but now, I am going to Jerusalem, serving the saints.
Parallel translations
- WEB But now, I say, I am going to Jerusalem, serving the saints.
- KJV But now I go unto Jerusalem to minister unto the saints.
- BSB Now, however, I am on my way to Jerusalem to serve the saints there.
- NKJV But now I am going to Jerusalem to minister to the saints.
- NLT But before I come, I must go to Jerusalem to take a gift to the believers there.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Before going west, Paul must first travel to Jerusalem to serve the saints there. A relief mission to the poor believers takes priority.
Overview
Paul explains a prior obligation: delivering a collection to the needy believers in Jerusalem. This 'service to the saints' was a major concern of his ministry, expressing tangible love and unity between Gentile and Jewish churches. Only after completing this errand will he turn toward Rome and Spain. The detour shows Paul's commitment to practical Christian fellowship and care for the poor.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 8
- Acts 19:21Now after these things had ended, Paul determined in the spirit, when he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, to go to Jerusalem, saying, “After I have been there, I must also see Rome.”
- Acts 24:17Now after some years, I came to bring gifts for the needy to my nation, and offerings;
- Acts 20:22Now, behold, I go bound by the Spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there;
- Acts 20:16For Paul had determined to sail past Ephesus, that he might not have to spend time in Asia; for he was hastening, if it were possible for him, to be in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost.
- 1 Cor 16:1–3Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I commanded the assemblies of Galatia, you do likewise.
- Acts 18:21but taking his leave of them, and saying, “I must by all means keep this coming feast in Jerusalem, but I will return again to you if God wills,” he set sail from Ephesus.
- Rom 15:26–31For it has been the good pleasure of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor among the saints who are at Jerusalem.
- Gal 2:10They only asked us to remember the poor — which very thing I was also zealous to do.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
Paul unfolds the gospel in full: Christ our righteousness received by faith, the second Adam in whom many are made righteous, in whose death and resurrection we are buried and raised.
How Romans 15:25 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.