ISAHLUKO 12
“Bekhuluma Ngesibindi Ngenxa Yamandla Ababewaphiwa NguJehova”
UPhawuli loBhanabha batshengisa ukuthi bathobekile, bayaqinisela futhi balesibindi
Isihloko lesi sisekelwe kumiSebenzi 14:1-28
1, 2. Kwenzakalani kuPhawuli loBhanabha ngesikhathi beseListra?
YISIPHITHIPHITHI eListra. Indoda ebigogekile futhi ingakaze ihambe selokhu yathwetshulwa yingwe isiyeqayeqa ngemva kokwelatshwa ngamadoda amabili engawaziyo. Abantu abalankani. Umphristi uphathela amadoda la imiqhele ngoba abantu bacabanga ukuthi angonkulunkulu. Inkunzi ziyabongolela ngesikhathi umphristi kaZewusi elungiselela ukuzihlaba. UPhawuli loBhanabha bayamemeza bekhuza abantu ukuthi bayekele abakwenzayo. Badabula izembatho zabo bazithele phakathi kwabantu futhi bayabancenga ukuthi bangabakhonzi. Lanxa bezama ngamandla wonke kubathwalisa nzima ukubavimba ukuthi babenzele imihlatshelo.
2 Abaphikisi abangamaJuda bayafika bevela e-Antiyokhi yasePhisidiya le-Ikhoniyami. Bakhuluma amanga ngoPhawuli loBhanabha futhi lokhu kwenza ukuthi ixuku libaphendukele. Ixuku ebelifuna ukukhonza uPhawuli selimhlamukele futhi limkhanda ngamatshe aze aqaleke. Selibhodlile limhudulela phandle kwedolobho licabanga ukuthi usefile.
3. Yiphi imibuzo esizaxoxa ngayo esahlukweni lesi?
3 Kuyini okwabangela konke lokho? Abatshumayeli bezindaba ezinhle lamuhla bangafundani endabeni kaPhawuli loBhanabha lezakhamizi zeListra ezingothathekile? Abadala bangalingisela njani uPhawuli loBhanabha abaqhubeka betshumayela “ngesibindi ngenxa yamandla ababewaphiwe nguJehova?”—Imiseb. 14:3.
‘Abantu Abanengi Baba Ngamakholwa’ (Imiseb. 14:1-7)
4, 5. Kuyini okwenza uPhawuli loBhanabha bacina besiya e-Ikhoniyami futhi kwenzakalani sebekhonale?
4 Ensukwini ezazisanda kwedlula uPhawuli loBhanabha baxotshwa edolobheni lamaRoma okuthiwa yi-Antiyokhi yePhisidiya ngemva kokuhlukuluzwa okwakubangelwe ngabaphikisi abangamaJuda. Kulokuthi amadoda la amabili adane ‘athintitha uthuli olwalusenyaweni zawo’ ezigeza ecaleni labantu bedolobho leli abangalaleliyo. (Imiseb. 13:50-52; Mat. 10:14) UPhawuli loBhanabha bazisukela ngokuthula futhi batshiyela indaba kuNkulunkulu. (Imiseb. 18:5, 6; 20:26) Abanali laba baqhubeka ngohambo lwabo lokutshumayela belokhu bethokoza. Bakhasabula okwamakhilomitha angaba ngu-150 baze bayafika endaweni evundileyo ephakathi kwezintaba zeTaurus lezeSultan.
5 UPhawuli loBhanabha baqala bama e-Ikhoniyami indawo eyayilabantu ababelokhu benamathele esikweni lesiGrikhi futhi eyayingelinye lamadolobho eRoma aqakathekileyo ayesesabelweni seGalathiya. a Endaweni le kwakuhlala abantu abanengi abangamaJuda ababedumile labanye ababephendukele okholweni lwesiJuda. Njengenjayelo uPhawuli loBhanabha bangena esinagogeni baqalisa ukutshumayela. (Imiseb. 13:5, 14) “Bakhuluma ngendlela eyenza ukuthi abantu abanengi abangamaJuda labangamaGrikhi babe ngamakholwa.”—Imiseb. 14:1.
6. Kuyini okwenza uPhawuli loBhanabha baphumelela enkonzweni yabo futhi ungabalingisela njani?
6 Kuyini okwenza uPhawuli loBhanabha baphumelela kangaka enkonzweni yabo? UPhawuli wayeyazi kuhle iMibhalo. Wayesenelisa ukucupha embalini yamaJuda, eziphrofethweni laseMthethweni kaMosi ukuze atshengise ukuthi uJesu wayenguMesiya owayethenjisiwe. (Imiseb. 13:15-31; 26:22, 23) Ikanti indlela uBhanabha ayekhuluma ngayo yayitshengisa ukuthi wayebathanda abantu. (Imiseb. 4:36, 37; 9:27; 11:23, 24) Amadoda la ayengazithembi kodwa ayekhuluma ‘ngamandla ayewaphiwe nguJehova.’ Ungabalingisela njani abanali laba nxa utshumayela? Nanku ongakwenza: Lazi kuhle iLizwi likaNkulunkulu. Sebenzisa amavesi azathinta izinhliziyo zalabo obatshumayezayo. Yenza konke ongakwenza ukuze ubaduduze labo obatshumayezayo. Ungasebenzisi ukuhlakanipha kwakho kodwa sekela konke okufundisayo eLizwini likaNkulunkulu.
7. (a) Izindaba ezinhle zibangelani? (b) Kuyini okumele ukukhumbule nxa imuli yangakini yehlukene phakathi ngenxa yokwamukela kwakho izindaba ezinhle?
7 Ayisibo bonke e-Ikhoniyami ababelesifiso sokuzwa okwakutshiwo nguPhawuli loBhanabha. ULukha uqhubeka esithi: “AmaJuda angakholwanga ayenga abantu bezinye izizwe, enza ukuthi baphikisane labazalwane.” UPhawuli loBhanabha babona kungcono ukuthi bahlale e-Ikhoniyami ukuze bavikele izindaba ezinhle. Yikho “bahlala lapho okwesikhathi eside bekhuluma ngesibindi.” Lokhu kwabangela ukuthi ‘abantu ababesedolobheni lelo behlukane phakathi, abanye basekela amaJuda, abanye besekela abaphostoli.’ (Imiseb. 14:2-4) Lamuhla kwenzakala okufananayo nxa sitshumayela izindaba ezinhle, abanye ziyabamanyanisa kodwa abanye ziyabehlukanisa. (Mat. 10:34-36) Nxa imuli yangakini isidabukene phakathi ngenxa yokuthi wamukela izindaba ezinhle khumbula ukuthi ukuphikiswa kujayele ukubangelwa ngamahungahunga angelabufakazi kumbe ukunyundelwa. Ukuziphatha kwakho okuhle kungatshengisa ukuthi abakutshoyo kungamanga futhi kungenza abantu abakuphikisayo labo batshintshe.—1 Phet. 2:12; 3:1, 2.
8. Kungani uPhawuli loBhanabha bakhetha ukusuka e-Ikhoniyami futhi sifundani kulokhu abakwenzayo?
8 Ngemva kwesikhathi abaphikisi laba ababese-Ikhoniyami babumba icebo lokukhanda uPhawuli loBhanabha ngamatshe. UPhawuli loBhanabha bathi bekuzwa lokhu bakhetha ukusuka bayetshumayela kweyinye indawo. (Imiseb. 14:5-7) Lalamuhla abatshumayeli bezindaba ezinhle bajayele ukwenza okufananayo. Sikhuluma ngesibindi nxa abaphikisi bekhuluma kubi ngathi. (Flp. 1:7; 1 Phet. 3:13-15) Kodwa nxa sebefuna ukusilimaza asifaki ukuphila kwethu kumbe okwabafowethu labodadewethu engozini.—Zaga. 22:3.
“Liye KuNkulunkulu Ophilayo” (Imiseb. 14:8-19)
9, 10. Yayingaphi iListra futhi kuyini esikwaziyo ngezakhamizi zayo?
9 UPhawuli loBhanabha baqonda eListra idolobho elalingaphansi kwamaRoma futhi elaliqhelelane le-Ikhoniyami ngamakhilomitha angaba ngu-30. Idolobho leListra lalilobudlelwano obuhle lele-Antiyokhi yasePhisidiya kodwa lona lalingelabantu abanengi abangamaJuda. Lanxa abantu ababehlala kulelodolobho babekhuluma isiGrikhi, ulimi olwalukhulunywa kakhulu yisiLikhoniya. Kukhanya edolobheni lelo kwakungelasinagogi yikho uPhawuli loBhanabha baqalisa ukutshumayela endaweni yomphakathi. EseJerusalema uPhetro welapha indoda eyazalwa iyisigoga, kwathi eListra uPhawuli laye welapha indoda eyayizelwe iyisigoga. (Imiseb. 14:8-10) Isimangaliso esenziwa nguPhetro senza ukuthi abantu abanengi babe ngamakholwa. (Imiseb. 3:1-10) Kodwa isimangaliso esenziwa nguPhawuli sona asizange sibe lesiphetho esihle.
10 Ekuqaliseni kwesahluko lesi sibonile ukuthi abantu baseListra ababekhonza onkulunkulu bamanga bathi bebona indoda le eyayigogekile isimi ngenyawo zayo bacabanga ukuthi uPhawuli loBhanabha ngonkulunkulu. Babiza uBhanabha ngokuthi nguZewusi, okutsho umkhokheli wabonkulunkulu futhi babiza uPhawuli ngokuthi nguHemesi, okutsho indodana kaZewusi, lomkhulumeli wabonkulunkulu. (Khangela ibhokisi elithi “ IListra Lokukhonzwa KukaZewusi LoHemesi.”) UPhawuli loBhanabha babezimisele ukuncedisa ixuku leli lizwisise ukuthi ababekukhuluma lababekwenza kwakuvela kuJehova uNkulunkulu weqiniso hatshi kubonkulunkulu bamanga.—Imiseb. 14:11-14.
‘Tshiyani izinto lezi ezingelancedo liye kuNkulunkulu ophilayo owenza izulu lomhlaba.’—ImiSebenzi 14:15
11-13. (a) UPhawuli loBhanabha bathini ezakhamizini zeListra? (b) Sifundani emazwini kaPhawuli loBhanabha?
11 Lanxa kwavuka isiphithiphithi edolobheni leli, uPhawuli loBhanabha bazama ukuthinta inhliziyo zabantu ababebalalele. Endabeni le eyabhalwa nguLukha sifunda esingakwenza ukuze siphumelele ukutshumayeza abantu abangasomaKhristu. UPhawuli loBhanabha babonisana labantu laba bathi: “Madoda, kanti likwenzelani lokho? Lathi singabantu abalendubo njengani futhi sitshumayela izindaba ezinhle kini ukuze litshiye izinto lezi ezingelancedo liye kuNkulunkulu ophilayo owenza izulu, lomhlaba, lolwandle kanye lakho konke okukukho. Kuzizukulwane ezedlulayo wavumela zonke izizwe ukuthi zihambe ngezindlela zazo. Loba kunjalo wafakaza ngokwenza izinto ezinhle, elinika izulu elivela ezulwini kanye lezikhathi zenala, elisuthisa ngokudla njalo egcwalisa izinhliziyo zenu ngentokozo.”—Imiseb. 14:15-17.
12 Sifundani emazwini kaPhawuli loBhanabha athinta inhliziyo? Okokuqala, abazange bazibone bengcono kulabantu ababekhuluma labo. Kanti njalo, abazange bafihle lokhu abayikho kodwa ngokuthobeka bavuma ukuthi labo balendubo njengabantu laba ababekhonza abanye onkulunkulu. UPhawuli loBhanabha babeyamukele umoya ongcwele kaNkulunkulu futhi bakhululwa ezimfundisweni zamanga. Babe lesibusiso sokuyabusa loJesu ezulwini kodwa bananzelela ukuthi izakhamizi zeListra lazo zazingasithola isibusiso lesi nxa zazingalalela uKhristu.
13 Sibabona njani abantu esibatshumayezayo? Sibabona njengabantu abafanana lathi yini? Nxa sincedisa abanye ukufunda iqiniso eliseLizwini likaNkulunkulu siyazama yini ukulingisela uPhawuli loBhanabha ngokungazifuneli udumo? Umfowethu uCharles Taze Russell owayeyingcitshi ekufundiseni futhi owayekhokhela emsebenzini wokutshumayela ekupheleni kweminyaka yabo-1800 lasekuqaliseni kwabo-1900 uyisibonelo esihle kakhulu endabeni le. Wabhala wathi: “Asifuni ukuthi abantu basidumise kumbe basikhonze, baqakathekise kakhulu thina lamabhuku ethu kumbe basibize ngokuthi Mfundisi kumbe Rabi.” Umfowethu uRussell watshengisa ukuthi uthobekile njengoPhawuli loBhanabha. Lathi lamuhla nxa sitshumayela asifuni ukuthi abantu basidumise kodwa sifuna ukubancedisa ukuthi baye “kuNkulunkulu ophilayo.”
14-16. Yiziphi ezinye izifundo esizithola emazwini uPhawuli loBhanabha abawatshela izakhamizi zeListra?
14 Nansi isifundo sesibili esisithola emazwini kaPhawuli loBhanabha: Babevumelana lezimo. Bananzelela ukuthi abantu baseListra babetshiyene labase-Ikhoniyami. Babelolwazi oluncane kakhulu ngeMibhalo lendlela uNkulunkulu ayephathe ngayo isizwe sama-Israyeli. Abantu abanengi eListra babephila ngokulima. Umkhathi wabo wawumuhle futhi amasimu abo evundile sibili yikho babe lobufakazi obunengi bokuthi uMdali ulobuntu obuhle njengoba wayebenza batshaye inala. Yikho uPhawuli loBhanabha basebenzisa lokhu ukuze bathinte inhliziyo zabantu beListra.—Rom. 1:19, 20.
15 Lathi kumele sizame ukuvumelana lezimo. Lanxa umlimi engalima inhlanyelo efananayo emasimini atshiyeneyo kumele atshintshatshintshe indlela alungisa ngayo umhlabathi. Omunye umhlabathi ungabe ubuthakathaka futhi kulula ukuhlanyela kuwo kodwa omunye ungabe udinga ukulungiswa. Lathi sihlala sihlanyela inhlanyelo efananayo, sitshela abantu izindaba ezinhle zoMbuso eziseLizwini likaNkulunkulu. Lanxa kunjalo nxa silingisela uPhawuli loBhanabha sizananzelela ukuthi izimo zabantu esibatshumayezayo kanye lalokho abakukhohlwayo kuyatshiyana. Lokhu kuzasinceda ukuthi sitshintshatshintshe indlela esethula ngayo izindaba ezinhle kubo.—Luk. 8:11, 15.
16 Nansi isifundo sesithathu esisithola kuPhawuli loBhanabha lezakhamizi zeListra: Lanxa singenza konke okusemandleni ethu eyinye inhlanyelo iyahluthunwa kumbe iwele emhlabathini oledwala. (Mat. 13:18-21) Nxa lokhu kungenzakala akumelanga sidane kakhulu kumbe siphele amandla. UPhawuli wakhumbuza abafundi baseRoma wathi: “Ngamunye wethu (okugoqela wonke umuntu esimtshumayezayo) uzaziphendulela kuNkulunkulu.”—Rom. 14:12.
“Babanikela KuJehova” (Imiseb. 14:20-28)
17. Ngemva kokusuka eDebhe uPhawuli loBhanabha baya ngaphi futhi kungani?
17 UPhawuli wathi esehudulelwe phandle kwedolobho leListra becabanga ukuthi sefile, abafundi bambuthanela, wasukuma wangena edolobheni walala khona. Ngelanga elilandelayo uPhawuli loBhanabha baya eDebhe eyayiqhelelane leListra ngamakhilomitha angu-100. Akucabange ukuthi uPhawuli wayengabe efuthelwa njani kuloluhambo njengoba wayesanda kukhandwa ngamatshe. Lanxa kunjalo yena loBhanabha baqinisela futhi bathi befika eDebhe, ‘benza abafundi abanengana.’ Kulokuthi bahambe ngendlela equmelayo baye e-Antiyokhi yeSiriya lapho ababejayele ukuhlala khona, bakhetha ‘ukubuyela eListra le-Ikhoniyami le-Antiyokhi yePhisidiya.’ Kungani benza njalo? Lokhu bakwenza ukuze baqinise “abafundi bebakhuthaza ukuthi bahlale beqinile ekukholweni.” (Imiseb. 14:20-22) Amadoda la asitshiyela isibonelo esihle kakhulu. Aqakathekisa ibandla kulokuqakathekisa inhlalakahle yawo. Ababonisi beziqinti labanali benza okufananayo lamuhla.
18. Abadala bakhethwa njani?
18 UPhawuli loBhanabha abazange bakhuthaze njalo baqinise abafundi kuphela kodwa “babeka abadala ebandleni ngalinye.” Lanxa babekhethwe ngumoya ongcwele uPhawuli loBhanabha bathandaza futhi bazila ukudla ngesikhathi ‘benikela [abadala] kuJehova.’ (Imiseb. 13:1-4; 14:23) Lamuhla kulandelwa indlela efananayo nxa kukhethwa abadala. Iqula labadala liyathandaza beselihlola ukuthi umzalwane abafisa abe ngumdala ulazo yini impawu eziseMibhalweni. (1 Thim. 3:1-10, 12, 13; Tit. 1:5-9; Jak. 3:17, 18; 1 Phet. 5:2, 3) Ukukhethwa kwakhe akuyi ngokuthi selesikhathi esingakanani ebhabhathiziwe kodwa kukhangelwa ukuthi indlela akhuluma ngayo laziphatha ngayo iyatshengisa yini ukuthi ukhokhelwa ngumoya ongcwele empilweni yakhe. Nxa elempawu eziseMibhalweni uzakhethwa ukuthi abe ngumelusi womhlambi kaNkulunkulu. (Gal. 5:22, 23) Umbonisi wesiqinti nguye obeka abadala.—Khangela u-1 Thimothi 5:22.
19. Kuyini abadala abakwaziyo futhi bamlingisela njani uPhawuli loBhanabha?
19 Abadala bayakwazi ukuthi bazalandisa kuNkulunkulu ngendlela abaphatha ngayo ibandla. (Heb. 13:17) Yikho balingisela uPhawuli loBhanabha ngokukhokhela emsebenzini wokutshumayela lokuqinisa abanye ebandleni ngamazwi abo. Bazimisele ukuqakathekisa kakhulu lokho okuzanceda ibandla kulokuqakathekisa lokhu okufunwa yibo.—Flp. 2:3, 4.
20. Kusinceda njani ukubala imibiko emayelana lomsebenzi omuhle owenziwa ngabafowethu labodadewethu?
20 UPhawuli loBhanabha bathi sebebuyele lapho ababehlala khona e-Antiyokhi, balandisela ibandla “izinto ezinengi uNkulunkulu ayezenze ngabo, balitshela lokuthi wayevulele abantu bezinye izizwe umnyango wokholo.” (Imiseb. 14:27) Ukubala ngomsebenzi omuhle owenziwa ngabafowethu lokubona indlela uJehova ababusisa ngayo kuyasikhuthaza ukuthi siqhubeke ‘sikhuluma ngesibindi ngenxa yamandla esiwaphiwe nguJehova.’
a Khangela ibhokisi elithi “ I-Ikhoniyami—Idolobho LamaFrigiya”.
