Romans 15:17-33

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Romans 15:21

But as it is written ,.... In Isaiah 52:15 ; to whom he was not spoken of, they shall see, and they that have not heard shall understand ; for the Messiah was not spoken of to the Gentiles; they were strangers to the covenants of promise; the oracles of God were committed to the Jews; God gave his word and statutes to them, and not to any other nation: and yet, according to this prophecy, the Gentiles were to see him whom they had no account of; not in the flesh with their bodily eyes,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Romans 15:22

For which cause also ,.... By reason of being employed for so many years, in preaching the Gospel from Jerusalem, round about to Illyricum; taking so large a compass to minister in, and striving to introduce, propagate, and spread the Gospel, where Christ was never named before: I have been much hindered from coming to you ; or he had been often, and by many ways, and upon many accounts, hindered from coming to them; the frequent calls to different and distant places, and the great work... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Romans 15:23

But now having no more place in these parts ,.... Not because persecution was too hot for him, and therefore could not stay any longer, for this was what he expected everywhere; nor did it discourage him in his work, for he took pleasure in enduring it for the sake of Christ and his Gospel; but because he had fully preached the Gospel from Jerusalem, in his circuit to Illyricum, had filled every town and city with it, had planted churches in every place, and ordained elders over them, to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Romans 15:24

Whensoever I take my journey into Spain ,.... Which he had now meditated and resolved upon, being a place, as before observed, where it is very likely the Gospel as yet had not been preached, which made him desirous of going thither; but whether he ever went thither, or not, is not certain; some think he never performed the intended journey; others affirm he did, some time between his two appearances before Nero. Sepharad, in Obadiah 1:20 , is taken by the Jewish writers for this country;... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Romans 15:25

But now I go unto Jerusalem ,.... Whither he was bound in spirit, not knowing what should befall him there, from which he could not be dissuaded by his friends, and thither he did go: to minister unto the saints ; not to preach the Gospel, though doubtless he did that when he was there; but to distribute among the poor saints what had been raised for them by the Greek churches; who had entreated him to take upon him this service, even the fellowship of ministering to the saints; and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Romans 15:26

For it hath pleased them of Macedonia and Achaia ,.... That is, the churches of Macedonia, particularly Philippi and Thessalonica; and the churches of Achaia, especially the church at Corinth, which was the metropolis of Achaia: to make a certain contribution for the poor saints which are at Jerusalem ; of which contribution, of their great forwardness, readiness, and liberality, a large account is given in 2 Corinthians 8:1 ; from whence Origen and others have rightly concluded, that... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Romans 15:27

It hath pleased them verily ,.... This is repeated from the former verse, and is designed to point out the spring of this contribution, and the manner in which it was performed: it arose from themselves; it was the pure effect of their good will and pleasure; the first motion was from among themselves; it was their own thought, mind, and will; they were willing of themselves unto it, and begun it of themselves, unasked, and not moved unto it by any other: it was not done by constraint or... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Romans 15:28

When therefore I have performed this ,.... Meaning when he had dispatched that business, and finished that affair which the Macedonian and Achaian churches had entreated him to engage in, and which he had undertook; namely, to take their collection, and carry it to Jerusalem, and distribute it among the poor saints there; and which he expresses by another phrase, and have sealed to them this fruit . The liberality of the Gentile churches is called fruit, as it may be on many accounts; as... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Romans 15:29

And I am sure when I come to you ,.... He intended to go to Spain; he was not sure he should reach thither; but he was positive in it he should come to Rome. It had been much and long upon his mind; and under an impress of the Spirit of God upon him, he had signified some time before this, that after he had been at Jerusalem, he "must see, Rome also", Acts 19:21 , and it was afterwards more expressly told him by the Lord, that as he had testified of him at Jerusalem, he should bear witness... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Romans 15:30

Now I beseech you, brethren ,.... Having declared his intention of coming to them, and his confidence of it, he entreats an interest in their prayers; and which he urges from the consideration of their mutual relation as "brethren"; and therefore should love one another, and show it, among other things, by praying for each other to their common parent, in whom they have a joint interest, saying, as directed by Christ, "our Father which art in heaven", Matthew 5:45 ; thereby signifying,... read more

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