Romans 15:9-21

9People who are not Jewish praise God for his mercy as well. This is what the Scriptures say, “That is why I will give thanks to you among the nations and I will sing praises to your name.”

10And Scripture says again, “You nations, be happy together with his people!”

11And again, “Praise the Lord, all you nations! Praise him, all you people of the world!”

12Again, Isaiah says, “There will be a root from Jesse. He will rise to rule the nations, and he will give the nations hope.”

13May God, the source of hope, fill you with joy and peace through your faith in him. Then you will overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

14I’m convinced, brothers and sisters, that you, too, are filled with goodness. I’m also convinced that you have all the knowledge you need and that you are able to instruct each other.

15However, I’ve written you a letter, parts of which are rather bold, as a reminder to you. I’m doing this because God gave me the gift

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.”