There is no more place for me to work in these regions, and since I have been longing for many years to visit you, I plan to do so when I go to Spain. I hope to see you while passing through and to have you assist me on my journey there, after I have enjoyed your company for a while. Now, however, I am on my way to Jerusalem in the service of the Lord’s people there. For Macedonia and Achaia were pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the Lord’s people in Jerusalem. They were pleased to do it, and indeed they owe it to them. For if the Gentiles have shared in the Jews’ spiritual blessings, they owe it to the Jews to share with them their material blessings. So after I have completed this task and have made sure that they have received this contribution, I will go to Spain and visit you on the way. – Romans 15:23-28
Pray that I may be kept safe from the unbelievers in Judea and that the contribution I take to Jerusalem may be favorably received by the Lord’s people there. Romans 15:31
In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ Acts 20:35
When Paul had finished speaking, he knelt down with all of them and prayed. They all wept as they embraced him and kissed him. What grieved them most was his statement that they would never see his face again. Then they accompanied him to the ship. Acts 20:36-38
We sought out the disciples there and stayed with them seven days. Through the Spirit they urged Paul not to go on to Jerusalem. Acts 21:4
We reached Caesarea and stayed at the house of Philip the evangelist, one of the Seven. He had four unmarried daughters who prophesied. After we had been there a number of days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. Coming over to us, he took Paul’s belt, tied his own hands and feet with it and said, “The Holy Spirit says, ‘In this way the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem will bind the owner of this belt and will hand him over to the Gentiles.’” Acts 21:8-11
When we heard this, we and the people there pleaded with Paul not to go up to Jerusalem. Then Paul answered, “Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” When he would not be dissuaded, we gave up and said, “The Lord’s will be done.” Acts 21:12-14
The whole city of was aroused, and the people came running from all directions. Seizing Paul, they dragged him from the temple, and immediately the gates were shut. While they were trying to kill him, news reached the commander of the Roman troops. The commander at once took some officers and soldiers and ran down to the crowd. The commander came up and arrested Paul and ordered him to be bound with two chains. The crowd that followed kept shouting, “Get rid of him!” Acts 21:30-36
When two years had passed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus, but because Felix wanted to grant a favor to the Jews, he left Paul in prison. Acts 24:27
Three days after arriving in the province, Festus went up from Caesarea to Jerusalem, where the chief priests and the Jewish leaders appeared before him and presented the charges against Paul. Acts 25:1-2
After spending eight or ten days with Jewish leaders, Festus went down to Caesarea. The next day he convened the court and ordered that Paul be brought before him. Acts 25:6
After Festus had conferred with his council, he declared: “You have appealed to Caesar. To Caesar you will go!” Acts 25:12
Agrippa said to Festus, “This man could have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar.” Acts 26:32
When it was decided that we would sail for Italy, Paul and some other prisoners were handed over to a centurion named Julius, who belonged to the Imperial Regiment. We boarded a ship from Adramyttium about to sail for ports along the coast of the province of Asia, and we put out to sea. Acts 27:1-2
When we got to Rome, Paul was allowed to live by himself, with a soldier to guard him. Acts 28:16
For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him. Acts 28:30
Perhaps in Paul’s mind, his trip to Rome by way of Jerusalem might would take, at most, a year. In fact it took much longer, but the vision he had of reaching Rome and ministering to Christ’s disciples there produced fruit. Did Paul reach Spain? Only God knows for sure. Perhaps we can learn from Paul’s excursion to Rome that the details and dates and milestones are in God’s hands not ours. Whatever he has laid upon our hearts, He will see to completion. . . in His time, not ours.