Romans 15 19

Romans 15:19 kjv

Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God; so that from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.

Romans 15:19 nkjv

in mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God, so that from Jerusalem and round about to Illyricum I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.

Romans 15:19 niv

by the power of signs and wonders, through the power of the Spirit of God. So from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum, I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ.

Romans 15:19 esv

by the power of signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God ? so that from Jerusalem and all the way around to Illyricum I have fulfilled the ministry of the gospel of Christ;

Romans 15:19 nlt

They were convinced by the power of miraculous signs and wonders and by the power of God's Spirit. In this way, I have fully presented the Good News of Christ from Jerusalem all the way to Illyricum.

Romans 15 19 Cross References

VerseTextReference
Rom 15:18For I will not dare to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me...Paul's testimony of Christ's work
1 Cor 15:10But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me.Grace enabling effort
2 Cor 3:5-6Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to think anything as of ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God, who also made us sufficient as servants of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.Spirit's sufficiency
Gal 2:8For he who worked through Peter for the apostleship of the uncircumcised worked through me also for the Gentiles.Spirit working through apostles
Eph 3:7Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God’s grace that was given me by the working of his power.Ministry as a gift by God's power
Phil 2:13for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.God's inner working
Col 1:29For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works in me.God's powerful work in Paul
1 Thess 1:5because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction. Since you know what kind of men we showed ourselves to be among you for your sake.Gospel in word and power
1 Thess 2:13And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers.Word of God at work
Heb 13:20-21Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, Jesus Christ, our Lord, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in you what is pleasing before him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.God working His will
Gen 1:1-2In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters.Spirit in creation
John 3:5-6Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. For that which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.Spirit's regenerating power
Acts 1:8But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.Holy Spirit gives power for witness
Acts 4:30while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”Signs and wonders through Jesus
Rom 1:16For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.Gospel is the power of God
Rom 15:13May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.Spirit filling with hope
Gal 5:22-23But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.Fruit of the Spirit
1 Cor 6:11And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.Sanctification by the Spirit
2 Tim 2:1You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.Strength in grace
2 Tim 4:17But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear.Lord strengthening Paul

Romans 15 verses

Romans 15 19 Meaning

The verse signifies that the power of the Holy Spirit enabled the Apostle Paul to accomplish his ministry, which included spreading the gospel and making the Gentiles obedient through his word and deeds. This obedience is a direct result of God's work through the Spirit.

Romans 15 19 Context

Romans 15:14-33 details Paul's concluding remarks in his letter to the Romans. This section begins with Paul commending them for their spiritual maturity and expressing his desire to visit them. He explains his missionary strategy, which has focused on areas where Christ had not yet been named, to avoid building on another's foundation. He has preached the gospel from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum, fulfilling his mission. Paul then expresses his longing to visit Rome on his way to Spain, a mission that was planned with God's help. He also requests their prayers for his journey and his ministry in Jerusalem, particularly concerning the offering for the saints there.

Verse 19 is situated within this framework, as Paul explains the extent and nature of his ministry to the Gentiles. He highlights the effectiveness of his preaching, which was empowered by the Holy Spirit, leading to the obedience of the Gentiles through the message of the gospel and the miracles that accompanied it.

Romans 15 19 Word Analysis

  • "So that I have fully preached the gospel of Christ":
    • so that: (Gk. hos) This conjunction indicates the result or purpose of his ministry.
    • I have fully preached: (Gk. plerōsai) The verb plēroō means to make full, complete, fulfill. Here, it signifies that Paul completed the proclamation of the gospel in the regions he ministered to. It's not just speaking, but accomplishing the intended purpose of the gospel's declaration in those areas. This echoes Jesus' words in John 17:4: "I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do."
    • the gospel of Christ: (Gk. to euangelion tou Christou) The good news about Jesus Christ and salvation through Him.
  • "from Jerusalem and all around as far as Illyricum":
    • from Jerusalem: (Gk. apo Ierousalēm) The starting point of his extensive missionary journeys.
    • and all around: (Gk. kyklō) Indicates the widespread nature of his ministry.
    • as far as Illyricum: (Gk. achri Illyricou) Illyricum was a Roman province along the eastern coast of the Adriatic Sea. This phrase marks the geographical extent of his preaching, covering a vast territory. This emphasizes the completion and thoroughness of his evangelistic work.
  • "with the result that I have fully preached the gospel of Christ":
    • with the result that: (Gk. hopōs + plēroō) This reiterates the consequence of his empowered ministry, framing the previous geographical scope as the achievement of full proclamation.
  • "by word and deed":
    • by word: (Gk. en logō) Refers to the verbal proclamation of the gospel message. This is the primary means of evangelism.
    • by deed: (Gk. en ergō) Refers to the actions, miracles, and the tangible evidence of God's power that accompanied the preaching. This can include healing, deliverance, and the transformed lives of believers, as mentioned in 1 Thessalonians 1:5, "for our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction."
  • "by the power of signs and wonders":
    • by the power: (Gk. en dynamei) Highlights the divine strength or might behind the ministry. This is directly attributed to the Holy Spirit.
    • of signs and wonders: (Gk. sēmeiōn kai teratōn) These refer to extraordinary events or miracles that attested to the divine origin of the message and the messenger. These signs authenticated the gospel message and confirmed God's presence and power. They served to draw attention and lend credibility to the preaching of the word. This mirrors the miraculous acts that marked Jesus' ministry (Acts 2:22) and the early apostolic mission (Acts 2:43).
  • "by the power of the Spirit":
    • by the power: (Gk. en dynamei) This repetition emphasizes that the ultimate source of this power is the Holy Spirit.
    • of the Spirit: (Gk. tou Pneumatos) The Holy Spirit, the third person of the Trinity, is the active agent of God's power in the world and in the lives of believers. His power is essential for ministry, bearing witness to Christ, and enabling believers to live righteously and proclaim the gospel.
  • "so that from Jerusalem and as far as Illyricum I have fully preached the gospel of Christ": This entire phrase can be seen as the culmination of the powerful work enabled by the Spirit, defining the geographical scope and completeness of his mission. It shows a comprehensive coverage of his evangelistic efforts in the regions mentioned.

Romans 15 19 Bonus Section

The phrase "fully preached" (plerōsai) carries a significant meaning of fulfilling a mandate or completing a task. Paul viewed his ministry as a divinely appointed commission, and he diligently worked to bring the gospel to its intended audiences. His ability to reach as far as Illyricum speaks to his unwavering commitment and God's enablement to overcome geographical barriers and human limitations. The inclusion of "signs and wonders" as evidence of the Spirit's power points to the miraculous nature of the early apostolic ministry, serving to authenticate the gospel message in a way that drew people to Christ. This power was not merely a fleeting experience but the consistent empowering force behind his transformative work.

Romans 15 19 Commentary

Paul's ministry among the Gentiles was remarkably fruitful and widespread, extending from Jerusalem to Illyricum. This accomplishment was not due to his own strength or charisma, but rather to the enabling power of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit empowered his proclamation of the gospel both in the words he spoke and in the accompanying signs and wonders, which validated his message and demonstrated God's active presence. This powerful ministry resulted in the obedience of the Gentiles, signifying their acceptance of the gospel. Paul attributes the entirety of his success to God working through him by the Spirit, aligning with his teaching throughout the epistle that salvation and spiritual effectiveness come from God's grace and the Spirit's power.

  • Practical Example: A pastor boldly preaches the gospel, experiencing the Spirit's leading in their message. Miraculously, a skeptic in the congregation is moved to repentance and faith, and a terminally ill person receives healing during the service. This demonstrates the "word and deed" powered by the "Spirit" leading to the "obedience" (repentance) of the people.