1-4. N’chifukwa chiyani Paulo anayamba ulendo wopita ku Yerusalemu, nanga ankadziwa kuti akakumana ndi zotani?

 PAMENE Paulo ndi Luka ankasiyana ndi akulu a ku Efeso mumzinda wa Mileto, onse anamva chisoni. Zinali zovuta kwambiri kuti Paulo ndi Luka asiyane ndi abalewo, amene ankawakonda kwambiri. Amishonale awiriwo anakwera ngalawa, ndipo anatenga zinthu zofunikira pa ulendowo. Iwo analinso ndi mphatso zochokera m’mipingo yosiyanasiyana zoti akapereke kwa Akhristu osauka ku Yudeya ndipo ankafunitsitsa kuti mphatsozi zikafike kwa abalewo.

² Padoko laphokosoli pankaomba kamphepo kayaziyazi ndipo kenako ngalawayo inanyamuka. Paulo ndi Luka limodzi ndi anthu ena 7 amene ankayenda nawo pa ulendowo, ankayang’ana abale awo amene anaimirira m’mphepete mwa nyanja akuoneka achisoni. (Mac. 20:4, 14, 15) Paulo ndi anzakewo anapitiriza kubayibitsa abalewo mpaka ngalawayo inafika kutali moti sanathenso kuwaona.

³ Paulo anagwira ntchito limodzi ndi akulu a ku Efeso kwa zaka pafupifupi zitatu. Koma motsogoleredwa ndi mzimu woyera, iye ananyamuka ulendo wopita ku Yerusalemu, ndipo ankadziwa pang’ono chabe zimene zikhoza kukamuchitikira kumeneko. Nthawi ina m’mbuyomu anauza akuluwo kuti: “Motsogoleredwa ndi mzimu, ndikupita ku Yerusalemu ngakhale kuti sindikudziwa zimene zikandichitikire kumeneko. Koma chinthu chimodzi chokha chimene ndikudziwa n’chakuti mumzinda ndi mzinda, mzimu woyera wandichitira umboni mobwerezabwereza kuti ndikuyembekezera kumangidwa komanso kuzunzidwa.” (Mac. 20:22, 23) Ngakhale kuti ankadziwa kuti zinthu zoopsa zikamuchitikira, Paulo ankaona kuti ‘mzimu wamutsogolera’ kuti apite ku Yerusalemu, ndipo anali wofunitsitsa kumvera zimene mzimuwo unamuuza. N’zoona kuti Paulo ankaona kuti moyo wake ndi wamtengo wapatali, komabe kwa iye chinthu chofunika kwambiri chinali kuchita chifuniro cha Mulungu.

⁴ Kodi inunso mumaona choncho? Pamene tinadzipereka kwa Yehova, tinalonjeza ndi mtima wonse kuti chinthu chofunika kwambiri pa moyo wathu chidzakhala kuchita chifuniro chake. Choncho kuganizira chitsanzo cha mtumwi Paulo amene anali wokhulupirika kungatithandize kwambiri.

5. Kodi Paulo ndi anzake anayenda bwanji kuti akafike ku Turo?

⁵ Ngalawa imene Paulo ndi anzakewo anakwera ‘inayenda osakhota,’  kutanthauza kuti mphepo yabwino inkawakankha ndipo inawathandiza kuti akafike pachilumba cha Ko tsiku lomwelo. (Mac. 21:1) Zikuoneka kuti ngalawayo inagona kumeneko ndipo tsiku lotsatira inanyamuka n’kukafika ku Rode komanso ku Patara. Abalewo atafika ku Patara, doko limene linali chakum’mwera kwa Asia Minor, anakwera ngalawa yaikulu yonyamula katundu, ndipo sanaime paliponse mpaka anafika ku Turo, m’dera la Foinike. Ali m’njira, anadutsa pafupi ndi “chilumba cha Kupuro . . . kumanzere” kwa doko la pachilumbacho. (Mac. 21:3) N’chifukwa chiyani Luka, amene analemba buku la Machitidwe, anatchula mfundo imeneyi?

6. (a) N’chifukwa chiyani Paulo ayenera kuti analimba mtima ataona chilumba cha Kupuro? (b) Kodi mumamva bwanji mukamaganizira mmene Yehova wakudalitsirani komanso mmene wakuthandizirani?

⁶ Mwina Paulo analozera anzakewo chilumbacho n’kuwauza zimene zinamuchitikira kumeneko. Pa ulendo wake woyamba waumishonale, zaka pafupifupi 9 m’mbuyomo, Paulo, Baranaba ndi Yohane Maliko anakumana ndi Elima wamatsenga, amene ankatsutsa ntchito yawo yolalikira. (Mac. 13:4-12) Paulo ayenera kuti analimba mtima ataona chilumbacho komanso atakumbukira zimene zinamuchitikirazo, ndipo zinamuthandiza kuti akhale wokonzeka kukakumana ndi mavuto alionse ku Yerusalemu. Ifenso tingachite bwino kumaganizira mmene Mulungu  watidalitsira komanso mmene watithandizira kupirira mayesero. Tikamaganizira zimenezi tingakhale ngati Davide amene analemba kuti: “Mavuto a munthu wolungama ndi ambiri, koma Yehova amamupulumutsa ku mavuto onsewo.”​—Sal. 34:19.

7. Kodi Paulo ndi anzake anachita chiyani atafika ku Turo?

⁷ Paulo ankadziwa kufunika kochitira zinthu limodzi ndi Akhristu anzake ndipo ankafunitsitsa kukumana nawo. Choncho Luka analemba kuti iwo atafika ku Turo, ‘anafufuza ophunzira ndipo anawapeza.’ (Mac. 21:4) Zimenezi zikusonyeza kuti Paulo ndi anzakewo ankadziwa kuti ku Turo kunali Akhristu anzawo, moti anawafufuza n’kuwapeza ndipo mwina anakhala nawo masiku angapo. Masiku anonso, anthu amene adziwa choonadi amapeza madalitso ambiri, ndipo limodzi mwa madalitso amenewa ndi lakuti, kulikonse kumene angapite amakapeza Akhristu anzawo omwe amawalandira. Anthu amene amakonda Mulungu amamulambira m’njira yovomerezeka ndipo ali ndi anzawo padziko lonse.

8. Kodi mawu amene ali pa Machitidwe 21:4 akutanthauza chiyani?

⁸ Pofotokoza zimene zinachitika pa masiku 7 amene Paulo ndi anzakewo anakhala ku Turo, Luka analemba mfundo ina imene ingaoneke ngati yodabwitsa. Iye anati: “Mouziridwa ndi mzimu, [abale a ku Turo] anauza Paulo mobwerezabwereza kuti asayerekeze kupita ku Yerusalemu.” (Mac. 21:4) Kodi Yehova anasintha maganizo ake? Kodi tsopano ankauza Paulo kuti asapite ku Yerusalemu? Ayi. Mzimu unasonyeza kuti Paulo akazunzidwa ku Yerusalemu, koma sunanene kuti asapiteko. Zikuoneka kuti kudzera mwa mzimu woyera, abale a ku Turo anadziwa kuti Paulo akakumana ndi mavuto ku Yerusalemu ndipo zimenezi zinali zoona. Choncho, chifukwa chakuti iwo sankafuna kuti Paulo akumane ndi mavuto, anamulimbikitsa kuti asapite mumzindawo. M’pomveka kuti iwo anali ndi maganizo amenewa, komabe Paulo ankafunitsitsa kuchita chifuniro cha Yehova ndipo anapitiriza ulendo wake wopita ku Yerusalemu.​—Mac. 21:12.

9, 10. (a) Kodi Paulo ayenera kuti anakumbukira chiyani atamva maganizo a abale a ku Turo? (b) Kodi anthu ambiri m’dzikoli ali ndi maganizo otani, nanga maganizo amenewo akusiyana bwanji ndi zimene Yesu ananena?

⁹ Paulo atamva maganizo a abalewo, mwina iye anakumbukira kuti zinthu ngati zimenezi zinachitikiranso Yesu pamene anauza ophunzira ake kuti akupita ku Yerusalemu ndipo akazunzidwa ndi kuphedwa. Pomudera nkhawa, Petulo anamuuza kuti: “Dzikomereni mtima Ambuye. Musalole kuti zimenezi zikuchitikireni ngakhale pang’ono.” Koma Yesu anayankha kuti: “Pita kumbuyo kwanga, Satana! Ndiwe chopunthwitsa kwa ine chifukwa zimene umaganiza si maganizo a Mulungu, koma maganizo a anthu.” (Mat. 16:21-23) Yesu anali wokonzeka kuchita zimene Mulungu anamuuza. Nayenso Paulo anali ndi mtima ngati umenewu. Mofanana ndi mtumwi Petulo, abale a ku Turo anali ndi zolinga zabwino koma sanamvetse kuti zimene Paulo ankafuna kuchitazo chinali chifuniro cha Mulungu.

¹⁰ Anthu ambiri masiku ano amafuna zinthu zabwino zokhazokha kapena amakonda kuchita zinthu zosavuta, ngakhale zinthuzo zitakhala zoipa. Mwachitsanzo, anthu ambiri amafuna chipembedzo chimene sichitsatira mfundo zokhwima komanso chimene chimalola anthu ake kuti azichita zimene akufuna. Koma Yesu  analimbikitsa ophunzira ake kuti akhale ndi maganizo osiyana ndi amenewa. Iye anawauza kuti: “Ngati munthu akufuna kunditsatira, adzikane yekha ndipo anyamule mtengo wake wozunzikirapo n’kupitiriza kunditsatira.” (Mat. 16:24) Kutsatira Yesu ndi chinthu chanzeru ndiponso choyenera, koma sikophweka.

11. Kodi ophunzira a ku Turo anasonyeza bwanji kuti ankakonda Paulo?

¹¹ Kenako nthawi inakwana yoti Paulo, Luka ndi anzawo aja apitirize ulendo wawo. Zimene zinachitika pamene ankanyamuka zinali zokhudza mtima, chifukwa zinasonyeza kuti abale a ku Turo ankakonda kwambiri Paulo ndipo ankafuna kuti apitirize utumiki wake. Paulo ndi anthu amene ankayenda nawo ananyamuka kupita kunyanja ndipo amuna, akazi ndi ana omwe anawaperekeza. Atafika, onse anagwada pansi n’kupemphera limodzi kenako anatsanzikana. Atatero Paulo, Luka ndi anzawo aja anakwera ngalawa ina yopita ku Tolemayi, kumene anakumana ndi abale ndipo anakhala nawo tsiku limodzi.​—Mac. 21:5-7.

12, 13. (a) N’chiyani chikusonyeza kuti Filipo ankatumikira Mulungu mokhulupirika? (b) N’chifukwa chiyani Filipo ndi chitsanzo chabwino kwa amuna a Chikhristu amene ali ndi ana masiku ano?

¹² Kenako, Luka ananena kuti Paulo ndi anzakewo ananyamuka kupita ku Kaisareya. Atafika kumeneko, anapita “kunyumba kwa mlaliki wina dzina lake Filipo.” a (Mac. 21:8) Iwo ayenera kuti anasangalala kwambiri ataona Filipo. Pafupifupi zaka 20 m’mbuyomu pamene Filipo anali ku Yerusalemu, iye anasankhidwa ndi atumwi kuti athandize pa ntchito yogawa chakudya mumpingo umene unali utangoyamba kumene. Kwa nthawi yaitali, Filipo anali mlaliki wakhama. Kumbukirani kuti ophunzira atabalalika chifukwa chozunzidwa, Filipo anapita ku Samariya ndipo anayamba kulalikira kumeneko. Kenako analalikira nduna ya ku Itiyopiya n’kuibatiza. (Mac. 6:2-6; 8:4-13, 26-38) N’zoonekeratu kuti iye anachita utumiki wake mokhulupirika.

¹³ Filipo sanasiye kuchita utumiki wake mwakhama, ndipo pamene anali ku Kaisareya, anapitiriza kugwira ntchito yolalikira, monga mmene Luka anasonyezera pomutchula kuti “mlaliki.” Filipo anali ndi ana aakazi 4 amene ankanenera, ndipo zimenezi zikusonyeza kuti anatengera chitsanzo cha bambo awo. b (Mac. 21:9) Apa n’zoonekeratu kuti Filipo anathandiza kwambiri banja lake kuti lilimbe mwauzimu.  Masiku ano, amuna a Chikhristu amene ali ndi ana ayenera kutengera chitsanzo chimenechi. Iwo ayenera kutsogolera banja lawo mu utumiki ndi kuthandiza ana awo kuti azikonda ntchito yolalikira.

14. Kodi n’chiyani chimene chinkachitika Paulo akamachezera Akhristu anzake, nanga ifeyo masiku ano tingawatsanzire bwanji?

¹⁴ Kulikonse kumene wapita, Paulo ankafufuza Akhristu anzake ndipo akawapeza, ankakhala nawo kwa kanthawi. N’zodziwikiratu kuti abale ankalandira mosangalala m’mishonaleyu ndi anzake amene ankayenda nawo. Tikukhulupirira kuti maulendo oterowo ankathandiza Akhristu chifukwa ankalimbikitsana. (Aroma 1:11, 12) Zimenezi zimachitikanso masiku ano. Timadalitsidwa kwambiri tikalandira woyang’anira dera ndi mkazi wake kunyumba kwathu, ngakhale nyumbayo itakhala yaing’ono komanso tilibe zinthu zambiri.​—Aroma 12:13.

15, 16. Kodi Agabo anabwera ndi uthenga wotani, nanga unakhudza bwanji anthu amene anamvetsera?

¹⁵ Pamene Paulo anali kunyumba ya Filipo, kunafika mlendo wina wolemekezeka dzina lake Agabo. Anthu amene anasonkhana kunyumba ya Filipo ankadziwa kuti Agabo ndi mneneri, yemwe analosera njala yaikulu imene inachitika m’nthawi ya ulamuliro wa Kalaudiyo. (Mac. 11:27, 28) Mwina iwo ankadzifunsa kuti: ‘N’chifukwa chiyani Agabo wabwera kuno? Kodi wabwera ndi uthenga wotani?’ Pamene iwo ankamuyang’anitsitsa, iye anatenga lamba wa Paulo amene ankamanga m’chiuno ndipo ankatha kusungamo ndalama ndi zinthu zina. Atatero, Agabo anadzimanga mapazi ndi manja ndi lambayo. Kenako ananena uthenga woopsa wakuti: “Mzimu woyera wati, ‘Mwiniwake wa lambayu, Ayuda adzamumanga chonchi ku Yerusalemu n’kumupereka kwa anthu a mitundu ina.’”​—Mac. 21:11.

¹⁶ Ulosiwu unatsimikizira kuti Paulo apita ku Yerusalemu. Unasonyezanso kuti ntchito yake yolalikira kwa Ayuda ikachititsa kuti aperekedwe “kwa anthu a mitundu ina.” Ulosiwu unawakhudza kwambiri anthu amene anali pamalowo ndipo Luka analemba kuti: “Titamva zimenezi, ife ndi anthu amene anali kumeneko, tinayamba kuchonderera Paulo kuti asapite ku Yerusalemu. Koma Paulo anayankha kuti:  ‘N’chifukwa chiyani mukulira ndiponso kufuna kundifooketsa? Inetu ndine wokonzeka osati kumangidwa kokha, komanso kukafa ku Yerusalemu chifukwa cha dzina la Ambuye Yesu.’”​—Mac. 21:12, 13.

17, 18. Kodi Paulo anasonyeza bwanji kuti anatsimikiza ndi mtima wonse kuchita chifuniro cha Mulungu, nanga abale anatani?

¹⁷ Taganizani zimene zinachitika. Luka limodzi ndi abalewo anachonderera Paulo kuti asapite ku Yerusalemu ndipo ena ankalira. Popeza kuti abalewo anasonyeza kuti ankamudera nkhawa, Paulo mokoma mtima anawauza kuti ‘akumufooketsa,’ kapena kuti “ankaswa mtima” wake monga mmene Mabaibulo ena amafotokozera. Komabe, iye anali wotsimikiza ndi mtima wonse, ndipo mofanana ndi mmene zinalili pamene anakumana ndi abale ku Turo, sakanalola kuti asinthe maganizo ake chifukwa choti abale akumuchonderera kapena akumulirira. M’malomwake, anawafotokozera chifukwa chake ayenera kupita. Apatu Paulo anasonyeza kuti anali wolimba mtima. Mofanana ndi Yesu, Paulo anatsimikiza ndi mtima wonse kupita ku Yerusalemu. (Aheb. 12:2) Iye sankachita zimenezi n’cholinga choti afere chikhulupiriro chake, koma ngati zimenezo zikanachitika, iye akanaona kuti ndi mwayi kufa monga wotsatira wa Yesu Khristu.

¹⁸ Kodi abalewo anachita chiyani Paulo atawauza zimenezi? Anayankha mwaulemu, chifukwa Luka analemba kuti: “Titalephera kumusintha maganizo, tinasiya kumuletsa n’kunena kuti: ‘Chifuniro cha Yehova chichitike.’” (Mac. 21:14) Abale amene ankachonderera Paulo kuti asapite ku Yerusalemu sanaumirire maganizo awo. Iwo anamvetsera zimene Paulo ananena ndipo anangovomereza. Abalewo anadziwa chifuniro cha Yehova ndipo analola kuti chichitike ngakhale kuti zimenezo zinali zovuta kwa iwo. Paulo anapitiriza ulendo wopita ku Yerusalemu ndipo zimene zinachitika kumeneko, zinachititsa kuti pamapeto pake aphedwe. Paulo ankaona kuti zikanakhala bwino ngati anthu amene ankamukondawo akanapanda kumuletsa kuti asapite ku Yerusalemu.

19. Kodi tingapeze phunziro labwino kwambiri liti tikaona zimene zinachitikira Paulo?

¹⁹ Pali phunziro labwino kwambiri limene tingapeze tikaona zimene zinachitikira Paulo: Tisamayese kufooketsa Akhristu amene asankha kukhala moyo wosalira zambiri kuti atumikire bwino Mulungu. Phunziro limeneli lingagwire ntchito pa nkhani zambiri, osati pa nkhani yokhudza moyo ndi imfa yokha. Mwachitsanzo, makolo ambiri a Chikhristu amadandaula akaona ana awo akuchoka panyumba kukatumikira Yehova kumadera akutali, komabe ngakhale zili choncho makolowo amakhala otsimikiza ndi mtima wonse kuti asayese kufooketsa anawo. Mwachitsanzo, mlongo wina dzina lake Phyllis yemwe amakhala ku England, amene ali ndi mwana mmodzi yekha wamkazi, amakumbukira mmene anamvera pamene mwana wake wamkaziyu anapita ku Africa kukachita utumiki waumishonale. Mlongoyu anati: “Zinandikhudza kwambiri mumtima ndipo zinali zovuta chifukwa ndinkadziwa kuti ku Africa ndi kutali kwambiri. Ndinamva chisoni, komanso pa nthawi imodzimodziyo, ndinkanyadira. Ndinapempherera kwambiri nkhaniyi, koma ndinkadziwa kuti mwana wangayo wasankha yekha kuchita utumikiwu ndipo sindinayese kumunyengerera kuti abwerere. Ndipotu nthawi zonse ndinkamuphunzitsa kuti aziika zinthu zokhudza Ufumu pamalo oyamba pa moyo wake. Panopa iye wakhala akutumikira Mulungu m’mayiko osiyanasiyana kwa zaka 30, ndipo tsiku lililonse ndimathokoza Yehova chifukwa mwana wangayo akupitirizabe  kukhala wokhulupirika.” Choncho, ndi bwino kuti tizilimbikitsa Akhristu anzathu amene asankha kukhala moyo wosalira zambiri kuti atumikire bwino Yehova.

20, 21. N’chiyani chikusonyeza kuti Paulo ankafunitsitsa kukhala limodzi ndi abale, nanga n’chifukwa chiyani ankafuna kuchita zimenezi?

²⁰ Paulo anakonzekera ulendo ndipo ananyamuka pamodzi ndi abalewo. Zimenezi zinasonyeza kuti abalewo sanataye mtima koma ankamuthandiza ndi mtima wonse. Paliponse pamene ankaima pa ulendo wopita ku Yerusalemuwu, Paulo ndi anzakewo ankafufuza abale ndi alongo awo a Chikhristu. Mwachitsanzo, ku Turo anafufuza ophunzira ndipo atawapeza anakhala nawo masiku 7. Iwo anaima ku Tolemayi kuti apereke moni kwa abale ndi alongo awo ndipo anakhala nawo tsiku limodzi. Atafika ku Kaisareya, anakhala masiku angapo kunyumba kwa Filipo. Kenako, ophunzira ena a ku Kaisareya anaperekeza Paulo ndi anzakewo ku Yerusalemu, ndipo iye atalowa mumzindawu, anafikira kunyumba ya Mnaso, mmodzi mwa ophunzira oyambirira. Kenako atafika ku Yerusalemu, Luka ananena kuti “abale anatilandira mosangalala.”​—Mac. 21:17.

²¹ N’zoonekeratu kuti Paulo ankafunitsitsa kukhala limodzi ndi Akhristu anzake. Mtumwiyu ankalimbikitsidwa ndi abale komanso alongo ake ngati mmene zimachitikiranso masiku ano. Zimenezi zinamulimbikitsa Paulo kuti asachite mantha polankhula ndi anthu aukali komanso otsutsa amene ankafuna kumupha.