FIRST TO JERUSALEM

Passage: Romans 15:23-33

Key verse: 25

NIV

Paul’s Plan to Visit Rome

23 But now that there is no more place for me to work in these regions, and since I have been longing for many years to visit you,(A) 24 I plan to do so when I go to Spain.(B) I hope to see you while passing through and to have you assist(C) me on my journey there, after I have enjoyed your company for a while. 25 Now, however, I am on my way to Jerusalem(D) in the service(E) of the Lord’s people(F) there. 26 For Macedonia(G) and Achaia(H) were pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the Lord’s people in Jerusalem.(I) 27 They were pleased to do it, and indeed they owe it to them. For if the Gentiles have shared in the Jews’ spiritual blessings, they owe it to the Jews to share with them their material blessings.(J) 28 So after I have completed this task and have made sure that they have received this contribution, I will go to Spain(K) and visit you on the way. 29 I know that when I come to you,(L) I will come in the full measure of the blessing of Christ.

30 I urge you, brothers and sisters, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit,(M) to join me in my struggle by praying to God for me.(N) 31 Pray that I may be kept safe(O) from the unbelievers in Judea and that the contribution(P) I take to Jerusalem may be favorably received by the Lord’s people(Q) there, 32 so that I may come to you(R) with joy, by God’s will,(S) and in your company be refreshed.(T) 33 The God of peace(U) be with you all. Amen.

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Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

23 But now, since I no longer have any room for work in these regions, and (A)since I have longed for many years to come to you, 24 I hope to see you in passing as I go (B)to Spain, and (C)to be helped on my journey there by you, once I have enjoyed your company for a while. 25 At present, however, (D)I am going to Jerusalem bringing aid to the saints. 26 For (E)Macedonia and Achaia have been pleased to make some contribution for the poor among the saints at Jerusalem. 27 For they were pleased to do it, and indeed (F)they owe it to them. For if the Gentiles have come to share in their spiritual blessings, they ought also to be of service to them in material blessings. 28 When therefore I have completed this and have delivered to them what has been collected,[a] I will leave (G)for Spain by way of you. 29 I know that when I come to you I will come in the fullness of the blessing[b] of Christ.

30 I appeal to you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by (H)the love of the Spirit, (I)to strive together with me in your prayers to God on my behalf, 31 (J)that I may be delivered from the unbelievers in Judea, and that (K)my service for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints, 32 so that by God's will I may come to you with joy and (L)be refreshed in your company. 33 May (M)the God of peace be with you all. Amen.

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Footnotes
  1. Romans 15:28 Greek sealed to them this fruit
  2. Romans 15:29 Some manuscripts insert of the gospel
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

1. I want to visit you and go on to Spain (23-24)

Spain seemed to be the end of the earth. Paul wanted to preach the gospel there in obedience to Jesus' command, and he wanted the Christians in Rome to share in this missionary vision and work.

2. But first I must go to Jerusalem (25-33)

It was dangerous for Paul to go to Jerusalem (31). He was well-known as a Pharisee who had become a follower of Jesus, and the unbelieving Jews hated him. But he thought that it was worth risking his life to take an offering from the Gentile churches to the Christians in Jerusalem. This offering was the Gentiles' acknowledgment of their spiritual debt to Israel, and their spiritual identity as Abraham's children. Paul asked the Romans to pray: (i) for him--for his safety and for his visit to Rome; (ii) that the Jewish believers would accept the offering from the Gentiles, and that they would accept God's missionary purpose for themselves.

Prayer: Lord, give me missionary vision and a sense of history.

One Word: God's history and God's vision