RE: why do Christians fall for Paul’s claims?
1) Because the same Luke, who wrote one of the gospels also wrote the book of Acts, which tells us how Paul met Jesus on the road to Damascus.
2) Because the apostles, who were initially skeptical of Paul, carefully heard Paul’s testimony and finally ACCEPTED him as one of them.
3) Because Peter himself, the leader of the apostles ACCEPTED Paul and wrote that he considered Paul’s letters to be scripture.
4) Because the PUBLIC miracles of Paul ( as chronicled by Luke ), i.e. Healing a lame man from birth (Acts 14:8-10
), raising Eutychus from the dead (Acts 20:9-11), healing a demon possessed girl (Acts 16:16-18), etc. TESTIFIES to his commission from Christ.
I believe it was well after Jesus was gone. Paul said he saw a blinding light and heard a voice. That's very convenient for a man who seeks power, and he clearly sought power initially by persecuting Christians. Paul seems a little shady to me.