Paul's Plan to Visit Rome
That I may be delivered from them that do not believe in Judaea; and that my service which I have for Jerusalem may be accepted of the saints; Rom 15:31
That I may... Paul seems to anticipate the trouble he was to have in Judea (Acts 21:27-26:32).
It seems that Paul knew there would be opposition in Jerusalem. Paul knew that there were those who desired to see him destroyed, but he went anyway. This is the desire of every preacher, then and now.
“Lord, deliver me from those who will not accept my message that you have sent me with, and Lord help those chosen ones you have sent me to believe”.
2Thes. 3:2 “And that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men: for all [men] have not faith.”
that do not... Many Jews in Judea rejected the gospel and were prepared to attack Paul when he returned. Aware of the trouble that awaited him, he wanted the Roman Christians to pray for his deliverance only so he could complete the ministry the Lord had given him.
Their prayers were answered in that he met with success in Jerusalem and was delivered from death, but not imprisonment.
that my service... Paul wanted the Jewish Christians in Jerusalem to receive the financial gift from the Gentiles with loving gratitude, recognizing it as a gesture of brotherly love and kindness.
Paul’s specific request was that he would be rescued from the unbelievers (lit., “the disobedient”) in Judea and that his service (diakonia) in Jerusalem would be acceptable to the saints. Paul was aware of the problems that lay before him in Jerusalem (Acts 20:23), and he was deeply concerned that the offering from the Gentile Christians be delivered and distributed properly.
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