ISAHLUKO 26
“Kakho Loyedwa Wenu Ozakufa”
UPhawuli utshengisa ukuthi ulokholo futhi uyabathanda abantu ngesikhathi umkhumbi ubhidlika
Isihloko lesi sisekelwe kumiSebenzi 27:1–28:10
1, 2. Luhambo bani uPhawuli akhangelane lalo futhi kuyini okungabe kumkhathaza?
UPHAWULI uqhubeka ewakhumbula amazwi akhulunywe nguMbusi uFestu ngoba azayitshintsha kakhulu impilo yakhe. Uthe: “Usuzakuya kuKhesari.” Sokuleminyaka emibili uPhawuli evalelwe ejele yikho uhambo lolu olude lokuya eRoma luzamnika ithuba lokuthi ake abethwe ngumoya. (Imiseb. 25:12) Lanxa elwandle kubetha umoya omnandi lesibhakabhaka sisihle, uPhawuli angabe ezibuza imibuzo eminengi njengoba ezakuyamiswa phambi kukaKhesari.
2 UPhawuli useke waba ‘sezingozini elwandle’ izikhathi ezinengi, wabhidlikelwa ngumkhumbi kathathu njalo waqeda ilanga lobusuku bonke eselwandle. (2 Khor. 11:25, 26) Kanti njalo uhambo lolu alusoze lufanane lokuhamba ayekwenza engumnali futhi ekhululekile. Uzahamba eyisibotshwa okomango omude ongamakhilomitha adlula 3 000 esuka eKhesariya esiya eRoma. Uzahamba kuhle yini? Lanxa engahamba kuhle, uzakwahlulelwa njani eRoma? Khumbula ukuthi uzakwahlulelwa ngumbusi olamandla kulabo bonke emhlabeni kaSathane ngalesisikhathi.
3. Kuyini uPhawuli ayezimisele ukukwenza futhi sizaxoxa ngani esihlokweni lesi?
3 Ngakho konke osukwazi ngoPhawuli ucabanga ukuthi wayezaphelelwa lithemba njalo athwale imikhono ekhanda ngenxa yalokho ayezahlangana lakho yini? Ngitsho lakancane! Wayekwazi ukuthi uzahlangana lenhlupho kodwa wayengakwazi ukuthi yiziphi zakhona. Wayengeke avume ukuthi ukukhathazeka ngezinto ayengeke azitshintshe kuqede intokozo ayeyithole enkonzweni yakhe. (Mat. 6:27, 34) UPhawuli wayekwazi ukuthi uJehova wayefuna asebenzise wonke amathuba ukuze atshumayele izindaba ezinhle zoMbuso kaNkulunkulu ngitsho lakubabusi. (Imiseb. 9:15) Wayezimisele ukwenza umsebenzi ayewuphiwe nguNkulunkulu kungelani lokuthi kwenzakalani. Ayisikho yini lathi esizimisele ukukwenza? Yikho asimboneni uPhawuli kuloluhambo njalo sibone lokuthi singamlingisela njani.
‘Umoya Wawuvunguza Uphambana Lathi’ (Imiseb. 27:1-7a)
4. UPhawuli wahamba ngomkhumbi onjani futhi ngobani ababemphelekezela?
4 Umkhokheli webutho okwakuthiwa nguJuliyu nguye owayekhangele uPhawuli lezinye izibotshwa futhi wakhetha ukuthi bagade umkhumbi othwala impahla owawufike eKhesariya. Umkhumbi lo wawuvela esihlengeni se-Adramithiyumi esisentshonalanga ye-Asia Minor, ngale kwedolobho leMithilene elisesihlengeni seLesbos. Wawuzaqonda enyakatho ube ususiya empumalanga uhamba usethula impahla uphinde uthwale ezinye. Imikhumbi le yayingalungiselwanga ukuthwala abantu ikakhulu izibotshwa. (Khangela ibhokisi elithi “ Ukuhamba Elwandle Lendlela Zabathengisayo.”) Okuhle yikuthi uPhawuli wayengayisuye yedwa umKhristu phakathi kwezibotshwa lezi. Wayephelekezelwa ngu-Aristakhu loLukha. Khumbula ukuthi uLukha nguye owabhala indaba le. Asikwazi ukuthi abangane bakaPhawuli laba bazibhadalela yini kumbe bazenza izisebenzi zikaPhawuli.—Imiseb. 27:1 2.
5. Kuyini uPhawuli akukholisayo eSidoni futhi sifundani kukho?
5 Ngemva kwelanga elilodwa beselwandle futhi sebehambe amakhilomitha angaba ngu-110 beqonde enyakatho umkhumbi wama eSidoni ekhunjini laseSiriya. Kukhanya uJuliyu kazange aphathe uPhawuli njengezinye izibotshwa, mhlawumbe ngenxa yokuthi uPhawuli wayengumRoma futhi kungakatholakali ukuthi ulecala. (Imiseb. 22:27, 28; 26:31, 32) UJuliyu wavumela uPhawuli ukuthi ayebona amaKhristu ayehlala khonapho. Kumele ukuthi abazalwane laba bathokoza kakhulu ngesibusiso sokusekela umphostoli lo owayeselesikhathi eside ebotshiwe. Zikhona yini izimo lapho lawe ongatshengisa khona umusa ofananayo njalo usale ukhuthazekile?—Imiseb. 27:3.
6-8. Lwalunjani uhambo lukaPhawuli esuka eSidoni esiya eKhinidu futhi lavuleka njani ithuba lokuthi atshumayele?
6 Umkhumbi wasuka eSidoni wahamba usekele ekhunjini waze wadlula eKhilikhiya eduze kweThasu idolobho langakibo kaPhawuli. ULukha kasitsheli ukuthi baphinda bama ngaphi, kodwa okunye okukhathazayo asitshela khona yikuthi ‘umoya wawuvunguza uphambana labo.’ (Imiseb. 27:4, 5) Lanxa kunjalo, asithandabuzi ukuthi uPhawuli wayesebenzisa loba yiliphi ithuba ayelithola ukuze atshumayele izindaba ezinhle kungelani lokuthi izimo zazinzima. Kumele ukuthi wayetshumayeza ezinye izibotshwa labantu ababesemkhunjini okugoqela abantu abasebenza emkhunjini lamasotsha kanye labantu ayebabona lapho umkhumbi owawusima khona. Thina siyawasebenzisa yini wonke amathuba esiwatholayo ukuze sitshumayele?
7 Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi umkhumbi wafika ekhunjini leMira eliseningizimu ye-Asia Minor. Lapha uPhawuli labanye kwasekumele bangene komunye umkhumbi owawuzabafikisa eRoma lapho ababesiya khona. (Imiseb. 27:6) Ngalezonsuku iRoma yayithola ukudla kwayo okunengi eGibhithe futhi imikhumbi yeGibhithe eyayithwala ukudla yayisima eMira. UJuliyu wabona omunye umkhumbi owawusiya eRoma wasesithi amasotsha lezibotshwa bagade. Kumele ukuthi umkhumbi lo wawumkhulu kakhulu kulowakuqala. Wawuthwele ingqoloyi labantu abangu-276, okugoqela abasebenza emkhunjini, amasotsha, izibotshwa kanye labanye abantu ababesiya eRoma. Kusegcekeni ukuthi uPhawuli wayeselabantu abanengi ayengabatshumayeza ngenxa yokutshintsha umkhumbi futhi asithandabuzi ukuthi walisebenzisa ithuba lelo.
8 Umkhumbi wahamba wayakuma eKhinidu eseningizimu ntshonalanga ye-Asia Minor. Aluba umoya wawuvunguza kuhle kwakungathatha ilanga elilodwa ukuthi uhambe umango lo. ULukha uthi “saqeda insuku ezinengi sihamba kancane kancane njalo safika nzima eKhinidu.” (Imiseb. 27:7a) Umkhumbi wawuhamba nzima. (Khangela ibhokisi elithi “ Umoya WeMedithera Owenza Imikhumbi Ihambe Nzima.”) Akucabange ukuthi abantu babesizwa njani umkhumbi uhamba nzima uphikisana lomoya lamagagasi olwandle.
“Isiphepho Sasilolaka, Sisiphosela Le Lale” (Imiseb. 27:7b-26)
9, 10. Yibuphi ubunzima obabakhona umkhumbi ususeduze kweKhrethe?
9 Umtshayeli womkhumbi wayefuna ukuqhubeka eqonde entshonalanga esuka eKhinidu, kodwa uLukha owazibonela ngawakhe uthi ‘umoya wawusibuyisela emuva.’ (Imiseb. 27:7b) Umkhumbi ususuke ekhunjini ungena elwandle wahlangana lomoya olamandla owawuvelela enyakatho ntshonalanga owawufuqela umkhumbi eningizimu mhlawumbe lokhu kwenza umkhumbi wahamba ngesiqubu esikhulu. Umkhumbi wathi udlula esihlengeni seKhuphro, isihlenge lesi sawuvikela emoyeni owawungawuphambanisa. Kwabanjalo lalapho sebedlula esihlengeni seKhrethe. Isiphepho sabangcono umkhumbi usudlule eSalimone esempumalanga kweKhrethe. Lokho kwakubangelwa yikuthi umkhumbi wawususeningizimu yesihlenge lesi okwakusenza ukuthi uvikeleke emoyeni olamandla. Kumele ukuthi abantu ababesemkhunjini bahlaliseka okwalesosikhathi. Kodwa njengoba babeselwandle kwakungamelanga bakhohlwe ukuthi kwasokufika isikhathi somqando. Kufanele ukuthi babekhathazekile.
10 ULukha uthi: “Sahamba nzima sisekele ikhumbi saze sayafika endaweni okuthiwa yiMatheku Amahle.” Lanxa isihlenge sasibavikela emoyeni kwakunzima ukuqondisa umkhumbi. Bacina bethole indawo lapho umkhumbi owawungama khona. Bahlala okwesikhathi esinganani lapho? ULukha uthi bahlala “isikhathi eside,” kodwa kwakumele baphangise ukuhamba ngoba ukuhamba phakathi kukaSeptember lo-October kwakuyingozi.—Imiseb. 27:8, 9.
11. UPhawuli wabanika liphi icebo abantu ayehamba labo kodwa bona bakhethani?
11 Kukhanya abanye ababesemkhunjini babuza uPhawuli ukuthi kungenziwani njengoba yena wayekujayele ukuhamba eLwandle lweMedithera. UPhawuli wabacebisa ukuthi bangaqhubeki ngohambo ngoba lwaluzabadalela ‘umonakalo njalo babezalahlekelwa zimpahla’ loba kufe abantu. Umtshayeli womkhumbi kanye lomnikazi wawo babefuna ukuqhubeka ngohambo mhlawumbe becabanga ukuthi kwakumele baphangise ukuthola indawo eyayivikelekile. UJuliyu walamukela icebo labo futhi abanengi emkhunjini bakubona kungcono ukuthi bayefika eFenikhe, itheku elaliphambili. Yikho bathi besizwa kuphephetha umoya omnandi owawuvelela eningizimu baqhubeka ngohambo.—Imiseb. 27:10-13.
12. Kwaba layiphi ingozi umkhumbi ususuke eKhrethe futhi abasebenza emkhunjini benzani?
12 Bathi besahamba kwaba lohlupho olukhulu. Kwaqubuka “umoya ololaka” owawuvelela enyakatho mpumalanga. Okwesikhathi esithile babevikelwa ‘yisihlenge esincane okuthiwa yiKhawuda’ esingaba ngamakhilomitha angu-65 usuka eMatheku Amahle. Kodwa kwakulokhu kulengozi yokuthi umkhumbi wawungafuqwa ngumoya uqonde eningizimu uze uyetshayelela etshebetshebeni esekhunjini le-Africa. Umkhumbi lo wawudonsa isikepe esincane yikho bazama ukusidonsela phakathi emkhunjini ukuze ingozi le ingenzakali. Bathwala nzima bedonsa isikepe lesi ngoba kukhanya sasesigcwele amanzi. Kwakungalula futhi ukubopha umkhumbi ngoba kwasekumele babhodise intambo ngaphansi kwawo ukuze amapulanka awo angehlukani. Behlisa amaseyili basebesebenza gadalala bezama ukuqondisa umkhumbi lapho okwakuvelela khona umoya. Akucabange ukuthi bonke abantu ababesemkhunjini basebesesaba njani! Konke abakwenzayo akuzange kuncede ngoba isiphepho saqhubeka ‘siwuphosela le lale’ umkhumbi. Ngelanga lesithathu, balahla izinto ezisindayo ukuze umkhumbi ungacwili.—Imiseb. 27:14-19.
13. Kumele ukuthi kwakunjani emkhunjini ngesikhathi kulesiphepho?
13 Kumele ukuthi abantu abanengi ababesemkhunjini babesesaba. Kodwa uPhawuli labangane bakhe babelokhu belesibindi. INkosi yayike yaqinisekisa umphostoli uPhawuli ukuthi wayezafakaza eRoma futhi ingilosi yasiphinda isithembiso lesi. (Imiseb. 19:21; 23:11) Kodwa isiphepho saqhubeka sisidla ubhedu okwamaviki amabili imini lebusuku. Umtshayeli womkhumbi wayengasaboni ukuthi umkhumbi ungaphi lokuthi uqonda ngaphi ngenxa yokuthi kwakulamayezi amnyama tshu ngapha izulu lilokhu ligxoba. Isimo sasinzima okokuthi wawungeke ucabange lokudla. Kambe ngubani owayengacabanga ukudla ngapha kuqanda, izulu lisina, abantu besesaba?
14, 15. (a) Yindaba uPhawuli wakhumbuza ababesemkhunjini lokho ayekutshilo? (b) Amazwi kaPhawuli aduduzayo asifundisani?
14 UPhawuli wasukuma wabatshela ukuthi kwakumele balalele ngesikhathi ebatshela ukuthi bangasuki eKhrethe kodwa wayengabathonisisi. Umonakalo owawusubehlele wawutshengisa ukuthi kwakumele bamlalele. Wathi kubo: “Wobani lesibindi ngoba kakho loyedwa wenu ozakufa, umkhumbi yiwo wodwa ozabhidlika.” (Imiseb. 27:21, 22) Asithandabuzi ukuthi amazwi kaPhawuli abaduduza ababemlalele. Kumele ukuthi uPhawuli laye wathokoza ngokuthi uJehova wayemnike amazwi ayezaduduza abantu ayelabo. Kuqakathekile ukuthi sihlale sikhumbula ukuthi uJehova ulendaba lomuntu wonke futhi uyabaqakathekisa bonke abantu. Umphostoli uPhetro wabhala wathi: ‘UJehova kafisi ukuthi loba ngubani abhujiswe kodwa ufisa ukuthi abantu bonke baphenduke.’ (2 Phet. 3:9) Yikho asizimiseleni ukutshela abantu abanengi indaba ezivela kuJehova ezenza babe lethemba. Phela ukuphila kwabantu kusengozini.
15 Kumele ukuthi uPhawuli wayesetshumayeze abantu abanengi emkhunjini mayelana ‘lesithembiso esenziwa nguNkulunkulu.’ (Imiseb. 26:6; Kol. 1:5) Njengoba kwasokukhanya ukuthi umkhumbi wawuzabhidlika, uPhawuli wayesengabatshela amazwi ayezabenza babe lethemba. Wathi: ‘Ebusuku ingilosi kaNkulunkulu wami ifike yama eceleni kwami, yathi: “Ungesabi Phawuli. Kumele uyekuma phambi kukaKhesari njalo bonke ohamba labo uNkulunkulu uzabasindisa ngenxa yakho.”’ UPhawuli wabakhuthaza wathi: “Yikho madoda wobani lesibindi ngoba ngiyakholwa ukuthi uNkulunkulu uzakwenza khona kanye engikutsheliweyo. Kodwa umkhumbi uzatshayeka kwesinye isihlenge.”—Imiseb. 27:23-26.
“Bonke Bafika Kuhle Ekhunjini” (Imiseb. 27:27-44)
“Wabonga uNkulunkulu phambi kwabo bonke.”—ImiSebenzi 27:35
16, 17. (a) UPhawuli wakhuleka sokutheni futhi kwanceda ngani? (b) Amazwi kaPhawuli agcwaliseka njani?
16 Ngemva kwamaviki amabili esabisayo umkhumbi usufuqwe ngumoya okwamakhilomitha angaba ngu-870, abagwedli bomkhumbi bananzelela utshintsho olwaselukhona mhlawumbe besizwa umsindo wamagagasi. Bajikela izikhonkwane emanzini ukuze umkhumbi ungabuyeli emuva njalo bazama ukuwuqondisa ukuze bayefika ekhunjini. Ngalesosikhathi abantu bazama ukuphuma emkhunjini kodwa amasotsha athi bengaphumi. UPhawuli watshela umkhokheli webutho lamasotsha wathi: “Alisoze lisile nxa amadoda la angaphuma emkhunjini.” Umkhumbi wathi usuhlalisekile kancane uPhawuli wakhuthaza bonke ukuthi badle futhi wabaqinisekisa ukuthi babezasinda. Ngemva kwalokho “wabonga uNkulunkulu phambi kwabo bonke.” (Imiseb. 27:31, 35) Umthandazo wakhe wokubonga wafundisa uLukha, u-Aristakhu lamaKhristu lamuhla isifundo esiqakathekileyo. Imithandazo oyenza umele abanye iyabakhuthaza njalo ibaduduze yini?
17 UPhawuli wathi eqeda ukuthandaza “bonke baba lesibindi basebeqalisa ukudla.” (Imiseb. 27:36) Bajikela amasaka engqoloyi emanzini ukuze umkhumbi ubelula futhi undende kuhle emanzini usiya ekhunjini. Kwathi sekusile baquma intambo zezikhonkwane, bathukulula intambo zamaphini okuqondisa umkhumbi, futhi bakhweza iseyili encane eyayiphambili ukuze benelise ukuqondisa umkhumbi usiya emhlabathini. Umkhumbi wabanjwa phambili mhlawumbe enhlabathini loba edakeni ngapha emuva watshaywa ngamagagasi waqalisa ukwehlukana. Amanye amasotsha ayesefuna ukubulala izibotshwa ukuze zingabaleki kodwa uJuliyu wawavimba. UJuliyu wathi bonke kababhukutshe loba balandele abanye bephezu kwamaplanka baye ekhunjini. Bonke abantu abangu-276 basinda njengoba nje uPhawuli wayekhulumile. “Bonke bafika kuhle ekhunjini.” Kodwa babengaphi?—Imiseb. 27:44.
“Baba Lomusa Omangalisayo” (Imiseb. 28:1-10)
18-20. Abantu beMalitha batshengisa njani ukuthi ‘babe lomusa omangalisayo’ futhi yisiphi isimangaliso esenziwa nguNkulunkulu esebenzisa uPhawuli?
18 UPhawuli layehamba labo bezwa ukuthi isihlenge ababefike kuso kwakuthiwa yiMalitha futhi sasiseningizimu kweSisili. (Khangela ibhokisi elithi “ Yayingaphi IMalitha?”) Abantu ababesesihlengeni leso “baba lomusa omangalisayo” kubo. (Imiseb. 28:2) Bababasela umlilo ukuze bakhudumale njengoba babemanzi njalo beqhuqha ngenxa yomqando lokunethwa lizulu. Umlilo abawubasayo wenza kwaba lesimangaliso.
19 UPhawuli wayefuna ukuncedisa yikho wadobha okuyizigojwana wakufaka emlilweni. Kwaphuma ibululu lamluma lanamathela esandleni sakhe. Abantu beMalitha babecabanga ukuthi wayejeziswa nguNkulunkulu. a
20 Abantu balapho babecabanga ukuthi uPhawuli “uzavuvuka” njengoba wayelunywe yinyoka. Elinye ibhuku lokuchwayisisa lithi ibala lesiGrikhi elasetshenziswa lapha lisetshenziswa “kwezokwelapha.” Akumangalisi ukuthi “uLukha udokotela othandekayo” wasebenzisa ibala leli. (Imiseb. 28:6; Kol. 4:14) UPhawuli wayilabhulela emlilweni wasala engalimalanga.
21. (a) Yiziphi izibonelo ezitshengisa ukuthi uLukha wayelandisa khona kanye okwakusenzakala? (b) Yiziphi izimangaliso ezenziwa nguPhawuli futhi abantu beMalitha benzani?
21 Endaweni le kwakulendoda eyayinothile okwakuthiwa nguPhabhiliyu. Kukhanya yayingumbusi wendawo le owayebekwe ngamaRoma futhi yiyo eyayimela iRoma eMalitha. ULukha uthi ‘yayingumbusi walesosihlenge’ futhi uchazwa njalo emibhalweni emibili eyatholakala endaweni le. Waba lomusa kuPhawuli labangane bakhe wahlala labo okwamalanga amathathu. Kodwa uyise kaPhabhiliyu wayegula futhi uLukha uwuchaza kuhle umkhuhlane owawumphethe. Wabhala wathi: “Wayelele embhedeni ephethwe yisihudo lomzimba utshisa.” UPhawuli wamthandazela wasembeka izandla wasila. Abantu beMalitha bamangala ngalokho yikho baletha abanye abantu ababegula ukuze basiliswe futhi baphathela uPhawuli labangane bakhe izinto ababezidinga.—Imiseb. 28:7-10.
22. (a) Esinye isikhwicamfundo sathini ngendlela uLukha abhala ngayo ngohambo lokuya eRoma? (b) Sizaxoxa ngani esihlokweni esilandelayo?
22 Ukulandisa kwengxenye yohambo lukaPhawuli esesixoxe ngayo kusitshiya singelambuzo ngalokho okwakusenzakala ngoba kuqondile njalo kuliqiniso. Esinye isikhwicamfundo sathi: ‘Phakathi kwazo zonke indaba eziseBhayibhilini, indaba kaLukha yedlula zonke ekuchasiseni okwakusenzakala. Lokho akulandisayo mayelana lokwakusenzakala nxa abantu behamba elwandle ngalesosikhathi lalokho akuchasisayo mayelana lezimo ezazikhona eLwandle lweMedithera kuqondile,’ ungathi wayekuthatha ebhukwini. Kungenzakala uLukha wayebhala okwakusenzakala ngesikhathi ehamba loPhawuli. Nxa kunjalo kumele ukuthi wabhala okunengi engxenyeni yokucina yohambo lwakhe. Kwakuzakwenzakalani kuPhawuli esefike eRoma? Asiboneni.
a Kuyakhanya ukuthi inyoka lezi zazikhona esihlengeni lesi ngoba abantu laba babezazi. Kodwa khathesi inyoka lezi azisatholakali eMalitha. Lokhu kungabe kwabangelwa yikutshintsha kwendawo le loba ukwanda kwabantu.
