Chapter 16

¹About the collection for God’s people, I want you to do as I told the churches of Galatia to do. ²On the first of every week each of you is to put aside and store up whatever he gains, so that money will not have to be collected after I come. ³When I come I will send whatever persons you authorize with credentials, to carry your gift to Jerusalem. ⁴And if it seems worth while for me to go myself, they can go with me.

⁵I will come to you after passing through Macedonia, for I am going through Macedonia, ⁶and I will probably stay some time with you, or even pass the winter, so that you may start me off for wherever I may be going. ⁷For I do not want to see you now just in passing, for I hope to spend some time with you if the Lord permits it. ⁸But I shall stay in Ephesus until the Harvest Festival, ⁹for I have a great and promising opportunity here, as well as many opponents.

¹⁰If Timothy reaches you, put him at his ease among you, for he is devoted to the Lord’s work, just as I am. ¹¹So no one is to slight him. But see him off cordially when he comes back to me, for I am expecting him with the other brothers.

¹²As for our brother Apollos, I have often urged him to visit you with the other brothers, and he is quite unwilling to come now, but he will come when he has a good opportunity.

¹³Be on the watch. Stand firm in your faith. Act like men. Show yourselves strong. ¹⁴Do everything with love.

¹⁵Now I urge you, brothers—you know that the family of Stephanas was the first to be converted in Greece, and that they have devoted themselves to the service of God’s people— ¹⁶I want you to enlist under such leaders, and under anyone who joins with you and works hard. ¹⁷And I am glad that Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus have come here, for they have made up for your absence. ¹⁸They have cheered my heart, and yours too. You should appreciate such men.

¹⁹The churches of Asia wish to be remembered to you. Aquila and Prisca, with the congregation that meets at their house, send you their special Christian greetings. ²⁰All the brothers wish to be remembered to you. Greet one another with a sacred kiss.

²¹This farewell I, Paul, add in my own hand. ²²A curse upon anyone who has no love for the Lord. Lord, come quickly! ²³The blessing of the Lord Jesus be with you! ²⁴My love be with you all through Christ Jesus.