1 Corinthians 15:8

Last of all. This phrase raises the strong presumption that the foregoing list of appearances is arranged in chronological order, and that Paul was the last one to whom Christ personally appeared.

One born out of due time. Gr. ektroma, “the abortion,” “the stillborn embryo.” The word occurs only here in the Greek NT, but is used in the LXX (Num. 12:12; Job 3:16; Eccl. 6:3). The apostle is implying that, compared with the other apostles, he is no better than a stillborn babe. The other disciples grew and matured into their ministry, whereas he, Paul, was abruptly launched into his apostleship. He may also be expressing his sense of unworthiness to be numbered among the disciples because of the way he had formerly treated those who believed in Christ (see on Acts 7:58; 8:1,3; 9:1, 13, 21; 26:10). By his unremitting diligence, the apostle seemed to have shown that he felt a great obligation to make up for his want of personal companionship with Jesus.