ISAHLUKO 21
“Ngimsulwa Egazini Labantu Bonke”
UPhawuli unika abadala iseluleko njalo ukhuthele enkonzweni yakhe
Isihloko lesi sisekelwe kumiSebenzi 20:1-38
1-3. (a) Chasisa okwenzakala ngobusuku uYuthikhu afa ngabo. (b) UPhawuli wenzani futhi lokhu kusitshelani ngaye?
UPHAWULI usendlini ephezulu eTrowa. Ukhuluma labantu abalapho kuze kube phakathi kobusuku ngoba uzasuka kusasa. Kulezibane ezinengi endlini ababuthene kuyo njalo lokhu kubangela ukuthi kukhudumale futhi kugcwale intuthu. Ewindini kuhlezi elinye ijaha okuthiwa nguYuthikhu. Liyajumeka uPhawuli elokhu esakhuluma beselisiwa lisuka esitezi sesithathu.
2 Njengoba uLukha engudokotela kungenzakala uphakathi kwabantu bokuqala abagijimela phandle ukuyahlola ijaha leli. Bonke abalapho bayadana ngoba “balidobha selifile.” (Imiseb. 20:9) Kodwa kwenzakala isimanga, uPhawuli ufika aziphosele phezu kwejaha leli aligone abesesithi: “Yekelani ukuxokozela, uyaphila.” UPhawuli usemvusile uYuthikhu!—Imiseb. 20:10.
3 Lokhu okwenzakalayo kwatshengisa ukuthi umoya ongcwele kaNkulunkulu ulamandla. UPhawuli ayisuye owayebangele ukuthi uYuthikhu afe. Lanxa kunjalo, wayengafuni ukuthi ukufa kukaYuthikhu kuphambanise umbuthano lo kumbe kwenze abanye basale bekhubekile. Ngokuvusa uYuthikhu, uPhawuli wenza ukuthi ibandla lisale liduduzekile futhi liqhubeke likhuthele emsebenzini wokutshumayela. Kusegcekeni ukuthi uPhawuli wayekuqakathekisa ukuphila kwabanye. Lokhu kusikhumbuza amazwi akhe athi: “Ngimsulwa egazini labantu bonke.” (Imiseb. 20:26) Asixoxeni ngokuthi lokho okwenziwa nguPhawuli kusinceda njani.
“Waya EMakhedoniya” (Imiseb. 20:1, 2)
4. Yibuphi ubunzima uPhawuli ayehlangane labo?
4 Njengoba sibonile esahlukweni esidlulileyo, uPhawuli wayedlule ebunzimeni obukhulu kakhulu. Kwakube lokuxokozela ngesikhathi etshumayela e-Efesu. Abakhandi besiliva ababephila ngokuthengisa izithombe ezazisetshenziswa ekukhonzeni u-Athemisi babebangele ukuthi kube lokuxokozela edolobheni lelo! KumiSebenzi 20:1, uLukha uthi: “Ukuxokozela kwathi sekuphelile uPhawuli wabiza abafundi wabakhuthaza, wasebavalelisa waya eMakhedoniya.”
5, 6. (a) UPhawuli wahlala isikhathi esinganani eMakhedoniya futhi wabancedisa njani abazalwane? (b) UPhawuli wayebabona njani abanye?
5 UPhawuli wathi esiya eMakhedoniya wafika wama eTrowa njalo wahlala isikhathi esithile. Wayecabanga ukuthi uzahlangana loThithusi eTrowa owayethunywe eKhorinte. (2 Khor. 2:12, 13) Kodwa kwathi sokusegcekeni ukuthi uThithusi wayengasoze abuye, uPhawuli wadlulela eMakhedoniya. Kungenzakala ukuthi wahlala khona phose umnyaka wonke “ebakhuthaza kakhulu ababelapho.” a (Imiseb. 20:2) UThithusi wacina ehlangane loPhawuli eMakhedoniya njalo wamphathela indaba ezinhle ezazimayelana lendlela abaseKhorinte ababeyamukele ngayo incwadi kaPhawuli yakuqala. (2 Khor. 7:5-7) Lokhu kwenza uPhawuli wababhalela eyinye incwadi eyaziwa ngokuthi ngeyesibili kwabaseKhorinte.
6 Uzananzelela ukuthi uLukha usebenzisa amazwi athi “ebakhuthaza” ngesikhathi ekhuluma ngohambo lukaPhawuli lapho evakatshela abazalwane base-Efesu laseMakhedoniya. Amazwi la achasisa kuhle indlela uPhawuli ayezizwa ngayo ngalabo ayekhonza labo. Wayengafanani labaFarisi ababekhangelela abanye phansi kodwa yena wayebona abanye njengabantu ayesebenza labo. (Joh. 7:47-49; 1 Khor. 3:9) Ukubabona ngale indlela kwamnceda langesikhathi ebanika iseluleko esilamandla.—2 Khor. 2:4.
7. Ababonisi bangamlingisela njani uPhawuli?
7 Lamuhla abadala lababonisi beziqinti bazama ngamandla wonke ukulingisela lokho okwenziwa nguPhawuli. Lanxa sokufanele banike iseluleko isifiso sabo ngesokukhuthaza labo ababancedisayo. Ababonisi laba babakhuthaza ngomusa abanye kulokuthi babasole. Omunye umbonisi wesiqinti oselesikhathi eside ehambela amabandla wathi: “Abafowethu labodadewethu bayafisa sibili ukwenza okuqondileyo kodwa bahlutshwa yikukhathazeka, ukwesaba lokuzikhangelela phansi.” Yikho ababonisi bangabaqinisa sibili labo abakhonza labo.—Heb. 12:12, 13.
“AmaJuda Abumba Icebo Lokumbulala” (Imiseb. 20:3, 4)
8, 9. (a) Kuyini okwenza uhambo lukaPhawuli lokuya eSiriya luphambaniseke? (b) Kuyini okungabe kwenza amaJuda azonda uPhawuli?
8 UPhawuli wasuka eMakhedoniya waya eKhorinte. b Wathi esehlale khona okwenyanga ezintathu wahlela ukuya eKhenikhreya lapho ayezagadela khona isikepe esiya eSiriya. Esuka eSiriya wayezakuya eJerusalema ukuze ahambise iminikelo yokuncedisa ababeswela. c (Imiseb. 24:17; Rom. 15:25, 26) Kodwa izinto zaphonguthi phendu, azisahambanga ngendlela ayehlele ngayo. ImiSebenzi 20:3 ithi: “AmaJuda abumba icebo lokumbulala.”
9 Akumangalisi ukuthi amaJuda ayemzonda uPhawuli ngoba ayembona njengomhlamuki. Phela uPhawuli wayetshumayeze uKhrispu owayengumphathi wesinagogi watshintsha waba likholwa. (Imiseb. 18:7, 8; 1 Khor. 1:14) Okunye okwazondisa amaJuda yikuthi ayeke amangalela uPhawuli kuGaliyo, owayengumbusi wesabelo se-Akhaya. Kodwa uGaliyo wathi yena kaliboni icala likaPhawuli. Khonokho kwenza amaJuda azonda kakhulu. (Imiseb. 18:12-17) Kungenzakala ukuthi amaJuda ayeseKhorinte ayekwazi kumbe ayecabangela ukuthi uPhawuli wayezakuyagadela isikepe eKhenikhreya yikho abumba icebo lokuyamcathamela. Manje uPhawuli wayezakwenzani?
10. Kwakuyibugwala yini obenza uPhawuli angayi eKhenikhreya? Chasisa.
10 UPhawuli wakhetha ukungayi eKhenikhreya wasebuyela eMakhedoniya ngoba wayefuna ukusindisa impilo yakhe kanye lokuvikela imali ayeyiphathisiwe. Ukuhamba ngomgwaqo lakho kwakuyingozi sibili ngoba kwakulezigebenga ezazicathamela abantu emigwaqweni njalo lezindlu zezihambi zazingavikelekanga. Kodwa uPhawuli wabona lokho kungcono kulokuthi ayehlaselwa ngamaJuda eKhenikhreya. Okuhle yikuthi wayengahambi yedwa. Abanye ayehamba labo ngu-Aristakhu, loGayu, loSekhundu, loSophatha, loThimothi, loTrofimu kanye loThikhikhu.—Imiseb. 20:3, 4.
11. AmaKhristu lamuhla enzani ukuze azivikele njalo uJesu watshiya siphi isibonelo?
11 AmaKhristu lamuhla alingisela uPhawuli ngokungafaki impilo zawo engozini nxa esekutshumayeleni. Kulokuthi umuntu ahambe yedwa, abanye kwezinye izindawo bakhetha ukuhamba bengamaqembu loba bebabili. Manje amaKhristu ayazivikela yini ekuhlukuluzweni? Ayakwazi sibili ukuthi azahlukuluzwa kodwa awaphonguziphosela ezimeni eziyingozi. (Joh. 15:20; 2 Thim. 3:12) Cabanga ngalokho okwenziwa nguJesu. Ngelinye ilanga eseJerusalema abaphikisi badobha amatshe befuna ukumtshaya kodwa “yena wacatsha wasephuma ethempelini.” (Joh. 8:59) Ngokuya kwesikhathi amaJuda athi esebumbe icebo lokumbulala, “uJesu wayengasahambeli ebantwini nxa wayephakathi kwamaJuda. Wasuka lapho waya endaweni eyayiseduze lenkangala.” (Joh. 11:54) UJesu wenza konke ayengakwenza ukuze azivikele nxa kwakungaphikisani lentando kaNkulunkulu. LamaKhristu lamuhla enza njalo.—Mat. 10:16.
“Baduduzeka Kakhulu” (Imiseb. 20:5-12)
12, 13. (a) Abazalwane bezwa njani ngokuvuswa kukaYuthikhu? (b) Kuyini esikufunda eBhayibhilini okududuza labo abafelwe yizihlobo labangane?
12 UPhawuli layehamba labo bafika bonke eMakhedoniya basebesehlukana njalo kukhanya baphinda bayahlangana futhi eTrowa. d IBhayibhili lithi: “Sayafika eTrowa ngemva kwamalanga amahlanu.” e (Imiseb. 20:6) Khonapho eTrowa yikho lapho uPhawuli avusa khona ijaha okuthiwa nguYuthikhu esixoxe ngalo ekuqaliseni kwesahluko lesi. Akucabange ukuthi abazalwane bezwa njani sebebona umngane wabo uYuthikhu esevusiwe! IBhayibhili lisitshela ukuthi “baduduzeka kakhulu.”—Imiseb. 20:12.
13 Lanxa izimangaliso ezinjengalezi zingasenzakali lamuhla, labo abafelwe yizihlobo zabo labangane babo baduduzwa kakhulu lithemba lokuthi abafileyo bazavuswa. (Joh. 5:28, 29) Lanxa uYuthikhu wavuswa, waphinda wafa ngoba wayelesono. (Rom. 6:23) Kodwa labo abazavuswa emhlabeni omutsha bazabe belethemba lokuphila kuze kube nini lanini. Kanti njalo labo abazavuswa bayebusa loJesu ezulwini abasoze baphinde bafe. (1 Khor. 15:51-53) Wonke amaKhristu lamuhla alesizatho esenza ‘aduduzeke kakhulu’ kungelani lokuthi agcotshiwe loba ‘ngawezinye izimvu.’—Joh. 10:16.
‘Wabafundisa Obala Lasendlini Ngendlu’ (Imiseb. 20:13-24)
14. UPhawuli wabatshelani abadala be-Efesu ngesikhathi ehlangana labo eMilethu?
14 UPhawuli lamadoda ayehamba lawo basuka eTrowa baya e-Asosi, besuka lapho baya eMithilene, eKhiyosi, eSamosi laseMilethu. UPhawuli wayefuna ukuyafika eJerusalema uMkhosi wePhentekhosti ungakaqalisi. Yikho wakhetha ukugada umkhumbi owawuzaceza i-Efesu esebuyela. Lanxa kunjalo wayefuna ukukhuluma labadala be-Efesu yikho wacela ukuthi bahlangane laye eMilethu. (Imiseb. 20:13-17) Bathi sebefikile uPhawuli wathi kubo: “Likwazi mhlophe ukuthi ngangiphila njani phakathi kwenu kusukela ngelanga lokuqala ngibeka olwami esabelweni se-Asiya. Ngayisebenzela nzima iNkosi ngokuthobeka konke langezinyembezi lobunzima obangehlelayo ngenxa yamacebo ayebunjwa ngamaJuda. Angizange ngiyekele ukulitshela loba yini eyayingalinceda, lokulifundisa obala lasendlini ngendlu. Kodwa ngafakaza ngokugcweleyo kumaJuda lakumaGrikhi ukuthi kumele baphendukele kuNkulunkulu njalo babe lokholo eNkosini yethu uJesu.”—Imiseb. 20:18-21.
15. Kunceda ngani ukutshumayela endlini ngendlu?
15 Lamuhla kulezindlela ezitshiyeneyo esingazisebenzisa ukuze sitshumayeze abantu. Lathi njengoPhawuli sizama ukudinga abantu lapho abatholakala khona kungaba lapho abagadela khona amabhasi, emigwaqweni ephithizelayo, kumbe emamakethe. Lanxa kunjalo ukutshumayela indlu ngendlu yiyo indlela esetshenziswa kakhulu ngoFakazi bakaJehova. Yindaba beyisebenzisa kakhulu indlela le? Ngenxa yokuthi inika abantu ithuba lokuthi bahlale besizwa izindaba ezinhle futhi itshengisa ukuthi uNkulunkulu kakhethi. Kanti njalo inika umuntu ngamunye ozimisele ukufunda ithuba lokuthi azwisise lokho okutshiwo liBhayibhili. Ukutshumayela indlu ngendlu kuphinda kuncede lalabo abenza umsebenzi lo ukuthi babe lokholo oluqinileyo futhi baqinisele. Yikho amaKhristu eqiniso lamuhla aziwa ngokukhuthala ekutshumayeleni “obala lasendlini ngendlu.”
16, 17. UPhawuli watshengisa njani ukuthi ulesibindi futhi amaKhristu angamlingisela njani?
16 UPhawuli wabachasisela abadala be-Efesu ukuthi wayengakwazi ukuthi kuyini okwakuzamehlela esebuyele eJerusalema. Wathi kubo: “Loba kunjalo eyami impilo angiyiboni iligugu kimi. Okuqakathekileyo yikuthi ngiqede umsebenzi lenkonzo engayamukela eNkosini uJesu, eyokufakaza ngokugcweleyo izindaba ezinhle zomusa omkhulu kaNkulunkulu.” (Imiseb. 20:24) UPhawuli wayelesibindi yikho kazange avumele ukuthi loba yini, kungaba yikugula kumbe ukuphikiswa kabuhlungu kumvimbe ukuthi aqede umsebenzi wakhe.
17 Abafowethu labodadewethu lamuhla labo bahlangana lenhlupho ezitshiyeneyo. Abanye bahlala lapho umsebenzi wethu wokutshumayela ongavunyelwa khona futhi abanye bayahlukuluzwa. Abanye balwisana lemikhuhlane ebaqeda amandla kumbe ebenza bahlulukelwe. Abasakhulayo abangamaKhristu bona bathwaliswe nzima ngabanye esikolo. Kungelani lokuthi bahlangana lani, oFakazi bakaJehova bayaqinisela njengoPhawuli. Bazimisele ‘ukufakaza ngokugcweleyo ngezindaba ezinhle.’
“Zilindeni Lina Lawo Wonke Umhlambi” (Imiseb. 20:25-38)
18. UPhawuli wenzani ukuze abe msulwa egazini labantu bonke futhi abadala be-Efesu babengamlingisela njani?
18 UPhawuli waxwayisa abadala be-Efesu engababhodi esebenzisa lokho yena ayekwenzile njengesibonelo. Waqala wabatshela ukuthi kungenzeka babengasoze baphinde bambone. Wasesithi kubo: “Ngimsulwa egazini labantu bonke ngoba angizange ngiyekele ukulitshela yonke intando kaNkulunkulu.” Manje abadala be-Efesu babengamlingisela njani uPhawuli ukuze labo babemsulwa egazini labantu bonke? Wathi kubo: “Zilindeni lina lawo wonke umhlambi umoya ongcwele olibeke ukuthi libe ngababonisi phezu kwawo, ukuze leluse ibandla likaNkulunkulu alithenga ngegazi leNdodana yakhe.” (Imiseb. 20:26-28) UPhawuli wabaxwayisa wathi kwakuzangena “amaganyana alesihluku” phakathi kwabo ‘ayezakhuluma izinto ezingaqondanga efuna ukudukisa abafundi ukuze bawalandele.’ Manje abadala laba kwakumele benzeni? Wabatshela wathi: “Hlalani lilindile, likhumbule ukuthi okweminyaka emithathu angizange ngekele ukucebisa ngamunye wenu ngezinyembezi ubusuku lemini.”—Imiseb. 20:29-31.
19. Kuyini okwenzakalayo eminyakeni yabo-90 C.E., futhi lokhu kwacina kubangeleni ngokuya kwesikhathi?
19 “Amaganyana alesihluku” aqalisa ukubonakala ekupheleni kweminyaka yabo-90 C.E. Ngabo-98 C.E. umphostoli uJohane wabhala wathi: ‘Sebebanengi abaphikukhristu. Lanxa baphuma phakathi kwethu, babengayisibo bethu ngoba aluba babengabethu babezaqhubeka belathi.’ (1 Joh. 2:18, 19) Eminyakeni yabo-200 C.E., kwasokulabahlamuki abanengi okokuthi kwacina kusiba leqembu labafundisi benkolo yamanga. Eminyakeni yabo-300 C.E., umbusi weRoma uConstantine walivumela iqembu leli labahlamuki ukuthi kuthiwe ngamaKhristu. Abakhokheli benkolo laba ‘bakhuluma izinto ezingaqondanga’ ngokwamukela imikhuba yabantu ababengasiwomaKhristu lokuyenza ikhanye angathi ngeyobuKhristu. Impumela yokuhlamuka lokhu iyakhanya lalamuhla ezimfundisweni lasemikhubeni yamasonto amanga.
20, 21. UPhawuli watshengisa njani ukuthi wayezimisele ukuncedisa abanye ngenhliziyo yonke futhi abadala bangamlingisela njani?
20 Okwenziwa nguPhawuli kwakutshiyene kakhulu lalokho okwakuzakwenziwa ngabanye ababengasoze bawuphathe kuhle umhlambi. Yena wasebenza ngezakhe ukuze angalithwalisi nzima ibandla. Konke ayekwenza ukuze ancedise labo ayekhonza labo wayengakwenzeli ukuthi anothe. Yikho wakhuthaza labadala bebandla le-Efesu ukuthi bazimisele ngenhliziyo yonke ukunceda abanye. Wabatshela wathi: “Kumele lincedise ababuthakathaka njalo lihlale likhumbula amazwi akhulunywa yiNkosi uJesu ngokwayo, athi: ‘Ukupha kuyathokozisa kakhulu ukwedlula ukwamukela.’”—Imiseb. 20:35.
21 Lamuhla abadala labo bazimisele ukuncedisa abanye njengoPhawuli. Abafanani labafundisi bamasonto amanga abamunya izimvu zabo. Labo abaphathiswe umsebenzi ‘wokwelusa ibandla likaNkulunkulu’ bawenza bengahlosanga ukunotha. Ebandleni akumelanga kube lomuntu oziphakamisayo kumbe ogijimisa izikhundla ngoba labo ‘abazidingela udumo’ abasoze baphumelele. (Zaga. 25:27) Umuntu angaba liqhalaqhala uphetha ngokuyangeka.—Zaga. 11:2.
“Bonke bakhala ezimathonsi.”—ImiSebenzi 20:37
22. Kuyini okwenza abadala be-Efesu bamthanda kakhulu uPhawuli?
22 Abazalwane babemthanda kakhulu uPhawuli ngoba labo babezibonela ukuthi uyabathanda kakhulu. Yikho wathi esebavalelisa “bonke bakhala ezimathonsi, bamgona uPhawuli bamqabuza.” (Imiseb. 20:37, 38) AmaKhristu ayabathanda futhi ayabaqakathekisa abazalwane abanjengoPhawuli abazimisele ngenhliziyo yonke ukuncedisa umhlambi. Ngemva kokuhlola isibonelo sikaPhawuli kusegcekeni ukuthi wayengaziphakamisi futhi wayengasengi lezimithiyo ngesikhathi esithi: “Ngimsulwa egazini labantu bonke.”—Imiseb. 20:26.
a Khangela ibhokisi elithi “ Incwadi Ezabhalwa NguPhawuli EseMakhedoniya”.
b Kungenzakala ukuthi uPhawuli wabhala incwadi eya kwabaseRoma ngesikhathi eseKhorinte.
c Khangela ibhokisi elithi “ UPhawuli Uhambisa Iminikelo Yokunceda Abaswelayo”.
d Indlela uLukha abhala ngayo kumiSebenzi 20:5, 6 itshengisa ukuthi waphinda wahlangana loPhawuli eFiliphi lapho yena ayevele esele khona.—Imiseb. 16:10-17, 40.
e Bathatha insuku ezinhlanu ukusuka eFiliphi besiya eTrowa. Kukhanya babephambana lomoya ngoba kuqala babethethe insuku ezimbili kuphela.—Imiseb. 16:11.
