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The reasons which hindered Paul's visit to Rome:
v. 22. For which cause also I have been much hindered from coming to you.
v. 23. But now having no more place in these parts, and having a great desire these many years to come unto you,
v. 24. whensoever I take my journey into Spain, I will come to you; for I trust to see you in my journey, and to be brought on my way thitherward by you, if first I be somewhat filled with your company.
v. 25. But now I go unto Jerusalem to minister unto the saints.
v. 26. For it hath pleased them of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor saints which are at Jerusalem.
v. 27. It hath pleased them verily; and their debtors they are. For if the Gentiles have been made partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister unto them in carnal things.
For this reason, because Paul had desired to make Christ known where He had not been preached before, he had been hindered from coming to Rome. This had been so in most cases when there had been an opportunity to make the journey to Rome; his work in the Orient had kept him too busy; at other times there may have been other factors which prevented his coming. But now he has no more room in those regions, his work in the Orient has been brought to an end. Whatever remains to be done can well be taken care of by the congregations that have been founded. Since, therefore, Paul had for many years had the desire, the earnest wish, to come to Rome, he hoped and intended to carry out his plan as soon as he would make his journey to Spain. His intention was, in coming from the East, from Palestine, to journey through Rome, to stop off there for some time in order to see the brethren of Rome, to visit with them, and he expected to be conducted on his way from the capital to his destination by a delegation from their midst, but only after he had enjoyed their company, had had the pleasure of associating with them for some time. This was his plan. Before that could be executed, however, Paul had an important duty to perform. He was now about to make the contemplated journey to Jerusalem in a certain service to the saints, the members of the congregation in that city. For the congregations in Macedonia and Achaia, especially those of Philippi, Thessalonica, Berea, and Corinth, had willingly decided to make a contribution of some size for the poor people among the members at Jerusalem. In receiving this collection, the poor in Jerusalem would partake of the abundance of the brethren in Macedonia and Achaia. And that was as it should be, and the decision was only to be commended, because the Gentile Christians were really in debt to the Jewish Christians. In Jerusalem was the mother church of Christendom, and all the spiritual gifts and benefits of Christianity had spread over the earth from Jerusalem. And therefore it was only right and just that the converted Gentiles serve those of whose spiritual gifts they had become partakers with their abundance in earthly goods. This principle might well be remembered in our days, when people are so liable to forget the instruments of God's grace to them, whether these are individual men or entire communities.