- Paul glories in the ministry of Christ: (15:17-19): Paul glories in Christ Jesus in the service to God. Paul would not dare to speak anything which he did not do. He spoke only of the things which God did through him in bringing Gentiles to Christ. He was very much sure that Christ has done great things through him, that many Gentiles believed in full obedience to God. He is not living on the past, but takes glory in the ministry of Christ. Paul was giving the full credit to God, not himself. In word and deed, Gentiles were obedient, God used mighty signs and wonders, and the Holy Spirit helped Paul fully preach the Gospel everywhere from Jerusalem to Illyricum. It is true if anyone preaches just with good sounding words, may be the preaching gets good applaud, but hardly bring any soul to conversion. Here Paul makes it clear that he fully preached with powers and wonders and the Holy Spirit has convicted many sinners to come to the complete obedience of Christ.
Paul’s ministry has spread from Jerusalem to Illyricum. It is probably an ancient country in Europe presently in the modern day Yugoslavia with Liburnia on the west and Dalmatia in the east. Paul’s message has spread more than 1400 miles distance.
In the days of first century, there were no such quick communication like we have now, travelling by boats on seas, roads by donkeys, posed a lot of danger. In saying that he preached from Jerusalem to Illyricum, apostle Paul had gone to several places viz. Syria, Phoenicia, Arabia, Cilicia, Pamphylia, Pisidia, Lycaonia, Galatia, Pontus, Paphlagonia, Phrygia, Troas, Asia, Carla, Lycia, Ionia, Lydia, Thrace, Macedonia, Thessaly, and Achaia; besides the isles of Cyprus and Crete.
Paul’s desire to preach the gospel in new places: (15:20-22):
Paul in his mission, always wanted to go to new places and establish congregations. In a way he saw his work as a fulfilment of the prophecy of Isaiah regarding the Lord Jesus Christ: “So will He sprinkle many nations, and kings will shut their mouths because of Him. For what they were not told, they will see, and what they have not heard, they will understand” (Isa.52:15). Paul’s mission was to go on pioneering work for the Lord. It is really a wonderful and blessed work and the most difficult work. The zealous for new souls, and the pioneering work as a missionary has consumed Paul to go on further and further, which has delayed his visit to Rome, because Rome had already an established congregation. Further he had delayed his visit to Rome because the believers in Rome were doing well and growing in the Lord. It was important for him to preach the good news, where the Gospel was not preached before. Further he did not build on another man’s foundation, not because it was wrong, but there was a greater need and so much to do on the other frontiers viz. Asia Minor and Greece. This has hindered him temporarily from coming to Rome.
Paul’s proposed visit to Rome: (15:23-24):
Paul refers to an almost humorous exaggeration that no more land is left for him to preach in Asia Minor. This may be because he was convinced that the Gospel message was spread even in Illyricum. It does not mean that Paul had established congregation every centre, since Gospel had been introduced in in many important centres, the local churches would carry out the remaining work of proclamation to nook and corner of the Asia Minor and Greece. Further he was longing to visit Rome. He expressed his desire to visit Rome on the way to Spain.
Spain was then a Roman colony and many Jews were living there. He hoped to visit Rome on the way to Spain. Apparently he did not plan a long stay in Rome, but hoped that they would assist him on his journey on to Spain. He hoped that the believers in Rome would refresh him and their fellowship would satisfy him spiritually. He wanted to impart some spiritual gift to them, thereby strengthening them in faith. It appears that Paul wanted to make Rome as base for western region just as he made Antioch as base for eastern region for spreading the Gospel.
There is no record that Paul had visited Spain, but the church tradition says that he did go to Spain and possibly to Britain, after he was released. But the church tradition says that James the foster brother of the Lord Jesus Christ had brought the Gospel to Spain.
Spanish traditions speak of a visit by Paul during (63 A.D. to 67 A.D), soon after his release from the first imprisonment in Rome. The reputable historian M. Diaz y Diaz says: “the evangelizing presence of Saint Paul in Hispania (Spain) seems to be beyond all reasonable doubt” (the article Paul in Spain “the flickering flame” – Johnson Journal, author: Dale V Vought).
Although Paul had these plans, yet things did not work out according to his plans. He did go to Rome, but not as a missionary on his way to Spain. He went to Rome as a prisoner awaiting trial before Caesar, where he had preached the Gospel in a completely different situation and in different kind of frontier.
Yes God made unexpected provision to preach the Gospel in a different frontier during his 2-year imprisonment (house arrest) in Rome. During this 2-years, he preached to the emperor of Rome and many Royal people, soldiers and prison officials to come to the knowledge of Christ. After release from the Roman imprisonment, we have every reason to believe that Paul did make a visit to Spain and preached Gospel there.