Romans 15:23

‘But now, having no more any place in these regions, and having these many years a longing to come to you,'

But now things were different. He no longer had any place in these regions. This may have been because of the antagonism that his presence now aroused everywhere, especially because he was so hated by zealous Jews (Acts 13:50; Acts 14:19; Acts 18:5; Acts 19:9; Acts 21:27 (‘Jews from Asia'). Note also Acts 23:12; Acts 24:1; Acts 24:5; Acts 24:9; Acts 25:3), or it may have been because he had now handed on this responsibility to his trained lieutenants. Or indeed it may have been both. He may well have felt that the regions beyond were being catered for as a result of the activities of fellow-workers, and of the evangelistic outreach of the churches of Macedonia. They were no longer ‘virgin territory'. Whereas Spain was. (Although there is, in fact, no solid evidence that he ever reached Spain).

‘And having these many years a longing to come to you.' He emphasises again how much he has longed to meet up with Christians in Rome, many of whom were his friends who had gone there before him. We need not doubt his sincerity in this. As the centre of the Empire Rome would necessarily appeal to Paul's sense of responsibility as the Apostle to the Gentiles.