Romans 15:16–30

¹⁶with the result that I am a servant of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles, serving the gospel of God as a priest, in order that the offering of the Gentiles may become acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit. ¹⁷Therefore I have a reason for boasting in Christ Jesus regarding the things concerning God. ¹⁸For I will not dare to speak about anything except that which Christ has accomplished through me, resulting in the obedience of the Gentiles by word and deed, ¹⁹by the power of signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit,^g so that from Jerusalem and traveling around as far as Illyricum I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ. ²⁰And so, having as my ambition to proclaim the gospel where Christ has not been named, in order that I will not build on the foundation belonging to someone else, ²¹but just as it is written,

“Those to whom it was not announced concerning him will see,

and those who have not heard will understand.”^h

Paul’s Travel Plans

²²For this reason also I was hindered many times from coming to you, ²³and now, no longer having a place in these regions, but having a desire for many years to come to you ²⁴whenever I travel to Spain. For I hope while I^* am passing through to see you and to be sent on my way by you, whenever I have first enjoyed your company for a while. ²⁵But now I am traveling to Jerusalem, serving the saints. ²⁶For Macedonia and Achaia were pleased to make some contribution for the poor among the saints in Jerusalem. ²⁷For they were pleased to do so, and they are obligated to them. For if the Gentiles have shared in their spiritual things, they ought also to serve them in material things. ²⁸Therefore, after I^* have accomplished this and sealed this fruit for delivery to them, I will depart by way of you for Spain, ²⁹and I know that when I^* come to you, I will come in the fullness of the blessing of Christ.

³⁰Now I exhort you, brothers, through our Lord Jesus Christ and through the love of the Spirit, to contend along with me in your prayers on my behalf to God,