're much like the secular Muslims. They aren't religious. They believe in God and the traditions handed down to them. But don't really follow them for the most part. I've met Jews who are really nationalistic and don't even really believe in God. There are the traditional Jews. I used to live with some Messianic Jews. Had some really long nights conversing with them outside by the swimming pool back when I was younger. We had some interesting conversations. I always respected their beliefs. And for the most part they respected mine. I had one woman who said I would persuade her to convert to a Jehovah's Witness if she kept talking with me. And actually I would baby-sit for her when she was working and her son came home from school. He would knock on the door and come in and play video or board games with my kid. And he enjoyed sitting in on our family worship when we would read the Bible together. I don't know whatever happened to them. But the son was always full of questions, and you could tell his mind was opening up as I shared Bible truths with him. He was fascinated with things foretold in the Hebrew Scriptures that were fulfilled in the Greek scriptures. It reminds me of when Jesus was walking with his disciples after his resurrection and he began to open their minds up to the prophecies concerning the Messiah and that he would have to die and all the things he had to go through.
To mention a few of the things I wanted to point out to anyone interested. The history of Paul is actually quite a fascinating one. He was a Jew, born of Jews. Today no one can claim they can trace their lineage like they could back then. Jesus Christ could trace his lineage back to David on both his mother's and his adopted father's side. The records were available for all to look at, even his enemies. And no one ever disputed his linage. Not even his most staunch enemies. Those records were destroyed when Jerusalem was destroyed for the second time in 70 C. E. Since then no one can come and claim to be the Messiah and prove their linage as did Jesus.
Paul was formerly Saul of Tarsus. A city of no small prestige in Cicilia. Tarsus was the modern-day equivalent to being in a city where Harvard University, or Standford, or Oxford University is. It was world renowned as a city of learning. And anyone who was anyone made a trip there. Saul moved from Tarsus to Jerusalem where he studied at the feet of one the founders and teachers of modern-day Judaism , Gamaliel:
“I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Ci·liʹcia, but educated in this city at the feet of Ga·maʹli·el, instructed according to the strictness of the ancestral Law, and zealous for God just as all of you are this day."-Acts 22:3.
In fact Saul was so zealous a pupil that he was surpassing his fellow pupils. He was growing up to be a strict and righteous Pharisee. Some even speculate that if Jesus did not call him out of his ignorance, he may have even succeeded Gamaliel:
"Of course, you heard about my conduct formerly in Juʹda·ism, that I kept intensely persecuting the congregation of God and devastating it; and I was making greater progress in Juʹda·ism than many of my own age in my nation, as I was far more zealous for the traditions of my fathers."-Galatians 1:13, 14.
Paul was born a Benjaminite, a Jew, from the strictest sect of the Pharisaic tradition, and also a Roman citizen. He knew both Greek and Hebrew.
"Though I, if anyone, do have grounds for confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinks he has grounds for confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised the eighth day, of the nation of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew born from Hebrews; regarding law, a Pharisee; regarding zeal, persecuting the congregation; regarding righteousness based on law, one who proved himself blameless."-Phillipians 3:4-6.
In Paul's day there were two sects, the Sadducees and the Pharisees. The Pharisees believed in the resurrection. The Sadducees did not. On one occasion when Paul was put on trial in the Jewish high court he told the Sanhedrin that he was being accused over his faith in the resurrection (as Jesus Christ was raised from the dead):
"Now Paul, knowing that the one part was made up of Sadducees but the other of Pharisees, cried out in the Sanʹhe·drin: “Men, brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees. Over the hope of the resurrection of the dead I am being judged.” 7 Because he said this, a dissension arose between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was split. 8 For the Sadducees say that there is neither resurrection nor angel nor spirit, but the Pharisees accept them all. 9 So a great uproar broke out, and some of the scribes of the party of the Pharisees rose and began arguing fiercely, saying: “We find nothing wrong in this man, but if a spirit or an angel spoke to him—.” 10 Now when the dissension grew great, the military commander feared that Paul would be torn apart by them, and he commanded the soldiers to go down and snatch him from their midst and bring him into the soldiers’ quarters."-Acts 23:6-10.
And Paul was not the only Pharisee that believed in Jesus Christ. The Bible account tells us a number of Pharisees did convert to Christianity. Paul's case was singular. He was so zealous for God as a Pharisee that he was breathing threat and murder against the Christians:
"But Saul, still breathing threat and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that he might bring bound to Jerusalem any whom he found who belonged to The Way, both men and women."-Acts 9:1, 2.
Recognizing that he was zealous for God, but not according to accurate knowledge Jesus Christ appeared to Saul as he was traveling to Damascus to murder the Christians, and set matters right with him:
"Now as he was traveling and getting near Damascus, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him, 4 and he fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him: “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” 5 He asked: “Who are you, Lord?” He said: “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting."-Acts 9:3-5.
Jesus opened Saul's eyes to the truth. And Paul realizing he was sinning and blaspheming against God repented and converted to Christianity. He himself later admitted:
“Formerly I was a blasphemer and a persecutor and an insolent man. Nevertheless, I was shown mercy, because I was ignorant and acted with a lack of faith.”-1 Timothy 1:13.
Many Jews today are in the state Saul was in at one time. In a state of dire sin and blasphemy, but they act with ignorance because of their lack of faith.
Paul was given more gifts than anyone else mentioned in the Greek Scripture, aside from Jesus Christ, and in fact did far more than many of the apostles. Or least he is mentioned far more, than some apostles whose names are only mentioned.
He was also given supernatural visions which are never revealed in the scriptures themselves, because it was not lawful for him to speak of them:
"I have to boast. It is not beneficial, but I will move on to supernatural visions and revelations of the Lord. 2 I know a man in union with Christ who, 14 years ago—whether in the body or out of the body, I do not know; God knows—was caught away to the third heaven. 3 Yes, I know such a man—whether in the body or apart from the body, I do not know; God knows— 4 who was caught away into paradise and heard words that cannot be spoken and that are not lawful for a man to say."-2 Corinthians 12:1-4.
Paul was a more righteous and strict Jew than any you are likely to meet today. He was more educated, and at the very feet of one of the founder's of modern-day Judaism. And he spoke with authority. And as a Christian he suffered more than many of his false Christian brothers. He was envied and lied about by both Jews and false Christians:
"Are they Hebrews? I am one also. Are they Israelites? I am one also. Are they Abraham’s offspring? I am also. 23 Are they ministers of Christ? I reply like a madman, I am more outstandingly one: I have done more work, been imprisoned more often, suffered countless beatings, and experienced many near-deaths. 24 Five times I received 40 strokes less one from the Jews, 25 three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I experienced shipwreck, a night and a day I have spent in the open sea; 26 in journeys often, in dangers from rivers, in dangers from robbers, in dangers from my own people, in dangers from the nations, in dangers in the city, in dangers in the wilderness, in dangers at sea, in dangers among false brothers, 27 in labor and toil, in sleepless nights often, in hunger and thirst, frequently without food, in cold and lacking clothing."-2 Corinthians 11:22-27.