Why is Romans placed right after Acts in the New Testament?
Romans follows Acts because, when the New Testament was assembled by early church leaders, the Holy Spirit directed it to be placed there rather than after Galatians or 1 and 2 Thessalonians. Its placement reflects that Romans is foundational and basic in salvation teaching, laying the groundwork for the other epistles.
Les explains that Romans was actually written after Galatians and 1 and 2 Thessalonians. Yet when the church leaders in the 300-and-somethings came together to put the New Testament together, the Holy Spirit was so evident that He placed Romans right after Acts instead of Thessalonians or Galatians or one of His other earlier letters. There is a reason for this: Romans is so basic in these salvation teachings. Coming out of Acts, we hit Romans, and all the foundation is laid in this letter; then the pieces from the other epistles are put together.