1, 2. Kodi ndi zinthu zosiyanasiyana ziti zimene zinachitika pamene Paulo ndi Baranaba anali ku Lusitara?

 MUMZINDA wa Lusitara munali chipwirikiti chokhachokha. Munthu wina amene anabadwa wolumala anayamba kudumphadumpha mosangalala amuna enaake awiri amene sankawadziwa atamuchiritsa. Anthu anadabwa kwambiri ndi zimene zinachitikazo ndipo wansembe wa Zeu anabweretsa nkhata zamaluwa kuti adzaveke amuna awiriwo, omwe anthu ankakhulupirira kuti anali milungu. Wansembeyo anabweretsanso ng’ombe zamphongo zimene ankafuna kuzipha kuti azipereke nsembe. Paulo ndi Baranaba anayesetsa kuletsa anthuwo kuti asachite zimene ankafunazo. Anang’amba zovala zawo n’kuthamanga kukalowa m’gulu la anthu lija akufuula mwamphamvu poletsa anthuwo kuti asawalambire. Ngakhale kuti zinali zovuta, iwo anayesetsa kuchonderera anthuwo kuti asachite zimenezi.

² Kenako Ayuda amene ankatsutsa atumwiwo anafika kuchokera ku Antiokeya wa ku Pisidiya ndi ku Ikoniyo. Iwo ananena zinthu zabodza zokhudza Paulo ndi Baranaba ndipo anachititsa kuti anthu a ku Lusitara ayambe kudana nawo. Anthu amene poyamba ankafuna kulambira Paulo, tsopano anamuzungulira n’kuyamba kumugenda mpaka anakomoka. Kenako anamukokera kunja kwa mzinda ali ndi magazi komanso mabala okhaokha poganiza kuti wafa.

3. Kodi m’mutu uno tikambirana mafunso ati?

³ Kodi n’chiyani chinachititsa zimenezi? Kodi ofalitsa uthenga wabwino masiku ano angaphunzire chiyani pa nkhani yokhudza Baranaba, Paulo ndi anthu a ku Lusitara amene sanachedwe kusintha maganizo awo? Kodi akulu a Chikhristu angatsanzire bwanji Baranaba ndi Paulo amene anachita utumiki wawo mwakhama ndipo “ankalankhula molimba mtima chifukwa cha mphamvu ya Yehova”?​—Mac. 14:3.

4, 5. N’chifukwa chiyani Paulo ndi Baranaba anapita ku Ikoniyo, ndipo n’chiyani chinachitika kumeneko?

⁴ Masiku angapo m’mbuyomu, Paulo ndi Baranaba anaponyedwa kunja kwa mzinda wa Antiokeya wa ku Pisidiya, umene unkalamuliridwa ndi Aroma, Ayuda amene ankatsutsa atumwiwo atalimbikitsa anthu kuti ayambe kuwazunza. Koma amuna awiriwa sanafooke, m’malomwake ‘anasansira anthu osamverawo  fumbi kumapazi awo.’ (Mac. 13:50-52; Mat. 10:14) Paulo ndi Baranaba anachoka mumzindawo mwamtendere ndipo anasiya anthu otsutsawo kuti aweruzidwe ndi Mulungu. (Mac. 18:5, 6; 20:26) Amishonale awiriwo anakhalabe osangalala ndipo anapitiriza ulendo wawo wolalikira. Iwo analowera kum’mwera chakum’mawa ndipo atayenda mtunda wa makilomita pafupifupi 150, anafika m’dera lachonde lomwe ndi lokwera kwambiri ndipo lili pakati pa phiri la Taurus ndi la Sultan.

⁵ Choyamba, Paulo ndi Baranaba anaima mumzinda wa Ikoniyo, womwe unali umodzi mwa mizinda yofunika kwambiri ya Aroma ya m’chigawo cha Galatiya, ndipo anthu ake ankatsatira chikhalidwe cha Agiriki. a Mumzindawu munkakhala Ayuda ambiri komanso anthu ambiri a mitundu ina amene analowa chipembedzo cha Chiyuda. Monga mwa nthawi zonse, Paulo ndi Baranaba analowa m’sunagoge ndi kuyamba kulalikira. (Mac. 13:5, 14) Iwo “analankhula bwino kwambiri moti Ayuda ambiri limodzi ndi Agiriki anakhala okhulupirira.”​—Mac. 14:1.

6. N’chifukwa chiyani Paulo ndi Baranaba ankaphunzitsa mwaluso, nanga tingawatsanzire bwanji?

⁶ N’chifukwa chiyani Paulo ndi Baranaba ankaphunzitsa mwaluso? Paulo ankadziwa bwino kwambiri Malemba. Mwaluso, iye ankatchula mfundo zochokera m’mbiri yakale, mu ulosi komanso m’Chilamulo cha Mose popereka umboni wosonyeza kuti Yesu analidi Mesiya wolonjezedwa. (Mac. 13:15-31; 26:22, 23) Komanso mmene Baranaba ankalankhulira, zinkasonyeza kuti iye amadera nkhawa anthu. (Mac. 4:36, 37; 9:27; 11:23, 24) Amuna onsewa sankadalira nzeru zawo koma ankalankhula “chifukwa cha mphamvu ya Yehova.” Kodi tingatsanzire bwanji amishonale amenewa pa ntchito yathu yolalikira? Tingawatsanzire pochita zinthu zotsatirazi: Tiyenera kuwadziwa bwino Mawu a Mulungu. Tiyenera kusankha Malemba amene angafike pamtima anthu amene akutimvetsera. Tizifufuza njira zolimbikitsira anthu amene tikuwalalikira. Ndipo nthawi zonse pophunzitsa, tisamadalire nzeru zathu koma tizigwiritsa ntchito Mawu a Yehova.

7. (a) Kodi chimachitika n’chiyani anthu akamva uthenga wabwino? (b) Kodi muyenera kukumbukira chiyani ngati banja lanu lagawanika chifukwa chakuti mumakhulupirira uthenga wabwino?

⁷ Komabe, si onse ku Ikoniyo amene anasangalala ndi zimene Paulo ndi Baranaba ankanena. Luka anapitiriza kufotokoza kuti: “Ayuda amene sanakhulupirire, anauza zoipa anthu a mitundu ina n’kuwasokoneza maganizo kuti atsutsane ndi abalewo.” Paulo ndi Baranaba anaona kuti m’pofunika kuti akhalebe kumeneko kuti ateteze uthenga wabwino, ndipo “kwa nthawi yaitali, ankalankhula molimba mtima.” Chifukwa cha zimenezi, “gulu la anthu mumzindawo linagawanika. Ena anali kumbali ya Ayuda, ena kumbali ya atumwi.” (Mac. 14:2-4) Masiku anonso, anthu amachita zimenezi chifukwa ena akamva uthenga wabwino amagwirizana, koma ena amagawanika. (Mat. 10:34-36) Ngati banja lanu lagawanika chifukwa chakuti mumakhulupirira uthenga wabwino, kumbukirani kuti anthu a m’banja lanu mwina anayamba kukutsutsani chifukwa chakuti anthu ena anawauza zabodza. Koma khalidwe lanu labwino lingasonyeze kuti zimene anthu akukuneneranizo n’zabodza ndipo n’kupita kwa nthawi lingathandize kuti anthu amene akukutsutsaniwo asinthe maganizo.​—1 Pet. 2:12; 3:1, 2.

8. N’chifukwa chiyani Paulo ndi Baranaba anachoka ku Ikoniyo, nanga ifeyo tikuphunzirapo chiyani?

⁸ Patapita nthawi, anthu otsutsa a ku Ikoniyo anakonza chiwembu kuti aponye  miyala Paulo ndi Baranaba. Amishonalewa atauzidwa zimenezi, anaganiza zochoka n’kupita kukalalikira kudera lina. (Mac. 14:5-7) Masiku ano, alaliki a Ufumu amachitanso chimodzimodzi. Anthu akamalankhula zinthu motsutsana nafe, timapitiriza kulankhula molimba mtima. (Afil. 1:7; 1 Pet. 3:13-15) Koma tikaona kuti anthuwo akufuna kuyambitsa chiwawa, timapewa kuchita zinthu zosayenera zimene zingaike moyo wathu kapena wa okhulupirira anzathu pangozi.​—Miy. 22:3.

9, 10. Kodi mzinda wa Lusitara unali kuti, ndipo tikudziwa zinthu zotani zokhudza anthu akumeneko?

⁹ Paulo ndi Baranaba anapita ku Lusitara, mzinda womwe unkalamuliridwa ndi Aroma ndipo unali pa mtunda wa makilomita pafupifupi 30 kum’mwera chakumadzulo kwa mzinda wa Ikoniyo. Anthu a ku Lusitara ankagwirizana kwambiri ndi anthu a ku Antiokeya wa ku Pisidiya, koma mosiyana ndi ku Antiokeya, ku Lusitara kunalibe Ayuda ambiri. N’kutheka kuti anthu a mumzindawu ankalankhula Chigiriki, koma chilankhulo chawo chenicheni chinali Chilukaoniya. Paulo ndi Baranaba anayamba kulalikira m’malo amene kunkapezeka anthu ambiri, mwina chifukwa chakuti mumzindawo munalibe sunagoge. Nthawi inayake ku Yerusalemu, Petulo anachiritsa munthu amene anabadwa wolumala, ndipo chifukwa cha chozizwitsachi, anthu ambiri anakhala okhulupirira. (Mac. 3:1-10) Nayenso Paulo, pamene anali ku Lusitara anachiritsa munthu amene anabadwa wolumala, koma zimene anthu anachita ataona chozizwitsachi zinali zosiyana kwambiri ndi zimene anthu a ku Yerusalemu aja anachita.​—Mac. 14:8-10.

¹⁰ Monga momwe taonera kumayambiriro kwa nkhani ino, munthu wolumala uja atadumpha n’kuyamba kuyenda, nthawi yomweyo gulu la anthu olambira mafano a ku Lusitara anaganiza zinthu zolakwika. Anthuwo anayamba kutchula Baranaba kuti Zeu, mtsogoleri wa milungu, ndipo Paulo anayamba kumutchula kuti Heme, mwana wa Zeu komanso wolankhula m’malo mwa milungu. (Onani bokosi lakuti “ Anthu a ku Lusitara Ankalambira Zeu ndi Heme.”) Koma Baranaba ndi Paulo anayesetsa kuthandiza anthuwo kumvetsa kuti zimene iwo  ankaphunzitsa ndiponso kuchita, sankazichita ndi mphamvu za milungu yabodza koma ankazichita ndi mphamvu za Yehova, Mulungu yekhayo amene ndi woona.​—Mac. 14:11-14.

11-13. (a) Kodi Paulo ndi Baranaba ananena chiyani kwa anthu a ku Lusitara? (b) Kodi tikuphunzira chiyani pa zimene Paulo ndi Baranaba ananena?

¹¹ Ngakhale kuti panachitika zoterezi, Paulo ndi Baranaba anayesetsabe kufotokoza mfundo zimene zingafike pamtima anthu amene ankawalalikira. Pamenepa Luka analemba nkhani imene ikutisonyeza njira yabwino yolalikirira uthenga wabwino kwa anthu olambira milungu yabodza. Taonani mmene Paulo ndi Baranaba analankhulira ndi anthuwo. Iwo anati: “Anthu inu, mukuchitiranji zimenezi? Ifenso ndife anthu okhala ndi zofooka ngati inu nomwe. Tikulengeza uthenga wabwino kwa inu kuti musiye zinthu zachabechabezi n’kuyamba kulambira Mulungu wamoyo, amene anapanga kumwamba, dziko lapansi, nyanja ndi zonse zokhala mmenemo. M’mibadwo yam’mbuyomu iye analola anthu a mitundu yonse kuti aziyenda m’njira zawo. Komabe iye sanangokhala wopanda umboni wakuti anachita zabwino. Anakupatsani mvula kuchokera kumwamba ndi nyengo zimene zokolola zanu zimakhala zambiri. Anadzaza mitima yanu ndi chakudya komanso chisangalalo.”​—Mac. 14:15-17.

¹² Kodi tikuphunzira chiyani pa mawu ogwira mtimawa? Choyamba, Paulo ndi Baranaba sankadziona ngati anthu apamwamba kuposa anthu amene ankawalalikirawo. Iwo sanadzikuze koma anavomereza modzichepetsa kuti anali ndi zofooka mofanana ndi anthu olambira mafanowo. N’zoona kuti Paulo ndi Baranaba anali atalandira mzimu woyera komanso anali atamasuka ku ziphunzitso zabodza. Kuwonjezera pamenepa, anali atadalitsidwa mwapadera ndipo ankayembekezera kukalamulira limodzi ndi Khristu. Komabe, iwo ankadziwa kuti anthu a ku Lusitarawo akanathanso kulandira mphatso zimenezi ngati akanamvera Khristu.

¹³ Kodi anthu amene timawalalikira timawaona bwanji? Kodi timawaona kuti ndi ofanana ndi ife? Tikamathandiza ena kuphunzira  choonadi cha m’Mawu a Mulungu, kodi timapewa kutamandidwa ngati mmene Paulo ndi Baranaba anachitira? Charles Taze Russell, amene anali katswiri pophunzitsa Mawu a Mulungu ndipo ankatsogolera ntchito yolalikira chakumapeto kwa zaka za m’ma 1800 ndi kumayambiriro kwa zaka za m’ma 1900, anapereka chitsanzo chabwino pa nkhani imeneyi. Iye analemba kuti: “Sitikufuna kuti anthu azititamanda kapena azitamanda mabuku athu. Sitikufunanso kuti anthu azititchula kuti Abusa kapena Arabi.” M’bale Russell anasonyeza mtima wodzichepetsa ngati umene Paulo ndi Baranaba anasonyeza. Chimodzimodzinso ifeyo, cholinga chathu polalikira sikufuna ulemerero koma kuthandiza anthu kuti ayambe kulambira “Mulungu wamoyo.”

14-16. Kodi tingaphunzire mfundo yachiwiri ndi yachitatu iti, tikaganizira zimene Paulo ndi Baranaba anauza anthu a ku Lusitara?

¹⁴ Taonani mfundo yachiwiri imene tingaphunzire pa zimene Paulo ndi Baranaba ananena. Iwo ankasintha ulaliki wawo kuti ugwirizane ndi anthu amene ankawamvetsera. Mosiyana ndi Ayuda komanso anthu amene analowa Chiyuda ku Ikoniyo, anthu a ku Lusitara ankadziwa pang’ono chabe mwinanso sankadziwa n’komwe Malemba kapena za ubwenzi umene unalipo pakati pa Mulungu ndi mtundu wa Isiraeli. Komabe anthu amene Paulo ndi Baranaba ankawalalikira anali alimi. Mzinda wa Lusitara unali ndi minda yachonde komanso nyengo yake inali yabwino kwambiri. Anthuwo akanatha kuona umboni wakuti kuli Mlengi poona zinthu zosiyanasiyana monga nyengo imene zokolola zimakhala zambiri, ndipo amishonalewa powalalikira, anagwiritsa ntchito mfundoyi, yomwe anthuwo ankaidziwa bwino.​—Aroma 1:19, 20.

¹⁵ Ifenso tingachite bwino kusintha ulaliki wathu kuti uzigwirizana ndi anthu amene tikuwalalikira. Ngakhale kuti mlimi angadzale mbewu yofanana m’minda yake ingapo, koma polima iye amafunika kugwiritsa ntchito njira zosiyanasiyana mogwirizana ndi nthaka ya m’mundamo. Mwachitsanzo, mlimi angafunike kupanga mizera m’munda wa kumtunda, koma polima m’dimba, sangafunike kupanga mizera koma kungotipula n’kudzala mbewu. Mofanana ndi zimenezi, timadzala mbewu yofanana, yomwe ndi uthenga wa Ufumu ndipo umapezeka m’Mawu a Mulungu. Komabe, tikamatsanzira Paulo ndi Baranaba, tidzayesetsa kuti tidziwe mmene zinthu zilili pa moyo wa anthu amene tikuwalalikirawo kapenanso zinthu zimene amakhulupirira. Tikadziwa zimenezi, tidzakwanitsa kusintha ulaliki wathu.​—Luka 8:11, 15.

¹⁶ Palinso mfundo yachitatu imene tingaphunzire pa nkhani yokhudza Paulo, Baranaba ndi anthu amumzinda wa Lusitara. Ngakhale titayesetsa chotani, nthawi zina Satana amachotsa mbewu imene tadzala kapena mbewuyo imagwera pamiyala. (Mat. 13:18-21) Ngati zinthu zimenezi zitachitika, musakhumudwe. Muzikumbukira zimene Paulo nthawi ina anakumbutsa ophunzira a ku Roma kuti, “aliyense wa ife [kuphatikizapo munthu aliyense amene timakambirana naye Mawu a Mulungu] adzayankha yekha kwa Mulungu.”​—Aroma 14:12.

17. Kodi Paulo ndi Baranaba anapita kuti atachoka ku Debe, nanga n’chifukwa chiyani?

¹⁷ Anthu atakokera Paulo kunja kwa mzinda wa Lusitara n’kumusiya kumeneko poganiza kuti wafa, ophunzira anamuzungulira ndipo iye anadzuka, kenako  anapeza malo ogona mumzinda momwemo. Tsiku lotsatira, Paulo ndi Baranaba anayamba ulendo wopita ku Debe, mzinda umene unali pa mtunda wa makilomita 100. N’zodziwikiratu kuti Paulo anayenda ulendo umenewu akumva kupweteka kwambiri, chifukwa panali patangopita maola owerengeka kuchokera pamene anamugenda. Komabe, iye ndi Baranaba anapirira ndipo atafika ku Debe, anaphunzitsa “anthu ambiri ndithu kuti akhale ophunzira.” Kenako, m’malo modutsa njira yachidule pobwerera kunyumba kwawo ku Antiokeya wa ku Siriya, iwo “anabwerera ku Lusitara, ku Ikoniyo ndi ku Antiokeya [wa ku Pisidiya].” N’chifukwa chiyani anachita zimenezi? Iwo ankafuna kukalimbikitsa “ophunzira komanso kuwathandiza kuti apitirize kukhala ndi chikhulupiriro.” (Mac. 14:20-22) Amuna awiriwa anasonyeza chitsanzo chabwino kwambiri. Iwo ankafunitsitsa kuchita zinthu zimene zingathandize mpingo m’malo mongodzisangalatsa okha. Masiku ano, oyang’anira madera komanso amishonale amatengera chitsanzo chimenechi.

18. Kodi zimayenda bwanji kuti munthu aikidwe kukhala mkulu?

¹⁸ Kuwonjezera pa kulimbikitsa ophunzira ndi mawu kapena zochita zawo, Paulo ndi Baranaba anaika “akulu mumpingo uliwonse.” Ngakhale kuti Paulo ndi Baranaba “anatumizidwa ndi mzimu woyera” pa ulendo waumishonalewu, iwo anapemphera ndi kusala kudya pamene “anawapereka [akuluwo] kwa Yehova.” (Mac. 13:1-4; 14:23) Zinthu ngati zimenezi zimachitikanso masiku ano. Bungwe la akulu lisanavomereze munthu kuti aikidwe paudindo, akuluwo amayamba apemphera kaye, kenako amakambirana ngati m’baleyo akukwaniritsa mfundo za m’Malemba kuti akhale paudindowo. (1 Tim. 3:1-10, 12, 13; Tito 1:5-9; Yak. 3:17, 18; 1 Pet. 5:2, 3) Akulu savomereza munthu paudindo pongoona kutalika kwa nthawi imene munthuyo wakhala Mkhristu. M’malomwake zolankhula zake, makhalidwe ake komanso mbiri imene ali nayo n’zimene zimasonyeza mmene mzimu woyera ukugwirira ntchito pa moyo wake. Munthu amayenerera kukhala woyang’anira ngati zochita zake zikugwirizana ndi mfundo za m’Malemba zimene abusa ankhosa za Mulungu amayenera kukwaniritsa. (Agal. 5:22, 23) Woyang’anira dera ndi amene amaika anthu paudindo.​—Yerekezerani ndi 1 Timoteyo 5:22.

19. Kodi akulu amadziwa kuti adzayankha mlandu wotani, nanga amatsanzira bwanji Paulo ndi Baranaba?

¹⁹ Akulu mumpingo amadziwa kuti adzayankha mlandu kwa Mulungu chifukwa cha mmene amachitira zinthu ndi mpingo. (Aheb. 13:17) Mofanana ndi Paulo ndi Baranaba, akulu amatsogolera pa ntchito yolalikira. Zimene iwo amalankhula zimalimbikitsa Akhristu anzawo, ndipo nthawi zonse amakhala ofunitsitsa kuchita zinthu zimene zingathandize mpingo m’malo modzisangalatsa okha.​—Afil. 2:3, 4.

20. Kodi kuwerenga za ntchito imene abale athu akugwira chifukwa cha chikhulupiriro chawo kungatithandize bwanji?

²⁰ Paulo ndi Baranaba atabwerera ku Antiokeya wa ku Siriya kumene anayambira umishonale wawo, “anawafotokozera zinthu zambiri zimene Mulungu anachita kudzera mwa iwo. Anawafotokozeranso kuti Mulungu anatsegulanso khomo kuti anthu a mitundu ina akhale okhulupirira.” (Mac. 14:27) Tikamawerenga za ntchito zimene abale athu a Chikhristu akugwira masiku ano chifukwa cha chikhulupiriro chawo ndi kuona mmene Yehova akuwadalitsira, zimatilimbikitsa kuti tipitirize ‘kulankhula molimba mtima chifukwa cha mphamvu ya Yehova.’