The epistle was written at a time when Paul was on his way to, or about to set out for, Jerusalem (15:25), and, since it was also (according to 15:19 and 23) a time when he felt that his pioneer missionary work in the eastern provinces of the empire had been completed, the journey in question cannot be an earlier one than that recorded in Acts 20 and 21. That it is this journey is confirmed by the agreement of 15:25–28 with Acts 24:17. For a long time Paul has wanted
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