17 In Christ Jesus, then, I have ^sreason to be proud of ^tmy work for God. 18 For I will not venture to speak of anything except ^uwhat Christ has accomplished through me ^vto bring the Gentiles to obedience—by word and deed, 19 ^wby the power of signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God—so that ^xfrom Jerusalem and all the way around ^yto Illyricum I have fulfilled the ministry of the gospel of Christ; 20 and thus I make it my ambition to preach the gospel, not where Christ has already been named, ^zlest I build on someone else’s foundation, 21 but as it is written,

22 This is the reason why ^bI have so often been hindered from coming to you. 23 But now, since I no longer have any room for work in these regions, and ^csince I have longed for many years to come to you, 24 I hope to see you in passing as I go ^dto Spain, and ^eto be helped on my journey there by you, once I have enjoyed your company for a while. 25 At present, however, ^fI am going to Jerusalem bringing aid to the saints. 26 For ^gMacedonia and Achaia have been pleased to make some contribution for the poor among the saints at Jerusalem. 27 For they were pleased to do it, and indeed ^hthey 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 blessings. 28 When therefore I have completed this and have delivered to them what has been collected,¹ I will leave ⁱfor Spain by way of you. 29 I know that when I come to you I will come in the fullness of the blessing² of Christ.