²¹ but took leave of them, saying, ^(A)“I^[a] must by all means keep this coming feast in Jerusalem; but I will return again to you, ^(B)God willing.” And he sailed from Ephesus.

The Plot Against Paul

¹¹ But ^(A)the following night the Lord stood by him and said, ^[a]“Be of good cheer, Paul; for as you have testified for Me in ^(B)Jerusalem, so you must also bear witness at ^(C)Rome.”

¹³ Now I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that I often planned to come to you (but ^(A)was hindered until now), that I might have some ^(B)fruit among you also, just as among the other Gentiles.

Plan to Visit Rome

²² For this reason ^(A)I also have been much hindered from coming to you. ²³ But now no longer having a place in these parts, and ^(B)having a great desire these many years to come to you, ²⁴ whenever I journey to Spain, ^[a]I shall come to you. For I hope to see you on my journey, ^(C)and to be helped on my way there by you, if first I may ^(D)enjoy your company for a while. ²⁵ But now ^(E)I am going to Jerusalem to ^[b]minister to the saints. ²⁶ For ^(F)it pleased those from Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor among the saints who are in Jerusalem. ²⁷ It pleased them indeed, and they are their debtors. For ^(G)if the Gentiles have been partakers of their spiritual things, ^(H)their duty is also to minister to them in material things. ²⁸ Therefore, when I have performed this and have sealed to them ^(I)this fruit, I shall go by way of you to Spain. ^29 (J)But I know that when I come to you, I shall come in the fullness of the blessing ^[c]of the gospel of Christ.