Acts 19:21

Paul evidently sensed that having laid a firm foundation in Asia Minor and the Aegean Sea region he needed to press on to Gentile areas yet unreached (cf. Romans 15:23). Though he had some short-range goals, he ultimately wanted to go to Rome (Romans 1:15; cf. Luke 4:43; Luke 9:22; Luke 9:51). In Romans 15:24 he wrote that he intended to go on from there to Spain, the westernmost frontier of the Roman Empire. Luke made no reference to Spain. It was evidently his purpose to end his record of the church’s expansion when the gospel reached the heart of the empire from which it then circulated everywhere.

"Although the phrase en to pneumati (’in the spirit’) could refer either to the human spirit or the Holy Spirit, there is reason to believe that the latter is at least included. It would be strange to attribute the journey to Jerusalem to a human decision while linking the trip to Rome to divine necessity, especially when Paul says he ’must [Gr. dei] also’ see Rome, implying some comparability between the two trips. Furthermore, in Acts 20:22-23 Paul refers to the same decision and speaks of himself going to Jerusalem ’bound in the Spirit’ and of the Holy Spirit testifying in every city of coming suffering. More than a strong human resolve is indicated." [Note: Tannehill, 2:239.]

"By the combination of en to pneumati and dei, Luke appears to be making the point in this programmatic statement that the aftermath of the Gentile mission and its extension into Rome were likewise under the Spirit’s direction, just as the Gentile mission itself had been." [Note: Longenecker, p. 500.]

The rest of Acts shows how Paul attained his purpose of reaching Rome in spite of many obstacles all of which he overcame. [Note: Bruce, "Paul’s Apologetic . . .," p. 380.]

"The purpose of S. Paul, which coincided with the will of God, was achieved; but, as in other cases, the means by which he was brought to Rome were far different from what he had wished or arranged. Thus we have presented to us a typical instance of divine overruling of human plans, but to the achievement of one and the same end." [Note: Rackham, p. 359.]

". . . in Paul’s eyes Rome was designed to replace Jerusalem as the centre of the Christian mission (and to inherit his own apostolic responsibility). Luke’s perspective was different from Paul’s but from Luke’s perspective too, as Jerusalem Christianity was henceforth unable to fulfill God’s saving purpose in the world, it was for Roman Christianity to take up the task and carry it forward." [Note: Bruce, "The Church . . .," p. 661.]

Paul wanted to collect money for the poor Judean saints from the more prosperous Christians in the Aegean region and then deliver it to them in Jerusalem (cf. Acts 24:17; 1 Corinthians 16:1-4). He realized that returning to Jerusalem would be dangerous for him (cf. Romans 15:30-32), but he determined to go nonetheless. Paul never let the possibility of danger to his person turn him away from doing God’s will.