Romans 15:16-33

16to be a servant of Christ Jesus to people who are not Jewish. I serve as a priest by spreading the Good News of God. I do this in order that I might bring the nations to God as an acceptable offering, made holy by the Holy Spirit.

17So Christ Jesus gives me the right to brag about what I’m doing for God.

18I’m bold enough to tell you only what Christ has done through me to bring people who are not Jewish to obedience. By what I have said and done,

19by the power of miraculous and amazing signs, and by the power of God’s Spirit, I have finished spreading the Good News about Christ from Jerusalem to Illyricum.

20My goal was to spread the Good News where the name of Christ was not known. I didn’t want to build on a foundation which others had laid.

21As Scripture says, “Those who were never told about him will see, and those who never heard will understand.”

22This is what has so often kept me from visiting you.

23But now I have no new opportunities for work in this region. For many years I have wanted to visit you.

24Now I am on my way to Spain, so I hope to see you when I come your way. After I have enjoyed your company for a while, I hope that you will support my trip to Spain.

25Right now I’m going to Jerusalem to bring help to the Christians there.

26Because the believers in Macedonia and Greece owe a debt to the Christians in Jerusalem, they have decided to take up a collection for the poor among the Christians in Jerusalem.

27These Macedonians and Greeks have shared the spiritual wealth of the Christians in Jerusalem. So they are obligated to use their earthly wealth to help them.

28When the collection is completed and I have officially turned the money over to the Christians in Jerusalem, I will visit you on my way to Spain.

29I know that when I come to you I will bring the full blessing of Christ.

30Brothers and sisters, I encourage you through our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love that the Spirit creates, to join me in my struggle. Pray to God for me

31that I will be rescued from those people in Judea who refuse to believe. Pray that God’s people in Jerusalem will accept the help I bring.

32Also pray that by the will of God I may come to you with joy and be refreshed when I am with you.

33May the God of peace be with you all. Amen.