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For I am the least of the apostles, and not fit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain; but I labored even more than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of God with me.--- 1 Corinthians 15:9-10 NASBAs a zealous Pharisee, Paul had been an enemy of the Christian church---even to the point of capturing and persecuting believers (see Acts 9:1-30). Thus, he felt unworthy to be called an apostle of Christ. Though undoubtedly the most influential of the apostles, Paul was deeply humble. He knew that he had worked hard and accomplished much but only because God had poured kindness and grace upon him. True humility is not convincing yourself that you are worthless but recognizing God’s work in you. It is having God’s perspective on who you are and acknowledging his grace in developing your abilities.Paul wrote of working harder than the other apostles. This was not an arrogant boast, because he knew that his power came from God and that it really didn’t matter who worked hardest. Because of his prominent position as a Pharisee, Paul’s conversion made him the object of even greater persecution than the other.--- Life Application Study Bible notes