1. N’chifukwa chiyani Paulo ndi anzake sankakayikira kuti akafika kumene akupita?

 NGALAWA inayake yaikulu yomwe inali ndi chizindikiro cha “Ana a Zeu,” imene mwina inali itanyamula tirigu, inkayenda panyanja ya Mediterranean kuchokera pachilumba cha Melita kupita ku Italy. Chimenechi chinali chaka cha 59 C.E. M’ngalawamo munalinso Paulo, yemwe anali mkaidi ndipo ankaperekezedwa ndi asilikali komanso Akhristu ena awiri, Luka ndi Arisitako. (Mac. 27:2) Mosiyana ndi anthu ogwira ntchito m’ngalawamo, Paulo ndi Akhristu anzakewa sankakhulupirira kuti angatetezedwe ndi Ana a Zeu, mulungu wa Agiriki. Anawa mayina awo anali Kasita ndi Polakisi. (Mac. 28:11) Paulo ndi anzakewo ankatumikira Yehova, amene anauza Paulo kuti akachitira umboni za choonadi ku Roma komanso akaonekera pamaso pa Kaisara.​—Mac. 23:11; 27:24.

2, 3. Kodi ngalawa imene Paulo anakwera inayenda bwanji, nanga ndi ndani amene ankathandiza Paulo kungoyambira pachiyambi pa ulendo wake?

² Patatha masiku atatu ngalawayo itafika mumzinda wa Surakusa, inanyamuka kupita mumzinda wa Regio, womwe unali kum’mwera kwa dziko la Italy. Mzinda wa Surakusa unali ku Sisile ndipo unali wokongola kwambiri. Unalinso mzinda wofunika kwambiri, mofanana ndi mzinda wa Atene ndi wa Roma. Ngalawayo itachoka ku Regio, inathandizidwa ndi mphepo yochokera kum’mwera ndipo inathamanga kwambiri. Inayenda masiku awiri okha ulendo wa makilomita 320, kukafika kugombe la Potiyolo ku Italy (pafupi ndi kumene kuli mzinda wa Naples masiku ano).​—Mac. 28:12, 13.

³ Tsopano Paulo anali m’chigawo chomaliza cha ulendo wake wopita ku Roma, kumene ankayenera kukaonekera pamaso pa Mfumu Nero. Kuyambira pachiyambi mpaka pamapeto pa ulendowu, “Mulungu amene amatitonthoza pa vuto lililonse,” anali ndi Paulo. (2 Akor. 1:3) Monga momwe tionere, Mulungu sanasiye kumuthandiza Paulo ndipo iye anapitirizabe kulalikira mwakhama monga mmishonale.

4, 5. (a) Kodi anthu a ku Potiyolo anachereza Paulo ndi anzake bwanji ku, ndipo n’chifukwa chiyani anapatsidwa ufulu wambiri choncho? (b) Kodi khalidwe labwino lingathandize bwanji Akhristu ngakhale pamene ali m’ndende?

⁴ Ku Potiyolo, Paulo ndi anzakewo ‘anapeza abale ndipo anawapempha kuti akhale nawo masiku 7.’ (Mac. 28:14) Abalewa anasonyeza chitsanzo chabwino kwambiri chochereza Akhristu anzawo. N’zosakayikitsa kuti iwo anadalitsidwa kwambiri  chifukwa Paulo ndi anzake aja ayenera kuti anawalimbikitsa mwauzimu. Koma n’chifukwa chiyani mkaidi amene ankachita kuperekezedwa ndi asilikali anapatsidwa ufulu woti akacheze ndi Akhristu anzake? Mwina n’chifukwa chakuti asilikali a Chiromawo ankamukhulupirira mtumwiyu chifukwa cha zochita zake.

⁵ Mofanana ndi zimenezi, masiku ano atumiki ambiri a Yehova amene ali m’ndende zozunzirako anthu ndiponso m’ndende zina, nthawi zambiri amaloledwa kuchita zinthu zina zimene akaidi anzawo saloledwa. Iwo amaloledwa kuchita zimenezi chifukwa monga Akhristu amachita zinthu moona mtima komanso amakhala odalirika. Mwachitsanzo, ku Romania, mwamuna wina amene anamuweruza kuti akhale m’ndende zaka 75 chifukwa cha kuba, anayamba kuphunzira Mawu a Mulungu ndipo anasintha kwambiri khalidwe lake. Akuluakulu oyang’anira akaidi ataona zimenezi, anayamba kumamutuma m’tauni kukagula zinthu zofunikira pandendepo, popanda womuperekeza. Koma mfundo yofunika kwambiri ndi yakuti khalidwe lathu labwino limalemekeza Yehova.​—1 Pet. 2:12.

6, 7. Kodi abale a ku Roma anasonyeza bwanji chikondi m’njira yapadera?

⁶ Paulo ndi anzakewo atachoka ku Potiyolo, ayenera kuti anadutsa mu Msewu wa Apiyo wopita ku Roma, n’kuyenda makilomita pafupifupi 50 kukafika ku Capua. Msewu umenewu unali wotchuka ndipo unapangidwa ndi miyala ikuluikulu yafulati. Munthu akamayenda mumsewuwu ankatha kuona madera ambiri okongola a ku Italy ndipo m’malo ena ankathanso kuona nyanja ya Mediterranean. Msewuwu unkadutsanso padambo linalake lotchedwa Pontine, limene linali pamtunda wa makilomita pafupifupi 60 kuchokera ku Roma. Padambo limeneli ndi pamene panali Msika wa Apiyo. Luka analemba kuti abale a ku Roma ‘atamva za iwo,’ ena anayenda ulendo wautali kuchokera ku Roma n’kukawadikirira pa Msikawo ndipo ena anawadikirira pa Nyumba Zitatu za Alendo. Amenewa anali malo amene anthu apaulendo ankatha kupumapo ndipo anali pamtunda wa makilomita pafupifupi 50 kuchokera ku Roma. Abalewa anasonyezadi chikondi chachikulu.​—Mac. 28:15.

⁷ Msika wa Apiyo sunali malo abwino kwa munthu amene watopa ndipo akufuna kupuma atayenda ulendo wautali. Munthu wina wa Chiroma wolemba ndakatulo dzina lake Horace anafotokoza  kuti malowa “ankadzaza ndi anthu oyenda panyanja komanso eniake a nyumba zogona alendo anali amwano.” Iye analembanso kuti “madzi akumeneko anali onunkha kwambiri,” ndipo anakana kudya chakudya chilichonse kumeneko. Ngakhale kuti malo amenewa sanali abwino, abale ochokera ku Roma aja anadikira Paulo ndi anzakewo mosangalala kuti ayende nawo limodzi mbali yomaliza ya ulendo wawo.

8. N’chifukwa chiyani Paulo anathokoza Mulungu ‘atangoona abale ake’?

⁸ Nkhaniyi ikupitiriza kuti: “Paulo atawaona [abale akewo], anathokoza Mulungu ndipo analimba mtima.” (Mac. 28:15) Inde, Paulo analimba mtima atangoona abale ake okondedwawo, amene ena a iwo ankadziwana nawo bwino kwambiri. N’chifukwa chiyani iye anathokoza Mulungu? Chifukwa chakuti ankadziwa kuti chikondi chololera kuvutikira ena chimene abalewo anasonyeza, ndi limodzi mwa makhalidwe amene anthu amakhala nawo mothandizidwa ndi mzimu woyera. (Agal. 5:22) Masiku anonso mzimu woyera umathandiza Akhristu kuti azilolera kuvutikira abale awo komanso kuti azilimbikitsa ovutika.​—1 Ates. 5:11, 14.

9. Kodi tingasonyeze bwanji mtima wofanana ndi wa abale amene anachingamira Paulo?

⁹ Mwachitsanzo, mzimu woyera umachititsa kuti abale ndi alongo achereze oyang’anira dera, amishonale ndi ena amene akuchita utumiki wa nthawi zonse. Abale ndi alongo ambiri amene akuchita utumiki wa nthawi zonsewo alolera kudzimana zinthu zambiri kuti athe kutumikira Yehova mokwanira. Ndiyeno dzifunseni kuti: ‘Kodi ndingawonjezere zimene ndimachita pamene woyang’anira dera limodzi ndi mkazi wake, ngati ali wokwatira, akuchezera mpingo wathu? Kodi ndingamuitane kuti adzadye chakudya kunyumba kwathu? Kodi ndingapemphe kuti ndidzayende naye mu utumiki?’ Ngati mutachita zimenezi mungadalitsidwe kwambiri. Mwachitsanzo, tangoganizani mmene abale a ku Roma anasangalalira kumva Paulo ndi anzake akufotokoza zina mwa zinthu zosiyanasiyana zolimbikitsa zimene zinawachitikira.​—Mac. 15:3, 4.

10. Kodi Paulo anachita chiyani atangofika ku Roma ndipo ankakhala bwanji?

¹⁰ Gulu la anthu apaulendowo litafika ku Roma, “Paulo analoledwa kumakhala yekha ndi msilikali womulondera.” (Mac. 28:16) Nthawi zambiri akaidi osaopsa kwambiri ankawamangirira ndi unyolo kwa msilikali wowalondera kuti asathawe. Ngakhale kuti Paulo anamangidwa mwanjira imeneyi, iye anali mlaliki wa Ufumu ndipo unyolowo sunamulepheretse kulalikira. Choncho, iye atangopuma masiku atatu okha, anaitanitsa akuluakulu a Ayuda ku Roma kuti amudziwe komanso kuti awalalikire.

11, 12. Pamene ankalankhula ndi Ayuda anzake, kodi Paulo anatani kuti athetse maganizo alionse oipa amene iwo akanakhala nawo?

¹¹ Paulo ananena kuti: “Amuna inu, abale anga, ngakhale kuti sindinachite chilichonse chotsutsana ndi anthu kapena mwambo wa makolo athu, anandigwira ku Yerusalemu n’kundipereka m’manja mwa Aroma ngati mkaidi. Ndipo atafufuza, ankafuna kundimasula chifukwa sanandipeze ndi mlandu woyenera chilango cha imfa. Koma Ayuda anatsutsa zimenezo moti ndinakakamizika kupempha kudzaonekera kwa Kaisara. Komatu sikuti ndinachita zimenezi chifukwa choti ndinkafuna kudzaneneza mtundu wanga.”​—Mac. 28:17-19.

 ¹² Potchula Ayuda amene ankamumvetserawo kuti “abale anga,” Paulo ankafuna kuwasonyeza kuti panali zinthu zimene iye ankafanana nawo komanso ankafuna kuthetsa maganizo alionse oipa amene anthuwo akanakhala nawo okhudza iyeyo. (1 Akor. 9:20) Komanso iye anafotokoza momveka bwino kuti cholinga chake sichinali kuimba mlandu Ayuda anzakewo, koma kukaonekera pamaso pa Kaisara. Komabe, Ayuda a ku Romawo anali asanamve zoti Paulo akukaonekera kwa Kaisara. (Mac. 28:21) N’chifukwa chiyani Ayuda a ku Yudeya sanadziwitse Ayuda a ku Roma za nkhani imeneyi? Buku lina limanena kuti: “Ngalawa imene Paulo anakwera iyenera kuti inali imodzi mwa ngalawa zoyambirira kufika ku Italy pambuyo pa nyengo yozizira. Choncho nthumwi za akuluakulu a Ayuda ku Yerusalemu ziyenera kuti zinali zisanafike ndipo ngati analemba kalata, ndiye kuti inalinso isanafike.”

13, 14. Kodi Paulo anayamba bwanji kulalikira za Ufumu, nanga tingamutsanzire bwanji?

¹³ Tsopano Paulo anayamba kuwalalikira za Ufumu ponena mfundo imene iyenera kuti inachititsa chidwi kwambiri Ayuda amene ankamumvetserawo. Iye ananena kuti: “Pa chifukwa chimenechi, ndinapempha kuti ndidzaonane nanu n’kulankhula nanu, popeza ndamangidwa ndi unyolo uwu chifukwa cha chiyembekezo cha Aisiraeli.” (Mac. 28:20) Chiyembekezo chimene mpingo wa Chikhristu unkaphunzitsa chinali chokhudza Mesiya komanso Ufumu wake. Akuluakulu a Ayudawo anayankha kuti: “Komabe tikufuna kumva maganizo ako, chifukwa kunena zoona, ife tonse timadziwa kuti gulu lampatuko limeneli amalinenera zoipa kwina kulikonse.”​—Mac. 28:22.

¹⁴ Tikakhala ndi mpata wolalikira uthenga wabwino, tikhoza kutsanzira Paulo pogwiritsa ntchito mfundo kapena mafunso amene angachititse chidwi omvera athu. Tingathe kupeza mfundo zabwino kwambiri zotithandiza kuchita zimenezi m’mabuku  monga Kukambitsirana za m’Malemba, Pindulani ndi Sukulu ya Utumiki wa Mulungu ndiponso Kuwerenga Komanso Kuphunzitsa Mwaluso. Kodi mumagwiritsira ntchito mfundo zabwino za m’mabuku amenewa?

15. Kodi ndi zinthu 4 ziti zimene tingaphunzire tikaona mmene Paulo analalikirira?

¹⁵ Pa tsiku limene anagwirizana, Ayudawo “anabweradi ambiri” kunyumba kumene Paulo ankakhala. “Kuyambira m’mawa mpaka madzulo,” Paulo “anawafotokozera nkhani yonse ndipo anachitira umboni mokwanira za Ufumu wa Mulungu. Anachita zimenezi pogwiritsa ntchito mfundo zokopa zokhudza Yesu, kuchokera m’Chilamulo cha Mose ndi zimene aneneri analemba.” (Mac. 28:23) Pali zinthu 4 zimene tingaphunzire tikaona mmene Paulo analalikirira. Choyamba, iye anatsindika kwambiri za Ufumu wa Mulungu. Chachiwiri, iye anayesetsa kuwafika pamtima omvera ake pogwiritsira ntchito mfundo zokopa. Chachitatu, iye ankagwiritsira ntchito Malemba. Cha 4, anasonyeza mtima wodzipereka chifukwa analalikira “kuyambira m’mawa mpaka madzulo.” Paulo anatisiyiradi chitsanzo chabwino kwambiri. Kodi zotsatira za ulaliki wake zinali zotani? Luka ananena kuti “ena anayamba kukhulupirira,” koma ena sanakhulupirire. Kenako anthuwo anayamba kutsutsana ndipo “anayamba kuchoka.”​—Mac. 28:24, 25a.

16-18. N’chifukwa chiyani Paulo sanadabwe ataona kuti Ayuda a ku Roma sanasangalale ndi uthenga wake, nanga tiyenera kumva bwanji anthu akakana uthenga wathu?

¹⁶ Zimenezi sizinali zodabwitsa kwa Paulo chifukwa zinali zogwirizana ndi ulosi wa m’Baibulo. Komanso zinali zofanana ndi zimene zinkachitika nthawi zambiri Paulo akamalalikira. (Mac. 13:42-47; 18:5, 6; 19:8, 9) Choncho pamene anthuwo ankachoka chifukwa chosasangalatsidwa ndi zimene Paulo ankanena, iye anawauza kuti: “Mzimu woyera unanena zoona kwa makolo anu kudzera mwa Yesaya mneneri. Mzimuwo unati, ‘Pita ukauze anthu awa kuti: “Kumva mudzamva ndithu, koma simudzazindikira. Kuyang’ana mudzayang’ana ndithu, koma simudzaona chilichonse. Chifukwa anthu awa aumitsa mitima yawo.”’” (Mac. 28:25b-27) Mawu oyambirira amene anawamasulira kuti “aumitsa mtima” ankatanthauza mtima umene ndi wokhuthala kapena wonenepa kwambiri, moti uthenga wa Ufumu sungathe kulowa mkati mwake. (Mac. 28:27) Zimenezi zinali zoopsa kwambiri.

¹⁷ Pomaliza, Paulo anawauza kuti mosiyana ndi Ayudawo, “anthu a mitundu ina . . . adzamvetsera.” (Mac. 28:28; Sal. 67:2; Yes. 11:10) Mtumwiyu sankakayikira zimenezi ngakhale pang’ono chifukwa anali ataona anthu ambiri a mitundu ina akumvetsera uthenga wa Ufumu.​—Mac. 13:48; 14:27.

¹⁸ Mofanana ndi Paulo, tisamakhumudwe anthu akakana kumvetsera uthenga wabwino. Ndipotu tikudziwa kuti ndi anthu ochepa okha amene adzapeze njira yopita kumoyo. (Mat. 7:13, 14) Koma anthu a maganizo abwino akatimvetsera n’kuyamba kulambira nafe limodzi, tiyenera kusangalala ndipo tiziwalandira ndi manja awiri.​—Luka 15:7.

19. Kodi Paulo anagwiritsa ntchito bwanji nthawi imene anali mkaidi ku Roma?

¹⁹ Luka anamaliza nkhani yake ndi mawu abwino kwambiri onena za Paulo. Iye  anati: “Paulo anakhalabe kwa zaka ziwiri zathunthu m’nyumba yomwe ankapanga lendi, ndipo anthu onse omwe ankabwera kudzamuona ankawalandira ndi manja awiri. Ankawalalikira za Ufumu wa Mulungu komanso kuwaphunzitsa za Ambuye Yesu Khristu, ndi ufulu wonse wa kulankhula popanda choletsa.” (Mac. 28:30, 31) Zoonadi, Paulo ndi chitsanzo chabwino kwambiri cha munthu wodziwa kuchereza alendo, wa chikhulupiriro cholimba ndiponso wodzipereka pa utumiki.

20, 21. Tchulani zitsanzo za anthu ena amene anapindula ndi utumiki wa Paulo ali ku Roma.

²⁰ Munthu mmodzi amene Paulo anamulandira ndi manja awiri anali Onesimo, kapolo amene anathawa kwa mbuye wake ku Kolose. Paulo anathandiza Onesimo kukhala Mkhristu, ndipo Onesimoyo anakhala ngati “m’bale [wa Paulo] wokhulupirika ndi wokondedwa.” Paulo anafotokoza kuti Onesimo anali ‘mwana wake’ ndipo iyeyo ‘anakhala bambo ake.’ (Akol. 4:9; Filim. 10-12) Zikuoneka kuti Onesimo analimbikitsa kwambiri Paulo. a

²¹ Anthu enanso anapindula chifukwa cha chitsanzo chabwino cha Paulo. Iye analembera Afilipi kuti: “Zimene zandichitikira, zathandiza kuti uthenga wabwino ufalikire. Chifukwa Asilikali Oteteza Mfumu ndi ena onse amva kuti ndamangidwa chifukwa cha Khristu. Ndipo abale ambiri amene akutumikira Ambuye alimba mtima chifukwa cha kumangidwa kwanga, komanso akupitiriza kusonyeza kulimba mtima polankhula mawu a Mulungu mopanda mantha.”​—Afil. 1:12-14.

22. N’chifukwa chiyani tinganene kuti Paulo anagwiritsa ntchito bwino nthawi yake pamene anali mkaidi ku Roma?

²² Paulo anagwiritsa bwino ntchito nthawi imene anali mkaidi ku Roma kulemba makalata ofunika kwambiri amene masiku ano ndi mbali ya Malemba a Chigiriki. b Makalata amenewo anathandiza Akhristu a m’nthawi ya atumwi amene anawalembera makalatawo. Ifenso tingapindule ndi makalata a Paulo chifukwa malangizo ouziridwa amene analembawo ndi othandizanso masiku ano.​—2 Tim. 3:16, 17.

23, 24. Mofanana ndi Paulo, kodi Akhristu ena masiku ano asonyeza bwanji kuti amakhalabe osangalala pamene atsekeredwa m’ndende chifukwa cha chikhulupiriro chawo?

²³ Pa nthawi imene Paulo ankamasulidwa, yomwe sinatchulidwe m’buku la Machitidwe, iye anali atakhala mkaidi kwa zaka 4. Ku Kaisareya anakhala mkaidi zaka ziwiri ndipo ku Roma anakhalanso zaka ziwiri. c (Mac. 23:35; 24:27) Koma iye anakhalabe wosangalala ndipo anapitiriza kutumikira Mulungu mwakhama. Mofanana ndi Paulo, atumiki a Yehova ambiri masiku ano amakhalabe osangalala ndipo amapitirizabe kulalikira ngakhale atatsekeredwa m’ndende chifukwa cha chikhulupiriro chawo. Taganizirani chitsanzo cha Mkhristu wina dzina lake Adolfo amene  anamutsekera m’ndende ku Spain chifukwa chokana kulowa usilikali. Msilikali wina anauza Adolfo kuti: “Umatichititsa chidwi kwambiri. Tayesetsa kuti moyo wakundende kuno uumve kuwawa, koma tikamakuzunza kwambiri m’pamenenso umamwetulira kwambiri ndipo umatilankhulabe mwaulemu.”

²⁴ Patapita nthawi, asilikali anayamba kumukhulupirira kwambiri Adolfo moti sankatseka chitseko cha chipinda chake cha m’ndende. Nthawi zina asilikali ankapita kwa Adolfo kukamufunsa nkhani za m’Baibulo. Ndipo msilikali wina amene ankalondera Adolfo ankalowa m’chipinda cha m’baleyu kukawerenga Baibulo. Pa nthawiyi Adolfo ndi amene ankalondera msilikaliyo kuti asilikali anzake asamuone. Zitsanzo zabwino ngati zimenezi za a Mboni okhulupirika zizitithandiza kuti nafenso tizisonyeza “kulimba mtima polankhula mawu a Mulungu mopanda mantha,” ngakhale pamene zinthu zavuta kwambiri.

25, 26. Zaka 30 zisanathe, kodi Paulo anaona ulosi wochititsa chidwi uti ukukwaniritsidwa, nanga zimenezi zikufanana bwanji ndi zimene zikuchitika masiku ano?

²⁵ Buku lochititsa chidwi la Machitidwe likumaliza ndi mfundo yolimbikitsa kwambiri yakuti, mtumwi wa Khristu ameneyu anapitiriza ‘kulalikira za Ufumu wa Mulungu’ kwa onse amene ankabwera kudzamuona pamene anali mkaidi wosachoka panyumba. M’chaputala choyamba cha buku la Machitidwe, tinawerenga za ntchito imene Yesu anapatsa otsatira ake pamene anawauza kuti: “Mukadzalandira mzimu woyera, mudzakhala ndi mphamvu. Ndipo mudzakhala mboni zanga mu Yerusalemu, ku Yudeya konse ndi ku Samariya, mpaka kumalekezero a dziko lapansi.” (Mac. 1:8) Ndiye zaka 30 zisanathe, uthenga wa Ufumu unali ‘utalalikidwa padziko lonse.’ d (Akol. 1:23) Umenewu unali umboni wosonyeza kuti mzimu wa Mulungu ndi wamphamvu.​—Zek. 4:6.

²⁶ Masiku ano, mzimu wa Mulungu ukuthandizanso abale a Khristu amene adakali padziko lapansi, limodzi ndi anzawo a “nkhosa zina” kuti apitirizebe ‘kuchitira umboni mokwanira za Ufumu wa Mulungu’ m’mayiko oposa 240. (Yoh. 10:16; Mac. 28:23) Kodi inuyo mukugwira nawo mokwanira ntchito imeneyi?