It had been Paul’s vision to preach the gospel in Rome (Acts 19:21; Rom. 1:15). Paul was a great mission strategist; he planted churches in large cities to serve as strategic centers from which the gospel radiated out to the surrounding areas. A good example was his ministry in the city of Ephesus, where he spent at least two years and three months teaching the Bible and raising disciples (19:8-10).

There was no other city more important than Rome from Paul’s mission strategic point of view. His prayer for the gospel mission in Rome was so earnest that the Holy Spirit inspired him to author the book of Romans, to which there would be no comparison in its importance of affecting human history.

Paul probably did not have the whole picture of what his mission to Rome would mean to Christendom. What he did was to simply obey Jesus’ world mission command, “Go; …you must also testify in Rome” (11b) and teach the Bible in a rented house for two years (28:30).
Application: Father, thank you for Paul’s example of simple but absolute obedience to Jesus’ world mission command. I am one of those who have benefited from his obedience. Help me follow his example of obedience. Amen.
One Word: Obey Jesus’ world mission command and “Go!”