The holy spirit and paul's success

THE HOLY SPIRIT AND PAUL'S SUCCESS
EDITED BY GLENN PEASE
Romans 15:19 by the power of signs and wonders, and
by the power of the Spirit of God. So from Jerusalem
all the way aroundto Illyricum, I have fully
proclaimedthe gospel of Christ.
BIBLEHUB RESOURCES
FarewellWords
Romans 15:14-33
T.F. Lockyer
The apostle in these verses touches, as atthe first (see Romans 1:1-15), on his
personalrelations to the Church at Rome. And he reintroduces the subject
with much delicate courtesy. He may have seemedto be speaking somewhat
boldly, to have assumed a knowledge andgoodness superiorto theirs: not so!
They, he was sure, were "full of goodness, filled with all knowledge,"and
therefore "able to admonish one another." But he might at leastremind them
of what they knew; and this, not by any superiority of himself to them, but
only by the grace ofGod; not as a better or wiserChristian man, but as an
apostle commissionedby God. We have here setforth, then, much as before,
his apostleship, his purpose respecting them, and his request for their prayers
on his behalf. By this last, again, with much delicacy, making prominent his
dependence on them, rather than theirs on him.

I. HIS APOSTLESHIP. He was put in trust by God with the gospelfor the
Gentiles. And his fulfilment of this trust was as a priestly service, whichhe
should perform, not proudly, but faithfully. And what a service!ministering
the gospelin this greattemple of the new kingdom, that he might offer up as a
sacrifice the whole Gentile world! His thoughts, perhaps, revert to the words
he has used in Romans 12:1; and what a vision greets his view as he looks into
the future - all the kindreds, and tribes, and peoples, and tongues of this
manifold world, praising God with the harmonious psalm of a consecrated
life, offering themselves a living sacrifice!Better this than all the bleeding
victims of the older dispensation;all man's intellect and affectionand energy
of action, all science andart, all industry and commerce, allthe multifarious
activities of all lives, offered to God! And this was his work, to minister the
gospelthat the offering might be made, acceptable becausesanctifiedby the
Holy Ghost. He would glory in such a work as this, for Christ's sake!For all
was through Christ, and the greatwork alreadydone was only Christ's work
II. HIS PURPOSE. Now,there was one aim which governedhim in the
fulfilment of this work - he would preach the gospelonly where it was not
known before. Thus from place to place he went, proclaiming the glad tidings
to those who had not heard. And hence to this present, having so much room
for such work in those eastwardparts, he had been hindered from visiting
Rome. Now the hindrance was removed: he had "no more any place in these
regions." And still impelled by the constraining purpose to preach the gospel
to those "to whom no tidings of him came," he must now turn westwards,
even to Spain. And, m passing to Spain, there is every reasonwhy he should
pause for mutual refreshment, as he delicatelyputs it, amongsta people who
were, indirectly at least, the fruit of his labours - the Christians at Rome. And
coming to them, he would come in the fulness of the blessing of Christ.
III. HIS REQUEST. But, meanwhile, there is another missionto fulfil - the
mission of charity to the poor saints at Jerusalem. Prominence of this matter
among the Churches (see 1 Corinthians 16.;Acts 20:4). Probable cause of
necessity, withholding of custom from Christians on the part of their fellow-
Jews. Mere charity demander that help should be given; and not only so, the
Gentiles were bound in honour to pay, as it were, in this way, a debt they
owed;for their salvationwas "of the Jews." Butwhat further constrained

Paul to be urgent in this matter was his desire that the charity of the Gentile
Churches might overcome all the prejudices that still subsisted amongstthe
JewishChristians againstthe full and free admissionof the Gentiles into the
Christian Church. And for this, and also for his own security amongstmany
enemies, he asks the prayers of the Christians at Rome. Then he shall come to
them in joy, and find rest. In any case, be he troubled or not, may the God of
peace be with them! So does he exemplify, by his yearning love and courtesy
of love, the spirit which he seeks to fosterin them; so does he, as he would
have them do, refer all his doings to the Lord Christ and the will of God. Most
surely the God of peace was with him! - T.F.L.
Biblical Illustrator
For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ hath not
wrought by me, to make the Gentiles obedient.
Romans 15:18, 19
Paul's success
J. Lyth, D.D.
I. ITS EXTENT.
1. Matterof notoriety.
2. Neededno attempt on the part of the apostle to exaggerateit.
II. THE MEANS.
1. Word.
2. Deed.
III. THE POWER.
1. Christ's.
2. Exerted through the Holy Spirit.

3. Displayedin signs and wonders.
(J. Lyth, D.D.)
The work of missions
J. Lyth, D. D.
I. ITS OBJECT. To make the Gentiles obedient to the gospel.
II. ITS AGENCIES AND MEANS.
1. Christ, the Supreme Director, who works in us to will and to do.
2. Convertedmen, the instruments by word and deed.
3. The Spirit of God, the efficient power displayed in signs and wonders.
III. ITS SPHERE.
1. Commencing at Jerusalem.
2. Embracing the Gentile world.
3. Throughout which the gospelmust be fully preached.
(J. Lyth, D. D.)
Invincible power
J. Irons.
One of Satan's artifices is to induce men to attempt to reduce the gospelto a
mere system within the reachof human intellect; and in this attempt they
have gone far to deny and rejecteverything supernatural. But so long as we
have the Book ofGod in our hands, and the power of the Spirit of God to
accompanyits hallowed truths, we shall dare to insist upon thee gospelbeing
"the powerof God unto the salvationof every one that believeth." Paul

always advocatedthe old-fashioneddoctrine, "It is not by might or by
power," etc. Note —
I. THE SUCCESS OF PAUL'S PREACHING THE GOSPEL
1. "I have fully preachedthe gospelof Christ" (Romans 15:19). Then it was a
pure gospel(Galatians 1:8, 9). He did not mix law and gospeltogether
(Romans 3:20; Ephesians 2:8). In his preaching I mark four things
prominent: and a man does not preach a pure gospelwho does not preachall
four.(1) Principles (1 Corinthians 3:11). What principles? They are summed
up in "By grace are ye saved" (Ephesians 2:8). Well, then, there is nothing for
works, as he urges elsewhere (Romans 11:6).(2)Privileges (Galatians 4:6;
Romans 8:16).(3) Promises. Pauldwelt on these with delight, but he never set
them forth as dependent upon creature doings, or as subject to contingencies
(2 Corinthians 1:20).(4) Precepts. In his Epistles, which he commences with
doctrine, and proceeds with experimental godliness;but he always closeswith
the most pressing exhortations to "every goodword and work."
2. His successin the pure preaching of the gospel. He talks about "mighty
signs and wonders" and names one in the preceding verse, viz., that the
Gentiles should be made "obedient by word and deed." It is one of the
greatestmiracles whenGod brings a poor ruined sinner down to obedience to
the sceptre ofChrist. Paul's successlayin —(1) The rescuing of Satan's
slaves.(2)Refreshing andestablishing the Churches of the living God, so that
they were "built up in their most holy faith."(3) Thus the glorifying of Jesus'
name.
II. ITS EFFICIENCY. It was by the power of the Spirit of God — and truly
such "mighty signs and wonders" are never accomplishedby any other
power. This power —
1. Is invincible — it is sure to conquer, and accomplishthat for which it was
designed. Every other power is found to be conquerable!The power of the
Holy Ghostis so invincible, that the most stubborn hearts must yield, and the
most confirmed habits of idolatry, or of licentiousness, are vanquished.
2. Defies allhostility.

3. Is new creating. All creation, in a spiritual point of view, is a chaos under
the fall, until the Spirit calls to a new state of existence the souls that were
destitute of it.
III. PAUL'S TRIUMPH CONCERNING HIS SUCCESS.
1. The wonders of God's grace, the miracles accomplished, the triumphs of the
Cross, and the extension of the Redeemer's kingdom, made Paul rejoice. Here
is a criterion by which we are to judge of every faithful minister of Christ.
2. Moreover, in all his exultations he took care to neutralise and give the
negative to the boastings ofproud free will.
(J. Irons.)
The powerof the gospel
J. Lyth, D.D.
I. ITS SOURCE, God.
II. ITS MEDIUM, the Spirit of God.
III. ITS EVIDENCE, "Signs and wonders" — miraculous, moral and
spiritual.
(J. Lyth, D.D.)
So that from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully
The preaching of the gospel
D. Jones.
I. IN WHAT LIGHT IS THE GOSPELTO BE PREACHED BY ITS
MINISTERS.Surely in the same in which it was preachedby the apostle, viz.
—

1. As it reveals the ground of a sinner's acceptancewith God.
2. As it furnishes the only perfect rule of moral conduct, and the only efficient
motive, love.
3. As it unveils the mysteries of a future state.
II. HOW THE APOSTLE PREACHED THE GOSPEL.
1. Fully. He shunned not to declare the whole counselof God; he instructed,
exhorted, and warnedthat they might grow in grace in the knowledge of
Christ (Acts 20:20). The gospelshould be thus fully preached.(1)Becauseit is
connectedwith the spiritual and eternal interests of the hearers. A physician
would be consideredin the last degree criminal who trifled with his patient;
but the gospelminister is chargedwith the cure of souls.(2)Becausefailure
here will contractawful guilt upon the preacher(Ezekiel3:17-21).
2. Extensively. Paul carried it from Jerusalemto Illyricum. He was not weary
in well-doing, but continued active and diligent to the end. "The glory of the
Lord will be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together." But how many places
are there yet destitute of sufficient means of grace!This, then, is a call upon
our zealous exertions.Conclusion:Note —
1. That natural and acquired talents may be efficiently employed in
promoting the cause of religion. This is well illustrated in the case ofPaul.
What are the talents God has entrusted to you? Wealth? Influence? Zeal? Use
them all for God.
2. The gospelis worthy of all acceptation.
(D. Jones.)
The evangelisationofthe world a practicable work
H. StowellBrown.
I. LET US ESTIMATE PAUL'S MISSIONARYWORK. Note —

1. The length of time during which it was done. He began very shortly after
his conversion, and carriedit on till his martyrdom; a period of about thirty
years. From those thirty years the time spent in Arabia and. in prison has to
be deducted.
2. The helps by which the work was done.
(1)His strong faith that the gospelwas the power of God to every one who
believed.
(2)His fervent love to Christ.
(3)His great love to mankind.
(4)His goodnatural capacityand education.
(5)The gift of the Holy Spirit bestowedupon him so largely.
(6)His companions.
(7)His Roman citizenship.
3. His hindrances.(1) He was a Jew, and the greatcontempt in which the
Jewishrace was held by the Gentiles must have been an immense hindrance to
the apostle as he went about preaching salvationthrough a crucified Jew.(2)
He was by no means a strong man physically. He suffered much through
infirmity of the flesh.(3)His speechwas not acceptable to some. Not only did
the unconverted Athenians ask, "Whatwill this babbler say?" but there were
Christians at Corinth who pronounced his speech"contemptible."(4)His
ungenerous critics did acknowledge thathis writings were weighty and
powerful; but in regard to them he laboured under a very greatdisadvantage.
The art of printing had not been invented, and if he wrote an epistle intended
for more Churches than one, well, then, it was slowlypassedfrom one to
another. And not only so; those who had the charge of Churches did not
always like to read Paul s epistles to the people (1 Thessalonians 10:27). Here
in the apostolic age is the germ of the evil practice of withholding the Word of
God from the laity.(5) Travelling in those days was very slow, difficult and
dangerous, whetherby land or sea.(6)The apostle chose to labour for his own
support at his trade as a tent-maker.(7)He was hindered by Jews and

Judaisers whereverhe met with them.(8) The other apostles were not very
much in sympathy with him.
4. The extent of his work. To say nothing of his preaching at Damascus and
neighbourhood, from Jerusalem, substantially through Asia Minor together
with Macedonia and Achaia, westwardto the shores of the Adriatic, the
apostle preachedthe gospelofChrist. "And not only so" he could say, "I have
fully preachedit." This work was by no means of a superficial character. As
to the results, they were various; sometimes very few were converted,
sometimes very many. The power of the gospelwas acknowledgedby enemies
of Christ at Thessalonica andEphesus. Therefore the apostle really did so
evangelise thatlarge tract of country, and if the Churches planted in those
regions had done their duty, most certainly all the inhabitants would have
been brought to Christ.
II. FROM THIS SUMMARY OF THE APOSTLE'S WORKWE MAY
LEARN THAT THE EVANGELISATION OF THE WORLD IS REALLY A
PRACTICABLE THING. This is not universally acknowledged. Ofcourse, a
very large proportion of those who do not believe the gospel, utterly deny it,
and there are Christian people who do not seemto be very strongly convinced
of it, for if they were, surely they would think of it, pray for it, and give
towards it more.
1. Here was a greatwork done through God's grace by this one man in a space
of thirty years. Sixty periods of thirty years have passedby since. Now,
supposing that, during these periods, there had been in each — that is in each
generation— just one man like Paul, the world would have been more nearly
evangelisedthan it is.
2. Compare — Paul's helps with our own.
3. WhateverPaul's helps might be, his hindrances were greater than ours.
Conclusion:Then the evangelisationofthe world has not proceededjust
because Christians have not done their duty. But for the apathy of our
forefathers we should not be held accountable. Letus cheerourselves with the
thought that the work is really practicable. And certainly the results of
Christian missionary effort in modern times are such as to encourage the most

sanguine hope. The evangelisationof the whole world is quite within the reach
of practicalreligion. It can be done: it ought to be done: let it be done!
(H. StowellBrown.)
St. Paul's Ministry
J. Bunting, D.D.
Romans 15:14-21
And I myself also am persuadedof you, my brothers, that you also are full of
goodness,filled with all knowledge…
I. ITS GENERALNATURE.
1. Paul was "the minister of Jesus Christ." The word is compounded of two
words, signifying a work and that which belongs to the public; the character
described, therefore, is that of one devoted to the public welfare — one called
of God out of a private into a public station, who therefore became public
property, and who could not, without manifest impropriety, make his own
ease, orinfluence, or aggrandisement, the objects ofhis pursuit.
2. Paul was employed in this ministry for "the offering up of the Gentiles to
God," in which there is an allusion to the priestly office. He evidently
consideredhimself an evangelicalpriest;one who was to be the mouth of God
to the people, and the mouth of the people to God.

(1) He points out his duty, which was to offer the Gentiles to God.
(2) He relates his experience of success — the rewardof his labour, viz., the
presenting to God those who were savedthrough his instrumentality.
3. The means by which he was thus enabled to prepare and to present to God
such an acceptable oblation:by the preaching of the gospelofChrist fully.
The gospelis called the gospelof God, and of Christ, both in reference to its
Divine authority, and in reference to its subject: it is of God, and it speaks
concerning God.
II. ITS SPHERE.
1. "Where Christ was not named." Such a people —
(1) Were, of course, ignorantof Christ, of His character, relations, salvation.
(2) Could not, therefore, believe in Christ. Hence they derived no spiritual
benefit from His mediation; they had no hope of being with Him for ever.
(3) Could not, of course, be happy. All that Christians enjoy or hope for is
through Christ alone. Through Him they are justified, renewed, sanctified,
consoled, strengthened, etc. Without Christ is misery. Yet such is the
miserable, the awful condition of countless millions. Christ is not named
among them. They have no Bibles; no gospelministry; no Christian Sabbaths.

2. The apostle preached"from Jerusalemround about to Illyricum"; places
about one thousand miles from eachother. "Round about," i.e., diverging into
all the neighbouring places, andstill pushing onwards till he had filled the
country with his doctrine. This statement should be improved by us —
(1) In reference to our own country. Let those who, after mature deliberation
and earnestprayer, feelit to be their duty to confine themselves to domestic
labours, be careful to cultivate a missionary spirit. Let them not rest till in
every town and village they have "fully preachedthe gospelof Christ."
Negligencein this respectwill be criminally inexcusable in such a country as
this, where no impediment is presented by the existing government, but where
every facility is afforded.
(2) And chiefly in reference to heathen lands. We must take care of home, but
we must not overlook other places. The gospelmust be planted in place after
place, till its influence has spreadover the whole earth.
III. THE TESTIMONYOF GOD BY WHICH IT WAS ACCOMPANIED.
Through "mighty signs and wonders," and "by the power of the Spirit of
God"; without which all else would have been vain. Miracles are not
absolutely necessaryto the successofthe Christian ministry, and never were
the direct causes ofconversion. The faithful recordof the miracles wrought in
attestationof the truth in the days of the apostles, answerseverypurpose of
miracles themselves. If the apostles had the auxiliary of miracles, we have the
auxiliary of Bibles gradually translating into every language. We have the
advantage of patronising governments, e.g., the Spirit of God can and does
convert without miracles. The larger outpourings of this Spirit must be sought
in fervent, persevering prayer.
IV. ITS EFFECTS. The Gentiles —

1. Were made obedient. Theirs was the obedience of faith, of profession, of
practice. They were Christians doctrinally, experimentally, and practically.
2. Were offered to God. The preachers made no improper use of their
influence; their only aim was to bring men to know, love, and serve God. The
true missionary spirit is not a sectarianspirit, and it is injured wheneverit
becomes so.
3. Were an acceptable offering to God.
V. THE PRIVILEGE, HAPPINESS, AND HONOUR REALISED BY PAUL
IN BEING PERMITTEDTO EXERCISE THIS MISSIONARYVOCATION.
He speaks ofit as "grace givento him of God." He accountedit —
1. A privilege. He does not talk of the burden, danger, or expense, but the
favour to be so employed. No Christian will accountit a burden to support
missions, or to engage in actual service, if it be clearly his duty. The
missionary has no right to talk of making sacrifices,he is but doing his duty;
he is honoured by God in being allowedso to labour. Mean is that man who
accounts the labours of a missionary to be mean.
2. An honour. "I have whereofI may glory through Jesus Christ."
3. A happiness. "I glory"; I exult — I rejoice greatly. Let Christians consider
that a share in all this privilege, honour and happiness is offeredto their
acceptance. Letministers beware how they keepback from such work. And

let all Christians see to it that they promote the cause by their contributions,
their influence, and their prayers.
(J. Bunting, D.D.)
STUDYLIGHT RESOURCES
People's New Testament
Benson's Commentary
Spurgeon's Verse Expositions
Biblical Illustrator
Newell's Commentary
Chapter Specific
Adam Clarke Commentary
Through mighty signs and wonders - This more fully explains the preceding
clause:through the power of the Holy Ghosthe was enabled to work among
the Gentiles mighty signs and wonders; so that they were fully convincedthat
both his doctrine and mission were Divine; and therefore they cheerfully
receivedthe Gospelofthe Lord Jesus.
Round about unto Illyricum - Among ancient writers this place has gone by a
greatvariety of names, Illyria, Illyrica, Illyricum, Illyris, and Illyrium. It is a
country of Europe, extending from the Adriatic gulf to Pannonia:according
to Pliny, it extended from the river Arsia to the river Drinius, thus including
Liburnia on the west, and Dalmatia on the east. Its precise limits have not

been determined by either ancientor modern geographers. It seems,
according to an inscription in Gruter, to have been divided by Augustus into
two provinces, the upper and lower. It now forms part of Croatia, Bosnia,
Istria, and Slavonia. When the apostle says that he preached the Gospelfrom
Jerusalemround about to Illyricum, he intends his land journeys chiefly; and,
by looking at the map annexed to the Acts of the Apostles, the readerwill see
that from Jerusalemthe apostle went round the easterncoastofthe
MediterraneanSea, and that he passedthrough Syria, Phoenicia, Arabia,
Cilicia, Pamphylia, Pisidia, Lycaonia, Galatia, Pontus, Paphlagonia, Phrygia,
Troas, Asia, Caria, Lycia, Ionia, Lydia, Thrace, Macedonia, Thessaly, and
Achaia; besides the isles of Cyprus and Crete. And no doubt he visited many
other places which are not mentioned in the New Testament.
I have fully preachedthe Gospel - Πεπληρωκεναι το ευαγγελιον, I have
successfullypreached- I have not only proclaimed the word, but made
converts and founded Churches. See the note on Matthew 5:17, where this
sense ofthe word πληρουν is noticed; for it signifies not only fully or perfectly,
but also to teachwith prosperity and success.
Copyright Statement
These files are public domain.
Bibliography
Clarke, Adam. "Commentary on Romans 15:19". "The Adam Clarke
Commentary". https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/acc/romans-
15.html. 1832.
return to 'Jump List'
Albert Barnes'Notes onthe Whole Bible
Through mighty signs and wonders - By stupendous and striking miracles;see
the note at Acts 2:43. Paul here refers, doubtless, to the miracles which he had
himself performed; see Acts 19:11-12, “And God wrought specialmiracles by
the hands of Paul,” etc.

By the powerof the Spirit of God - This may either be connectedwith signs
and wonders, and then it will mean that those miracles were performed by the
powerof the Holy Spirit; or it may constitute a new subject, and refer to the
gift of prophecy, the power of speaking other languages. Whichis its true
meaning cannot, perhaps, be ascertained. The interpretations “agree”in this,
that he traced his successin “all” things to the aid of the Holy Spirit.
So that from Jerusalem- Jerusalem, as a “center” of his work; the center of
all religious operations and preaching under the gospel. This was not the place
where “Paul” beganto preachGalatians 1:17-18, but it was the place where
the “gospel”was firstpreached, and the apostles beganto reckontheir success
from that as a point; compare the note at Luke 24:49.
And round about - καί κύκλῳ kaikuklōIn a circle. That is, taking Jerusalem
as a center, he had fully preached round that center until you come to
Illyricum.
Unto Illyricum - Illyricum was a province lying to the northwestof
Macedonia, bounded north by a part of Italy and Germany, eastby
Macedonia, southby the Adriatic, westby Istria. It comprehended the
modern Croatia and Dalmatia. So that taking Jerusalemas a center, Paul
preachednot only in Damascus andArabia, but in Syria, in Asia Minor, in all
Greece, in the GrecianIslands, and in Thessalyand Macedonia.This
comprehended no small part of the then known world; “all” of which had
heard the gospelby the labors of one indefatigable man There is no where in
the Acts express mention of Paul‘s going “into” Illyricum; nor does the
expressionimply that he preached the gospel“within” it, but only “unto” its
borders. It may have been, however, that when in Macedonia, he crossedover
into that country; and this is rendered somewhatprobable from the fact that
“Titus” is mentioned as having gone into “Dalmatia” 2 Timothy 4:10, which
was a part of Illyricum.
I have fully preached- The word used here means properly “to fill up”
πεπληρωκέναι peplērōkenai“to complete,”and here is used in the sense of
“diffusing abroad,” or of “filling up” all that regionwith the gospel;compare

2 Timothy 4:17. It means that he had faithfully diffused the knowledge ofthe
gospelin all that immense country.
Copyright Statement
Bibliography
Barnes, Albert. "Commentaryon Romans 15:19". "Barnes'Notesonthe New
Testament". https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/bnb/romans-
15.html. 1870.
Haldane's Expositionon the Epistle to the Romans
Through mighty signs and wonders by the powerof the Spirit of God; so that
from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully preachedthe
Gospelof Christ.
Through mighty signs and wonders. — Rather through, or by the powerof,
signs and miracles. These are the deeds through which, as well as by Paul’s
preaching, the Lord made the Gentiles obedient. This includes all the
miraculous works of the Apostle for the confirmation of the Gospel.
By the powerof the Spirit of God. — Some understand this of the powerby
which the signs and wonders were performed; others, of the gifts of the Holy
Spirit, or the gift of tongues, prophecy, etc. The latter opinion appears to be
the true meaning.
So that from Jerusalem. — Some suppose that, as there is no mention in the
Acts of the Apostles of Paul’s preaching in Illyricum, and as it is only saidthat
he preached as far as Illyricum, he did not enter that country. But the silence
of the Acts of the Apostles is no evidence of this, and verse 23rd seems to
prove that he did preach in Illyricum, as well as in the intermediate countries

betweenthat province and Jerusalem. If there was no place in those parts for
him to extend his labors on unoccupied ground, he must have preachedin
Illyricum also. Besides, thatthe Gospelhad been preached, and that there
were churches in Illyricum, appears from Titus going into Dalmatia.
I have fully preachedthe Gospelof Christ, or fulfilled the Gospel. — The
Gospelwas to be preachedto all nations. He filled all the countries with the
glad tidings of salvationthrough Jesus Christ. Thus was it given to Paul, who
was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious, to preach the
unsearchable riches of Christ.
Copyright Statement
Text Courtesyof BibleSupport.com. Used by Permission.
Bibliography
Haldane, Robert. "Commentary on Romans 15:19". "Haldane's Exposition
on the Epistle to the Romans and Hebrews".
https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/hal/romans-15.html. 1835.
Coffman's Commentaries on the Bible
In the powerand signs and wonders, in the powerof the Holy Spirit; so that
from Jerusalem, and round about even unto Illyricum, I have fully preached
the gospelofChrist.
McGarveysuggestedthat people should:
Note the calm, sane way in which Paul speaks ofhis miraculous powers as a
trust from Christ, and a sealof his apostleship, both being mere accessories to
that all-important task, the preaching of the gospel.[13]

Moule also spoke of the same tranquil dignity, thus:
(This is) a reference, strangelyimpressive by its very passingness,to the
exercise ofmiracle-working gifts by the writer. This man, so strong in
thought, so practicalin counsel, so extremely unlikely to have been under an
illusion about a large factor in adult and intensely conscious experience,
speaks directlyfrom himself of his wonder-works. And the allusion, thus
dropped by the way and left behind, is itself an evidence to the perfect mental
balance of the witness. This was no enthusiast, intoxicatedwith ambitious
spiritual visions, but a man put in trust with a mysterious yet sober
treasure.[14]
Even unto Illyricum ... This province, under Rome, was part of Macedonia,
but it cannotbe certainthat Paul preached there. He could have done so on
the trip mentioned in Acts 20:1; but the book of Acts makes no positive
mention of it. McGarveyparaphrasedPaul's descriptionof the extent of his
labors thus:
Not in any limited field, but far and wide in that greatcurve of the earth
which begins at Jerusalemin the eastand ends at Illyricum in the west.[15]
I fully preachedthe gospel... may be taken to mean that Paul had declared
the full counselof God, that his preaching had thoroughly coveredthe great
area he had mentioned, and that the full charge of his energies hadbeen
utilized in its accomplishment.
[13] J. W. McGarvey, The Standard Bible Commentary (Cincinnati, Ohio:
The Standard Publishing Company, 1916), p. 539.
[14] H. C. G. Moule, op. cit., p. 412.

[15] J. W. McGarvey, op. cit., p. 538.
Copyright Statement
James Burton Coffman Commentaries reproduced by permission of Abilene
Christian University Press, Abilene, Texas, USA. All other rights reserved.
Bibliography
Coffman, James Burton. "Commentary on Romans 15:19". "Coffman
Commentaries on the Old and New Testament".
https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/bcc/romans-15.html. Abilene
Christian University Press, Abilene, Texas, USA. 1983-1999.
John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible
Through mighty signs and wonders,.... Or"in", or "through the powerof
signs and wonders", as the Vulgate Latin, Syriac, and Arabic versions render
the words. These carrying along with them evidence and conviction of the
truth of what was delivered, wrought wonderfully and powerfully on the
minds of the Gentiles to embrace the Gospel, and submit to the ordinances of
it; though all would have been insufficient, had it not been for what follows,
by the powerof the Spirit of God: the Alexandrian copy and one of Stephens's
read, "by the powerof the Holy Spirit", and so does the Vulgate Latin
version; meaning, either that the mighty signs and wonders in healing the
sick, giving sight to the blind, raising the dead, &c. were performed not by the
efficacyand working of Satan, as the signs and lying wonders of antichristian
men, but by the Spirit of God, by whom Christ and all his apostles wrought
the miracles they did; or that the ministration of the word in which the apostle
laboured, was by the powerof the Spirit of God; it was he that imparted all
spiritual gifts to him, qualifying him for this service;it was he that assisted
him in it, and enabled him to go through it; it was in demonstration of the
Spirit and of power that he performed it; and that not in words which man's
wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth:or else that the

obedience of the Gentiles to the faith of Christ, through the preaching of the
Gospel, and the wonderful works that attended it as means, were purely
owing to the power of the Spirit of God, as the efficient cause;it was not by
might, or power of the preacher;nor merely by the power of signs and
wonders;but by the powerful and efficacious graceofthe Spirit of God, who
took awaythe stony, stubborn, and disobedient heart, and gave them an heart
of flesh, a tender, flexible, and obedient one; and causedthem to walk in and
observe the commandments and ordinances of the Lord:
so that from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully
preachedthe Gospelof Christ; that which Christ, as God, is the author of; as
man, was a preacher and minister of; and, as Mediator, is the subject matter
of: this the apostle "preachedfully" and completely, every part and branch of
it, kept back nothing of it, but faithfully declaredthe whole; and so fulfilled it,
as the word may be rendered, and his ministry; or he filled the Gospel, the net
of the Gospel, which he spread in every place;or rather he diffused the
knowledge ofit everywhere;he filled all places with it wherever he came, even
"from Jerusalem" round about unto Illyricum: not that he beganto preach at
Jerusalem, but at Damascus;from whence he went to Arabia, and after that
to Jerusalem;but inasmuch as he was of Jerusalem, and had preachedthere,
from whence the Gospeloriginally came, and this was the boundary of his
ministry one way, he makes mention of it; as Illyricum was the boundary of it
another way, which was on the extreme part of Macedonia:it is now called
Sclavonia, and is an European nation; part of it is Dalmatia, mentioned 2
Timothy 4:10. Apollonia was in it, according to MelaF26, where the apostle is
said to pass through, Acts 17:1, it has on the south the gulf of Venice, on the
north the Danube, on the westGermany, and on the eastThracia and
Macedonia:according to PtolomyF1, Illyris, or Illyricum, was bounded on the
north with upper and lower Pannonia, now calledHungary and Austria; on
the eastwith upper Mysia, now Servia;and on the south with part of
Macedonia;it lies over againstItaly, the Adriatic sea being betweenthem; its
length, from the river Drinus to Arsa, is reckonedabout480 miles, and its
breadth, from the mountains of Croatia to the sea, is computed to be about
120:it is by some divided into Slavonia, Dalmatia, and Albania; Slavonia is
the westernpart, Albania the eastern, and Dalmatia betweenthem; according

to others, it includes Slavonia, Croatia, Bosnia, and Dalmatia;and had its
name of Illyricum, from Illyrius, the sonof Cadmus; or as others, from
Illyrius, the son of Celta:here the Gospelwas preachedby the Apostle Paul,
and no doubt with success;and churches were planted here, and which
remained for severalages:in the "second" century there was a church in
Illyricum, and Eleutherius was bishop, who is said to be a famous teacher;he
was born at Rome, and his mother Anthia is reported to be convertedby the
Apostle Paul; in the same age lived one Quirinus, first a tribune, and then a
bishop of Illyricum, who became a martyr under Trajan: in the "third"
century there were churches in Illyricum, though devastations were made in it
by the Goths; in the "fourth" century, frequent mention is made of the
churches in Illyricum; and the bishops convened at Rome under Damascus in
the times of Constantius wrote with great respectto the brethren in Illyricum;
in Siscia, a city in this country, Quirinus a bishop suffered martyrdom; here a
synod met againstthe Arians, and yet many in this country were infected with
that heresy, by Valens and Ursatius; in this age Hilary, of Poictiers in France,
spread the Gospelin this country; and he and Eusebius of Vercelli, in
Piedmont, visited the churches, and correctedwhatwas amiss: in the "fifth"
century there was a church in Illyricum, and in Salo, a city of Dalmatia,
Glycerius was bishop: in the "sixth" century there were also churches here, as
appears from the letter of Symmachus to the bishops of them, and to their
people; and in this age also Gregorywrote to all the bishops in Illyricum, to
receive such bishops as were banished: in the "eighth" century, the bishops of
Illyricum were in the Nycene synod, and Boniface gathereda church in
SlavoniaF2;thus far Christianity may be tracedin this country: hither the
apostle went, not in a direct line, but round about, and took many countries,
cities, and towns in his way, as the history of his journeys and travels in the
Acts of the Apostles shows, and as he here suggests.
Copyright Statement
The New John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible Modernisedand adapted
for the computer by Larry Pierce of Online Bible. All Rightes Reserved,
Larry Pierce, Winterbourne, Ontario.

A printed copy of this work can be ordered from: The Baptist Standard
Bearer, 1 Iron Oaks Dr, Paris, AR, 72855
Bibliography
Gill, John. "Commentary on Romans 15:19". "The New John Gill Exposition
of the Entire Bible".
https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/geb/romans-15.html. 1999.
Geneva Study Bible
Through o mighty signs and wonders, by the powerof the Spirit of God; so
that from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully preached
the gospelofChrist.
(o) In the first place this word "mighty" signifies the force and working of the
wonders in piercing men's minds: and in the latter, it signifies God's mighty
powerwhich was the workerof those wonders.
Copyright Statement
Bibliography
Beza, Theodore. "Commentaryon Romans 15:19". "The 1599 Geneva Study
Bible". https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/gsb/romans-15.html.
1599-1645.
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Through mighty — literally, “in the powerof”

signs and wonders — that is, glorious miracles.
by the powerof the Spirit of God — “the Holy Ghost,” as the true reading
seems to be. This seems intended to explain the efficacyof the word preached,
as well as the working of the miracles which attestedit.
so that from Jerusalem, and round about unto — “as far as”
Illyricum — to the extreme northwestern boundary of Greece.It corresponds
to the modern Croatia and Dalmatia (2 Timothy 4:10). See Acts 20:1, Acts
20:2.
I have fully preachedthe gospelof Christ.
Copyright Statement
These files are a derivative of an electronic edition prepared from text
scannedby Woodside Bible Fellowship.
This expanded edition of the Jameison-Faussett-BrownCommentary is in the
public domain and may be freely used and distributed.
Bibliography
Jamieson, Robert, D.D.;Fausset,A. R.; Brown, David. "Commentary on
Romans 15:19". "CommentaryCritical and Explanatory on the Whole
Bible". https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/jfb/romans-15.html.
1871-8.
Robertson's WordPictures in the New Testament
In power of signs and wonders (εν δυναμει σημειων και τερατων — en
dunamei sēmeiōnkai teratōn). Note all three words as in Hebrews 2:4, only
here δυναμις — dunamis is connectedwith σημεια — sēmeia and τερατα —
terata See all three words used of Paul‘s own work in 2 Corinthians 12:12 and

in 2 Thessalonians2:9 of the Man of Sin. See note on 1 Thessalonians 1:5;1
Corinthians 2:4 for the “power” ofthe Holy Spirit in Paul‘s preaching. Note
repetition of εν δυναμει — en dunamei here with πνευματος αγιου —
pneumatos hagiou
So that (ωστε — hōste). Resultexpressedby the perfect active infinitive
πεπληρωκεναι — peplērōkenai(from πληροω — plēroō)with the accusative
με — me (generalreference).
Round about even unto Illyricum (κυκλωι μεχρι του Ιλλυρικου — kuklōi
mechri tou Illurikou). “In a ring” (κυκλωι — kuklōilocative case of κυκλος —
kuklos). Probably a journey during the time when Paul left Macedonia and
waited for II Corinthians to have its effectbefore coming to Corinth. If so, see
notes on 2 Corinthians 13:1-14 and notes on Acts 20:1-3. When he did come,
the trouble with the Judaizers was over. Illyricum seems to be the name for
the regionwestof Macedonia (Dalmatia). Strabo says that the Egnatian Way
passedthrough it. Arabia and Illyricum would thus be the extreme limits of
Paul‘s mission journeys so far.
Copyright Statement
The Robertson's WordPictures of the New Testament. Copyright �
Broadman Press 1932,33,Renewal1960. All rights reserved. Used by
permission of Broadman Press (Southern BaptistSunday SchoolBoard)
Bibliography
Robertson, A.T. "Commentary on Romans 15:19". "Robertson's Word
Pictures of the New Testament".
https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/rwp/romans-15.html.
Broadman Press 1932,33.Renewal1960.

Vincent's Word Studies
Signs - wonders
See on Matthew 11:20.
Round about ( κύκλῳ )
Not, in a circuitous track to Illyricum, but Jerusalemand the regions round it.
For the phrase, see Mark 3:34; Mark 6:6, Mark 6:36; Luke 9:12; Revelation
4:6. For the facts, Acts href="/desk/?q=ac+20:1-3&sr=1">Acts 20:1-3.
Fully preached ( πεπληρωκέναι )
Lit., fulfilled Some explain, have given the Gospelits fall development so that
it has reachedevery quarter.
Copyright Statement
The text of this work is public domain.
Bibliography
Vincent, Marvin R. DD. "Commentaryon Romans 15:19". "Vincent's Word
Studies in the New Testament".
https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/vnt/romans-15.html. Charles
Schribner's Sons. New York, USA. 1887.
Abbott's Illustrated New Testament
Illyricum was beyond Macedonia, towards the north.
Copyright Statement

Bibliography
Abbott, John S. C. & Abbott, Jacob. "Commentaryon Romans 15:19".
"Abbott's Illustrated New Testament".
https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/ain/romans-15.html. 1878.
Calvin's Commentary on the Bible
19.So that from Jerusalem, etc. He joins also a testimony from the effect;for
the success whichfollowedhis preaching exceededallthe thoughts of men.
For who could have gatheredso many churches for Christ, without being
aided by the power of God? “FromJerusalem,” he says, “I have propagated
the gospelas far as Illyricum, and not by hastening to the end of my course by
a straight way, but by going all around, and through the intervening
countries.” But the verb πεπληρωκέναι , which after others I have rendered
filled up or completed, means both to perfect and to supply what is wanting.
Hence πλήρωμα in Greek means perfection as well as a supplement. I am
disposedto explain it thus, — that he diffused, as it were by filling up, the
preaching of the gospel;for others had before begun, but he spread it wider.
(455)
Copyright Statement
Bibliography
Calvin, John. "Commentary on Romans 15:19". "Calvin's Commentary on
the Bible". https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/cal/romans-
15.html. 1840-57.

John Trapp Complete Commentary
19 Through mighty signs and wonders, by the powerof the Spirit of God; so
that from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully preached
the gospelofChrist.
Ver. 19. So that from Jerusalem]Chrysostomobserveth, that Plato came
three times to Sicily to convert Dionysius the tyrant to moral philosophy, and
could not. But Paul fetched a greatcompass, convertedmany souls, planted
many Churches; and why? Christ sat upon him as upon one of his white
horses, and went forth conquering and to conquer, Revelation6:2.
Copyright Statement
Bibliography
Trapp, John. "Commentary on Romans 15:19". John Trapp Complete
Commentary. https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/jtc/romans-
15.html. 1865-1868.
Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible
Romans 15:19. Unto IIyricum— Though it is evident from this passage, that
St. Paul, before the date of this Epistle, which was about the year 58, had
preachedthe Gospelin these regions, it is observable that St. Luke takes no
notice hereof in the history of the Acts; where he also omits to mention the

journey which the Apostle took to Arabia on his first conversion, and several
other remarkable facts referred to in the 11th chapter of the secondEpistle to
the Corinthians, and elsewhere. And it is very possible, that the visit to Crete,
when Titus was left behind to ordain elders, (Titus 1:5.) might be of this
number. See Doddridge, Wall, and Calmet.
Copyright Statement
Bibliography
Coke, Thomas. "Commentaryon Romans 15:19". Thomas Coke Commentary
on the Holy Bible.
https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/tcc/romans-15.html. 1801-
1803.
Greek TestamentCriticalExegeticalCommentary
19.]in the powerof signs and wonders, in the power of the [Holy] Spirit (the
signs and wonders (reff.) are not spiritual, but external miraculous acts,—see
2 Corinthians 12:12), so that (result of the κατειργάσατο)from Jerusalem(the
easternboundary of his preaching) and the neighbourhood ( κύκλῳ is not to
be joined with μέχρι τ. ἰλλ. as Calov., al., but refers (reff.) to Jerusalem,
meaning perhaps its immediate neighbourhood, perhaps Arabia (?), Galatians
1:17,—but hardly Damascus andCilicia, as De W. suggests,seeing thatthey
would come into the route afterwards specified, from Jerusalemto Illyricum),
as far as Illyricum (Illyricum bordered on Macedonia to the S. It is possible
that Paul may literally have advancedto its frontiers during his preaching in
Macedonia;but I think it more probable, that he uses it broadly as the
‘terminus ad quem,’ the next province to that in which he had preached), I
have fulfilled (ref.:—‘executed my office of preaching,’so that εὐαγγέλιοντοῦ
χρ. = τὸ εὐαγγελίζεσθαι τὸνχρ.) the GospelofChrist.

Copyright Statement
Bibliography
Alford, Henry. "Commentary on Romans 15:19". Greek TestamentCritical
ExegeticalCommentary.
https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/hac/romans-15.html. 1863-
1878.
Heinrich Meyer's Critical and ExegeticalCommentaryon the New Testament
Romans 15:19. In virtue of what powers Christ, by means of word and work,
has wrought through the apostle as His organ: (1) ἐν δυνάμ. σημείων κ.
τερ.,—this refers back to ἔργῳ; (2) ἐν δυν. πνεύματος,—this applies to λόγῳ
and ἔργῳ together, and is co-ordinated to the above ἐν δυν. σημ. κ. τερ., not
subordinated, as Beza, Glöckler, and others think, whereby the language
would lose its simplicity and half of its import (the δύναμις πνεύμ would pass
into the background). According to Hofmann, who reads in Romans 15:20
φιλοτιμοῦμαι (see the criticalnotes), a new sentence is meant to begin with
λόγῳ κ. ἔργῳ, the verb of which would be φιλοτιμοῦμαι.This yields, instead of
the simple course of the language, a complicated structure of sentence which is
in nowise indicated by Paul himself, as he has not written ἐν λόγῳ κ. ἔργῳ
(conformably to the following). Besides,the εὐαγγελίξεσθαι by word and deed
(thus the preaching through deeds), would be a modern conceptionforeign to
the N. T. The ἔργα accompanyand accreditthe preaching (John 10:38;John
14:11), but they do not preach. Comp. Luke 24:19; Acts 7:22; 2 Corinthians
10:11. If φιλοτιμοῦμαι is to be read, then with Lachmann a new sentence is to
be begun with Romans 15:20, so that all that precedes remains assignedto the
efficiencyof Christ, which is not the case with the view of Hofmann, although
it is only in entire keeping with the language of humility which Paul here uses.

The genitives are those of derivation: power, which went forth from signs and
wonders (which Paul, as instrument of Christ, has performed), and power,
which went forth from the, (Holy) Spirit (who was communicatedto the
apostle through Christ) upon the minds of men. Comp. on ἐν δυν. πνεύμ., 1
Corinthians 2:4-5.
σημεῖα κ. τέρατα] not different in substance;both miracles, both also
denoting their significant aspect. See Fritzsche, p. 270 f. The collocation
corresponds to the Heb. ‫ֹא‬ ‫ת‬‫ֹו‬ ‫ת‬ ‫ֹמּו‬ ‫ֹותֹו‬‫,םּו‬ hence usually (the converse only in Acts
2:22; Acts 2:43; Acts 6:8; Acts 7:36, comp. Romans 2:19) σημεῖα stands first,
and where only one of the two words is used, it is always σημεῖα, because‫ֹווֹום‬
was the striking word giving more immediately the characterofthe thing
designated. Contrary to the constantusage ofthe N. T., Reiche understands
not outward miraculous facts, but mental miracles, which the preaching of the
gospelhas produced in the hearts of the newly-converted. Even 2 Corinthians
12:12 is not to be thus understood; see in loc. Miracles belongedto the σημεῖα
τοῦ ἀποστόλου (2 Cor. l.c.), hence there is already of itself motive enoughfor
their mention in our passage, andthere is no need for the precarious
assumption of a reference to pseudo-apostolic jugglers inRome (Ewald).
ἐν δυνάμ. πνεύμ. ἁγ.] is related, not “awkwardly” (Hofmann), to ὧν οὐ
κατειργ. χριστός;for Christ has, for the sake ofHis working to be effected
through the apostle ( διʼ ἐμοῦ), given to him the Spirit. Very unnecessarily,
and just as inappropriately,—since ὥστε must comprise all the preceding
elements,
Hofmann forces ἐν δυν. πν. ἁγ., by means of an hyperbaton, into special
connectionwith ὥστε.
ὥστε κ. τ. λ.] Result, which this working of Christ through Paul has had in
reference to the extensionof Christianity.
ἀπὸ ἱερους.]From this spot, where Paul first entered the apostolical
fellowship, Acts 9:26 ff. (he had already previously workedthree years,
including the sojourn in Arabia, at Damascus;see onGalatians 1:17-18), he
defines the terminus a quo, because he intends to specify the greatest
extensionof his working in space (from south-eastto north-west).(24)

καὶ κύκλῳ]enlarges the range of the terminus a quo: and round about,
embracing not merely Judaea, but, in correspondenceto the magnitude of the
measure of length, Arabia and Syria also. Of course, however, κύκλῳ is not
included in the dependence on ἀπό, but stands in answerto the question
Where? inasmuch as it adds to the statementfrom, whence the working took
place, the notice of the localsphere, which had been jointly affectedby that
localbeginning as its field of action: from Jerusalem, and in a circuit round,
Paul has fulfilled the gospelas far as Illyria. Flacius, Calovius, Paulus,
Glöckler, following Chrysostom, Theodoret, andothers, refer κύκλῳ to the
arc which Paul describedin his journey from Jerusalemby way of Syria, Asia,
Troas, Macedonia, andGreece to Illyria. According to this, κύκλῳ would
specify the direction in which he, starting from Jerusalem, moved forward. So
also Hofmann. This direction would be that of a curve. But κύκλῳ never
denotes this, and is never merely the opposite of straight out, but always
circumcirca (comp. Judith 1:2; Mark 3:34; Mark 6:6; Mark 6:36; Luke 9:12;
Revelation4:6; very frequently in the Greek writers);and the addition, “and
in the arc of a circle” would have been very superfluous and indeed like an
empty piece of ostentation, seeing that in truth the straightdirection from
Jerusalemto Illyria passes forthe most part through water. No reasonalso
would be discoverable for Paul’s adding the καί, and not merely writing
κύκλῳ, in order to express:from Jerusalemin a circular direction as far as
Illyria.
μέχρι τοῦ ἰλλυρ.] The idea that Paul, as has recently been for the most part
assumed, did not get to Illyria at all, but only to the frontier of this western
regionduring a Macedonianbye-journey, throws upon him an appearance of
magnifying his deeds, for which the silence of the Acts of the Apostles,
furnishing, as it does, no complete narrative, supplies no warrant. Now, since
in Romans 15:23 Illyria may not, without arbitrariness, be excluded from the
regions where he has already laboured, because this country would otherwise
have still afforded scope for labour, we must assume that Paul had really
made an intermediate journey to Illyria. From what starting-point, cannot
indeed be shown; hardly so soonas Acts 18:11, but possibly during the
journey mentioned in Acts 20:1-3 (see Anger, temp. rat. p. 84), so that his
short sojourn in Illyria took place not long before his sojourn in Achaia,

where he at Corinth wrote the Epistle to the Romans. Titus 3:12 can only be
employed in confirmation of this by those who assume the authenticity of the
Epistle to Titus, and its compositionthus early (see Wieseler, Philippi).
πεπληρωκέναι τὸ εὐαγγ. τ. χ.] have brought to fulfilment (comp. Colossians
1:25) the gospelofChrist. This πληροῦν has taken place in an extensive sense
through the factthat the gospelis spread abroad everywhere from Jerusalem
to Illyria, and has met with acceptance.Analogous is the conception:ὁ λόγος
τοῦ θεοῦ ἠύξανε, Acts 6:7; Acts 12:24; Acts 19:20. So long as the news of
salvationhas not yet reachedits full and destined diffusion, it is still in the
course of growthand increase;but when it has reachedevery quarter, so that
no place any longer remains for the labour of the preacher(Romans 15:23), it
has passedfrom the state of growing increase into the full measure of its
dimensions. This view of the sense is alone strictly textual (see Romans 15:23),
while closelyadhering to the literal significationof εὐαγγ., which denotes the
messageitself, not the actof proclamation(Th. Schott, Mangold);and hence
excludes the many divergent interpretations, namely: (1) That of Beza,
Piscator, Grotius, Bengel, de Wette, Rückert, in substance also Köllner,
Tholuck, van Hengel, and permissively, Reiche, that εὐαγγ. is equivalent to
munus praedicandi evang., which it does not mean; similarly Ewald: the
executedcommissionof preaching. (2) That of Luther, Flacius, Castalio,and
others: “that I have fulfilled everything with the gospel,” whichis opposedto
the words as they stand, although repeated by Baur. (3) That of Theophylact,
Erasmus, and others, including Reiche and Olshausen:πληρ. τὸ εὐαγγ.
denotes completely to proclaim the gospel. But the “completely” would in fact
have here no relevant weight at all (such as at Acts 20:27); for that Paul had
not incompletely preachedthe gospel, was understoodof itself. Others
arbitrarily take it otherwise still, e.g. Calvin: “praedicationemev. quasi
supplendo diffundere; coeperuntenim alii priores, sed ipse longius sparsit;”
Krehl: that I have put the gospelinto force and validity; Philippi: that I have
realized the gospel, have introduced it into life (the gospelappearing as empty,
before it is taught, accepted, understood);Hofmann, with comparisonof the
not at all analogous expressionπληροῦν τὸν νόμον:the messageofsalvation
misses its destination, if it remain unproclaimed—whereby πληροῦν would be
reduced simply to the notion of κηρύσσειν.

The whole of the remark, Romans 15:19 f., connectedwith Romans 15:24, is
to be explained, according to Baur, I. p. 307, simply from the intention (of the
later writer) to draw here, as it were, a geographicalline betweentwo
apostolic provinces, of which the one must be left to Peter. In oppositionto
such combinations, although Lucht still further elaborates them, it is
sufficient simply to put into the scale the altogetherPauline characterand
emotional stamp of the language in Romans 15:19-33, in its inner truth,
simplicity, and chasteness.
Copyright Statement
Bibliography
Meyer, Heinrich. "Commentary on Romans 15:19". Heinrich Meyer's
Critical and ExegeticalCommentary on the New Testament.
https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/hmc/romans-15.html. 1832.
Johann Albrecht Bengel's Gnomonof the New Testament
Romans 15:19. ἐν δυνάμει σημείων καὶ τεράτων, [Engl. V. through mighty] in
the powerof signs and wonders)This expression should be referred to, by
deed.— ἐν δυνάμει πνεύματος θεοῦ, [by] in the powerof the Spirit of God)
This should be referred to, by word. We have here a gradation, [ascending
climax]: for he attributes more to the Spirit of God, than to the signs.— ἀπὸ—
μέχρι, from—unto) A large tract of country.— ἰλλυρικοῦ, Illyricum) of which
Dalmatia is a part; 2 Timothy 4:10.— τὸ εὐαγγέλιον, the Gospel)the office of
preaching the Gospel.
Copyright Statement

Bibliography
Bengel, JohannAlbrecht. "Commentary on Romans 15:19". JohannAlbrecht
Bengel's Gnomonof the New Testament.
https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/jab/romans-15.html. 1897.
Matthew Poole's EnglishAnnotations on the Holy Bible
Through mighty signs and wonders;or, by the power of signs and wonders,
which served to confirm my commissionfrom God, and the truth of what I
preached, and so helped forward the obedience and conversionof the
Gentiles:see 2 Corinthians 12:12. If there be any difference betwixt
signs and wonders, it is only gradual. I find them often conjoined in Scripture,
Matthew 24:24 John 4:48 Acts 2:43 5:12 Acts 7:36 14:3.
By the powerof the Spirit of God; which blessedthe words, deeds, and
miracles of the apostle, and wrought effectually by them in the Gentiles. The
word dunamiv, power, or virtue, is twice used in this verse;it is first applied
to signs and wonders, to show their efficacy;and then to the Spirit of God, to
show that he was the efficient cause ofthat efficacy.
So that from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum: this showeth the
pains and travail of the apostle, to bring the Gentiles to the obedience offaith.
Illyricum is said to be in the utmost parts of Greece,bordering upon the sea,
which is thereupon called Illyricum Mare. It is thought to be the country now
calledSclavonia, and that is distant from Jerusalemabout three hundred and
fifty German miles, which make above a thousand English miles; yet it seems
he did not travel in a direct and straight line, but round about, or in a circle,
as the word imports, fetching a circuit. Some writers have given us out of the
Acts a particular history of his peregrination from Damascus,where he began
his ministry: he went into Arabia, and after three years returned to
Damascus, andfrom thence to Jerusalem;from Jerusalemhe went to

Caesarea,and so to Tarsus;from Tarsus Barnabas brought him to Antioch,
and from thence to Jerusalem, to carry relief to the Jews. FromJerusalem
they returned to Antioch; from Antioch he and Barnabas wentto Seleucia,
then to Cyprus, and to some cities of Pamphylia, and so to another Antioch in
Pisidia; from thence to Lycaonia, and then returned to Antioch, from whence
they had been recommendedby the church. From Antioch they were sent to
Jerusalemabout the question of the circumcision, and returned to Antioch
with the apostles’decree.Fromthence he went through Syria and Cilicia,
visiting the churches. Then he went through Phrygia, Galatia, and Mysia;
then to Troas, where by a vision he was calledunto Macedonia, andso came
into the parts of Europe; first to Philippi in Macedonia, then to Thessalonica;
from thence to Athens, and then to Corinth; from thence to Ephesus;and
going to visit the churches of Galatia and Phrygia, returned to Ephesus. From
Ephesus he went againto Macedonia;from thence to Troas and Miletus; and
thence, by Tyrus and Caesarea, and other cities, he came to Jerusalem, where
he was takenand put in bonds. Thus you have an accountof the apostle’s
travels, which he abridgeth here, when he says, that it was from Jerusalem
round about unto Illyricum.
I have fully preachedthe gospelof Christ; i.e. I have filled all these countries
with the gospelofChrist. The word signifieth to fulfil; see Colossians 4:17.
This he calleth the finishing his ministry, Acts 20:24.
Copyright Statement
Bibliography
Poole, Matthew, "Commentaryon Romans 15:19". Matthew Poole's English
Annotations on the Holy Bible.
https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/mpc/romans-15.html. 1685.

Justin Edwards' Family Bible New Testament
By the powerof the Spirit of God; in working miracles and in renewing and
sanctifying the hearts of men.
Illyricum; a province in Europe, north-west of Macedonia, and bordering on
Italy and Germany. "FromJerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum,"
comprehended a large portion of the then knownworld.
Copyright Statement
Bibliography
Edwards, Justin. "Commentary on Romans 15:19". "Family Bible New
Testament". https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/fam/romans-
15.html. American TractSociety. 1851.
Cambridge Greek Testamentfor Schools andColleges
19. ἐν δ. σημείων καὶ τεράτων. Cf. 2 Corinthians 12:12. There is no doubt that
S. Paul himself claimed to work miracles; cf. Hebrews 2:4; Acts pass.
ἐν δυνάμει πν. ἁγ. Cf. 13, the climax of the manifestationof the powerof the
Gospel.
ὥστε after κατειργάσατο.
ἀπὸ Ἰερ.—Ἰλλυρικοῦ.This geographicalmeasure ofhis work in the Gospelis
in conceptionexactly |[303], 2 Corinthians 10:14-16 (there too, as he is
addressing the Corinthians, Corinth itself is the limit): n. that in S. Paul’s
view Jerusalemis the beginning for himself as for the other Apostles (cf. Hort,
R. E. pp. 39 ff).

κύκλῳ. With μέχρι τ. Ἰ., marking the course of his missionary journey: as S.
H. with the Greek commentators whose verdict on such a question of language
is weighty. Al[304] take it with Ἰερ. but [1] S. Paul did not preachas a
missionary in Judea, [2] κύκλῳ could hardly include Syria, [3] it would need
the article.
Ἰλλυρικοῦ clearlymarks the furthest point as towards Rome which his
preaching had reachedat the time he was writing this letter (in Corinth). The
name was given to the westerndistricts of the province of Macedonia
(Mommsen, Provv. I., p. 299 f.). It would mark his nearestapproachto Rome:
as at Thessalonicahe had been on the direct road to Dyrrhachium, the most
direct route from the Eastto Rome. It is most probable that μέχρι is exclusive;
[1] it is not easyto find a place in the Acts for any preaching in the interior of
the province of Macedonia, scarcelyin Acts 20:2; [2] there were then no
important towns till the sea coastwas reached, the inhabitants being “a
confusedmass of non-Greek peoples.”It was not S. Paul’s practice to preach
in such country districts: [3] in marking limits μέχρι would be more naturally
exclusive;cf. Mommsen, ib[305], 256 n.; but see Ramsay, Gal. p. 276.
πεπληρ. τὸ εὐ. τ. χρ. ‘The Gospelof the Christ’ has specialreference to the call
of the Gentiles and missionarywork among them; cf. 1 Corinthians 9:12; 2
Corinthians 2:12; 2 Corinthians 9:13; 2 Corinthians 10:14;Galatians 1:7;
Philippians 1:27. πεπληρ. he has completed the preaching throughout all this
area—byestablishing the Gospelin all the principal centres. The statement
must be taken in connexion with S. Paul’s own conceptionof his mission and
of the methods by which it could be carried out: cf. again2 Corinthians 10:13
f.; cf. Ramsay, Pauline Studies, p. 77 f. For constr. cf. Colossians 1:25;Acts
14:26.
Copyright Statement
Bibliography

"Commentary on Romans 15:19". "Cambridge Greek Testamentfor Schools
and Colleges".https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/cgt/romans-
15.html. 1896.
Whedon's Commentary on the Bible
19. Through—The sentence proceeds as if the previous verse affirmed what
Paul had wrought.
We give the meaning in which commentators are so unanimous that we hardly
dare specify a meaning spontaneouslytakenby our own mind from the words
before reading a commentator. Let Romans 15:18 be read with a strong
emphasis on not and the following meaning will arise:So greatare the things
wrought by Christ through me that I will scarce dare to saywhat he hath not
wrought! And then no twist is required to make Romans 15:18-19 run
uniform.
Signs—As evidences ofa supernatural Christianity.
Wonders—To arouse the minds of the world.
So that—As he has just given the might and power of his missionwork, so
now he traces its geographicalextent. Jerusalemand round about Jerusalem.
The English translators seemto understand by κυκλω, in circle, the sort of
geographicalcurve describedby the apostle’s missions from Jerusalemto
Illyricum. It more probably means his first circuiting around the region of
Jerusalem. (Acts 9:28.)
Unto Illyricum—(See note on Acts 17:9.)Had the apostle prosecutedhis
westwardcareerfrom Thessalonica he would have soongone into Illyricum,
which was the next province.
Copyright Statement

Bibliography
Whedon, Daniel. "Commentary on Romans 15:19". "Whedon's Commentary
on the Bible". https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/whe/romans-
15.html. 1874-1909.
William Godbey's Commentary on the New Testament
19. “In the power of signs and wonders, in the power of the Spirit of God, so
that I from Jerusalemaround about unto Illyricum have fully preachedthe
gospelof Christ.
Copyright Statement
Bibliography
Godbey, William. "Commentary on Romans 15:19". "WilliamGodbey's
Commentary on the New Testament".
https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/ges/romans-15.html.
Expository Notes ofDr. Thomas Constable
Signs and wonders, standard biblical phraseologyfor miracles, accreditedthe
messengerofGod and validated the message thathe proclaimed ( Acts 2:22;
Acts 5:12). [Note:See Ken L. Sarles, "An Appraisal of the Signs and Wonders
Movement," Bibliotheca Sacra145:577 (January-March1988):57-82.]The

Holy Spirit enabled people to see the connectionbetweenthe miracle and the
messageand, therefore, to believe the gospeland experience salvation.
Paul"s arena of ministry when he wrote this epistle stretched about1 ,400
miles, from Jerusalemto the Roman province of Illyricum. Illyricum lay on
the eastside of the Adriatic Sea opposite Italy. This is modern northern
Albania, much of former Yugoslavia, and Bosnia-Herzegovina. There is no
record in Acts of Paul having gone there, though he may have done so on his
secondmissionaryjourney ( Acts 17:1-9) or during his third journey ( Acts
21:1-2). Paul"s claim to have "fully" preached the gospelmeans that he had
faithfully proclaimed it in that area, not that he had personallydelivered it to
every individual.
Copyright Statement
Bibliography
Constable, Thomas. DD. "Commentaryon Romans 15:19". "Expository
Notes ofDr. Thomas Constable".
https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/dcc/romans-15.html. 2012.
Schaff's Popular Commentary on the New Testament

Romans 15:19. In the powerof signs and wonders, in the powerof the Holy
Spirit. Some authorities read ‘Spirit of God,’ and the Vatican manuscript has
‘Spirit’ alone;but the best establishedform is as above. The two clauses are
parallel, and should be closelyjoined with what precedes. Christ wrought
through him, in word and work, in virtue of these powers;that proceeding
from (miraculous) signs and wonders, and that which came from the Holy
Spirit working through him on the minds of men.
So that from Jerusalem, the actual starting point of his apostolicallabors
(Acts 4:28-29;Acts 22:18), round about, not in the arc of a circle, but in a
wide circuit, round about Jerusalem.
As far as Illyricum. Illyrica was north of Macedonia. No mention is made in
the Book ofActs of a visit there. Hence many have thought that the Apostle
thus indicates the limit of labors. But it is quite probable that during the
journey mentioned in Acts 20:1-3 (just before the writing of this Epistle) he
actually entered that region.
I have fully preached(lit., ‘have fulfilled’) the gospelof Christ. The E. V.
fairly presents the sense, thougha variety of other explanations have been
suggested, e. g., have given the gospelits full dimensions, completely
proclaimed it, accomplishedeverything with it, etc. He had fully spread the
glad tidings and with successeverywhere, sufficientto attesthis apostolic
mission, and give him a ground of glorying in what Christ had wrought
through him.
Copyright Statement
Bibliography

Schaff, Philip. "Commentary on Romans 15:19". "Schaff'sPopular
Commentary on the New Testament".
https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/scn/romans-15.html. 1879-90.
Mark Dunagan Commentary on the Bible
Romans 15:19 in the power of signs and wonders, in the power of the Holy
Spirit; so that from Jerusalem, and round about even unto Illyricum, I have
fully preachedthe gospelof Christ;
"in the power of signs and wonders"-Jesushad also used Paul as an
instrument to work miracles through. (2 Corinthians 12:12) These miracles
were designedto get people"s attention, and point them to the messagethat
was being preachedby the workerof the miracle. (John 3:2; John 5:36; John
10:37-38)
"in the power of the Holy Spirit"-"in connectionwith the Holy Spirit"s
power" (Lenski p. 884); "through the power of the Holy Spirit." (TCNT)
"so that from Jerusalem"-where we find him preaching at the end of Acts
chapter 9.
"round about"-"He says that in a grand sweepthrough Asia Minor and
southern Europe he delivered the gospelmessageand reachedas far as
Illyricum." (Lenski p. 885)
"I have fully preached the gospelChrist"-"He had done this by preaching it
in every province betweenthe limits named (not to every individual), and had
thus dischargedhis apostolic commissionin that part of the Gentile world."
(F.F. Bruce p. 261)
"Illyricum"-"The area in which Paul preached the gospelcoveredsome 1400
miles. Illyricum was a Roman province north of Macedonia which was in
recenthistory part of Yugoslavia." (Greenp. 16)
Copyright Statement

Bibliography
Dunagan, Mark. "Commentary on Romans 15:19". "Mark Dunagan
Commentaries on the Bible".
https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/dun/romans-15.html. 1999-
2014.
E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes
Through mighty = By (App-104.) the power(App-172.)
signs. App-176.
wonders. App-176.
power. Same Greek. word as for "mighty".
the Spirit of God. Some texts read "the Holy Spirit" (App-101.)
from. App-104.
unto = as far as. Illyricum. Not mentioned in Acts. It included Montenegro,
Albania, Dalmatia, &c.
fully preached. Greek. pleroo, rendered "fill", "filled", in verses:Romans
15:13, Romans 15:14. Compare Acts 20:24. App-125.
gospel. See App-140.
Copyright Statement

Bibliography
Bullinger, Ethelbert William. "Commentary on Romans 15:19". "E.W.
Bullinger's Companion bible Notes".
https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/bul/romans-15.html. 1909-
1922.
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Unabridged
Through mighty signs and wonders, by the powerof the Spirit of God; so that
gospelof Christ.
Through mighty signs - `in the powerof signs'
And wonders (i:e., glorious miracles), by the powerof the Spirit of God - `of
the Holy Spirit' (as the true reading would seemto be). This seems intended to
accountfor the efficacyof the word preached, as well as for the working of the
miracles which attestedit.
So that from Jerusalem, and round about unto (or 'as far as')Illyricum - lying
to the extreme northwesternboundary of Greece, andcorresponding to the
Modern Croatia and Dalmatia (2 Timothy 4:10). See Paley's 'Horae Paulinae,'
ch. 2:, No. 4:; and Acts 20:1-2.
Copyright Statement
Bibliography
Jamieson, Robert, D.D.;Fausset,A. R.; Brown, David. "Commentary on
Romans 15:19". "CommentaryCritical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible -
Unabridged". https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/jfu/romans-
15.html. 1871-8.

The Bible Study New Testament
By the power. This was both proof of his apostleship(2 Corinthians 12:12)
and supernormal help for his work of missions (1 Thessalonians 1:5). And
Song of Solomon, in traveling. He emphasizes the area he coveredon his tours
of mission. I have proclaimed fully. See Acts 20:20-21. Paulhad fulfilled his
mission as an apostle, to preach the Good News ofGod's act in Christ to set
men free and to plant the church in the population-centers of the world!
Copyright Statement
Bibliography
Ice, Rhoderick D. "Commentary on Romans 15:19". "The Bible Study New
Testament". https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/ice/romans-
15.html. College Press, Joplin, MO. 1974.
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers
(19) Through mighty signs and wonders.—Literally, through the might of
signs and wonders—i.e., throughthose extraordinary powers which found
their expressionin signs and wonders. “Signs and wonders” is the phrase
regularly used throughout the New Testamentfor the Christian miracles:so
frequently in the Gospels. (Comp. also 2 Corinthians 12:12; 2 Thessalonians
2:9; Hebrews 11:4.) The two words are very similar in meaning. They denote
the same acts, but they connote different aspects in which those acts may be
regarded. The word “signs” tends to bring out the symbolicalcharacter of the
miracle, the spiritual truth of which it was, as it were, the physical expression.
In the word “wonders” stressis laid rather upon its characteras a portent, a
manifestation of supernatural, divine power. That St. Paul himself claimed
miraculous powers is a face that cannot be doubted.

By the powerof the Spirit of God.—The two clauses atthe beginning of this
verse correspondroughly to “by word and deed” at the end of the last. “Signs
and wonders” are the manifestation of the effectualworking of Christ in
“deed.” The “powerof the Spirit of God” is exemplified both in “deed” and in
“word.”
So that . . .—It is to be noticed that the language of the Apostle becomes more
and more definite and concrete, till he ends by describing the geographical
extent of his own labours.
Jerusalem.—TheApostle naturally takes this as the terminus à quo, partly
because it was at this time the centre and head-quarters of Christianity, and
also more especiallybecause itwas the extreme point eastwards and
southwards of his own public ministry. (His sojourn in “Arabia,” which may
include the desert of Sinai, appears to have been of a more private character.)
And round about . . .—In a sort of rough curve, embracing a large portion of
Asia Minor, and finally turning towards the starting-point again in Illyricum.
Illyricum.—A Roman province, stretching along the easterncoastofthe
Adriatic, and forming the northern boundary of Epirus, and the north-
westernof Macedonia. WhetherSt. Paul had actually visited Illyricum does
not appearfrom his language in this passage. Illyricum is the terminus ad
quem of his journeyings, but it may be inclusive, or it may be exclusive. The
description would be sufficiently satisfiedif he had approachedthe outskirts
of Illyricum during his journey through Macedonia. Thatjourney must be the
one recordedin Acts 20:2. The earlier journey of Acts 16, 17 can be traced
clearly from place to place, and did not extend far enough inland, while the
vague expressionwhich we find in Acts 20:2, “Whenhe had gone over those
parts,” affords ample room for the circuit in question. This would place it at
the end of the year 57 A.D.
Fully preached.—Literally, fulfilled. The translation of our version can
perhaps hardly be improved, though, at the same time, it seems probable that
what is intended is the publication of the gospelto its full geographicalextent,
and not the subjective sense in the Apostle of his own fulfilment of the duty of
preaching the gospellaid upon him.

Copyright Statement
Bibliography
Ellicott, Charles John. "Commentary on Romans 15:19". "Ellicott's
Commentary for English Readers".
https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/ebc/romans-15.html. 1905.
Treasuryof Scripture Knowledge
Through mighty signs and wonders, by the powerof the Spirit of God; so that
gospelof Christ.
mighty
Acts 14:10; 15:12; 16:18;19:11,12;2 Corinthians 12:12; Galatians 3:5;
Hebrews 2:4
by the
Matthew 12:28; Acts 1:8; 1 Corinthians 12:4-11;1 Peter1:12
so that
24; Acts 9:28,29;13:4,5,14,51;14:6,20,25;16:6-12;17:10,15;Acts 18:1,19;
19:1; 20:2,6
Illyricum

Illyricum, or Illyria, was a country of Europe, lying N. and N. W. of
Macedonia, onthe easterncoastof the Adriatic gulf, opposite Italy. It was
distinguished into two parts; Liburnia north, now Croatia;and Dalmatia
south, still retaining the same name. The accountof Paul's secondvisit to the
peninsula of Greece,Ac 20:1, 2, says Dr. Paley, leads us to suppose that, in
going over Macedonia, he had passedso far to the west, as to come into those
parts of the country which were contiguous to Illyricum, if he did not enter
Illyricum itself. The history and the Epistle therefore so far agree;and the
agreementis much strengthenedby a coincidence oftime; for much before the
time when this epistle was written, he could not have said so, as his route, in
his former journey, confined him to the easternside of the peninsula, a
considerable distance from Illyricum.
fully
1:14-16;Acts 20:20;Colossians1:25;2 Timothy 4:17
Copyright Statement
Bibliography
Torrey, R. A. "Commentary on Romans 15:19". "The Treasuryof Scripture
Knowledge". https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/tsk/romans-
15.html.
Hodge's Commentary on Romans, Ephesians and First Corintians
In these verses the apostle explains more fully what he had intended by saying
he gloried, or exalted. It was that God had born abundant testimony to his
claims as a divinely commissionedpreacherof the gospel: so that he had no
need to refer to what others had done; he was satisfiedto resthis claims on
the results of his own labors and the testimony of God. For I will not dare to

speak of any of those things which Christ hath not wrought by me. That is, ‘I
will not claim the credit due to others, or appealto results which I have not
been instrumental in effecting.'According to anotherview, the meaning is, ‘I
will not speak of any thing as the ground of boasting which Christ has not
done by me.' The contrast implied, therefore, is not betweenwhat he had done
and what others had accomplished, but betweenhimself and Christ. He would
not glory in the flesh, or in any thing pertaining to himself, but only in Christ,
and in what he had accomplished. The conversionof the Gentiles was Christ's
work, not Paul's; and therefore Paul could glory in it without self-exaltation.
It is to be remarkedthat the apostle represents himself as merely an
instrument in the hands of Christ for the conversionof men; the real
efficiencyhe ascribes to the Redeemer. This passage, therefore, exhibits
evidence that Paul regardedChrist as still exercising a controlling agencyover
the souls of men, and rendering effectualthe labors of his faithful ministers.
Such power the sacredwriters never attribute to any being but God. To make
the Gentiles obedient, i.e. to the gospel;compare Romans 1:5, where the same
form of expressionoccurs. The obedience of which Paul speaks is the sincere
obedience of the heart and life. This result he says Christ effected, through his
instrumentality, by word and deed, not merely by truth, but also by that
operationwhich Christ employed to render the truth effectual. It was not only
by the truth as presented in the word, but also by the effectualinward
operationof his power, that Christ convertedmen to the faith.
Through mighty signs and wonders, by the powerof the Spirit of God, i.e. by
miracles, and by the influences of the Holy Ghost. The Greek is, ἐν δυνάμει
σημείων καὶ τεράτων, ἐν δυνάμει πνεύματος ἁγίου, that is, by the powerof
(i.e., which comes from) signs and wonders, and, the power which flows from
the Holy Spirit. It was thus Christ rendered the labors of Paul successful. He
produced conviction, or the obedience offaith in the minds of the Gentiles,
partly by miracles, partly and mainly by the inward working of the Holy
Ghost. That Christ thus exercisesdivine power both in the external world,
and in the hearts of men, clearlyproves that he is a divine person. Signs and
wonders are the constantly recurring words to designate those external events
which are produced, not by the operationof secondcauses,but by the
immediate efficiencyof God. They are calledsigns because evidences ofthe

exercise ofGod's power, and proofs of the truth of His declarations, and
wonders because ofthe effectwhich they produce on the minds of men. This
passageis, therefore, analogous to that in 1 Corinthians 2:4, "My speechand
preaching was not in the enticing words of man's wisdom, but in
demonstration of the Spirit and of power." That is, he relied for success not
on his own skill or eloquence, but on the powerful demonstration of the Spirit.
This demonstration of the Spirit consistedpartly in the miracles which He
enabled the first preachers of the gospelto perform, and partly in the
influence with which he attended the truth to the hearts and consciencesof
those that believed; see Galatians 3:2-5; Hebrews 2:4.
So that from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully
preachedthe gospelof Christ. Round about, καὶ κύκλῳ, in a circle. Jerusalem
was the center around which Paul prosecutedhis labors. He means to say, that
throughout a most extensive region I have successfullypreachedthe gospel.
God had given his sealto Paul's apostleship, by making him so abundantly
useful. I have, fully preached, expressesno doubt, the sense ofthe original, (
πεπληρωκέναι τὸ εὐαγγέλιον) to bring the gospel(i.e., the preaching of it) to
an end, to accomplishit thoroughly; see Colossians 1:25. In this wide circuit
had the apostle preached, founding churches, and advancing the Redeemer's
kingdom with such evidence of the divine cooperation, as to leave no ground
of doubt that he was a divinely appointed minister of Christ.
PRECEPTAUSTIN RESOURCES
PREVIOUS
NEXT

Romans 15:19 in the power of signs and wonders, in the power of the Spirit;
so that from Jerusalemand round about as far as Illyricum I have fully
preachedthe gospelof Christ. (NASB: Lockman)
Greek:en dunamei semeionkai teraton, en dunamei pneumatos [theou]; oste
me apo Ierousalemkai kuklo mechri tou Illurikou peplerokenai(RAN) to
euaggeliontouChristou
Amplified: [Even as my preaching has been accompanied]with the power of
signs and wonders, [and all of it] by the powerof the Holy Spirit. [The result
is] that starting from Jerusalemand as far round as Illyricum, I have fully
preachedthe Gospel[faithfully executing, accomplishing, carrying out to the
full the goodnews] of Christ (the Messiah)in its entirety. (Amplified Bible -
Lockman)
NLT: I have won them over by the miracles done through me as signs from
God--all by the powerof God's Spirit. In this way, I have fully presentedthe
GoodNews of Christ all the way from Jerusalemclearover into Illyricum.
(NLT - Tyndale House)
Young's Literal: in power of signs and wonders, in powerof the Spirit of God;
so that I, from Jerusalem, and in a circle as far as Illyricum, have fully
preachedthe goodnews of the Christ;
ROMANS ROAD
to RIGHTEOUSNESS
Romans 1:18-3:20
Romans 3:21-5:21
Romans 6:1-8:39
Romans 9:1-11:36
Romans 12:1-16:27
SIN
SALVATION

SANCTIFICATION
SOVEREIGNTY
SERVICE
NEED
FOR
SALVATION
WAY
OF
SALVATION
LIFE
OF
SALVATION
SCOPE
OF
SALVATION
SERVICE
OF
SALVATION
God's Holiness
In
Condemning
Sin
God's Grace

In
Justifying
Sinners
God's Power
In
Sanctifying
Believers
God's Sovereignty
In
Saving
Jew and Gentile
Gods Glory
The
Object of
Service
Deadliness
of Sin
Design
of Grace
Demonstrationof Salvation
PowerGiven
Promises Fulfilled
Paths Pursued

Righteousness
Needed
Righteousness
Credited
Righteousness
Demonstrated
Righteousness
Restoredto Israel
Righteousness
Applied
God's Righteousness
IN LAW
God's Righteousness
IMPUTED
God's Righteousness
OBEYED
God's Righteousness
IN ELECTION
God's Righteousness
DISPLAYED
Slaves to Sin
Slaves to God
Slaves Serving God

Doctrine
Duty
Life by Faith
Service by Faith
Modified from Irving L. Jensen's excellentwork "Jensen's Surveyof the NT"
IN THE POWER OF SIGNS AND WONDERS,IN THE POWER OF THE
SPIRIT:en dunamei semeionkaiteraton, en dunamei pneumatos (theou):
Acts 14:10;15:12; 16:18;19:11,12;2Corinthians 12:12;Galatians 3:5;
Hebrews 2:4
Matthew 12:28; Acts 1:8; 1Corinthians 12:4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9,10, 11;1Peter1:12
Romans 15 Resources - Multiple sermons and commentaries
Keep the contextin mind for Paul has just stated...
For I will not presume to speak of anything except what Christ has
accomplishedthrough me, resulting in the obedience of the Gentiles by word
and deed (Ro 15:18-note)(Comment: John Piper reminds us that "The aim of
missions is to bring about the obedience offaith among all the unreached
peoples of the world. But that is not the ultimate goal. The ultimate goal—
even of faith and obedience—is "forthe sake ofHis name. " The fame of
Christ, the reputation of Christ is what burned in the heart of the apostle
Paul. The faith of the nations was not an end in itself. It was the way that the
name of Christ would be honored. This is what filled him with such a passion
for the GreatCommission. Jesus had told Ananias "how much he [Paul] must
suffer for the sake of My Name" (Acts 9:16). And he had never turned back
from his willingness to suffer if only the fame of Christ would result. Nearthe
end of his life he could still say, "I am ready not only to be imprisoned but
even to die at Jerusalemfor the Name of the Lord Jesus" (Acts 21:13)-- from
The Pleasures ofGod) (cf the obedience offaith)
Paul's explains how the obedience of the Gentiles was brought about, stating
that it was by the powerof the Spirit Who provided the inherent ability to

perform the signs and wonders. (signs and wonders were the "deed" he had
mentioned in the previous verse)
Power(1411)(dunamis) describes inherent powerresiding in a thing by virtue
of its nature. Ability to accomplisha task. In the present context the power is
in the signs and wonders and the dunamis or powerof the Holy Spirit.
(Compare Acts 1:8 which also uses dunamis). Unless the Spirit of Christ
enables us, we can do absolutely nothing of eternal value! (cp Jn 15:5, Jn
6:63).
The NLT paraphrase gives a goodsense ofthe meaning of the original Greek:
I have won them over by the miracles done through me as signs from God--all
by the powerof God's Spirit.
The powerof the Spirit was promised by Jesus to His disciples...
but you shall receive power (dunamis) when the Holy Spirit has come upon
you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and
Samaria, and even to the remotestpart of the earth. (Acts 1:8)
Paul reminded the Corinthians...
my messageandmy preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom (for
human words and wisdom would rob the gospelofits power, eg as in an
intense, emotional appeal), but in demonstration (setting forth or an
exhibition of proof) of the Spirit and of power ("the sense is 'the powerful
demonstration of the Spirit'" - Hodge) that your faith should not rest on the
wisdom of men, but on the power of God. (1Cor2:4, 5)
Comment: Charles Hodge wrote that "Paul relied, therefore, for successnot
on his skill in argument or persuasion, nor upon any of the resourcesof
human wisdom, but on the testimony that the Spirit bore to the truth. The
Holy Spirit demonstrates the Gospelto be true."
It has been said that the greatAmerican preacherJonathanEdwards read his
sermons expresslyfor the purpose that he would not be guilty of using
persuasive techniques to gain a response. The response he soughtwas that
which was wrought by the the Gospel delivered in powerand in the Spirit.

John Stott - It seems that the only preaching God honors through which His
wisdom and powerare expressedis the preaching of a man who is willing in
himself to be both the weakling and the fool.
Charles Spurgeonagreeddeclaring that "The power that is in the Gospeldoes
not lie in the eloquence ofthe preacher, otherwise men would be the
converters of souls, nor does it lie in the preacher’s learning, otherwise it
would consistin the wisdom of men. We might preachuntil our tongues
rotted, till we would exhaust our lungs and die, but never a soul would be
convertedunless the Holy Spirit be with the Word of God to give it the power
to convert the soul."
Vine comments on the phrase in the powerof the Holy Spirit—Cp. Ro 15:13,
and see note there. Cp. also 1 Corinthians 2:4. This clause probably applies
both to what was statedin verse 18 and to what has just preceded. The Holy
Spirit was the agentnot only in the preaching but also in the signs and
wonders. The effectivity of gospelministry depends, then, not upon human
powerof eloquence, but upon the Lord, who works all by the Holy Spirit.
From the outsetof this letter Paul had made it very clearthat the effectof the
effectiveness ofGospelwas directly relatedwith the fact that the
Gospel(euaggelion)is the power(dunamis = inherent power)of God for
salvation(soteria)to everyone who believes (pisteuo in the present tense =
they keepon believing - their continued believing does not save them but it
does demonstrate that they are genuinely saved!), to the Jew first and also to
the Greek (Ro 1:16-note)
Paul relied for successnoton his own skill or eloquence, but on the powerful
demonstration of the Spirit. In a rhetoricalquestion to the Galatians who
were being tempted to work out their salvation in the power of their flesh Paul
asked...
This is the only thing I want to find out from you: did you receive the Spirit by
the works ofthe Law, or by hearing with faith? Are you so foolish? Having
begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfectedby the flesh? Did you suffer
so many things in vain-- if indeed it was in vain? Does He then, who provides

(epichoregeo = continuously supplies abundantly and with greatgenerosityas
did patrons of the arts who underwrote productions of Greek plays) you with
the Spirit and works miracles (dunamis = inherent power) among you, do it
by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith? (Galatians 3:2, 3, 4, 5)
Paul was so convinced of his weaknessandGod's powerthat he said...
I will rather boastabout my weaknesses,that the power (dunamis = inherent
power) of Christ may dwell in me. (2 Cor 12:9b)
Writing to the Ephesians at the end of his greatprayer for their inner
strengthening, he declares...
Now to Him who is able to do exceeding abundantly beyond all that we ask or
think, according to the power (dunamis = inherent power) that works within
us (Eph 3:20-note)
Writing to the Thessalonians who had been converted under Paul, Silas and
Timothy's ministry in Acts 17:1-4, Paul explained that...
our (Paul, Silvanus, Timothy) gospeldid not come to you in word only (first,
the gospelwas proclaimed), but also in power (second, it was proclaimed in
power) and in the Holy Spirit (third it was proclaimed in the Spirit) and with
full conviction(fourth, they believed the gospelthey proclaimed); just as you
know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake (fifth, they
lived among them as examples of the truth they proclaimed). (1Th 1:5-note)
Signs (4592)(semeion)refers to what distinguishes one personor thing from
another (as in Lk 2:12-note below, Ro 4:11). Signs point to something and are
a visible manifestationof an invisible reality that may or may not always be
supernatural. Another meaning and the one in the present verse is as a
reference to a miraculous event contrary to the usual course of nature and
intended as a pointer or means of confirmation.
Vine on semeion- "a sign, mark, indication, token," is used (a) of that which
distinguished a personor thing from others, e.g., Matthew 26:48 ; Luke 2:12 ;
Romans 4:11 ; 2 Corinthians 12:12 (1st part); 2 Thessalonians3:17 , "token,"
i.e., his autographattesting the authenticity of his letters; (b) of a "sign" as a

warning or admonition, e.g., Matthew 12:39 , "the sign of (i.e., consisting of)
the prophet Jonas;" Matthew 16:4 ; Luke 2:34 ; 11:29,30 ; (c) of miraculous
acts (1) as tokens ofDivine authority and power, e.g., Matthew 12:38,39 (1st
part); John 2:11 , RV, "signs;" John 3:2 (ditto); 4:54, "(the second)sign,"
RV; John 10:41 (ditto); 20:30;in 1 Corinthians 1:22 , "the Jews ask for
signs," RV, indicates that the Apostles were met with the same demand from
Jews as Christ had been: "signs were vouchsafedin plenty, signs of God's
powerand love, but these were not the signs which they sought ... They
wanted signs of an outward MessianicKingdom, of temporal triumph, of
material greatness forthe chosenpeople. ... With such cravings the Gospelof
a 'crucified Messiah'was to them a stumblingblock indeed" (Lightfoot); 1
Corinthians 14:22 ; (2) by demons, Revelation16:14 ; (3) by false teachers or
prophets, indications of assumedauthority, e.g., Matthew 24:24 ; Mark 13:22
; (4) by Satanthrough his specialagents, 2 Thessalonians2:9 ; Revelation
13:13,14 ;19:20 ; (d) of tokens portending future events, e.g., Matthew 24:3 ,
where "the sign of the Son of Man" signifies, subjectively, that the Son of Man
is Himself the "sign" ofwhat He is about to do; Mark 13:4 ; Luke 21:7,11,25 ;
Acts 2:19 ; Revelation12:1 , RV; 12:3, RV; 15:1. "Signs" confirmatoryof
what God had accomplishedin the atoning sacrifice ofChrist, His
resurrectionand ascension, and of the sending of the Holy Spirit, were given
to the Jews fortheir recognition, as at Pentecost, andsupernatural acts by
apostolic ministry, as well as by the supernatural operations in the churches,
such as the gift of tongues and prophesyings; there is no recordof the
continuance of these latter after the circumstances recordedin Acts 19:1-20
(Sign - Vine's ExpositoryDictionary of NT Words)
The angelannouncing Jesus'birth appearedto some shepherds staying out in
the fields declaring
this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths, and lying in
a manger. (Lu 2:12-note)
Luke records Jesus'reply to
the crowds (that were) increasing (saying)"This generationis a wicked
generation;it seeks fora sign, and yet no sign shall be given to it but the sign

of Jonah. For just as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so shall the Son of
Man be to this generation." (Lk 11:29, 30)
Semeionis used in the NT some 69 times. Observe that it is most often found
in the Gospels and Acts but that there is also a cluster of uses in the lastbook,
Revelation, many of these uses referring to counterfeit signs (Matt. 12:38f;
16:1, 3f; 24:3, 24, 30;26:48; Mk. 8:11f; 13:4, 22;16:17, 20; Lk. 2:12, 34;11:16,
29f; 21:7, 11, 25; 23:8; Jn. 2:11, 18, 23;3:2; 4:48, 54;6:2, 14, 26, 30; 7:31;
9:16; 10:41; 11:47;12:18, 37; 20:30;Acts 2:19, 22, 43; 4:16, 22, 30;5:12; 6:8;
7:36; 8:6, 13; 14:3; 15:12;Ro 4:11; 15:19; 1 Co. 1:22; 14:22;2 Co. 12:12;
2Thess. 2:9;3:17; Heb. 2:4; Rev. 12:1, 3; 13:13-14;15:1; 16:14; 19:20)For
discussionof the counterfeit signs see notes on (Rev 13:13; 13:14;16:14;
19:20)
Jesus'turning water to wine was the beginning of His signs in Cana of Galilee,
where He manifested His glory, and His disciples believed in Him. (Jn 2:11, cf
other "signs" by Jesus - his healing of the official's sonin Jn 4:54 feeding 5000
Jn 6:14 raising Lazarus Jn 12:18)
Luke records Paul's casting a demon from a slave girl when...
she continued doing this (proclaiming Paul and Silas were "bond-servants of
the MostHigh God, who are proclaiming to you the wayof salvation")for
many days. But Paul was greatlyannoyed, and turned and said to the spirit,
"I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her!" And it came
out at that very moment. (Acts 16:18)
And what was the result of this supernatural event? It gotPaul and Silas
beaten with rods and placed in a dungeon in stocks. Butwhat godless men did
for evil, God used for good, allowing Paul to proclaim the gospelto the
Philippian jailer and his household, all of whom were savedand who
undoubtedly formed a nucleus for the first church in Europe!
Signs per se do not save a man but they do point to the Man in Whom there is
salvation-- see especiallyJn 2:23, 24, 25, ,12:37, 20:30, 31.

The holy spirit and paul's success

The holy spirit and paul's success

Recommended

Recommended

More Related Content

What's hot

What's hot (20)

Similar to The holy spirit and paul's success

Similar to The holy spirit and paul's success (20)

More from GLENN PEASE

More from GLENN PEASE (20)

Recently uploaded

Recently uploaded (20)

The holy spirit and paul's success