Romans 15:24

24. Nothing less will do than a journey into Spain Says Lange upon the passage: “As ancient Spain embraced the whole Pyrenean peninsula, it undoubtedly has for the apostle the still further significance of a symbol of the whole West extending beyond Rome. To him Spain meant the Western world. But Spain itself was a proper object, because there the two preliminary conditions of missionary labour already existed Jews and Jewish synagogues, and Grecian and Roman civilization.”

That his purpose of a journey into Spain (fully promised in Romans 15:28) was accomplished commentators doubt. If at all, it took place between his first and second imprisonment, if two there were. But we may here note that no commentator supposes that the non-fulfilment of these words is any disparagement to their inspiration. And this may indicate that even a similar mistake with regard to the coming of our Lord in his own day would be no such disparagement. (See our sup. note, vol. i, p. 301. See also Alford on Romans 13:11.)

Come to you Rome then was an incident, a stopping place by the way. He had no ambition to be a metropolitan Bishop or preacher even in the metropolis of the civilized world. It is the call for the Gospel in the distant West that draws his soul.

Somewhat filled Partly satisfied. A delicate hint that it was no want of love that prevented his dwelling with them. He hoped only to be partly satiated with the society of his Roman friends, and then for the broad fields of Spain!