4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.

5 Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven.

— Acts 2:4-5

I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that I have often intended to come to you (but thus far have been prevented), in order that I may reap some harvest among you as well as among the rest of the Gentiles.

— Romans 1:13

23 But now, since I no longer have any room for work in these regions, and since I have longed for many years to come to you,

24 I hope to see you in passing as I go to Spain, and to be helped on my journey there by you, once I have enjoyed your company for a while.

— Romans 15:23-24

For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by His life.

— Romans 5:10

Thoughts on Today’s Reading

Grace, mercy and love from Christ to you.

The church in Rome probably originated with travelers to and from the great city who shared the gospel message. Some of those believers may have been among the gathering on Pentecost, the day the Holy Spirit powerfully descended upon God’s people in Jerusalem. Rome’s church consisted mostly of Gentile believers. Paul sought a harvest among the Roman Gentiles and desired to fellowship, encourage believers, and receive assistance at Rome. Paul needed this influential church’s partnership to share the gospel in Rome and beyond.

In the book of Romans, Paul focused on God’s provision of righteousness for Jews and Gentiles. He repeatedly pointed to humanity’s sinful condition before a holy God. God alone is righteous. All people, all nations, Jew and Gentile, share the same great need — the righteousness only God can give. Romans paints a glorious picture of God’s reconciliation of sinful people to Himself through Christ. The direct application of this truth is profound: United under the gospel, Jews and Gentiles can worship God in harmony with one another.