St. Paul’s apostolic office was not a self-chosen pursuit, but a divine call to preach the Son of God “among the Gentiles” (Gal. 1:15–16). What he preached was “not man’s gospel” (Gal. 1:11), but the revelation of Christ Jesus. The Old Testament prophets also preached the same Lord Jesus in many and various ways.
Though death is a harsh reminder of sin (1 Kings 17:18), Elijah’s raising of the widow’s son confirmed that the Word of the Lord is truth (1 Kings 17:24). It pointed forward to the death and resurrection of Christ. So also, when Jesus raised the widow’s son at Nain, He anticipated His own Resurrection. Just as “He came up and touched the bier” (Luke 7:14), so He takes our sin and death upon Himself in order to atone for our sin and destroy our death by His cross and Passion.