Romans 15:19-33

19God's Holy Spirit used his power to do many miracles. He caused many great and powerful things to happen. As a result, I have told the whole good news about Christ to many people. I have told it while I travelled all the way from Jerusalem to Illyricum.

20I want to go to places where nobody has ever told people about Christ before. I want to tell the good news to people in those places. That is what I have always wanted to do. I do not want to work in a place where someone else has already started to teach God's message.

21This is written in the Bible about God's Messiah: ‘Those people that nobody ever told them about him will now see. Those people who have never heard about him will now understand.’

22That is why, many times, I have not had a chance to visit you.

23For many years I have been waiting for the chance to come. But now I have finished my work in these places here.

24So I hope to visit you while I am travelling to Spain. I will stay with you in Rome for a short time. I will really enjoy having some time together with you there. Then you can help me to continue my journey.

25But now, I am ready to go to Jerusalem to help God's people there.

26Some of them are poor, and the Christians in Macedonia and Achaia wanted to help them. So they got some money to send to those people.

27The Christians in Macedonia and Achaia were happy to share what they had. But really, they have a duty to help the Jewish Christians in Jerusalem. It is the Jews who shared good things from God to help the Gentiles in their spirits. So now the Gentiles ought to help the Jewish Christians with things that they need for their bodies.

28So I must take their gift safely to the Christians in Jerusalem. When I have finished that job, I will come to visit you. Then I will continue my journey to Spain.

29When I visit you, I know that Christ will bless us very much while we are together.

30My Christian friends, please pray for me as I do this difficult work. Together we belong to our Lord Jesus Christ. God's Spirit has given us love for each other. So I ask you to help me and to pray with me.

31Pray that God will keep me safe from those people in Judea who have refused to believe in Jesus. Pray also that God's people at Jerusalem will happily accept the gift that I am taking to them.

32If God agrees, I will then be able to come to you, and we will be happy together. I will enjoy having some rest while I stay there with you.

33I pray that God will give you peace in your minds. I pray that he will be with all of you and help you. Amen.