Part of the mental gymnastics they use to justify putting Paul on the level of Jesus is that the holy spirit (Jesus' gaseous state) was speaking through the apostles.

Paul? You mean Saul the Thief?

The problem with Paul is that people see "Law Paul" and ignore "Grace Paul".
When Paul talks about law and rules he means for people to look into themselves and see their own failings, not unlike John the Baptist, and see their own need of Jesus' grace, not to condemn other people.
He even declares himself as the worst of sinners.

And he also shares Jesus' view that the law should be interpreted as to protect people.

No, a different Paul; see Acts 9, 4-5.