1-3. (a) Fotokozani zimene zinachitika kuti Utiko amwalire. (b) Kodi Paulo anachita chiyani, nanga nkhani imeneyi ikutiuza chiyani za iye?

 PAULO anali ku Torowa m’chipinda cham’mwamba chimene munali anthu ambiri. Umenewu unali usiku ndipo ankayembekezera kuchoka mumzindawu tsiku lotsatira. Choncho iye anakamba nkhani kwa nthawi yaitali kwa abalewo mpaka kufika pakati pa usiku. M’chipindamo munkatentha kwambiri ndipo munali nyale zambiri zimene zinkawonjezera kutenthako, komanso n’kutheka kuti zinkatulutsa utsi wambiri. Mnyamata wina dzina lake Utiko anakhala pawindo lina m’chipindamo. Paulo ali mkati mokamba nkhaniyo, Utiko anayamba kugona ndipo anagwa pansi kuchokera pawindo la nyumba yachitatu yosanja.

² Popeza Luka anali dokotala, mwina iye anali m’gulu la anthu amene anali oyambirira kuthamangira panja kukaona mnyamatayo. Koma palibe chimene anthuwo akanachita kuti amuthandize. Iwo “anamupeza [Utiko] atafa.” (Mac. 20:9) Koma kenako panachitika chinthu china chozizwitsa. Paulo anadziponya pa mnyamatayo ndipo anauza gulu la anthulo kuti: “Khalani chete, chifukwa ali moyo tsopano.” Pamenepa Paulo anali ataukitsa Utiko.​—Mac. 20:10.

³ Zimene zinachitikazi zinasonyeza kuti mzimu woyera wa Mulungu ndi wamphamvu. Sikuti Paulo ndi amene anachititsa kuti Utiko amwalire. Komabe, iye sanafune kuti imfa ya mnyamatayu isokoneze zimene zinkachitika pa nthawiyo kapena kuchititsa kuti wina aliyense asiye kukhulupirira Yehova. Anthu mumpingomo analimbikitsidwa komanso anali okonzeka kwambiri kupitiriza utumiki wawo chifukwa Paulo anaukitsa Utiko. N’zoonekeratu kuti Paulo ankaona kuti moyo wa anthu ena ndi wofunika kwambiri. Zimenezi zikutikumbutsa mawu ake akuti: “Ine ndilibe mlandu wa magazi a anthu onse.” (Mac. 20:26) Tiyeni tikambirane mmene chitsanzo cha Paulo chingatithandizire pa nkhani imeneyi.

4. Kodi ndi zinthu zochititsa mantha ziti zimene zinachitikira Paulo?

⁴ Monga taonera m’mutu wapitawu, Paulo anakumana ndi zinthu zochititsa mantha. Anthu anayambitsa chipolowe ku Efeso chifukwa cha utumiki wake. Amene anayambitsa chipolowecho anali amisiri osula siliva amene ankapeza ndalama chifukwa chopanga mafano amene ankawagwiritsa ntchito polambira  Atemi. Lemba la Machitidwe 20:1 limanena kuti, “chipolowe chija chitatha, Paulo anaitanitsa ophunzira. Atawalimbikitsa n’kutsanzikana nawo, ananyamuka ulendo wopita ku Makedoniya.”

5, 6. (a) Kodi Paulo ayenera kuti anakhala ku Makedoniya kwa nthawi yaitali bwanji, ndipo anawachitira chiyani abale a kumeneko? (b) Kodi Paulo ankawaona bwanji Akhristu anzake?

⁵ Ali pa ulendo wake wopita ku Makedoniya, Paulo anaima padoko la Torowa ndipo anakhalapo kwa nthawi ndithu. Paulo ankaganiza kuti akumana ndi Tito kumeneko, amene pa nthawiyi anali atatumizidwa ku Korinto. (2 Akor. 2:12, 13) Komabe, Paulo atazindikira kuti Tito sabwera, anapita ku Makedoniya ndipo anakhalako mwina kwa chaka chimodzi. Pa nthawi yonse imene anali kumeneko, ‘ankalimbikitsa ophunzira ndi mawu ambiri.’ a (Mac. 20:2) Kenako Tito anakumana ndi Paulo ku Makedoniya ndipo anamuuza nkhani yabwino yofotokoza zimene Akhristu a ku Korinto anachita atalandira kalata yake yoyamba. (2 Akor. 7:5-7) Zimenezi zinachititsa kuti Paulo awalemberenso kalata ina, imene panopa timaitchula kuti 2 Akorinto.

⁶ Luka anagwiritsa ntchito mawu akuti “atawalimbikitsa” ndiponso akuti “n’kumalimbikitsa” pofotokoza zimene Paulo anachita pochezera abale ku Efeso ndi ku Makedoniya. Mawu amenewo anali oyeneradi pofotokoza mmene Paulo ankaonera Akhristu anzake. Mosiyana ndi Afarisi, amene ankaona anthu ena  kuti anali onyozeka, Paulo ankaona nkhosa za Mulungu ngati antchito anzake. (Yoh. 7:47-49; 1 Akor. 3:9) Iye anapitiriza kuona Akhristu anzake mwa njira imeneyi ngakhale pa nthawi imene ankafunika kuwapatsa uphungu wamphamvu.​—2 Akor. 2:4.

7. Kodi oyang’anira a Chikhristu masiku ano angatsanzire bwanji Paulo?

⁷ Masiku ano, akulu mumpingo ndiponso oyang’anira dera amayesetsa kutsanzira Paulo. Ngakhale akamadzudzula anthu amene alakwa, cholinga chawo chimakhala kuwalimbikitsa. Oyang’anira amayesetsa kumvetsa mmene ena akumvera n’kuwalimbikitsa m’malo mowaweruza. M’bale wina amene wakhala woyang’anira dera kwa nthawi yaitali anati: “Abale ndi alongo athu ambiri amafunitsitsa kuchita zabwino, koma nthawi zambiri amalephera chifukwa cha mantha, kukhumudwa ndiponso chifukwa cha mtima wodziona ngati sangathe kuchita bwino zinthu.” Choncho oyang’anira ayenera kulimbikitsa anthu ngati amenewa.​—Aheb. 12:12, 13.

8, 9. (a) N’chiyani chimene chinasokoneza ulendo wa Paulo wopita ku Siriya? (b) N’chifukwa chiyani Ayuda ankadana ndi Paulo?

⁸ Atachoka ku Makedoniya, Paulo anapita ku Korinto. b Atakhala kumeneko miyezi itatu, iye ankafunitsitsa kupitiriza ulendo wake wopita ku Kenkereya, kumene ankafuna kuti akakwere ngalawa yopita ku Siriya. Iye ankafuna kuti akachoka kumeneko, apite ku Yerusalemu kuti akapereke mphatso kwa abale ovutika. c (Mac. 24:17; Aroma 15:25, 26) Koma panachitika zinthu zina zosayembekezereka zimene zinachititsa kuti Paulo asinthe maganizo. Lemba la Machitidwe 20:3 limati: “Ayuda anamukonzera chiwembu.”

⁹ N’zosadabwitsa kuti Ayuda ankadana ndi Paulo chifukwa ankamuona ngati munthu wampatuko. M’mbuyomu, Kirisipo amene anali wodalirika m’sunagoge ku Korinto, analowa Chikhristu chifukwa cha ulaliki wa Paulo. (Mac. 18:7, 8; 1 Akor. 1:14) Pa nthawi inanso, Ayuda a ku Korinto anamunenera Paulo milandu yabodza kwa Galiyo, bwanamkubwa wa dera la Akaya. Koma Galiyo anauza Ayudawo kuti Paulo alibe mlandu uliwonse ndipo zimenezi zinawakwiyitsa kwambiri. (Mac. 18:12-17) Choncho Paulo atatsala pang’ono kufika mumzinda wa Kenkereya kuti akwere ngalawa, n’kutheka kuti Ayuda a ku Korinto anadziwa zimenezi ndipo anamukonzera chiwembu kuti akamuphe akakafika mumzindawo. Kodi Paulo anachita chiyani?

10. Kodi zimene Paulo anachita posintha maganizo kuti asapite ku Kenkereya, zikusonyeza kuti anali munthu wamantha? Fotokozani.

¹⁰ Pofuna kuteteza moyo wake komanso mphatso zachifundo zimene ananyamula, Paulo anasintha maganizo ndipo sanapitenso ku Kenkereya koma anabwerera ku Makedoniya. Iye anachita zimenezi ngakhale kuti ulendo wapamtunda unalinso woopsa. Kawirikawiri m’misewu munkakhala achifwamba komanso nthawi zina nyumba zogona alendo zinkakhala zosatetezeka. Komabe, Paulo anasankha kuyenda ulendo wapamtunda ngakhale kuti akanakumana ndi mavuto  ngati amenewa, poyerekezera ndi mavuto amene akanakumana nawo ku Kenkereya. Ubwino wake ndi woti Paulo sanali yekha pa ulendowu. Ena mwa anthu omwe anali naye anali Arisitako, Gayo, Sekundo, Sopaturo, Timoteyo, Terofimo ndi Tukiko.​—Mac. 20:3, 4.

11. Kodi Akhristu amayesetsa kuchita zinthu ziti podziteteza, nanga Yesu anatipatsa chitsanzo chotani pa nkhani imeneyi?

¹¹ Mofanana ndi Paulo, masiku anonso Akhristu amayesetsa kudziteteza akakhala mu utumiki. M’madera ambiri, iwo amayenda m’magulu, kapena awiriawiri, m’malo moyenda aliyense payekha. Koma kodi iwo angadziteteze bwanji akamazunzidwa? N’zoona kuti Akhristu sangapewe kuzunzidwa. (Yoh. 15:20; 2 Tim. 3:12) Komabe, iwo amayesetsa kupewa chilichonse chimene chingawabweretsere mavuto. Ganizirani chitsanzo cha Yesu. Pa nthawi ina ali ku Yerusalemu, anthu omwe ankamutsutsa m’kachisi atayamba kutola miyala kuti amugende, “Yesu anabisala n’kutuluka m’kachisimo.” (Yoh. 8:59) Pa nthawi inanso pamene Ayuda ankafuna kumupha, “Yesu sankayendayendanso moonekera kwa Ayuda. Koma anachoka kumeneko n’kupita kudera lina lapafupi ndi chipululu.” (Yoh. 11:54) Yesu ankayesetsa kuchita zomwe angathe kuti adziteteze n’cholinga choti akwaniritse zimene Mulungu ankafuna. Akhristu amatengera chitsanzo chimenechi masiku ano.​—Mat. 10:16.

12, 13. (a) Kodi mpingo unakhudzidwa bwanji Utiko ataukitsidwa? (b) Kodi ndi mfundo iti ya m’Baibulo imene imatonthoza anthu omwe abale awo anamwalira?

¹² Paulo ndi anzake aja anadutsa m’chigawo cha Makedoniya ali limodzi koma kenako zikuoneka kuti anasiyana. Patapita masiku angapo, zikuoneka kuti anthuwa anakumananso ku Torowa. d Nkhaniyi imati: “Tinawapeza ku Torowa patapita masiku 5.” e (Mac. 20:6) Ku Torowa n’kumene Paulo anaukitsa mnyamata uja Utiko, monga taonera kumayambiriro kwa nkhaniyi. Taganizirani mmene abale ndi alongo anasangalalira ataona kuti Utiko waukitsidwa. Mogwirizana ndi zimene nkhaniyi ikunena, abalewo “anatonthozedwa kwambiri.”​—Mac. 20:12.

¹³ N’zoona kuti masiku ano zozizwitsa ngati zimenezi sizichitika. Komabe, anthu amene abale awo anamwalira ‘amatonthozedwa kwambiri’ ndi zimene Baibulo limanena kuti akufa adzauka. (Yoh. 5:28, 29) Kumbukirani kuti patapita nthawi, Utiko anamwaliranso chifukwa anali wopanda ungwiro. (Aroma 6:23) Koma anthu amene adzaukitsidwe m’dziko latsopano limene Mulungu wakonza, adzatha kukhala ndi moyo kwamuyaya. Kuwonjezera pamenepa, anthu amene amaukitsidwa kuti akalamulire ndi Yesu kumwamba, amapatsidwa moyo umene sungafe. (1 Akor. 15:51-53) Akhristu masiku ano, kaya ndi odzozedwa kapena a “nkhosa zina,” ‘amatonthozedwa kwambiri’ akaganizira madalitso amenewa.​—Yoh. 10:16.

14. Kodi Paulo anawauza chiyani akulu a ku Efeso atakumana nawo ku Mileto?

¹⁴ Paulo ndi anthu amene ankayenda nayewo anachoka ku Torowa ndipo anafika ku Aso. Atachoka kumeneko anafika ku Mitilene, ku Kiyo, ku Samo ndipo kenako anafika ku Mileto. Cholinga cha Paulo chinali choti akafike ku Yerusalemu nthawi yabwino kuti akachite nawo Chikondwerero cha Pentekosite. Zimenezi zikutithandiza kumvetsa chifukwa chake iye anasankha kukwera ngalawa yolambalala mzinda wa Efeso pa ulendo wake wobwerera ku Yerusalemu. Koma Paulo ankafunabe kulankhula ndi akulu a mpingo wa ku Efeso. Choncho anawatumizira uthenga kuti akumane naye ku Mileto. (Mac. 20:13-17) Akuluwo atafika, Paulo anawauza kuti: “Inu mukudziwa bwino mmene ndinkachitira zinthu pa nthawi yomwe ndinali nanu, kuchokera tsiku limene ndinafika m’chigawo cha Asia. Ndinkatumikira Ambuye ngati kapolo modzichepetsa kwambiri, ndi misozi komanso ndi mayesero amene ndinakumana nawo chifukwa cha ziwembu za Ayuda. Komatu sindinakubisireni chilichonse chothandiza ndipo sindinasiye kukuphunzitsani pagulu komanso kunyumba ndi nyumba. Koma ndachitira umboni mokwanira kwa Ayuda ndi kwa Agiriki omwe, kuti alape n’kubwerera kwa Mulungu komanso kuti ayambe kukhulupirira Ambuye wathu Yesu.”​—Mac. 20:18-21.

15. Kodi kulalikira kunyumba ndi nyumba kuli ndi ubwino wotani?

 ¹⁵ Masiku ano, timalalikira uthenga wabwino kwa anthu m’njira zosiyanasiyana. Mofanana ndi Paulo, timayesetsa kupita kumalo osiyanasiyana kumene tingapeze anthu, monga kumalo okwerera mabasi, m’misewu kapenanso m’misika. Komabe, kulalikira kunyumba ndi nyumba ndi njira yaikulu imene a Mboni za Yehovafe timagwiritsa ntchito. Chifukwa chiyani? Chifukwa chakuti njirayi imapereka mwayi kwa anthu onse kuti azimva uthenga wa Ufumu pafupipafupi, ndipo zimenezi zimasonyeza kuti Mulungu alibe tsankho. Njirayi imaperekanso mwayi kwa anthu oona mtima kuti azithandizidwa mwauzimu mogwirizana ndi mmene zinthu zilili pa moyo wawo. Kuwonjezera pamenepo, anthu amene amalalikira kunyumba ndi nyumba chikhulupiriro chawo chimalimba kwambiri komanso amaphunzira kupirira. Ndithudi, kulalikira mwakhama “pagulu komanso kunyumba ndi nyumba” ndi chizindikiro cha Akhristu oona masiku ano.

16, 17. Kodi Paulo anasonyeza bwanji kulimba mtima, nanga Akhristu masiku ano angamutsanzire bwanji?

¹⁶ Paulo anauza akulu a ku Efesowo kuti sakudziwa kuti akakumana ndi mavuto otani akakafika ku Yerusalemu. Ngakhale zinali choncho, iye anawauzanso kuti: “Komabe, moyo wanga sindikuuona ngati wofunika kwa ine. Chimene ndikungofuna n’chakuti ndimalize kuthamanga mpikisanowu, komanso kuti ndimalize utumiki umene ndinalandira kwa Ambuye Yesu. Ndikungofuna kuchitira umboni mokwanira za uthenga wabwino wa kukoma mtima kwakukulu kwa Mulungu.” (Mac. 20:24) Paulo anali wolimba mtima kwambiri ndipo sanalole kuti mavuto, monga matenda ndi kuzunzidwa, amulepheretse kuchita utumiki wake.

¹⁷ Masiku anonso Akhristu amapirira mavuto osiyanasiyana. Ena ali m’mayiko amene boma linawaletsa kulambira ndipo amazunzidwa. Ena akupirira matenda aakulu kapena akuvutika maganizo. Kusukulu, Akhristu achinyamata amalimbana ndi mavuto ambiri chifukwa anzawo amawakakamiza kapena kuwanyengerera kuti achite zinthu zoipa. Mofanana ndi Paulo, a Mboni za Yehova amapitiriza kukhalabe olimba akamakumana ndi mavuto osiyanasiyana. Iwo ndi otsimikiza ndi mtima wonse kupitirizabe “kuchitira umboni mokwanira za uthenga wabwino.”

18. Kodi Paulo anatani kuti asakhale ndi mlandu wa magazi, ndipo akulu a ku Efeso akanamutsanzira bwanji?

¹⁸ Kenako Paulo anapereka malangizo osapita m’mbali kwa akulu a ku Efeso ndipo anawauza kuti iye anawapatsa chitsanzo. Koma choyamba, anawauza kuti mwina sadzamuonanso. Kenako anawauza kuti: “Ine ndilibe mlandu wa magazi a anthu onse chifukwa ndinakuuzani malangizo onse a Mulungu.” Kodi akulu a ku Efesowo akanatsanzira bwanji Paulo kuti apewe kukhala ndi mlandu wa magazi? Iye anawauza kuti: “Muzidziyang’anira nokha komanso kusamalira gulu lonse la nkhosa, limene mzimu woyera wakuikani kuti muziliyang’anira, kuti muwete mpingo wa Mulungu, umene anaugula ndi magazi a Mwana wake weniweni.” (Mac. 20:26-28) Komabe, Paulo anawachenjeza kuti anthu amene ali ngati “mimbulu yopondereza” adzalowerera pakati pa nkhosa ndipo “adzayamba kulankhula zinthu zopotoka kuti apatutse ophunzira aziwatsatira.” Kodi akuluwo ankayenera kuchita chiyani? Paulo anawachenjeza kuti: “Khalani maso, ndipo  muzikumbukira kuti kwa zaka zitatu masana ndi usiku, sindinasiye kuchenjeza aliyense wa inu ndikutulutsa misozi.”​—Mac. 20:29-31.

19. Kodi panayambika mpatuko wotani cha kumapeto kwa nthawi ya atumwi, nanga mpatukowo unayambitsa chiyani patapita zaka zambiri?

¹⁹ “Mimbulu yopondereza” ija inayamba kuonekera cha kumapeto kwa nthawi ya atumwi. Cha m’ma 98 C.E., mtumwi Yohane analemba kuti: “Panopa okana Khristu ambiri aonekera. . . . Amenewo anachoka pakati pathu, koma sanali m’gulu lathu, chifukwa akanakhala a m’gulu lathu, akanakhalabe ndi ife.” (1 Yoh. 2:18, 19) Pofika m’zaka za m’ma 200 C.E., anthu ampatuko anayambitsa zoti m’matchalitchi amene amati ndi a Chikhristu muzikhala kagulu ka atsogoleri, ndipo pofika m’zaka za m’ma 300 C.E., Mfumu Kositantini inavomereza kuti Chikhristu chabodzachi chikhale chipembedzo cha boma. Kenako atsogoleri achipembedzo analowetsa miyambo yachikunja m’Chikhristucho ndipo ankanena kuti miyamboyo ndi yovomerezeka. Zimene anachitazi zinasonyezeratu kuti iwo ‘ankalankhuladi zinthu zopotoka.’ Mpaka masiku ano, miyambo ndi ziphunzitso zimene zinayamba chifukwa cha mpatuko umenewo zimapezekabe m’matchalitchi amene amati ndi a Chikhristu.

20, 21. Kodi Paulo anasonyeza bwanji mtima wololera kuvutikira ena, nanga akulu a Chikhristu masiku ano angamutsanzire bwanji?

²⁰ Moyo wa Paulo unali wosiyana kwambiri ndi moyo wa anthu amene anadzayamba kutsogolera mpingo, omwe ankangodyera nkhosa masuku pamutu. Paulo ankagwira ntchito kuti azipeza yekha zinthu zofunika pa moyo wake n’cholinga choti asakhale mtolo wolemera kwa Akhristu mumpingo. Zimene Paulo ankachita pothandiza abale mumpingo, sankazichita n’cholinga choti apeze phindu ayi. Choncho, Paulo analimbikitsa akulu a ku Efeso kuti nawonso azisonyeza mtima wololera kuvutikira ena. Iye anawauza kuti: “Muzithandiza ofooka ndipo muzikumbukira mawu a Ambuye Yesu. Paja iye anati, ‘Kupatsa kumatichititsa kukhala osangalala kwambiri kuposa kulandira.’”​—Mac. 20:35.

²¹ Mofanana ndi Paulo, akulu a Chikhristu masiku ano ali ndi mtima wololera kuvutikira ena. Iwo amadziwa kuti anapatsidwa udindo ‘woweta mpingo wa Mulungu’ ndipo amachita zimenezi mopanda dyera, mosiyana kwambiri ndi atsogoleri a matchalitchi amene amati ndi a Chikhristu omwe amadyera nkhosa zawo masuku pamutu. Akhristu mumpingo sayenera kukhala onyada kapena odzikweza chifukwa ‘munthu akamadzifunira yekha ulemerero,’ pamapeto pake zinthu sizimuyendera bwino. (Miy. 25:27) Munthu akamadzikweza, zotsatira zake amangochita manyazi.​—Miy. 11:2.

22. N’chifukwa chiyani akulu a ku Efeso ankamukonda kwambiri Paulo?

²² Abale ankamukonda kwambiri Paulo chifukwa chakuti nayenso ankawakonda kuchokera pansi pa mtima. N’zosadabwitsa kuti nthawi yoti asiyane ndi abalewa itafika, “onse analira kwambiri. Kenako anamuhaga Paulo n’kumukisa mwachikondi.” (Mac. 20:37, 38) Masiku anonso, Akhristu amayamikira ndiponso kukonda kwambiri anthu amene mofanana ndi Paulo, amadzipereka kuti atumikire nkhosa mopanda dyera. Popeza mwaona chitsanzo chabwino kwambiri chimene Paulo anasonyeza, kodi simukuvomereza kuti iye sankadzitama kapena kukokomeza zinthu pamene ananena kuti: “Ine ndilibe mlandu wa magazi a anthu onse”?​—Mac. 20:26.