16. to be a servant of Christ Jesus for those who are not Jews. I serve like a priest whose duty it is to tell God’s Good News. He gave me this work so that you non-Jewish people could be an offering that he will accept—an offering made holy by the Holy Spirit.
17. That is why I feel so good about what I have done for God in my service to Christ Jesus.
18. I will not talk about anything I did myself. I will talk only about what Christ has done with me in leading the non-Jewish people to obey God. They have obeyed him because of what I have said and done.
19. And they obeyed him because of the power of the miraculous signs and wonders that happened—all because of the power of God’s Spirit. I have told people the Good News about Christ in every place from Jerusalem to Illyricum. And so I have finished that part of my work.
20. I always want to tell the Good News in places where people have never heard of Christ. I do this because I don’t want to build on the work that someone else has already started.
21. But as the Scriptures say, “Those who were not told about him will see, and those who have not heard about him will understand.” Isaiah 52:15
22. That’s what has kept me so busy and prevented my coming to see you even though I have wanted to come many times.
23. Now I have finished my work in these areas. And for many years I have wanted to visit you.