Romans 15:19

Through mighty signs and wonders. — Literally, through the might of signs and wonders — i.e., through those extraordinary powers which found their expression in signs and wonders. “Signs and wonders” is the phrase regularly used throughout the New Testament for 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 symbolical character of the miracle, the spiritual truth of which it was, as it were, the physical expression. In the word “wonders” stress is laid rather upon its character as a portent, a manifestation of supernatural, divine power. That St. Paul himself claimed miraculous powers is a face that cannot be doubted.

By the power of the Spirit of God. — The two clauses at the beginning of this verse correspond roughly to “by word and deed” at the end of the last. “Signs and wonders” are the manifestation of the effectual working of Christ in “deed.” The “power of 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. — The Apostle 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 especially because it was 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 eastern coast of the Adriatic, and forming the northern boundary of Epirus, and the north-western of Macedonia. Whether St. Paul had actually visited Illyricum does not appear from 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 satisfied if he had approached the outskirts of Illyricum during his journey through Macedonia. That journey must be the one recorded in 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 expression which we find in Acts 20:2, “When he 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 gospel to its full geographical extent, and not the subjective sense in the Apostle of his own fulfilment of the duty of preaching the gospel laid upon him.