As Paul emerges out of the Arabian desert at the completion of his masters training, he comes onto the world stage creating churches, criticizing the Apostles, upbraiding them, and projecting himself better than them. After his first venture to Rome who held high regard for his Edomite royalty, Paul boldly declares that he is the head of all christian churches.
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1 Corinthians 7:17, (KJV), (Paul)
17. “But as God hath distributed to every man, as the Lord hath called every one,
so let him walk. And so ordain I in all churches.”
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This evidence provides the historical “muscle” behind Paul’s bold claim to “ordain in all churches.” By looking at the records of the historian Josephus and the cultural context of the Roman Empire, we can see that Paul wasn’t just a traveling tentmaker—he was a high-status Edomite power player. Historians like Robert Eisenman have identified a figure in Josephus’ Antiquities of the Jews (Book 20, Chapter 9.4) named Saulus. This Saulus is described as a “kinsman of Agrippa”(the Edomite King Herod Agrippa II). Josephus describes this Saulus as “lawless” and someone who used his royal connections to plunder. Paul himself confirms this high-level connection in Romans 16:11, where he writes: “Greet Herodion my kinsman.” He is openly acknowledging his blood tie to the House of Herod. The reason Paul could boldly “ordain” and appeal directly to Caesar was his status as an elite client.
Roman Education: It was standard practice for the “billionaire rich kid set” of the Herodian family to be educated in Rome within the Emperor’s own household. This explains Paul’s perfect Greek, his knowledge of Roman law, and his “high regard” among Roman officials.
The Privilege of Citizenship: While Jews were subjects, Paul was a citizen by birth. This was a rare privilege usually reserved for the families of local rulers (like the Herodians) who acted as Roman agents.
The Bodyguard: In Acts 23, when Paul is under threat, the Roman commander provides him with a massive escort of 470 soldiers to protect him. This wasn’t standard treatment for a “prisoner”—it was a high-security detail for a royal asset.
The Role of the “Interloper: This status is exactly what allowed him to transition from the “Viper’s Den” in Jerusalem to the world stage. He used his Edomite royalty to gain access to the elites. He used his Roman citizenship to protect himself from the true followers of the Way. He used his Desert “Revelation” to claim an authority that bypassed the 12 Apostles.