ISAHLUKO 11
“Baqhubeka Bethokoza Kakhulu Futhi Begcwala Umoya Ongcwele”
Okwakusenziwa nguPhawuli nxa engahlangana labantu abamphikisayo njalo abangalaleli izindaba ezinhle
Isihloko lesi sisekelwe kumiSebenzi 13:1-52
1, 2. Kuyini okungajayelekanga ngohambo oseluzakwenziwa nguBhanabha loSawuli futhi umsebenzi wabo uzagcwalisa njani amazwi akumiSebenzi 1:8?
YINTOKOZO yodwa ebandleni elise-Antiyokhi. Umoya ongcwele ukhethe uBhanabha loSawuli ukuthi bayetshumayela izindaba ezinhle ezindaweni ezikhatshana. a (Imiseb. 13:1, 2) Kodwa lokhu akuqalisi ngabo, amadoda afaneleyo abeke athunywe ngezinye izikhathi. Abanali bebejayele ukuya ezindaweni lapho abantu asebelamukele ilizwi futhi baba ngamaKhristu. (Imiseb. 8:14; 11:22) Kodwa khathesi uBhanabha loSawuli bathunywa ezindaweni okulabantu abanengi abangakezwa izindaba ezinhle. Baphelekezelwa nguJohane obizwa langokuthi nguMakho futhi uzabe ebancedisa ngeminye imisebenzi.
2 Eminyakeni engaba ngu-14 eyadlulayo uJesu wayetshele abalandeli bakhe wathi: “Lizakuba ngofakazi bami eJerusalema lakulo lonke elaseJudiya leSamariya kuze kuyefika emaphethelweni omhlaba.” (Imiseb. 1:8) Yikho ukukhethwa kukaBhanabha loSawuli njengabanali kuzanceda ukuthi isiphrofetho lesi esakhulunywa nguJesu sigcwaliseke. b
Bakhethelwa Ukuthi “Benze Umsebenzi” (Imiseb. 13:1-12)
3. Kuyini okwakusenza uhambo lube nzima ngesikhathi samaKhristu akuqala?
3 Khathesi sekulezimota lendizamtshina lokunye okwenza kube lula ukuthi abantu bafike masinyane lapho abaya khona. Kodwa kwakungekho konke lokhu ngesikhathi samaKhristu akuqala. Ngalezonsuku abantu abanengi babejayele ukuhamba ngenyawo emigwaqweni engalungiswanga kuhle. Umango ongaba ngamakhilomitha angu-30 owawungahanjwa ngumuntu ngelanga elilodwa wawukutshiya udinwe ufile! c Yikho lanxa uBhanabha loSawuli babethokoza sibili ngomsebenzi lo ababewuphiwe, babekwazi ukuthi kuzadinga umzamo omkhulu lokuzinikela ukuthi bawenze.—Mat. 16:24.
4. (a) UBhanabha loSawuli bakhethwa njani futhi abanye abazalwane bezwa njani? (b) Singatshengisa njani ukuthi siyabasekela labo abaphiwa imisebenzi enhlanganisweni?
4 Kodwa kungani umoya ongcwele wakhetha uBhanabha loSawuli ukuthi “benze umsebenzi” lo? (Imiseb. 13:2) IBhayibhili alisitsheli kodwa esikwaziyo yikuthi umoya ongcwele yiwo owenza ukuthi kukhethwe amadoda la. Akulalutho olutshengisa ukuthi abaphrofethi lamaKhristu ayese-Antiyokhi baphikisana lesinqumo lesi kodwa kukhanya basisekela ngokugcweleyo. Akucabange ukuthi uBhanabha loSawuli bezwa njani bebona abafowabo abangelamhawu ‘bezila, bethandaza, bebabeka izandla futhi bebayekela behamba.’ (Imiseb. 13:3) Lathi lamuhla kumele sibasekele labo abaphiwa imisebenzi ebandleni, okugoqela amadoda abekwa ukuba ngababonisi. Kulokuthi sibe lomhawu ngabo kumele ‘sibaqakathekise kakhulu njalo sibathande ngenxa yomsebenzi wabo.’—1 Thes. 5:13.
5. UBhanabha loSawuli batshumayela njani eKhuphro?
5 Ngemva kokuya eSelusiya uBhanabha loSawuli bagada isikepe baya esihlengeni seKhuphro, umango ongaba ngamakhilomitha angu-200. d Njengoba uBhanabha wayezalelwe eKhuphro, kungenzeka ukuthi wayezimisele sibili ukuyatshela abantu bakibo izindaba ezinhle. Bathi befika eSalami, idolobho elisekhunjini olusempumalanga kwesihlenge lesi, abazange badlalise isikhathi bahle ‘baqalisa ukutshumayela ilizwi likaNkulunkulu emasinagogeni amaJuda.’ e (Imiseb. 13:5) UBhanabha loSawuli basibhoda sonke isihlenge lesi futhi kungenzeka babehamba betshumayela lakwamanye amadolobho ayesendleleni. Kusiya ngendlela abayisebenzisayo, abanali labo bangabe bahamba umango ongamakhilomitha angaba ngu-160!
6, 7. (a) Wayengubani uSegiwu Phawuli futhi kungani uBha-Jesu wazama ukumphambanisa ukuthi angalaleli izindaba ezinhle? (b) USawuli wenzani ukuze anqobe umphikisi lo?
6 Ngesikhathi samaKhristu akuqala isihlenge seKhuphro sasigcwele ukhonza kwamanga. UBhanabha loSawuli bakunanzelela kakhulu lokhu sebefike ePhafo eyayisekhunjini olungasentshonalanga kwesihlenge lesi. Bahlangana “lomunye umJuda okwakuthiwa nguBha-Jesu owayeyinyanga futhi engumphrofethi wamanga. Wayelombusi wesabelo uSegiwu Phawuli, indoda eyayikhaliphile.” f Ngesikhathi samaKhristu akuqala amaRoma ayefundile ‘layekhaliphile’ njengoSegiwu Phawuli ayejayele ukucela uncedo emuntwini owenza amasalamusi kumbe obuza izinkanyezi nxa kumele enze izinqumo eziqakathekileyo. Lanxa kunjalo, uSegiwu Phawuli wathintwa yizindaba ezinhle futhi ‘wazimisela ukuzwa ilizwi likaNkulunkulu.’ Lokhu akuzange kumthokozise uBha-Jesu owayesaziwa langokuthi ngu-Elima okutsho “Inyanga.”—Imiseb. 13:6-8.
7 UBha-Jesu wayengumphikisi, wayengavumelani lezindaba ezinhle ezazitshunyayelwa nguBhanabha loSawuli. Le kwakuyindlela yakhe yokuvikela isikhundla sakhe sokuba ngumcebisi kaSegiwu Phawuli yikho wazama “ukudukisa umbusi lo ukuze angakholwa.” (Imiseb. 13:8) Kodwa uSawuli wayengeke ayekele indoda le eyayilamasalamusi iphambanisa isifiso sikaSegiwu Phawuli sokuzwa izindaba ezinhle. Manje uSawuli wenzani? Ibhuku lemiSebenzi lithi: “USawuli owayebizwa langokuthi nguPhawuli wagcwala umoya ongcwele, wamkhangela wamuthi nhlo wathi: ‘Wena muntu ogcwele yonke imihlobo yobuqili labo bonke ububi, ndodana kaDeveli, sitha sakho konke okulungileyo kuzaze kube nini uphambanisa izindlela zikaJehova ezilungileyo? Lalela! Isandla sikaJehova sehlele phezu kwakho. Uzakuba yisiphofu, ungaboni ukukhanya kwelanga okwesikhathi esithile.’ Masinyane nje inkungu lobumnyama kwamgubuzela, wahamba esephumputha edinga umuntu ongambamba ngesandla amkhokhele.” g Kwasekusenzakalani ngemva kwesimangaliso lesi? “Umbusi wesabelo wathi esebone okwakwenzakele waba likholwa ngoba wayemangaliswe yilokho ayesekufunde ngoJehova.”—Imiseb. 13:9-12.
Lathi silingisela uPhawuli ngokulivikela iqiniso nxa siphikiswa
8. Singasilingisela njani isibindi sikaPhawuli?
8 UPhawuli kazange amesabe uBha-Jesu. Lathi akumelanga sibesabe abaphikisi abazama ukuphambanisa ukholo lwalabo abalesifiso sokwamukela izindaba ezinhle. Lanxa kunjani amazwi ethu kumele ‘ahlale elomusa futhi efakwe isawudo.’ (Kol. 4:6) Kodwa akumelanga sizikhathaze kakhulu ngokuthi singavusa impikiswano besesiyekela ukufakaza emuntwini olesifiso sokuzwa izindaba ezinhle. Kanti njalo akumelanga sithikaze ukuveza egcekeni ububi benkolo yamanga eqhubeka ‘iphambanisa indlela zikaJehova ezilungileyo’ njengoBha-Jesu. (Imiseb. 13:10) Thina kumele silingisele uPhawuli simemezele izindaba ezinhle ngesibindi futhi sincedise abalenhliziyo eziqotho. Lanxa uNkulunkulu engeke asisekele ngendlela eyisimangaliso njengoba wenza kuPhawuli, asithandabuzi ukuthi uJehova uzasebenzisa umoya wakhe ongcwele ukuthi adonsele abafaneleyo eqinisweni.—Joh. 6:44.
‘Ilizwi Lokukhuthaza’ (Imiseb. 13:13-43)
9. Abakhokhelayo ebandleni lamuhla bangamlingisela njani uPhawuli loBhanabha?
9 Kukhanya kwaba lotshintsho ngesikhathi uPhawuli loBhanabha besuka ePhafo besiya ePhega esekhunjini olusesabelweni sase-Asiya umango ongaba ngamakhilomitha angu-250. KumiSebenzi 13:13 nxa kukhulunywa ngeqembu leli kuthiwa ‘nguPhawuli layehamba labo.’ Amazwi la atshengisa ukuthi uPhawuli nguye owayesekhokhela eqenjini leli kodwa kukhanya uBhanabha kazange abe lomhawu ngoPhawuli. Amadoda la womabili aqhubeka esebenza ndawonye ukuze enze intando kaNkulunkulu. UPhawuli loBhanabha bayisibonelo esihle kulabo abakhokhelayo emabandleni lamuhla. Kulokuthi bancintisane futhi bazidingele udumo, kumele bakhumbule amazwi kaJesu athi: “Lina lonke lingabafowabo bomunye lomunye.” Waphinda wathi: “Loba ngubani oziphakamisayo uzakwehliswa futhi loba ngubani ozehlisayo uzaphakanyiswa.”—Mat. 23:8, 12.
10. Lwalunjani uhambo lukaPhawuli loBhanabha besuka ePhega besiya e-Antiyokhi yePhisidiya?
10 Sebefike ePhega, uJohane owayebizwa langokuthi nguMakho wabatshiya wabuyela eJerusalema. Asikwazi ukuthi kuyini okwenza wabatshiya kodwa uPhawuli loBhanabha bona baqhubeka ngohambo lwabo besuka ePhega baya e-Antiyokhi yePhisidiya idolobho elalisesigabeni saseGalathiya. Uhambo lolu lwalungalula sibili ngoba i-Antiyokhi yasePhisidiya iphakeme ngamamitha angu-1 100 phezu kolwandle. Kwakuyingozi ukuhamba endaweni lezi ezilezintaba ngoba abantu babejayele ukuhlaselwa yizigebenga. Phezu kwalokhu kukhanya uPhawuli wayegula ngalesosikhathi. h
11, 12. Ngesikhathi ekhuluma esinagogeni eyayise-Antiyokhi yePhisidiya, uPhawuli wenzani ukuze athinte inhliziyo zalabo ayebatshumayeza?
11 UPhawuli loBhanabha sebefike e-Antiyokhi yasePhisidiya bangena esinagogeni ngelanga leSabatha. Ibhuku lemiSebenzi lithi: “Abantu bathi sebebalelwe uMthetho leMibhalo yabaPhrofethi, abaphathi besinagogi bakhuluma loPhawuli loBhanabha bathi: ‘Madoda, bafowethu, nxa lilelizwi lokukhuthaza abantu likhulumeni.’” (Imiseb. 13:15) UPhawuli wasukuma wakhuluma.
12 Wathi kwababemlalele: “Madoda, bantu bako-Israyeli lani lonke elesaba uNkulunkulu lalelani.” (Imiseb. 13:16) Phakathi kwabantu ababelalele uPhawuli kwakulamaJuda labanye ababephendukele ekholweni lwesiJuda. Manje uPhawuli wenzani ukuze ancede abantu laba ababelesifiso sokuzwa okunengi njengoba babengakuzwisisi ukuqakatheka kukaJesu ekugcwalisekeni kwenhloso kaNkulunkulu? Waqala wathi fahlafahla ngembali yesizwe samaJuda. Wachasisa indlela uJehova ‘ayenze ngayo abantu bakhe baba yisizwe esilamandla ngesikhathi bengabantu bezizweni elizweni laseGibhithe’ lokuthi ngemva kokubakhulula ‘wayebabekezelele okweminyaka engaba ngu-40 besenkangala.’ Wabalandisela langendlela ama-Israyeli ayethethe ngayo iLizwe Lesithembiso lendlela uJehova ‘ayebaphe ngayo ilizwe lelo ukuthi libe lilifa labo.’ (Imiseb. 13:17-19) Kucatshangelwa ukuthi uPhawuli wayecupha kweminye imibhalo eyayibalwe ngalelolanga. Nxa lokhu kuyikho akwenzayo, lobu ngobunye ubufakazi obusitshengisa ukuthi uPhawuli wayekwazi ‘ukuba yizinto zonke kuyo yonke imihlobo yabantu.’—1 Khor. 9:22.
13. Singenzani ukuze sithinte izinhliziyo zalabo esixoxa labo?
13 Lathi kumele sizame ukuthinta izinhliziyo zalabo esibatshumayezayo. Ngokwesibonelo, nxa singabakwazi ukuthi umuntu esixoxa laye ukholwani, kuzabalula ukuthi sikhethe izihloko azazithanda kakhulu. Kanti njalo okunye esingakwenza yikuxoxa ngamavesi aseBhayibhilini umuntu lo angabe ewazi. Okunye okungenza siphumelele yikumcela ukuthi abale amavesi esixoxa ngawo eBhayibhilini lakhe. Zama ngamandla wonke ukuthinta inhliziyo zalabo oxoxa labo.
14. (a) UPhawuli wayiqalisa njani intshumayelo yakhe emayelana lo Jesu, futhi wabaxwayisa esithini? (b) Abantu benzani ngemva kwentshumayelo kaPhawuli?
14 UPhawuli waphinda waxoxa labo ngokulandelana kwamakhosi ako-Israyeli okwabafikisa ‘kuJesu umsindisi’ owalungiselwa indlela nguJohane uMbhabhathizi. Waselandisa ngokubulawa kukaJesu kanye lokuvuswa kwakhe. (Imiseb. 13:20-37) Wathi: “Ngithanda ukuba likwazi ukuthi ngomuntu lo kumenyezelwa kini ukuthethelelwa kwezono. Ngaye, loba ngubani okholwayo kuzathiwa kalacala.” Wasebaxwayisa wathi: “Nanzelelani ukuthi amazwi abhalwe kubaPhrofethi awenzakali kini, athi: ‘Lina abachothozayo khangelani limangale futhi litshabalale ngoba ezinsukwini zenu ngenza umsebenzi elingasoze liwukholwe lanxa umuntu engalitshela konke okuphathelane lawo.’” Indlela abantu abamukela ngayo intshumayelo kaPhawuli iyamangalisa sibili. IBhayibhili lithi: “Abantu babancenga ukuthi bakhulume ngezinto lezi ngeSabatha elilandelayo.” Kanti njalo umhlangano owawusesinagogeni wathi uphela, “amaJuda amanengi lababephendukele ekholweni lwesiJuda futhi ababekhonza uNkulunkulu balandela uPhawuli loBhanabha.”—Imiseb. 13:38-43.
“Sesisiya Kwabezinye Izizwe” (Imiseb. 13:44-52)
15. Kwenzakalani ngeSabatha?
15 NgeSabatha elilandelayo, “phose lonke idolobho” labuthana ukuze lizolalela uPhawuli. Lokhu akuzange kuwathokozise ngitsho amanye amaJuda yikho ‘aqalisa ukuthuka ephikisa okwakutshiwo nguPhawuli.’ Yena loBhanabha bawaphendula ngesibindi bathi: “Ilizwi likaNkulunkulu bekumele likhulunywe kini kuqala. Kodwa njengoba lingalamukeli futhi lizahlulela ukuthi ukuphila okungapheliyo akulifanelanga, sesisiya kwabezinye izizwe. UJehova usilaye ngamazwi la athi: ‘Ngikubeke ukuthi ube yikukhanya kwezizwe ukuze utshumayele mayelana lensindiso kuze kuyefika emikhawulweni yomhlaba.’”—Imiseb. 13:44-47; Isaya. 49:6.
‘Abangela ukuthi uPhawuli loBhanabha bahlukuluzwe futhi abafundi baqhubeka bethokoza kakhulu futhi begcwala umoya ongcwele.’—ImiSebenzi 13:50-52
16. AmaJuda enzani ngemva kwentshumayelo kaPhawuli loBhanabha elamandla, futhi bona benzani ngemva kokuphikiswa?
16 Abantu bezinye izizwe bathi bekuzwa lokhu bathokoza futhi “bonke ababelenhliziyo eziqotho futhi bezimisele ukuthola ukuphila okungapheliyo baba ngamakholwa.’ (Imiseb. 13:48) Ilizwi likaJehova laqhubeka lisabalala kuyo yonke indawo. AmaJuda awazange azamukele ngendlela efananayo izindaba ezinhle. Yikho uPhawuli loBhanabha bawatshela ukuthi lanxa ilizwi likaNkulunkulu lalikhulunywe kuwo kuqala wona akhethe ukwala uMesiya njalo ayezakwahlulelwa kabuhlungu. AmaJuda atshotshozela abesifazana abadumileyo kanye lamadoda ayengabakhokheli bedolobho “abangela ukuthi uPhawuli loBhanabha bahlukuluzwe, abakhiphela phandle kwedolobho.” UPhawuli loBhanabha bona benzani? “Bathintitha uthuli olwalusenyaweni zabo, basebesiya e-Ikhoniyami.” Manje akusazange kube lamaKhristu e-Antiyokhi yePhisidiya yini? Hatshi, ayekhona! Phela abafundi abasala lapho “baqhubeka bethokoza kakhulu futhi begcwala umoya ongcwele.”—Imiseb. 13:50-52.
17-19. Singalingisela njani uPhawuli loBhanabha, futhi ukwenza njalo kuzasinceda njani ukuthi siqhubeke sithokoza?
17 Okwenziwa ngamadoda la athembekileyo lanxa ayephikiswa kusifundisa isifundo esiqakathekileyo. Asiyekeli ukutshumayela lanxa abantu bomhlaba lo abadumileyo bengazama ukusivimba kumbe ukusiphikisa. UPhawuli loBhanabha “bathintitha uthuli olwalusenyaweni zabo.” Lokhu abakwenzanga ngenxa yokuthi babebazondele kodwa kwakutshengisa ukuthi babengaselamlandu ngabo. Abanali laba babenanzelela ukuthi bona akulalutho ababengalwenza ukuze abantu laba bamukele izindaba ezinhle. Ababengakwenza kuphela yikuqhubeka betshumayela futhi lokhu yikho kanye abakwenzayo ngoba baya e-Ikhoniyami batshumayela khona.
18 Manje kwahamba njani ngabafundi ababesele e-Antiyokhi? Lanxa babephikiswa kakhulu intokozo yabo yayingelani lokuthi abantu bayazamukela izindaba ezinhle loba hatshi. UJesu wathi: “Abathokozayo yilabo abalizwayo ilizwi likaNkulunkulu balilandele!” (Luk. 11:28) Lokhu yikho kanye abafundi ababese-Antiyokhi yePhisidiya abazimisela ukukwenza.
19 Lathi njengoPhawuli loBhanabha kumele sihlale sikhumbula ukuthi owethu umsebenzi ngowokutshumayela izindaba ezinhle. Abantu esibatshumayezayo yibo abazikhethelayo ukuthi bazazamukela yini loba hatshi. Nxa bengafuni ukusilalela silingisela okwenziwa ngabafundi ngesikhathi samaKhristu akuqala. Singaqakathekisa iqiniso leBhayibhili esilalo futhi sivumele umoya ongcwele kaNkulunkulu usiqondise lathi sizaqhubeka sithokoza lanxa siphikiswa.—Gal. 5:18, 22.
a Khangela ibhokisi elithi “ UBhanabha—‘Indodana Yenduduzo.’”
b Khathesi sekulamabandla lasezindaweni ezikhatshana njengase-Antiyokhi yaseSiriya eqhelelane leJerusalema ngamakhilomitha angaba ngu-550.
c Khangela ibhokisi elithi “ Emgwaqweni.”
d Ngesikhathi samaKhristu akuqala isikepe sasingahamba umango ongamakhilomitha angaba ngu-160 nxa umoya uvuma. Kodwa nxa umoya ungavumi umango lo wawungathatha isikhathi eside.
e Khangela ibhokisi elithi “ Emasinagogeni AmaJuda.”
f IKhuphro yayingaphansi kombusi wesabelo samaRoma. Isiphathimandla sesihlenge lesi sasibizwa ngokuthi ngugavena.
g Kusukela ngalesisikhathi uSawuli usebizwa ngokuthi nguPhawuli. Abanye bacabanga ukuthi wanikwa ibizo leli ukuze kuhlonitshwe uSegiwu Phawuli. Kodwa kukhanya uPhawuli waqhubeka esebenzisa ibizo leli lanxa wayesesukile eKhuphro okutshengisa ukuthi uPhawuli ‘owayengumphostoli kwabezinye izizwe’ wakhetha ukusebenzisa ibizo lakhe lesiRoma kusukela ngalesosikhathi. Kanti njalo kungenzeka wakhetha ukusebenzisa ibizo elithi Phawuli ngenxa yokuthi indlela ibizo lakhe lesiHebheru elithi Sawuli elibizwa ngayo ngesiGrikhi iyahambelana lelinye ibala lesiGrikhi elilomutsho omubi.—Rom. 11:13.
