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Romans 1:13
ESV I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that I have often intended to come to you (but thus far have been prevented), in order that I may reap some harvest among you as well as among the rest of the Gentiles.
NIV I do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, that I planned many times to come to you (but have been prevented from doing so until now) in order that I might have a harvest among you, just as I have had among the other Gentiles.
NASB I do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, that often I have planned to come to you (and have been prevented so far) so that I may obtain some fruit among you also just as among the rest of the Gentiles.
CSB Now I don't want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, that I often planned to come to you (but was prevented until now) in order that I might have a fruitful ministry among you, just as I have had among the rest of the Gentiles.
NLT I want you to know, dear brothers and sisters, that I planned many times to visit you, but I was prevented until now. I want to work among you and see spiritual fruit, just as I have seen among other Gentiles.
KJV Now I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that oftentimes I purposed to come unto you, (but was let hitherto,) that I might have some fruit among you also, even as among other Gentiles.

What does Romans 1:13 mean?

Paul has been describing his passionate desire to come to Rome to spend time with the Christians there in person. In fact, he has been praying "without ceasing" that it would be God's will to allow him to come to them (Romans 1:8–10).

Now he keeps going, apparently meaning to make sure his readers believe how serious he is about this. He is not being polite by saying, "Oh, we should get together sometime." His intent to come and visit them has been prevented up to this point. Paul understands these preventions to be God exercising His will to keep Paul from going to Rome until the time is right.

Paul adds to his list of reasons for wanting to come to them: he wants to reap a harvest among them and the rest of the Gentiles. This is a metaphor that Paul often uses to describe leading people to Christ. He wants to come to Rome to see more people put their faith in Christ to be forgiven for their sins and welcomed into the family of God.

After all, as Paul will write in the following verses, this is the very purpose of his life.
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