ƐYI 11

“Le Mu Mla Éeyē Mɛ́mla Alelékwū Ihɔ”

GBƆƆ

Paul’s example in dealing with hostile, unresponsive people

Ŋma Ɔkpá Ku Úklɔ́ Kú Ācotɛ̄hɔ̄ 13:1-52

1, 2. Ɔdiya nɛ uklɔ ku Ubanabasi mla Usɔlu wɛ ɛyɛɛyi gwu aku ācɛ ō tɔɔna ipu éwo ɔhá, ɛgɛnyá nɛ uklɔ ku uwa ya ku ɛlā nōo yɔ ipu ɔkpá ku Úklɔ́ kú Ācotɛ̄hɔ̄ 1:8 a kóō le ya jila a?

Jé Ipu Uce Ku Oyibo

² Jé Ipu Uce Ku Oyibo

“Habɔ̄ Ubánābasi Mɛ́mla Usɔ́lu Tá Gā Um Ohígbū Úklɔ́ Nɛ̄ N Fu Uwá Kú Nū Ā” (Úklɔ́ kú Ācotɛ̄hɔ̄ 13:1-12)

3. Ɔdi gē ya ku iyawu oligbo kóō lɔnɔ nɛhi eko ku Ācɛ O Yɛce Ukraist aflɛyi a?

³ Jé Ipu Uce Ku Oyibo

ON THE ROAD

In the ancient world, overland travel was slower, more tiring, and probably more expensive than sailing. However, the only way to get to many places was on foot.

A traveler could walk about 20 miles (30 km) a day. He would be exposed to the elements—sun, rain, heat, and cold—and to the danger of being accosted by thieves. The apostle Paul noted that he was “in journeys often, in dangers from rivers, in dangers from robbers.”—2 Cor. 11:26.

A vast network of paved roads traversed the Roman Empire. Along the main highways, travelers would find inns spaced a day’s walking distance apart. Between these were taverns where one could obtain basic supplies. Contemporary writers describe inns and taverns as being dirty, overcrowded, humid, and flea-infested. They were disreputable places, frequented by the worst elements of society. Innkeepers often robbed travelers and included prostitution among the services offered.

Christians no doubt avoided such places as much as possible. When traveling in lands where they had no family or friends, though, they would likely have had little alternative.

4. (a) Mla otabɔ ku ɔnyɛ néē fu Ubanabasi mla Usɔlu a, ɔdi nɛ ayinɛ a kē ya lɛyikwu ō fu ku uwa nyā? (b) Ɛgɛnyá nɛ alɔ géē je otabɔ lɛ ayinɛ néē fu ō yuklɔ ipu ɛ̄gbā ō gba ku Ujehofa a?

⁴ Jé Ipu Uce Ku Oyibo

5. Kɛla lɛyikwu ɔdā nōó wɛ ō tɔɔna ipu idɔ ku Usayiprɔsi a.

⁵ Jé Ipu Uce Ku Oyibo

IN THE SYNAGOGUES OF THE JEWS

Literally, “synagogue” means “a bringing together.” It referred to an assembly or congregation of Jews and eventually took on the meaning of the place or building where the assembly was held.

It is believed that synagogues were instituted either during or immediately after the Jews’ 70-year exile in Babylon. Synagogues served as places for instruction, worship, the reading of the Scriptures, and spiritual exhortation. In the first century C.E., each town in Palestine had its own synagogue. Larger cities had more than one, and Jerusalem had many.

Following the Babylonian exile, however, not all the Jews returned to Palestine. Many traveled abroad for business reasons. As early as the fifth century B.C.E., Jewish communities existed throughout the 127 jurisdictional districts of the Persian Empire. (Esther 1:1; 3:8) In time, Jewish quarters also developed in cities all around the Mediterranean. These scattered Jews came to be known as the Diaspora, or Dispersion, and they too established synagogues wherever they settled.

In the synagogues, the Law was read and expounded every Sabbath. Readings were delivered from an elevated platform, surrounded on three sides by seats. Participation in reading, preaching, and exhortation was open to any devout Jewish male.

6, 7. (a) Ɔnyɛ wɛ Usajiɔsi Upɔlɔsi a, ɔdiya nɛ Uba-Ujisɔsi yɔ i dɔka ō ci ɔ ŋma ō jahɔ tu ɔkoolɔhi a? (b) Ɔdi nɛ Usɔlu ya ō ci Uba-Ujisɔsi ŋma ō ya lɛ a?

⁶ Jé Ipu Uce Ku Oyibo

⁷ Jé Ipu Uce Ku Oyibo

Like Paul, we boldly defend the truth in the face of opposition

8. Ɛgɛnyá nɛ alɔ géē gbla Upɔlu ya ipu ɔtu ō lɛ icɛ a?

⁸ Jé Ipu Uce Ku Oyibo

“Ɛlā Ō Tá Ɔ̄cɛ Ɔtūlé” (Úklɔ́ kú Ācotɛ̄hɔ̄ 13:13-43)

9. Ɛgɛnyá nɛ Upɔlu mla Ubanabasi lɛ ocabɔ olɔhi taajɛ lɛ ācɛ nōo lɛ uklɔ ō ya ipu ujɔ icɛ a?

⁹ Jé Ipu Uce Ku Oyibo

10. Kɛla lɛyikwu iyawu nōo ŋma Upaga gā Antiyɔku ku Upisidiya a.

¹⁰ Jé Ipu Uce Ku Oyibo

11, 12. Eko nɛ Upɔlu kɛla ipu ɛga ō gbɔɔkɔ ku Antiyɔku ku Upisidiya a, ɛgɛnyá nɛ ó ya ku ɛlā ku nu kóō hɛ ācɛ ɔtu a?

¹¹ Jé Ipu Uce Ku Oyibo

¹² Jé Ipu Uce Ku Oyibo

13. Ɛgɛnyá nɛ alɔ géē ya ku ɛlā ku alɔ kóō hɛ ācɛ nōo gē jahɔ tu alɔ ɔtu a?

¹³ Jé Ipu Uce Ku Oyibo

14. Ɛgɛnyá nɛ Upɔlu ya ku ɛlā nɛ ó humayi ka a kóō tɛɛma kwu Ujisɔsi a, ɔdi nɛ ó kē ka o ya ɛɛ ku ācɛ a kóō jahɔ tu ɔ a? (b) Ɛgɛnyá nɛ ācɛ a ya lɛyikwu ɛlā nɛ Upɔlu ka a?

¹⁴ Jé Ipu Uce Ku Oyibo

“Alɔ Leyī Pīya Tá Aílɔ́wá Ā” (Úklɔ́ kú Ācotɛ̄hɔ̄ 13:44-52)

15. Ɔdi ya ɛ̄cī ku Usabati nōo gboce ɛ̄nɛ̄ Upɔlu kɛla a?

¹⁵ Jé Ipu Uce Ku Oyibo

“They stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas . . . And the disciples continued to be filled with joy and holy spirit.”—Acts 13:50-52

16. Ɔdi nɛ ācɛ Ujiyu a ya lɛyikwu ɛlā nɛ ācɛ ō tɔɔna ipu éwo ɔhá a ka a, ɔdi nɛ Upɔlu mla Ubanabasi ya eko nɛ ācɛ Ujiyu a lɛ uwa nu bɛɛcɛ ŋma igeli a?

¹⁶ Jé Ipu Uce Ku Oyibo

17-19. Ɛgɛnyá nɛ alɔ géē yɛce ocabɔ olɔhi nɛ Upɔlu mla Ubanabasi le taajɛ a, ɛgɛnyá nōó kē géē ta alɔ abɔ ku alɔ lɛ abɔ bi eeye ku alɔ a?

¹⁷ Jé Ipu Uce Ku Oyibo

¹⁸ Jé Ipu Uce Ku Oyibo

¹⁹ Jé Ipu Uce Ku Oyibo

BARNABAS—“SON OF COMFORT”

A prominent member of the early Jerusalem congregation was Joseph, a Levite and a native of Cyprus. The apostles gave him an additional name, descriptive of his personality—Barnabas, meaning “Son of Comfort.” (Acts 4:36) When Barnabas saw a need among his fellow believers, he hastened to meet it.

At Pentecost 33 C.E., 3,000 new disciples were baptized. It is likely that many of these had traveled to Jerusalem for the festival and had not planned to stay in the city for as long as they did. The congregation needed resources to care for this multitude. Therefore, Barnabas sold a piece of land and generously brought the money to the apostles as a contribution.—Acts 4:32-37.

As a mature Christian overseer, Barnabas was eager to help others. It was he who aided newly converted Saul of Tarsus when all the other disciples feared him because of his reputation as a persecutor. (Acts 9:26, 27) Barnabas responded humbly when Paul gave him and Peter strong counsel concerning the proper relationship between Jewish and Gentile Christians. (Gal. 2:9, 11-14) These few examples show that Barnabas truly lived up to his name—“Son of Comfort.”

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