ISAHLUKO 25
“Ngidlulisela Icala KuKhesari!”
UPhawuli usibekela isibonelo sokuvikela izindaba ezinhle
Isihloko lesi sisekelwe kumiSebenzi 25:1–26:32
1, 2. (a) UPhawuli wayephakathi kwabuphi ubunzima? (b) Akwenzayo kusinceda njani lamuhla?
UPHAWULI ulokhe ebotshiwe eKhesariya futhi ulindwe ngelokhozi. Eminyakeni emibili esanda kwedlula uthe ebuyela eJudiya amaJuda azama kathathu konke ukumbulala. (Imiseb. 21:27-36; 23:10, 12-15, 27) Lanxa izitha zakhe zingaphumelelanga ekuqaliseni zilokhu zimfuna ngabomvu, azikhalali. UPhawuli uthe enanzelela ukuthi lingamtshonela emini wathi kuFestu: “Ngidlulisela icala kuKhesari!”—Imiseb. 25:11.
2 UJehova wamsekela yini uPhawuli esekhethe ukudlulisela icala kumbusi weRoma? Impendulo yombuzo lo iqakathekile kithi sonke esiphiwe umsebenzi wokufakaza ngoMbuso kaNkulunkulu kulezinsuku zokucina. Sifuna ukubona ukuthi singakulingisela njani lokho okwenziwa nguPhawuli nxa lathi ‘sesivikela izindaba ezinhle futhi sizimisa ziqine ngokusemthethweni.’—Flp. 1:7.
“Ngimi Phambi Kwesihlalo Sokwahlulela” (Imiseb. 25:1-12)
3, 4. (a) AmaJuda ayehloseni ngesikhathi ecela ukuthi uPhawuli alethwe eJerusalema futhi kuyini okwenza wasila? (b) UJehova usincedisa njani lamuhla?
3 UFestu wathi eselamalanga amathathu eqalise ukubusa esabelweni seJudiya wasuka waya eJerusalema. a Wathi esekhonale abaphristi abakhokhelayo lamadoda aqakathekileyo angamaJuda amtshela ngoPhawuli emethesa amacala amakhulu. Babekwazi ukuthi umbusi lo omutsha wayezabalalela ngoba wayefuna ukuthi abantu esabelweni saseJudiya bamamukele. Yikho bancenga uFestu ukuthi alethe uPhawuli eJerusalema azomthonisisela khona kodwa babekwazi ukuthi balecebo labo abasebelibumbile. Ababekuhlosile yikuthi nxa Phawuli esesiza eJerusalema evela eKhesariya bamcathamele emgwaqweni bambulale. Kodwa uFestu kasamukelanga isicelo sabo. Wathi kubo: “Iziphathamandla zenu azihambe lami [eKhesariya] ziyeyimangalela indoda leyo nxa kuyikuthi kukhona sibili okubi ekwenzileyo.” (Imiseb. 25:5) Wasila njalo ke uPhawuli.
4 UJehova wasebenzisa iNkosi uJesu ukuthi aqinise uPhawuli ngesikhathi ekhangelane lobunzima bonke lobu. Khumbula ukuthi embonweni umphostoli uPhawuli awubonayo uJesu wamtshela wathi: “Woba lesibindi!” (Imiseb. 23:11) Lalamuhla abantu bakaNkulunkulu bayasongelwa futhi bahlangana lobunzima obutshiyeneyo. UJehova kasivikeli kubo bonke ubunzima esihlangana labo kodwa akwenzayo yikusinika ukuhlakanipha lamandla okuthi sibekezele. Asithandabuzi ukuthi uNkulunkulu uzimisele ukusinika “amandla amakhulu futhi angajayelekanga.”—2 Khor. 4:7.
5. UFestu wamphatha njani uPhawuli?
5 Ngemva kwensukwana uFestu “wahlala esihlalweni sokwahlulela” eKhesariya. b Phambi kwakhe kwakuloPhawuli lalabo ababemmangalela. UPhawuli kazange avale owakhe athule nje kodwa wathi: “Angiwephulanga uMthetho wamaJuda, angenzanga lutho olubi ethempelini njalo angonanga kuKhesari.” Kwacaca ukuthi umphostoli uPhawuli wayengelacala futhi kwakumele akhululwe. Manje uFestu wayezakwenzani? Phela yena ayekufuna yikuthi amaJuda amthande yikho wabuza uPhawuli wathi: “Uyafuna yini ukuya eJerusalema uyekwahlulelwa ngezinto lezi phambi kwami?” (Imiseb. 25:6-9) Lokho ayekutsho kwakungelangqondo! Aluba uPhawuli wahanjiswa eJerusalema ababemmangalela yibo ababezamahlulela futhi kwakusegcekeni ukuthi wayezabulawa. Endabeni le uFestu wehluleka ukwahlulela kuhle ngoba wayefuna nje ukusekelwa ngamaJuda. Lokho ayefuna ukukwenza yikho kanye okwenziwa nguPhontiyu Philathu ngesikhathi ethonisisa umuntu owayeqakatheke kulabo bonke. (Joh. 19:12-16) Lalamuhla omantshi bangasahlulela kubi befuna nje ukuthandwa ngabezombusazwe. Yikho akumelanga simangale nxa sibona imithethwandaba isahlulela kubi abantu bakaNkulunkulu lanxa ubufakazi busegcekeni.
6, 7. Kungani uPhawuli wadlulisela icala kuKhesari futhi akwenzayo kuwanceda njani amaKhristu lamuhla?
6 Okwenziwa nguFestu ehlose ukuthabisa amaJuda kwakuzafaka impilo kaPhawuli engozini. Yikho uPhawuli wasebenzisa ilungelo ayelalo njengoba wayeyisizalwane seRoma. Watshela uFestu wathi: ‘Ngimi phambi kwesihlalo sokwahlulela sikaKhesari lapho okufanele ngahlulelwe khona. Akulanto embi engiyenzileyo kumaJuda lawe uyakubona lokho. Ngidlulisela icala kuKhesari!’ Isicelo lesi sasingatshintsheki yikho uFestu laye wathi: “Njengoba usucele ukuthi icala lakho lidluliselwe kuKhesari, usuzakuya kuKhesari.” (Imiseb. 25:10-12) UPhawuli wadlulisela icala emthethwandaba omkhulu futhi lesi yisibonelo esilandelwa ngamaKhristu lamuhla. Nxa abasiphikisayo “besebenzisa umthetho ukuthi benze okubi” behlasela laboFakazi bakaJehova siyasebenzisa imithetho ekhona ukuze sivikele izindaba ezinhle. c—Hubo. 94:20.
7 Kwathi sekudlule iminyaka emibili uPhawuli elokhe evalelwe ngenxa yamacala ayengawenzanga, wanikwa ithuba lokuthi ayemela udaba lwakhe eRoma. Kodwa wathi engakasuki omunye umbusi wacela ukumbona.
Nxa singahlulelwanga kuhle siyadlulisela icala emithethwandaba emikhulu
‘Lakanye Ngakwenza Engakutshelwayo’ (Imiseb. 25:13–26:23)
8, 9. Kungani iNkosi u-Agripha yavakatshela eKhesariya?
8 Ngemva kwensuku ezithile iNkosi u-Agripha lodadewabo uBhenisi bafika eKhesariya “bezokwenzela uFestu amhlophe.” d Kwakujayelekile eRoma ukuthi iziphathamandla zivakatshele ababusi abasanda kubekwa zibenzela amhlophe. Okwenza u-Agripha wasukumela phezulu yikuthi wayefuna ukuqinisa isikhundla sakhe kwezombusazwe lokuba ngumngane kaFestu ngoba wayesazi ukuthi lokho kwakuzamnceda kwelinye ilanga.—Imiseb. 25:13.
9 UFestu watshela u-Agripha ngoPhawuli futhi lokhu kwenza u-Agripha wafisa ukuzizwela ngezakhe uPhawuli ekhuluma. Ngelanga elilandelayo, uFestu lo-Agripha bahlala esihlalweni sokwahlulela. Bangena bezibonakalisa kakhulu emthethwandaba kodwa lokhu okwakhulunywa nguPhawuli kwabathinta kakhulu abantu ukwedlula indlela ababusi laba bobabili ababezibonakalisa ngayo.—Imiseb. 25:22-27.
10, 11. UPhawuli watshengisa njani ukuthi uyamhlonipha u-Agripha futhi kuyini amtshela khona ngempilo ayeyiphila engakabi ngumKhristu?
10 UPhawuli wabonga iNkosi u-Agripha ngokumvumela ukuthi azozivikela phambi kwakhe waphinda watsho ukuthi uyakwazi ukuthi iNkosi u-Agripha iwazi kuhle amasiko amaJuda lakho konke okwenzakala esizweni lesi. UPhawuli wabatshela ngempilo ayeyiphila engakabi ngumKhristu wathi: “NgangingumFarisi futhi abaFarisi banamathela kakhulu emthethweni ukwedlula amanye amaJuda.” (Imiseb. 26:5) UPhawuli esasengumFarisi wayelethemba lokuthi uMesiya owayethenjisiwe wayezafika. Kwathi-ke esengumKhristu wayeseqiniseka sibili ukuthi uJesu Khristu nguye uMesiya owayethenjisiwe. UPhawuli waveza ukuthi yena lalabo ababemmangalela babelethemba elifananayo lokuthi uNkulunkulu uzagcwalisa izithembiso azenza kubokhokho babo futhi lokho yikho okwakusenza amaJuda amethese amacala. Indlela uPhawuli akhuluma ngayo yatshiya u-Agripha efuna ukuzwa okunengi. e
11 UPhawuli watshela u-Agripha ukuthi ngesikhathi ehlukuluza amaKhristu wayengaboni lutho olubi, wathi: ‘Mina ngangizitshela ukuthi kuqondile ukukwenza konke engingakwenza ukuze ngiphikise ibizo likaJesu umNazaretha. Ngahlukuluza abanye [abalandeli bakaKhristu] kwamanye amadolobho ngoba ngangibazondele kakhulu.’ (Imiseb. 26:9-11) UPhawuli wayengasengi lezimithiyo lapha ngoba abantu abanengi babekwazi ukuthi wayewahlukuluze njani amaKhristu. (Gal. 1:13, 23) Mhlawumbe u-Agripha wayezibuza ukuthi, ‘Kambe kuyini osekwenze indoda le yatshintsha?’
12, 13. (a) Kuyini okwenza uPhawuli watshintsha? (b) UPhawuli ‘wayezikhahlela njani izigodo ezicijileyo’?
12 Impendulo siyithola emazwini kaPhawuli alandelayo athi: “Ngakwenza lokhu ngisiya eDamaseko, ngiphiwe amandla kanye lomlayo ngabaphristi abakhokhelayo. Nkosi, kwathi sekusemini enkulu ngisemgwaqweni ngabona ukukhanya kuvela ezulwini, kusedlula ukukhanya kwelanga. Kwaphazima kwakhanyisa lapho engangikhona lakulabo engangihamba labo. Sonke sawela phansi, ngasengisizwa ilizwi likhuluma lami ngolimi lwesiHebheru lisithi: ‘Sawuli, Sawuli, kanti ungihlukuluzelani? Uzithwalisa nzima nxa ulokhu ukhahlela izigodo ezicijileyo.’ Mina ngasengisithi: ‘Ungubani Nkosi?’ INkosi yathi: ‘NginguJesu, lowo omhlukuluzayo.’” f—Imiseb. 26:12-15.
13 UPhawuli engakaboni umbono lo kwakungathi “ukhahlela izigodo ezicijileyo.” Njengoba nje ubabhemi ezilimaza ngokukhahlela izigodo ezicijileyo, uPhawuli laye wayezithwalisa nzima ehlukuluza amaKhristu njalo lokhu kwakufanana lokuthi ulwisana loNkulunkulu ngokwakhe. Umbono uJesu awutshengisa uPhawuli esemgwaqweni oya eDamaseko wanceda uPhawuli ukuthi atshintshe indlela ayecabanga ngayo ngoba wayezitshela ukuthi wenza inkonzo engcwele kuNkulunkulu.—Joh. 16:1, 2.
14, 15. UPhawuli wathini ngotshintsho alwenzayo empilweni yakhe?
14 Kunengi kakhulu uPhawuli akutshintshayo empilweni yakhe. Watshela u-Agripha wathi: “Lakanye ngakwenza lokho engakutshelwa embonweni ovela ezulwini Nkosi Agripha. Ngaqala kwabaseDamaseko, ngasengisiya eJerusalema lakuzo zonke izindawo zeJudiya kanye lasebantwini bezinye izizwe, ngibatshela ukuthi baphenduke futhi basondele kuNkulunkulu ngokwenza imisebenzi etshengisa ukuthi sebephendukile.” (Imiseb. 26:19, 20) Okweminyaka eminengi uPhawuli wakwenza lokho uJesu ayemtshele khona embonweni. Kwaphetha ngani? Abantu abanengi bazilalela izindaba ezinhle ezazitshunyayelwa nguPhawuli batshintsha indlela ababephila ngayo. Batshiya imikhuba emibi ababeyenza baphendukela kuNkulunkulu. Baba yizakhamizi ezilalelayo, ezilandela umthetho futhi ezihlonipha iziphathamandla.
15 AmaJuda ayemangalela uPhawuli ayengaboni ukuthi lokhu kubanceda ngani. UPhawuli waze wathi: “Yikho amaJuda angibamba ethempelini azama ukungibulala. Kodwa kuze kube lamuhla ngiqhubeka ngifakaza kubantukazana labahlonitshwa ngoba ngiyabona ukuthi uNkulunkulu uyangincedisa.”—Imiseb. 26:21, 22.
16. Singamlingisela njani uPhawuli nxa sichasisela omantshi lababusi lokho esikukholwayo?
16 Lathi kumele sihlale sikulungele “ukuzivikela phambi komuntu wonke.” (1 Phet. 3:15) Nxa sichasisela omantshi lababusi lokho esikukholwayo kumele silingisele indlela uPhawuli akhuluma ngayo ngesikhathi ephambi kuka-Agripha loFestu. Nxa sitshengisa ukuthi siyabahlonipha ngesikhathi sibachasisela lokho esikukholwayo lokuthi iBhayibhili likutshintshe njani ukuphila kwethu kanye lokwabanye, labo bangatshintsha indlela abasiphatha ngayo.
“Uzangenza Ngitshintshe Ngibe NgumKhristu” (Imiseb. 26:24-32)
17. UFestu wathini uPhawuli esakhuluma futhi akwenzayo kuhambelana njani lesikubona ebantwini lamuhla?
17 Ababusi laba bobabili basala bengelankani ngendlela uPhawuli ayelubeka ngayo udaba lwakhe. IBhayibhili lithi: “UPhawuli wathi esakhuluma uFestu wamemeza wathi: ‘Usuphambene Phawuli! Ukufunda kakhulu sekukuphambanisa ingqondo!’” (Imiseb. 26:24) Indlela uFestu enza ngayo ihambelana lalokho esijayele ukukubona ebantwini lamuhla. Abantu abanengi bacabanga ukuthi labo abafundisa lokho okutshiwo liBhayibhili baphambene. Labo umhlaba othi bafundile abakukholwa ukuthi abantu abafileyo bazavuswa.
18. UPhawuli wamphendula njani uFestu futhi u-Agripha wathini?
18 Kodwa uPhawuli wamphendula kuhle uFestu wathi: ‘Kayisikho ukuthi sengiphambene Mhlonitshwa Festu kodwa ngikhuluma amazwi aliqiniso lalengqondo. Inkosi engikhuluma layo ngikhululeke kangaka izazi kuhle izinto lezi. Uyabakholwa yini abaPhrofethi Nkosi Agripha? Ngiyakwazi ukuthi uyabakholwa.’ U-Agripha wathi kuPhawuli: “Ngesikhatshana nje uzangenza ngitshintshe ngibe ngumKhristu.” (Imiseb. 26:25-28) Kungelani lokuthi okwakhulunywa ngu-Agripha kwakuliqiniso kumbe wayezikhulumela nje kuyakhanya ukuthi amazwi kaPhawuli ayehlabe ephukela.
19. UFestu lo-Agripha bathini ngendaba kaPhawuli?
19 UFestu lo-Agripha baphuma bahamba bekhuluma bobabili besithi: “Akulalutho olwenziwe yindoda le olungenza ifanele ukubulawa kumbe ukubotshwa. U-Agripha wasesithi kuFestu: ‘Indoda le ibizakhululwa aluba ayidluliselanga icala layo kuKhesari.’” (Imiseb. 26:31, 32) Kwabacacela ukuthi uPhawuli wayemsulwa, mhlawumbe lokhu kwenza bawaphatha kuhle amaKhristu.
20. Ukumiswa kukaPhawuli phambi kweziphathamandla kwanceda ngani?
20 Phakathi kwababusi bonke laba uPhawuli amiswa phambi kwabo akula ngitsho loyedwa owazamukelayo izindaba ezinhle zoMbuso kaNkulunkulu. Kwanceda yini ukuthi uPhawuli azivikele phambi kwababusi laba? Ye, kwanceda sibili. Ukumiswa kukaPhawuli “phambi kwamakhosi lababusi” kwenza ukuthi ubufakazi bufike ezindlebeni zeziphathamandla zombuso weRoma zaseJudiya okwakungabanzima ukuthi zitshunyayezwe. (Luk. 21:12, 13) Konke lokhu uPhawuli ahlangana lakho lendlela atshengisa ngayo ukuthi uthembekile kwabakhuthaza kakhulu abafowabo labodadewabo ukuthi babe lokholo oluqinileyo.—Flp. 1:12-14.
21. Kuyini okungenzakala nxa singaqhubeka sitshumayela ngoMbuso kaNkulunkulu?
21 Lathi lamuhla nxa singazimisela ukuqhubeka sitshumayela ngoMbuso lanxa sihlangana lobunzima sizanceda abantu abanengi ukuthi bathole iqiniso. Singenelisa ukutshumayela phambi kweziphathamandla obekungaba nzima ukuthi zitshunyayezwe. Ukuthembeka kwethu kunganceda abafowethu labodadewethu ukuthi bangapheli amandla kodwa baqhubeke befakaza ngokugcweleyo ngoMbuso kaNkulunkulu.
a Khangela ibhokisi elithi “ UPhokhiyu Festu Umbusi Wesabelo SeJudiya.”
b ‘Isihlalo sokwahlulela’ kwakuyisitulo esasisendaweni ephezulu enkundleni. Ukuba kwaso endaweni ephezulu kwakutshengisa ukuthi okutshiwo ngumahluleli kumele kulalelwe futhi kuhlonitshwe. UPhilathu wayehlezi esihlalweni sokwahlulela ngesikhathi esahlulela uJesu.
c Khangela ibhokisi elithi “ Ukudlulisela Amacala Emithethwandaba Emikhulu Kulezinsuku.”
d Khangela ibhokisi elithi “ INkosi UHerodi Agripha Wesibili.”
e UPhawuli wathi esengumKhristu wavuma ukuthi uJesu unguMesiya. AmaJuda ayephike uJesu ayesebona loPhawuli engumhlamuki.—Imiseb. 21:21, 27, 28.
f Esinye isazi seBhayibhili sachasisa amazwi akhulunywa nguPhawuli esithi wayehamba ‘emini enkulu’ sathi: “Ungabona isihambi sesize sihamba emini kutsho ukuthi siyabe silujahile ulutho esilulandayo. Kukhanya uPhawuli wayekutshisekela futhi ekufuna ngabomvu ukuhlukuluza amaKhristu yikho waze waliphumela emini libalele.”
