1-3. (a) Jimbulula ihi yabhiti mu usuku kyoso Ewutiku kyafu. (b) Ihi yabhange Phawulu? O ima yabhange, ilondekesa ihi yalungu ni mwene?

 PHAWULU wakexile mu inzo yaditala mwexile athu avulu, mu mbanza ya Tolowade. Mwene wazwela ni jiphange mu ithangana yavulu, mukonda wejidile kwila kyokyo kyexile o kizuwa kyasukina kyejikala kumoxi. Kyexile kyá kaxi ka usuku. Kuma mu kididi kyokyo mwexile tundeya twavulu, nange mwexile dixi dyavulu. Sayi munzangala amwixana Ewutiku, waxikamene bhu njanena. Kyoso Phawulu kyakexile muzwela, Ewutiku wayi ku kilu, anga ulawuka tundé ku ditala dya katatu!

² Kuma Luka wexile musaki, nange mwéne wadyangele kukulumuka phala kutonginina o munzangala. Luka kexile ni phata kwila Ewutiku “wa fwile.” (Ika. 20:9) Mu kusuluka Phawulu wabhange madiwanu. Wazeka kuthandu dya munzangala, yu wambela o mundu: “Dixibhyenu, mukonda mwene kafu!” Phawulu wabheka dingi Ewutiku ku mwenyu.—Ika. 20:10.

³ Madiwanu oso yá abhiti mukonda dya kutena kwa nzumbi ikôla ya Nzambi. Phawulu kexile ni kikuma mukonda dya kufwa kwa Ewutiku. Né kiki, Phawulu kamesenene kwila o kufwa kwa munzangala yó kwejibhangesa muthu kudibhala mu nzumbi. Mu kufukununa Ewutiku, Phawulu waswinisa o kilunga. Kiki kyabhana nguzu ku jiphange phala kusuluka mu ukunji wâ. Phawulu watandanganyele kyavulu ni mwenyu wa athu. Tulembalala o izwelu yiyi ya Phawulu: “Eme ngazele ku manyinga ma athu oso.” (Ika. 20:26) Tumone kyebhi o phangu ya Phawulu itena kutukwatekesa mu ukexilu yú.

4. Kibhidi kyahi kya dikota kyadibhana nakyu Phawulu?

⁴ Kala kitwadilongo mu kibatulu kyabhiti, Phawulu wadibhanene ni kibhidi kya dikota. O ukunji wê mu mbanza ya Efezu wabhekele kavwanza ka dikota. O akwa kuyudika iteka ya phalata, kitadi kyâ kyexile mutunda mu ubhezelu wa Alitemiza. Ene abhange kavwanza ka dikota. Ikalakalu 20:1 yamba: “Kyoso kyabhu o kavwanza, Phawulu watumu kwixana o maxibulu. Kyazubha kwa swinisa ni kwalekela, wayi ku Masedonya.”

5, 6. (a) Nange Phawulu wabhiti ithangana ikuxi ku Masedonya, ni ihi yabhange mwene phala o jiphange kwenyoko? (b) Kyebhi Phawulu kyexile mumona o jiphange jê?

⁵ Mu njila ku Masedonya, Phawulu wemana ku ditabhu dya jinaviyu dya Tolowade, yu waxala kakithangana mu mbanza yiyi. Titu amutumikisine ku Kolindu. Phawulu wamesenene kudisanga-nê mu Tolowade. (2 Ko. 2:12, 13) Maji kyamono kwila Titu keji kwiza, Phawulu wayi ku Masedonya. Nange waxalaku muvu umoxi mu kuswinisa “o maxibulu ni izwelu yavulu.” a (Ika. 20:2) Mu kusukako, Titu wadisange ni Phawulu ku Masedonya, yu wamutangela kwila o jiphange axikina o itendelesu ya abhana Phawulu mu mukanda wê wa dyanga. (2 Ko. 7:5-7) Kiki kyabhangesa Phawulu kwasonekena mukanda wengi, lelu a wixana mukanda wa kayadi ku akwa Kolindu.

⁶ Kima kyambote kumona kwila Luka watumbula o kizwelu “kwa swinisa” ni kizwelu “waswinisa” phala kuzwela yalungu ni kithangana kyoso Phawulu kyakundu o jiphange ku Efezu ni ku Masedonya. O izwelu yiyi ilondekesa kyebhi Phawulu kyexile mumona o jiphange jê! Phawulu kadifwile ni Jifalizewu exile mutalatala kyayibha akwâ. Mwene wexile mutala o jimbudi ja Nzambi kala akalakadi ni akwâ. (Nzw. 7:47-49; 1 Ko. 3:9) Mwene walondekesa o ukexilu yú né mwene kyoso kyabhingile kubhana itendelesu.—2 Ko. 2:4.

7. Kyebhi o tufunga kyatena kukayela o phangu ya Phawulu?

⁷ Lelu o tufunga mu kilunga ni tufunga twa ilunga ene mubhanga nguzu phala kukayela o phangu ya Phawulu. Né mwene kyoso kyabazela, o disukilu dyâ o kuswinisa yó abhindamena kikwatekesu. Ni henda yoso, o tufunga asota kuswinisa o jiphange mu veji dya kwafundisa. Sayi phange wene mu kunda o ilunga mu mivu yavulu, wajimbulula o maka yá mu ukexilu yú: “Jiphange javulu amesena kubhanga o kima kyatokala, maji mu ithangana yavulu  ene mudibhana ni itatesu, ni wôma, abanza we kwila kandatena kudibhana ni maka mâ.” O tufunga atena kuswinisa o jiphange jiji.—Jih. 12:12, 13.

8, 9. (a) Ihi yafidisa Phawulu kukwata ulungu phala kuya ku Sídya? (b) Mukonda dyahi o Jijudé azembele kyavulu Phawulu?

⁸ Phawulu watundu ku Masedonya, wayi ku Kolindu. b Kyoso kyabhitiku mbeji jitatu, wamesenene kyavulu kuya ku Sengeleya, mweji kwata ulungu phala kuya ku Sídya. Kwenyoko wejitena kuya ku Jeluzaleme ni kubhana ku jiphange exile jingadyama, o ima yasangela o jiphange akwa Masedonya ni akwa Akaya. c  (Ika. 24:17; Lom. 15:25, 26) Maji kwamoneka kifidisu mu njila ya Phawulu. Ikalakalu 20:3 yamba: “Kyoso kyakexile phala kuya ku Sídya o Jijudé a mu lungulukila.”

⁹ Kitusasumuka mu kumona kwila o Jijudé azembele kyavulu Phawulu, mukonda exile mu mumona kala mukwa kulungulukila o kidi. Mukonda dya ukunji wê, Kidispu, o mutwameni wa dilombe ku Kolindu, wakituka Kidistá. (Ika. 18:7, 8; 1 Ko. 1:14) Mu kithangana kyengi, o Jijudé ku Kolindu atatela makutu kwa Phawulu bhupholo ya Ngadyu, nguvulu ya Akaya. Maji Ngadyu wambe kwila ki kwexile kima phala kutatela Phawulu. Kiki kyabhangesa o jinguma kukala dingi ni njinda yavulu kwa Phawulu. (Ika. 18:12-17) Nange o Jijudé ku Kolindu ejidile mba axinganeka kuma Phawulu wejikwata ulungu ku Sengeleya, kyenyiki asoto kumubhanga kyayibha. Ihi yejibhanga mwene?

10. O kwila o wôma kyene o kima kyabhangesa Phawulu kukamba kuya ku Sengeleya? Jimbulula.

¹⁰ Mu kuxinganeka mu kukondama kwê ni ku kitadi kyasangela o jiphange, Phawulu kayi dingi ku Sengeleya, wavutuka mu njila mwejile, mwene wabhiti ku Masedonya. Mu kidi, kwenda njila mu ikoka kyexile we kilwezu. Mu kithangana kyenyokyo o jibandi exile mukinga o athu mu ikoka. Katé mwene mu ididi ya kuzekelamu mwexile ilwezu. Né kiki, Phawulu wasolo kubhita mu ilwezu yiyi, mu veji dya kuya ku Sengeleya. Maji kexile mukwenda ubheka wê. Mu kithangana kyenyokyo wexile mubhanga o kikalakalu kyê kala mukunji wa jixi jengi kumoxi ni Adistaku, Ngayu, Sekundu, Sopata, Timote, Tikiku ni Tolofimu.—Ika. 20:3, 4.

11. Kyebhi o Jikidistá ja lelu kyene mudilanga, ni phangu yebhi yatuxila Jezú yalungu ni maka enyá?

¹¹ Kala Phawulu, lelu o Jikidistá adilanga kyoso kyamuboka. Sayi ididi mu veji dya kukala ubheka, enda mu ibuka-ibuka mba kiyadi kiyadi. O Jikidistá ejiya kwila katena kufidisa o izukutisu. (Nzw. 15:20; 2 Ti. 3:12) Ihi yene mubhanga kyoso kya azukutisa? Ene kene mudita mu kilwezu mu lwelu. Tala o phangu ya Jezú. Sayi kizuwa, o jinguma jê akwata matadi phala kumutakula nawu, “maji Jezú wadisweka, anga utunda mu tembulu.” (Nzw. 8:59) Mu kubhita thembu, kyoso Jijudé kyamesenene kumujibha, “Jezú kexile mu dilondekesa dingi ku Jijudé, mwene watundu kwenyóko, yu wayi ku kididi kya zukamene ni kikangalakata.” (Nzw. 11:54) Kyoso Jezú kyejidile kwila kejibhukumukina Nzambi, wexile mubhanga yoso yatenene phala kudilanga. Lelu kyene we kibhanga o Jikidistá.—Mat. 10:16.

12, 13. (a) Kyebhi kyadivu o jiphange kyoso kyamono kwila Ewutiku wafukunuka? (b) Kidyelelu kyebhi kyala mu Bibidya kiswinisa yó afundu o jindandu jâ?

¹² Phawulu ni makamba mê ayi kumoxi ku Masedonya, mu kusuluka adisandula maji ku pholo dya kwenda adisange ku Tolowade. d O Bibidya yamba: “Mu kubhita izuwa itanu, twa asange mu Tolowade.” e (Ika. 20:6) Kala kitwadilongo ku dimatekenu dya kibatulu kiki, poxolo Phawulu wafukununa o munzangala Ewutiku mu mbanza yiyi. O jiphange asangulukile kyavulu mu kumona kwila kamba dyâ Ewutiku wexile dingi ku mwenyu!—Ika. 20:12.

¹³ O madiwanu kala yá kene mubhita dingi mu izuwa yetu. Maji o kidyelelu kya difukunukinu kiswinisa o athu afundu kyá o jindandu ja kazola. (Nzw. 5:28, 29) Banza mu kima kiki: Kuma wexile mukwa ituxi, Ewutiku wafu dingi. (Lom. 6:23) Maji o yó anda kwafukununa ku mundu wa ubhe andakala ni kidyelelu kya kukala ni mwenyu wakalelaku! O athu a afukununa phala kutumina ni Jezú ku dyulu atambula mwenyu ki wabhwa, katena dingi kufwa. (1 Ko. 15:51-53) Lelu kikale o Jikidistá ja a undu mba o “jimbudi ja mukwá”, asanguluka kyavulu ni kidyelelu kya difukunukinu.—Nzw. 10:16.

14. Ihi yazwela Phawulu ku tufunga twa Efezu kyoso kyadisange ku Miletu?

¹⁴ Phawulu ni makamba mê atundu ku Tolowade ayi ku Asu, mu kusuluka abhiti mu mbanza ya Mitilene, Xiyo, Samu, ni Miletu. Phawulu wamesenene kubhixila mu Jeluzaleme mu kithangana kya Fesa ya Pendekoxi, mukonda dya kiki wasolo kwenda mu ulungu kiweji laleka ku Efezu. Kuma Phawulu wamesenene kuzwela ni tufunga twa mbanza ya Efezu, wa abhingi phala kudisanga mu mbanza ya Miletu. (Ika. 20:13-17) “Kyoso ene kyabhixila, mwene wa atangela, wixi: ‘Enu mwejiya kyambote yoso i ngabhange mwaxaxi kenu, tundé o kizuwa ki ngabhixila mu kibatu kya Azya. Ni kulenduka kwoso ni masoxi, nga kalakala kala ngi mubhika wa Ngana, mu kubhita mu izukutisu mukonda dya Jijudé ja mesenene ku ngijibha. Ki ngafulu we ku mitangela kima kyoso-kyoso kyeji mi  swinisa. Nga milongo mwaxaxi ka mundu ni mu inzo ni inzo. Maji ngabokela o athu oso, kikale Jijudé ni Jingeleku kwila, atokalele kudyela o ituxi yâ, kuvutuka kwa Nzambi, ni kukala ni kixikanu kwa Ngana yetu Jezú.’”—Ika. 20:18-21.

15. O kuboka inzo ni inzo kutukwatekesa kubhanga ihi?

¹⁵ Lelu kwala maukexilu avulu akutula o njimbu yambote ku athu. Kala Phawulu, tubhanga yoso phala kuya mu kididi kyosokyoso mwala athu, kala bhu ididi bhwene mu kwimana o maximba, mu ikoka, mu itanda ni mu maloja. Maji o kuboka inzo ni inzo wene o ukexilu wabetakota wa Jimbangi ja Jihova kubokela o athu. Mukonda dyahi? Mukonda o kuboka inzo ni inzo kukwatekesa o athu oso kwivwa o njimbu ya Utuminu mu ithangana yavulu. Kiki kilondekesa kwila Nzambi katungula o athu. Kibhangesa we kukwatekesa o athu alenduka ku mabhata mâ. Ku mbandu ya mukwá kiswinisa o kixikanu ni kwila kikolokotesa o athu abhanga o kikalakalu kiki. Mu kidi o kuboka ni kuswina kwoso “mwaxaxi ka mundu ni mu inzo ni inzo” kyene o kidimbu kya Jikidistá ja kidi.

16, 17. Kyebhi Phawulu kyalondekesa kwila waswinine, ni kyebhi o Jikidistá lelu kyene mu kayela o phangu yê?

 ¹⁶ Phawulu wambe ku tufunga twa Efezu kwila kejidile o ilwezu yeji dibhana nayu mu kuvutuka mu Jeluzaleme. Mwene wa ambela: “Eme ki ngasuwu dingi o mwenyu wami, maji o kima kya betakota, o kukumbidila yoso ya ngixindi ni ukunji wa ngibhana Ngana Jezú, wakubhana umbangi wa njimbu yambote ku athu oso yalungu ni ngalasa ya Nzambi.” (Ika. 20:24) Ni kuswina kwoso, Phawulu kehela kwila kibhidi kyosokyoso kala uhaxi mba kizukutisu kya dikota, ki mufidisa kukumbidila o kikalakalu kyê.

¹⁷ Lelu o Jikidistá adibhana we ni ibhidi yavulu o matelu. Sayi yá o jinguvulu ja afidisa kuboka, adibhana we ni izukutisu. Amukwá adibhana ni mauhaxi abhonzo mba ala ni kikote ku muxima. O minzangala adibhana ni ijijidiku ya jikoleka jâ mu xikola. Kabasa kibhidi kyadibhana nakyu, o Jimbangi ja Jihova aswina kala kyaswinine Phawulu. Ala we polondo phala ‘kubhana umbangi’ walungu ni njimbu yambote.

18. Kyebhi Phawulu kyakambele kukala ni kikuma kya manyinga, ni kyebhi o tufunga twa Efezu kyejitena kukayela o phangu yê?

¹⁸ Mu kusuluka Phawulu wabhana kitendelesu kya dikota ku tufunga twa Efezu. Wa atangela kuma mwene wexile phangu phala ene ni kwila nange keji dimona dingi. Mwene wambe: “Eme ngazele ku manyinga ma athu oso. Mukonda ki ngafulu ku mitangela o vondadi yoso ya Nzambi.” Kyebhi o tufunga twa Efezu kyeji kayela o phangu ya Phawulu ni kukala sé kikuma kya manyinga? Mwene wa ambela: “Mu kyenyiki, dilangyenu, enu-wenu ni kilunga kyoso. Kuma o nzumbi ikôla ya mi solo kala mu tufunga, phala kwinga o kilunga kya Nzambi, kyasumbu mwéne ni manyinga a Mon’ê.” (Ika. 20:26-28) Phawulu wa adimuna kwila mu kilunga mwejibokona “athu kala imbungu” eji “zwela ima yamakutu phala kusunga o maxibulu ku mbandu yâ.” Ihi yatokalele kubhanga o tufunga? Phawulu wa adimuna: “Kyenyiki dilangyenu, lembalalenu kwila mu mivu itatu usuku ni mwanya, ni masoxi ki ngafulu ku mi dimuna enu oso.”—Ika. 20:29-31.

19. Ananyi amoneka mu ilunga ku disukilu dya hama ya dyanga, mukonda dya kiki ihi yabhiti mu jihama ja mivu ku pholo?

¹⁹ O athu edile “kala imbungu” amoneka ku disukilu dya hama ya dyanga. Nange ku muvu wa 98 K.K., poxolo Nzwá wasoneka: “Kwamoneka kyá jikidistu javulu ja makutu. . . . Sumbala ene  atundu mwaxaxi ketu, maji ka tutokalele, mukonda se a tutokalele eji xala n’etu.” (1 Nz. 2:18, 19) Mu hama ya katatu, o ubhezelu wa makutu wavudile, mukonda dya kiki mu jingeleja mwexile kyá o kibuka kya atwameni. Mu hama ya kawana o Nguvulu Constantino waxikinisa o ubhezelu yú. Mukonda dya kuxikina o ubhezelu wa makutu, ni ku ulondekesa kala wa kidi, o atwameni a jingeleja exile muzwela “ima yamakutu.” O makutu yá twene mwamona mu ilongesu ni mu ijila ya jingeleja ja makutu.

20, 21. Kyebhi Phawulu kyalondekesa kwila wexile muta o ibhindamu ya akwâ kupholo, ni kyebhi o tufunga twa lelu kyene mukayela o phangu yê?

²⁰ O mwenyu wa Phawulu ki wadifwanganene ni wa yó kupholo dya kwenda amateka kukwatekesa o jimbudi phala kwafuta kitadi. Mwene wexile mukalakala phala kudikila o ibhindamu yê mu xitu, phala kakale kinemenu phala o jiphange mu ilunga. Phawulu kexile mukwatekesa o jiphange phala kumuvutwila kima. Mwene waswinisa o tufunga twa Efezu phala kulondekesa o henda yiyi ya kidi. Phawulu wa atangela: “Mwatokala mu kwatekesa yó a bhindamena kikwatekesu ni kulembalala o izwelu ya Ngana yetu Jezú, kyoso kyambe: ‘O kubhana kusangulukisa dingi, o kutambula ndenge.’”—Ika. 20:35.

²¹ Kala Phawulu, lelu o tufunga ene muta o ibhindamu ya akwâ ku pholo. Ene kadifu ni atwameni a jingeleja akwatekesa o jimbudi, phala o jimbudi jiji na afute kitadi. O yó atambula o kikalakalu kya “kwinga o kilunga kya Nzambi,” ata kupholo o ibhindamu ya akwâ, abhanga yoso ni henda, kakingila kwafuta kitadi. Mu kilunga kya Jihova kimwala kididi phala o athu akwa ukumbu, adisotela fuma. O athu yá kandaditunda kyambote. (Jisa. 25:27) O ukumbu ubheka ngó dilebhu.—Jisa. 11:2.

22. Ihi yabhangesa o tufunga twa Efezu kuzola kyavulu Phawulu?

²² O jiphange azolele kyavulu Phawulu mukonda, mwene wa azolele we kyavulu. Kyoso kyabhixila o kithangana kya Phawulu kuya, “enyoso anga amateka kudila kyavulu, kyenyiki a ndwakuna Phawulu, ni henda yoso a mubhana jinzobole.” (Ika. 20:37, 38) O Jikidistá azola we kyavulu yó, kala Phawulu, adibhakula phala kulanga o jimbudi. Mu kudilonga o phangu ya Phawulu twamono kwila, mwene kadizangeleka mu kwamba kuma: “Eme ngazele ku manyinga ma athu oso.”—Ika. 20:26.