²⁰ I always want to preach the Good News in places where people have never heard of Christ. I do this because I do not want to build on the work that someone else has already started. ²¹ But it is written in the Scriptures:

Paul’s Plan to Visit Rome

²² That is why many times I was stopped from coming to you. ²³ Now I have finished my work here. Since for many years I have wanted to come to you, ²⁴ I hope to visit you on my way to Spain. I will enjoy being with you, and you can help me on my trip. ²⁵ Now I am going to Jerusalem to help God’s people. ²⁶ The believers in Macedonia and Southern Greece were happy to give their money to help the poor among God’s people at Jerusalem. ²⁷ They were happy to do this, and really they owe it to them. These non-Jews have shared in the Jews’ spiritual blessings. So they should use their material possessions to help the Jews.

¹⁷ Three days later Paul sent for the Jewish leaders there. When they came together, he said, “Brothers, I have done nothing against our people. I have done nothing against the customs of our fathers. But I was arrested in Jerusalem and given to the Romans. ¹⁸ The Romans asked me many questions. But they could find no reason why I should be killed. They wanted to let me go free, ¹⁹ but the Jews there did not want that. So I had to ask to come to Rome to have my trial before Caesar. But I have no charge to bring against my own people. ²⁰ That is why I wanted to see you and talk with you. I am bound with this chain because I believe in the hope of Israel.”

²¹ The Jews answered Paul, “We have received no letters from Judea about you. None of our Jewish brothers who have come from there brought news about you or told us anything bad about you. ²² We want to hear your ideas. We know that people everywhere are speaking against this religious group.”

²³ Paul and the Jews chose a day for a meeting. On that day many more of the Jews met with Paul at the place he was staying. Paul spoke to them all day long, explaining the kingdom of God to them. He tried to persuade them to believe these things about Jesus. He used the law of Moses and the writings of the prophets to do this. ²⁴ Some of the Jews believed what Paul said, but others did not. ²⁵ So they argued, and the Jews were ready to leave. But Paul said one more thing to them: “The Holy Spirit spoke the truth to your fathers through Isaiah the prophet. He said,

²⁸ “I want you Jews to know that God has also sent his salvation to the non-Jewish people. They will listen!” ²⁹ [After Paul said this, the Jews left. They were arguing very much with each other.]^[a]

³⁰ Paul stayed two full years in his own rented house. He welcomed all people who came and visited him. ³¹ He preached about the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ. He was very bold, and no one stopped him.

Paul’s Troubles Help the Work

¹² Brothers, I want you to know that what has happened to me has helped to spread the Good News.

⁷ This letter is to all of you in Rome whom God loves and has called to be his holy people.

May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ show you kindness and give you peace.

Spiritual Blessings in Christ

1 From Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus. I am an apostle because that is what God wanted.

To God’s holy people living in Ephesus,^[a] believers in Christ Jesus.

² Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

³ Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. In Christ, God has given us every spiritual blessing in heaven. ⁴ In Christ, he chose us before the world was made. In his love he chose us to be his holy people—people without blame before him. ⁵ And before the world was made, God decided to make us his own children through Jesus Christ. That was what he wanted and what pleased him. ⁶ This brings praise to God because of his wonderful grace. God gave that grace to us freely, in Christ, the One he loves. ⁷ In Christ we are set free by the blood of his death. And so we have forgiveness of sins because of God’s rich grace. ⁸ God gave us that grace fully and freely. God, with full wisdom and understanding, ⁹ let us know his secret purpose. This was what God wanted, and he planned to do it through Christ. ¹⁰ His goal was to carry out his plan when the right time came. He planned that all things in heaven and on earth would be joined together in Christ as the head.

¹¹ In Christ we were chosen to be God’s people. God had already chosen us to be his people, because that is what he wanted. And God is the One who makes everything agree with what he decides and wants. ¹² We are the first people who hoped in Christ. And we were chosen so that we would bring praise to God’s glory. ¹³ So it is with you. You heard the true teaching—the Good News about your salvation. When you heard it, you believed in Christ. And in Christ, God put his special mark on you by giving you the Holy Spirit that he had promised. ¹⁴ That Holy Spirit is the guarantee that we will get what God promised for his people. This will bring full freedom to the people who belong to God, to bring praise to God’s glory.

Paul’s Prayer

^15-16 That is why I always remember you in my prayers and always thank God for you. I have always done this since the time I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people. ¹⁷ I always pray to the God of our Lord Jesus Christ—to the glorious Father. I pray that he will give you a spirit that will make you wise in the knowledge of God—the knowledge that he has shown you. ¹⁸ I pray that you will have greater understanding in your heart. Then you will know the hope that God has chosen to give us. I pray that you will know that the blessings God has promised his holy people are rich and glorious. ¹⁹ And you will know that God’s power is very great for us who believe. That power is the same as the great strength ²⁰ God used to raise Christ from death and put him at his right side in heaven. ²¹ God made Christ more important than all rulers, authorities, powers, and kings. Christ is more important than anything in this world or in the next world. ²² God put everything under his power. And God made him the head over everything for the church. ²³ The church is Christ’s body. The church is filled with Christ, and Christ fills everything in every way.

Paul Talks About His Work

¹⁴ My brothers, I am sure that you are full of goodness. I know that you have all the knowledge you need and that you are able to teach each other.