Paul's Plan to Visit Rome
For it hath pleased them of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor saints which are at Jerusalem. Rom 15:26
For it hath... Paul ministered in Macedonia and Achaia during his first and second missionary journeys.
make a certain... The Greek word for “contribution” carries the basic idea of sharing and is usually translated “fellowship” or “communion.” The context indicates that here it is the sharing of a financial gift to help support the poor in Jerusalem.
for the poor... This ministering mainly included the large collections for the poor saints at Jerusalem (Rom. 15:25-28; 1Cor. 16:1-4; 2Cor. 8-9). These Gentile contributions for the poor Jewish saints demonstrated brotherly love for the Christian Jews.
Paul’s visit to Jerusalem was to deliver the voluntary offering from churches for the poor among the saints in Jerusalem (cf. Acts 24:17; 1Cor. 16:1-4; 2Cor. 8:13-14; 9:12-13; Gal. 2:10). The churches of Asia Minor contributed to the offering also, but Paul mentioned only Macedonia and Achaia, the areas closest to Rome and those on his mind for obvious reasons.
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