¹³ I do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, that I have often intended to come to you (but thus far have been prevented), in order that I may reap some harvest among you, as I have among the rest of the gentiles.

The Riot in Ephesus

²¹ Now after these things had been accomplished, Paul resolved in the Spirit to go through Macedonia and Achaia and then to go on to Jerusalem. He said, “After I have gone there, I must also see Rome.”^(A)

¹⁷ Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the profit^[a] that accumulates to your account.^(A)

¹⁷ But the Lord stood by me and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion’s mouth.^(A)

The Coming of the Lord

¹³ But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about those who have died,^[a] so that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope.

¹⁸ For we wanted to come to you—certainly I, Paul, wanted to again and again—but Satan blocked our way.^(A)

⁸ We do not want you to be ignorant, brothers and sisters, of the affliction we experienced in Asia, for we were so utterly, unbearably crushed that we despaired of life itself.^(A)

Spiritual Gifts

12 Now concerning spiritual gifts,^[a] brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be ignorant.^(A)

Warnings from Israel’s History

10 I do not want you to be ignorant, brothers and sisters, that our ancestors were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea,^(A)

Paul’s Plan to Visit Rome

²² This is the reason that I have so often been hindered from coming to you. ²³ But now, with no further place for me in these regions, I desire, as I have for many years, to come to you^{(A) 24} when I go to Spain. For I do hope to see you on my journey and to be sent on by you, once I have enjoyed your company for a little while. ²⁵ At present, however, I am going to Jerusalem in a ministry to the saints,^{(B) 26} for Macedonia and Achaia were pleased to share their resources with the poor among the saints at Jerusalem.^{(C) 27} They were pleased to do this, and indeed they owe it to them, for if the gentiles have come to share in their spiritual blessings, they ought also to be of service to them in material things.^{(D) 28} So, when I have completed this and have delivered to them what has been collected,^[a] I will set out by way of you to Spain,