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"For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is
abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God; whiles by the experiment of this
ministration they glorify God for your professed subjection unto the gospel of Christ, and
for your liberal distribution unto them, and unto all men" (II Cor. 9: 12, 13).
This gift was to be the proof to the Jewish believers at Jerusalem of the sincerity of the
Gentiles (II Cor. 8: 19, 24).
All this seems very beautiful, and if we only had this information we might rightly
imagine that Paul went to Jerusalem with a light heart and quickened step for the joy that
the charge of such a gift would give him. What, however, do we find? Paul had no doubt
that the offering was of God:--
"Nevertheless, brethren I have written the more boldly unto you in some sort, as
putting you in mind, because of the grace that is given me of God; that I should be the
minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the
offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost"
(Rom. 15: 15, 16).
What Paul evidently did doubt was whether the Jews would accept the gift, for he
beseeches the Romans to
"Strive together with me in your prayers to God for me, that I may be delivered from
them that do not believe in Judæa, and that my service which I have for Jerusalem may be
accepted of the saints" (Rom. 15: 30, 31).
This gift proved the sincerity of the Gentiles, but it was at the same time a test to the
Jews as to whether they would really accept the Gentiles. Was the gift acceptable? It is
not told us, but we do know that it failed to cause them to receive the Gentiles. The fears
Paul entertained were confirmed every step he took towards Jerusalem:--
"Behold, I go bound in spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall
me there; save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and
afflictions abide me" (Acts 20: 22, 23).
This journey was not an apostolic mistake, but was "The will of the Lord"
(Acts 21: 14).
When at last Paul reached Jerusalem he did not delay, but with the gift of the Gentiles
in his hands, and Representatives of the Gentiles accompanying him, we read that on
"The day following Paul went in with us unto James; and all the elders were present.
And when he had saluted them, he declared particularly what things God had wrought
among the Gentiles by his ministry" (Acts 21: 18, 19).
When the true ones heard this, they glorified the Lord, but nevertheless reiterated
the suggestion they had made as to the Gentiles at the conference of Acts 15: (see
Acts 21: 25)--points of which Paul, during his last journey, had not been led to
emphasize (see I Cor. 8:)--then, referring to the thousands of Jews which believed and