ISAHLUKO 20
‘Lagcwala Futhi Laphumelela’ Kungelani Lokuphikiswa
Indlela u-Apholo loPhawuli abancedisa ngayo ukuthi izindaba ezinhle ziqhubeke zisabalala
Isihloko lesi sisekelwe kumiSebenzi 18:23–19:41
1, 2. (a) Yibuphi ubunzima uPhawuli labanye bakhe abahlangana labo e-Efesu? (b) Sizaxoxa ngani esihlokweni lesi?
KUYAXOKOZELA emigwaqweni ye-Efesu, abantu bayamemeza njalo kuzwakala umsindo wabantu abanengi abagijimayo. Kulexuku labantu elidla ubhedu futhi selibangele isiphithiphithi. Selibambe abantu ababili abahamba lomphostoli uPhawuli futhi lihamba libahudula. Akusela bantu emigwaqweni ebanzi lapho okulezitolo khona ngoba bonke bajoyina ixuku leli elilokhu likhula. Ixuku ligijima liyengena enkundleni enkulu yemidlalo, ethwala ababukeli abangaba ngu-25 000. Abantu abanengi abakwazi okubangele umsindo wonke lo kodwa bacabangela ukuthi kulabantu abafuna ukuhlasela ithempeli labo lonkulunkulukazi wabo u-Athemisi. Yikho bayamemeza besithi: “Mkhulu u-Athemisi wabase-Efesu!”—Imiseb. 19:34.
2 USathane uzama ukuthi izindaba ezinhle zoMbuso kaNkulunkulu zingasabalali yikho ephinda ukusebenzisa ixuku labantu elidla ubhedu. Kodwa kasebenzisi udlakela kuphela. Esihlokweni lesi sizabona ezinye indlela uSathane ayezama ngazo ukwehlukanisa amaKhristu akuqala lokuvimba umsebenzi wokutshumayela. Sizabona lokuthi amacebo akhe kaphumelelanga ngoba “ilizwi likaJehova laqhubeka ligcwala indawo yonke futhi liphumelela ngendlela emangalisayo.” (Imiseb. 19:20) Kuyini okwanceda amaKhristu ukuthi anqobe? Okwenza anqoba yikho okwenza lathi sinqobe. Lanxa kunjalo siyakwazi ukuthi ukunqoba ngokukaJehova, hatshi okwethu. Kodwa lathi njengamaKhristu akuqala kumele senze okuthile. Umoya kaJehova uzasinceda sibe lobuntu obuzasenza siphumelele enkonzweni yethu. Asiqaleni ngokuxoxa ngo-Apholo.
‘Wayeyazi Kuhle IMibhalo’ (Imiseb. 18:24-28)
3, 4. Kuyini okwananzelelwa ngu-Akhwila loPrisila futhi benzani?
3 Ngesikhathi uPhawuli eqalisa uhambo lwakhe lwesithathu engumnali, elubangise e-Efesu, umJuda okuthiwa ngu-Apholo wafika e-Efesu. Wayevela edolobheni leGibhithe elalidumile okuthiwa yi-Alekizandriya. U-Apholo wayelobuntu obuhle futhi eyingcitshi ekukhulumeni. Kanti njalo ‘wayeyazi kuhle iMibhalo’ futhi ‘evutha emoyeni.’ Wayekhuthele futhi ekhuluma ngesibindi esinagogeni phambi kwamaJuda.—Imiseb. 18:24, 25.
4 U-Akhwila loPrisila bamuzwa ekhuluma. Akuthandabuzwa ukuthi bathokoza bemuzwa “efundisa izinto eziqondileyo ngoJesu.” Ayekukhuluma mayelana loJesu kwakuqondile. Kodwa kungakayi ngaphi u-Akhwila loPrisila bananzelela ukuthi kulokunye okuqakathekileyo ayengakwazi. Wayekwazi ‘ngobhabhathizo lukaJohane kuphela.’ Imuli le ethobekileyo njalo eyayisenza amatende ayizange yethuswe yimfundo yakhe kumbe ukukhuluma kwakhe. U-Akhwila loPrisila “bamthatha bamchasisela indlela kaNkulunkulu ukuze imcacele kuhle.” (Imiseb. 18:25, 26) Manje indoda le eyayikwazi ukukhuluma njalo ifundile yavuma yini ukuncediswa? Ye. Kuyakhanya ukuthi wayethobekile futhi lobu yibuntu obuqakathekileyo okumele wonke amaKhristu abe labo.
5, 6. Kuyini okwenza u-Apholo wasetshenziswa nguJehova njalo sifundani kuye?
5 U-Apholo waba yinceku kaJehova ewenza kuhle umsebenzi ngenxa yokuthi wavuma ukuncediswa ngu-Akhwila loPrisila. Wasuka waya e-Akhaya njalo “wabancedisa kakhulu” abazalwane. Wafakaza kuhle lakumaJuda akuleyondawo ayephika ukuthi uJesu wayenguMesiya othenjisiweyo. ULukha uthi: “Wayekhuluma ngedlabuzane eveza egcekeni ukuthi amaJuda ayengaqondanga, ewatshengisa ngeMibhalo ukuthi uJesu nguKhristu.” (Imiseb. 18:27, 28) U-Apholo wayeluncedo sibili ebandleni ngoba wancedisa ukuthi “ilizwi likaJehova” liqhubeke linqoba. Manje sifundani kuye?
6 Kuqakathekile ukuthi amaKhristu athobeke. Sileziphiwo ezitshiyeneyo, kungaba ngesizalwa lazo loba esizifundeleyo. Kodwa ukuthobeka kwethu yikho okumele kukhanye kakhulu hatshi iziphiwo esilazo. Nxa singekela ukwenza njalo iziphiwo esilazo zingasithela emanyaleni. Singacina sesiziphakamisa ngenxa yeziphiwo esilazo. (1 Khor. 4:7; Jak. 4:6) Nxa sithobekile sibili sizabona abanye bengcono kulathi. (Flp. 2:3) Asisoze sizonde nxa siqondiswa loba sifundiswa ngabanye. Kanti njalo asisoze sibambelele endleleni esibona ngayo izinto nxa sesibone ukuthi ayihambelani lendlela umoya ongcwele oqondisa ngayo inhlanganiso. UJehova leNdodana yakhe bazimisele ukusisebenzisa nxa singaqhubeka sithobekile.—Luk. 1:51, 52.
7. UPhawuli lo-Apholo batshengisa njani ukuthi bathobekile?
7 Ukuthobeka kwenza abantu bamanyane. USathane wayekufisa kakhulu ukuthi amaKhristu akuqala angazwanani. Akucabange ukuthi wayezathokoza njani aluba uPhawuli lo-Apholo, amadoda ayekhuthele ayengavumela ukuthi ukufuna udumo emabandleni kuwenze axabane. Kwakulula ukuthi lokho kwenzakale. Phela amanye amaKhristu eKhorinte ayesithi, “Mina ngingokaPhawuli,” amanye esithi, “Mina ngingoka-Apholo.” UPhawuli lo-Apholo babevumelana lakho yini? Ngitsho! Kwakhanya ukuthi uPhawuli uthobekile ngoba wavuma ukuthi u-Apholo wayesenza umsebenzi omuhle yikho wamupha leminye imisebenzi. U-Apholo yena walalela ayekutshelwa nguPhawuli. (1 Khor. 1:10-12; 3:6, 9; Tit. 3:12, 13) Lathi kumele sithobeke njengoPhawuli lo-Apholo.
“Ebonisana Labo Ngendlela Esuthisayo, Ebatshela NgoMbuso” (Imiseb. 18:23; 19:1-10)
8. UPhawuli wahamba ngayiphi indlela esebuyela e-Efesu futhi yindaba wahamba ngayo?
8 UPhawuli wayethembise ukuthi uzabuyela e-Efesu futhi yikho akwenzayo. a (Imiseb. 18:20, 21) Kodwa nanzelela ukuthi wabuyela njani. Phela simcine ese-Antiyokhi yeSiriya. Yikho wayengathatha uhambo olufitshane aye eSelusiya abesegada isikepe aqonde e-Efesu. Kodwa yena “wahamba ngomgwaqo okhatshana lolwandle.” Kucatshangelwa ukuthi uhambo lwakhe lolu olulandiswa kumiSebenzi 18:23 lo-19:1 lwalungamakhilomitha angaba ngu-1 600. Kuyini okwenza uPhawuli wathatha uhambo olunzima kangako? Yikuthi wayehlose ‘ukuqinisa bonke abafundi.’ (Imiseb. 18:23) Uhambo lwesithathu lwalunzima futhi ludinga ukuthi azinikele njengalokho akwenza kolwesibili, kodwa wayekubona kufanele lokho. Ababonisi beziqinti labomkabo labo bazinikele njengoPhawuli. Siyababonga sibili ngenxa yokuzinikela kwabo lothando abalalo.
9. Kungani kwakumele iqembu labafundi elalise-Efesu libhabhathizwe kutsha njalo sifundani kulokho abakwenzayo?
9 UPhawuli wathi efika e-Efesu wathola iqenjana labantu ababengabafundi bakaJohane uMbhabhathizi. Ubhabhathizo lukaJohane lwalungasasebenzi futhi kukhanya abantu laba babesazi okuncane loba bengazi lutho ngomoya ongcwele. UPhawuli wabafundisa izinto ezintsha futhi batshengisa ukuthi babethobekile njalo bezimisele ukufunda njengo-Apholo. Ngemva kokubhabhathizwa ebizweni likaJesu baphiwa umoya ongcwele lezinye izipho zokwenza izinto ezimangalisayo. Lathi uJehova uyasibusisa nxa singalandela esikutshelwa yinhlanganiso yakhe kungaba lotshintsho.—Imiseb. 19:1-7.
10. Kuyini okwenza uPhawuli wasuka esinagogi wayafundisela ewolu yesikolo futhi singamlingisela njani?
10 Kulokunye futhi okwatshengisa ukuthi umsebenzi wokutshumayela wawuphumelela. UPhawuli watshumayela ngesibindi esinagogeni okwenyanga ezintathu. Lanxa ‘wayebonisana labo ngendlela esuthisayo,’ abanye abazange bamlalele futhi baqalisa ukumphikisa. UPhawuli kazange atshone edlalisa isikhathi etshumayezana labantu ‘ababekhuluma kubi ngaleyoNdlela,’ yikho waqalisa ukutshumayeza abantu ewolu yesikolo. (Imiseb. 19:8, 9) Labo ababefuna ukuthuthuka ekukhonzeni kwasokumele basuke esinagogeni baye ewolu yesikolo. Lathi njengoPhawuli akumelanga sidlalise isikhathi sitshumayeza abantu abangafuni ukulalela kumbe abazifunela ukuthi siphikisane labo. Phela kulabantu abanengi abanjengezimvu abafuna ukuzwa izindaba ezikhuthazayo esizitshumayelayo.
11, 12. (a) UPhawuli watshengisa njani ukuthi ukhuthele njalo uyatshintsha kusiya ngezimo? (b) Kuyini okutshengisa ukuthi oFakazi bakaJehova bakhuthele njalo bayavumelana lezimo enkonzweni yabo?
11 Kungenzeka uPhawuli wayetshumayela ewolu yesikolo nsuku zonke kusukela ngabo-11 ekuseni kuze kube ngabo-4 ntambama. (Imiseb. 19:9) Kumele ukuthi ilanga laliyabe litshisa kakhulu ngalezozikhathi yikho abantu babeyabe sebemile ukusebenza ukuze badle njalo baphumule. Nxa kuyikuthi uPhawuli walandela uhlelo lolu okweminyaka emibili kutsho ukuthi wafundisa okwamahola adlula 3 000. b Lokhu kwenza sibone okunye okwenza ilizwi likaNkulunkulu laqhubeka ligcwala njalo liphumelela. UPhawuli wayekhuthele njalo evumelana lezimo. Watshintsha isikhathi ayetshumayela ngaso ukuze sihambelane lezimo zabantu baleyondawo. Kwaphetha ngani? ‘Wonke amaJuda lamaGrikhi ayehlala esabelweni se-Asiya alizwa ilizwi leNkosi.’ (Imiseb. 19:10) UPhawuli wafakaza ngokupheleleyo sibili!
Sizimisele ukulanda abantu loba ngaphi abatholakala khona
12 Lamuhla oFakazi bakaJehova labo bakhuthele njalo bayavumelana lezimo. Sizimisele ukutshumayeza abantu lapho abatholakala khona kungelani lokuthi kungaphi loba yisiphi isikhathi. Sifakaza emigwaqweni, emamakethe lakwezinye indawo. Singathintana labantu ngefoni loba sibabhalele incwadi. Nxa sitshumayela endlini ngendlu siyazama ukubadinga ngesikhathi esikwazi ukuthi singabathola ngaso.
‘Lagcwala Futhi Laphumelela’ Kungelani Lamadimoni (Imiseb. 19:11-22)
13, 14. (a) UJehova wancedisa uPhawuli ukuthi enzeni? (b) Yiliphi iphutha elenziwa ngamadodana kaSkeva futhi abantu abanengi abasenkolweni zamanga bakwenza njani okufananayo?
13 ULukha usitshela ukuthi inkonzo kaPhawuli yaphumelela okumangalisayo ngenxa yokuthi uJehova wamncedisa ukuthi enze “izimangaliso ezinkulu.” Ngitsho lamalembu lezigqoko zakhe zazihanjiswa ebantwini abagulayo basile. Amadimoni lawo ayexotshwa ngendlela efananayo. c (Imiseb. 19:11, 12) Ukunqotshwa kukaSathane lokhu kwamangalisa abantu abanengi futhi kwazondisa abanye.
14 Amanye “amaJuda ayehamba ekhipha amadimoni” azama ukwenza izimangaliso ezazisenziwa nguPhawuli. Amanye awo azama ukukhipha amadimoni esebenzisa ibizo likaJesu lelikaPhawuli. Amanye akhona aqanjwa nguLukha ngamadodana kaSkeva ayisikhombisa ayengawemuli yabaphristi. Idimoni lathi kuwo: “UJesu ngiyamazi loPhawuli ngimjayele, pho lina lingobani?” Indoda eyayiledimoni yabeqela okwesilo abazenzisi laba babaleka belimele njalo benqunu. (Imiseb. 19:13-16) Lokhu kwakuyikunqoba okukhulu ‘kwelizwi likaJehova,’ ngoba kwacaca ukuthi izikhonzi zamanga lezi zazingelamandla ngitsho nxa kuqathaniswa lamandla uPhawuli ayewanikwe nguJehova. Lamuhla kulabantu abanengi abazikhohlisayo ngokucabanga ukuthi kwanele ukuphongubiza ibizo likaJesu kumbe ukuzithi bangamaKhristu. Kodwa uJesu wathi labo abayenzayo sibili intando kaYise yibo abalethemba eliqotho ngekusasa.—Mat. 7:21-23.
15. Singabalingisela njani abantu be-Efesu?
15 Ukuyangiswa kwamadodana kaSkeva kwenza abantu abanengi bamesaba uNkulunkulu futhi abanengi baba ngamakholwa njalo batshiya imikhuba yesidimoni. Amasiko amanengi e-Efesu ayesekelwe ezintweni zamasalamusi. Kwakugcwele izinto zesidimoni ezigoqela intebe, amaphoso lezinye izinto zokuloya ezazibhaliwe. Abanengi e-Efesu bakhipha amabhuku abo amasalamusi bawatshisa abantu bekhangele lanxa ayedula okokuthi ayengabiza amatshumi enkulungwane zamadola emali yalezinsuku. d ULukha uthi: “Ngakho ilizwi likaJehova laqhubeka ligcwala indawo yonke futhi liphumelela ngendlela emangalisayo.” (Imiseb. 19:17-20) Iqiniso lanqoba amanga lamadimoni ngendlela emangalisayo! Kumele sibalingisele abantu be-Efesu ababethembekile. Lathi siphila emhlabeni ogcwele isidimoni. Yikho nxa singabona ukuthi silento elokwenza lesidimoni, kumele silingisele abantu be-Efesu ngokulahla leyonto masinyane. Asibeni leqiniso lokuthi sehlukana ngokupheleleyo lemikhuba yesidimoni kungelani lokuthi silahlekelwa yini.
“Kwaba Lokuxokozela” (Imiseb. 19:23-41)
“Madoda, likwazi kuhle ukuthi inotho yethu siyithola ebhizimusini yonale.”—ImiSebenzi 19:25
16, 17. (a) Landisa ukuthi uDimetriyu wakubangela njani ukuxokozela e-Efesu. (b) Abantu be-Efesu batshengisa njani ukuthi babetshisekela ilizwe lonkulunkulu wabo?
16 Khathesi asixoxeni ngeyinye indlela esetshenziswa nguSathane eyavezwa nguLukha lapho esithi “kwaba lokuxokozela ngenxa yaleyoNdlela.” ULukha wayengasengi ezimithiyo. e (Imiseb. 19:23) UDimetriyu owayengumkhandi wesiliva nguye owabangela ukuxokozela. Waqala wakhumbuza abanye abakhandi besiliva ukuthi ukuthengisa izithombe yikho okwakubenza banothe. Wabatshela lokuthi okwakufundiswa nguPhawuli kwakuzaphambanisa ibhizinesi yabo njengoba amaKhristu engakhonzi izithombe. Abantu labo babezigqaja ngedolobho kanye lelizwe labo, yikho uDimetriyu waphinda wabatshelela eceleni esithi unkulunkulukazi wabo u-Athemisi lethempeli lakhe kwakuzaphelelwa ludumo kube ‘yizinto ezingatsho lutho.’—Imiseb. 19:24-27.
17 Okwakuhloswe nguDimetriyu kwenzakala. Abakhandi besiliva baqalisa ukumemeza besithi, “Mkhulu u-Athemisi wabase-Efesu!” Kwaba lokuxokozela edolobheni kwacina sokulexuku elalilolaka okukhulunywe ngalo ekuqaliseni kwesahluko lesi. f UPhawuli wayefuna ukuya enkundleni yemidlalo ayekhuluma lexuku kodwa abafundi bathi angahambi ukuze angabi sengozini. UmJuda okuthiwa ngu-Alekizanda wama phambi kwexuku ezama ukukhuluma labantu. Njengoba wayengumJuda kungenzeka wayefisa ukuchasisa umehluko owawukhona phakathi kwamaJuda lamaKhristu. Vele ixuku lelo lalingasoze libe lendaba lokuthi uthini. Lathi linanzelela ukuthi wayengumJuda lamemeza okwamahora angaba mabili lisithi, “Mkhulu u-Athemisi wabase-Efesu!” Lalamuhla abantu benkolo balokhu besebenzisa amaxuku abantu abaxokozelayo ukuze basiphikise. Abantu bakhona bayabe bengasafuni lokuzwisisa.—Imiseb. 19:28-34.
18, 19. (a) Umphathi wedolobho walithulisa njani ixuku le-Efesu? (b) Iziphathamandla ziyake zibavikele njani oFakazi bakaJehova futhi thina kumele senzeni?
18 Umphathi wedolobho wacina elithulisa ixuku. Indoda le eyayilengqondo futhi izwisisa yaqinisekisa ixuku lelo ukuthi amaKhristu ayengasoze abangele ingozi ethempelini lakunkulunkulukazi we-Efesu. Yalitshela ukuthi akulacala elalenziwe nguPhawuli labangane bakhe ngethempeli lika-Athemisi lokuthi kwakumele abantu laba balandele indlela esemthethweni nxa befuna ukumangala indaba enjengale. Ngemva kwalokho yabakhumbuza ukuthi babengavusa ulaka lwamaRoma ngenxa yombuthano ababewenzile owawungekho emthethweni futhi uxokozela. Isibatshele lokhu yathi bachitheke. Amazwi alengqondo akhulunywa ngumphathi wedolobho aqeda umsindo ngesikhatshana nje.—Imiseb. 19:35-41.
19 Lokhu kwakungayisikho kokuqala loba okokucina ukuthi indoda elengqondo futhi elesikhundla ivikele abalandeli bakaJesu. Embonweni owawumayelana lensuku zokucina, umphostoli uJohane wabona ingxenye yomhlaba iginya ukuhlukuluzwa kwabalandeli bakaJesu okubangelwa nguSathane. (Isam. 12:15, 16) Lokho kwenzakele sibili. Izikhathi ezinengi abahluleli abazwisisayo bajayele ukuvikela amalungelo aboFakazi bakaJehova ukuze baqhubeke bekhonza bekhululekile futhi betshumayela izindaba ezinhle. Indlela esiziphatha ngayo layo ingenza abahluleli basivikele. Kukhanya indlela uPhawuli ayeziphatha ngayo yenza wathandwa njalo wahlonitshwa yiziphathamandla zikahulumende e-Efesu, yikho babezimisele ukumvikela. (Imiseb. 19:31) Kumele sibe leqiniso lokuthi siziphatha kuhle futhi sihlonipha bonke abantu esihlangana labo. Phela asikwazi ukuthi lokho kuzasinceda njani kusasa.
20. (a) Uzwa njani ngendlela ilizwi elaphumelela ngayo ngesikhathi samaKhristu akuqala lalamuhla? (b) Uzimisele ukwenzani?
20 Iyamangalisa kakhulu indlela ‘ilizwi likaJehova elaqhubeka ligcwala ngayo indawo yonke futhi liphumelela’ ngesikhathi samaKhristu okuqala. Iyamangalisa lendlela uJehova asenze sanqoba ngayo lasesikhathini sethu. Uyafuna yini ukuba lengxenye ekunqobeni lokhu kungelani lokuthi wenze okungakanani? Funda ezibonelweni esixoxe ngazo. Thobeka, hambisana lotshintsho olwenziwa enhlanganisweni, qhubeka usebenza nzima, xwaya isidimoni njalo wenze konke ongakwenza ukuze ufakaze ngokugcweleyo ngokuziphatha kuhle kanye lokuhlonipha abantu bonke.
a Khangela ibhokisi elithi “ I-Efesu—Isigodlo Se-Asiya”.
b UPhawuli wabhala lencwadi yokuqala yabaseKhorinte ngesikhathi ese-Efesu.
c Amanye amalembu kaPhawuli kungabe kwakuyilawo ayewabophela ebunzini ukuze izithukuthuku zingagelezeli emehlweni. Amanye amalembu kaPhawuli kwakungama-apron futhi lokhu kutshengisa ukuthi kungenzeka wayesenza amatende ekuseni engakayitshumayela.—Imiseb. 20:34, 35.
d ULukha uthi ayebiza inhlamvu zemali yesiliva ezingu-50 000. Nxa wayesitsho odenariyu kwakungathatha isisebenzi sangalesosikhathi iminyaka engaba ngu-137 ukuthi sihole imali engako sisebenza nsuku zonke.
e Abanye bathi uPhawuli wayekhuluma ngendaba le lapho ebhalela amaKhristu eKhorinte esithi, “sasingasela qiniso lokuthi sizaqhubeka siphila yini.” (2 Khor. 1:8) Kodwa kungenzeka wayecabanga ngesinye isimo esiyingozi kakhulu ayeke waba kuso. Ngesikhathi ebhala ukuthi “ngilwe lezinyamazana zeganga e-Efesu,” wayengabe esitsho inyamazana ezesabekayo alwisana lazo enkundleni loba ukuphikiswa ngabantu. (1 Khor. 15:32) Yikho kungenzeka wayefanisa loba esitsho khona kanye ahlangana lakho.
f Amaqembu abantu abenza imisebenzi ethile ayejayele ukuba lamandla kakhulu. Ngokwesibonelo, sekudlule iminyaka engaba ngu-100 iqembu labantu ababhekhayo labangela ukuxokozela okufananayo e-Efesu.
