1-4. Kodi Petulo anakumana ndi vuto lotani, nanga inuyo mukanamva bwanji ngati mukanakumana ndi zimene iye anakumana nazozi?

 PHOKOSO lalikulu linamveka pamene chitseko chachikulu chachitsulo cha pageti chinatsekedwa. Pa nthawiyi, Petulo anali atamangidwa ndi maunyolo awiri pakati pa asilikali awiri a Chiroma ndipo anam’tenga kuti akamutsekere m’ndende. Kwa maola ambiri, mwinanso masiku, iye anakhala m’ndendemo kudikira kuti amve chigamulo chimene angapatsidwe. Ndipo zomwe iye ankaona m’ndendemo ndi makoma, zitsulo zotchinga pakhomo, unyolo umene anam’mangira ndi asilikali omulondera basi.

² Kenako Petulo anamva uthenga wosasangalatsa wonena za chilango chake. Mfumu Herode Agiripa Woyamba anatsimikiza mtima kuti amuphe. a Ndipotu Herode anakonza zoti abweretse Petulo kwa anthu chikondwero cha Pasika chikatha kuti amuphe pofuna kusangalatsa anthuwo. Sikuti Herode ankangoopseza chabe, koma analidi ndi mphamvu zochitira zimenezi. Masiku angapo m’mbuyomo, iye anali atapha kale Yakobo, mmodzi mwa atumwi anzake a Petulo.

³ Tsopano usiku woti Petulo aphedwa mawa lake unafika. Kodi iye ankaganiza chiyani ali m’ndende yamdimayo? Kodi anakumbukira zimene Yesu anamuuza zaka zingapo m’mbuyomo kuti tsiku lina adzamangidwa n‘kupita naye kumene iye sakufuna, kutanthauza kuti adzaphedwa? (Yoh. 21:18, 19) Mwina Petulo ankaganiza kuti nthawi imeneyo tsopano yafika.

⁴ Kodi inuyo mukanamva bwanji mukanakumana ndi zimene Petulo anakumana nazozi? Mwina anthu ambiri angaganize kuti kwawo kwatha. Koma kodi wotsatira weniweni wa Yesu Khristu atakumana ndi vuto linalake lalikulu, angataye mtima n’kumaona kuti kwake kwatha? Kodi tingaphunzirepo chiyani pa zimene Petulo ndi Akhristu anzake anachita atayamba kuzunzidwa? Tiyeni tione.

5, 6. (a) N’chifukwa chiyani Mfumu Herode Agiripa Woyamba anayamba kuzunza Akhristu, nanga ankawazunza bwanji? (b) N’chifukwa chiyani tinganene kuti imfa ya Yakobo inali mayesero aakulu mumpingo?

⁵ Monga mmene taonera m’mutu wapitawu, anthu mumpingo wa Chikhristu  anasangalala kwambiri Koneliyo, amene sanali Myuda, atakhala Mkhristu limodzi ndi banja lake. Koma Ayuda amene sanali Akhristu ayenera kuti anadabwa kwambiri ataona kuti Akhristu ambiri a Chiyuda akulambira Mulungu momasuka pamodzi ndi anthu a mitundu ina.

⁶ Herode, amene anali katswiri pa ndale, anapezerapo mwayi wochita zinthu zoti Ayuda azimukonda ndipo anayamba kuzunza Akhristu. N’zosakayikitsa kuti iye anali atamva kuti mtumwi Yakobo ankagwirizana kwambiri ndi Yesu Khristu. Choncho, Herode “anapha ndi lupanga Yakobo, mchimwene wake wa Yohane.” (Mac. 12:2) Imfa ya mtumwi ameneyu inali mayesero aakulu kwambiri mumpingo. Yakobo anali m’gulu la atumwi atatu amene anaona Yesu akusintha maonekedwe ndipo anaonanso zinthu zina zozizwitsa zimene atumwi ena onse sanaone. (Mat. 17:1, 2; Maliko 5:37-42) Chifukwa choti Yakobo ndi mchimwene wake Yohane anali anthu achangu pochita zinthu, Yesu anawatchula kuti “Ana a Bingu.” (Maliko 3:16-18) Choncho, Akhristu mumpingo anataya mtumwi wolimba mtima amene ankamukonda kwambiri amenenso anali mboni yokhulupirika.

7, 8. Kodi Akhristu mumpingo anachita chiyani Petulo atamangidwa?

⁷ Zimene Agiripa ankafuna zinachitikadi chifukwa Ayuda anasangalala iye atapha Yakobo. Zimenezi zinamulimbikitsa kuti agwirenso Petulo. Monga mmene taonera kumayambiriro kwa nkhani ino, iye anagwira Petulo n’kumumanga. N’kutheka kuti Agiripa ankakumbukira kuti nthawi zina kutsekera atumwi m’ndende sikunkathandiza kwenikweni monga mmene tinaonera m’Mutu 5 wa buku lino. Pofuna kutsimikizira kuti Petulo asathawe, Herode analamula kuti iye amangidwe pakati pa asilikali awiri omulondera ndipo panali alonda ena 16, amene ankamulondera mosinthana masana ndi usiku. Ngati Petulo akanathawa, ndiye kuti alondawo akanapatsidwa chilango chimene iye anayenera kulandira. Kodi pamenepa Akhristu anzake a Petulo akanachita chiyani?

⁸ Akhristu mumpingo anadziwa zoyenera kuchita. Lemba la Machitidwe 12:5  limati: “Choncho Petulo anatsekeredwa m’ndendemo, koma mpingo unkamupempherera kwambiri kwa Mulungu.” N’zoonadi, iwo ankapempherera m’bale wawo wokondedwayo mosalekeza komanso ankachonderera Mulungu mochokera pansi pa mtima. Iwo sanataye mtima chifukwa cha imfa ya Yakobo komanso sanayambe kuona pemphero ngati losathandiza. Yehova amasangalala kwambiri kumva mapemphero a atumiki ake. Iye amayankha mapemphero ngati ali ogwirizana ndi chifuniro chake. (Aheb. 13:18, 19; Yak. 5:16) Limenelitu ndi phunziro limene Akhristu masiku ano ayenera kumalikumbukira nthawi zonse.

9. Kodi tikuphunzirapo chiyani pa chitsanzo cha Akhristu amene ankapempherera Petulo?

⁹ Kodi mukudziwa okhulupirira anzanu amene akukumana ndi mayesero? Mwina iwo akuzunzidwa, kapena boma linawaletsa kulambira m’dziko lawo, kapenanso akuvutika chifukwa cha ngozi zam’chilengedwe. Mungachite bwino kumawapempherera mochokera pansi pa mtima. N’kutheka kuti mukudziwanso Akhristu ena amene akukumana ndi mavuto osaonekera kwenikweni monga mavuto a m’banja, kukhumudwitsidwa, kapena mavuto ena okhudzana ndi chikhulupiriro chawo. Ngati mutamaganizira mofatsa musanapemphere, mungakumbukire anthu angapo amene mungawatchule mayina polankhula ndi Yehova, yemwe ndi “Wakumva pemphero.” (Sal. 65:2) Ndipotu inunso mungafune kuti abale ndi alongo anu azikupemphererani mukakumana ndi mavuto.

10, 11. Fotokozani mmene mngelo wa Yehova anatulutsira Petulo m’ndende.

¹⁰ Kodi Petulo ankada nkhawa ndi chilango chimene ankayembekezera? Sitikudziwa, koma usiku womaliza umene anakhala m’ndendemo, iye anagona tulo tofa nato pakati pa asilikali awiri amene ankamulondera aja. Munthu wokhulupirikayu ankadziwa kuti mulimonse mmene zingakhalire, Yehova ali naye. (Aroma 14:7, 8) Koma Petulo sankadziwa kuti zinthu zodabwitsa zinali zitatsala pang’ono  kumuchitikira. Mwadzidzidzi m’ndendemo munawala kwambiri. Mngelo anaima chapafupi n’kudzutsa Petulo mofulumira, koma zikuoneka kuti alonda aja sanaone mngeloyo. Ndipo maunyolo omwe ankaoneka ngati sangaduke, amene anamangira manja a Petulo aja, anaduka n’kugwa pansi.

¹¹ Kenako mngeloyo analamula Petulo kuti: “Dzuka msanga! . . . Vala zovala zako ndi nsapato zako. . . . Vala malaya ako akunja.” Petulo anachitadi zimenezo mofulumira. Kenako mngeloyo anamuuza kuti, “uzinditsatira,” ndipo Petulo anachita zomwezo. Iwo anatuluka m’ndendemo n’kudutsa gulu la asilikali apageti amene anaima panja, ndipo anayenda mwakachetechete n’kufika pageti lalikulu lachitsulo. Kodi iwo akanatuluka bwanji pagetilo? Ngati Petulo anali ndi funso limeneli m’maganizo mwake, sanachedwe kuyankhidwa chifukwa atayandikira getilo, “linatseguka lokha.” Nthawi yomweyo, iwo anatuluka pagetilo n’kufika mumsewu, kenako mngelo uja sanaonekenso. Petulo atatsala yekhayekha, anazindikira kuti zimene zinkamuchitikirazo ndi zenizeni osati masomphenya ndipo anakhulupirira kuti wamasulidwadi.​—Mac. 12:7-11.

12. N’chifukwa chiyani kuganizira mofatsa mmene Yehova anapulumutsira Petulo kungatilimbikitse?

¹² Kodi si zolimbikitsa kuganizira mofatsa mphamvu zopanda malire za Yehova zimene amagwiritsa ntchito populumutsa atumiki ake? Petulo anamangidwa ndi mfumu imene inkathandizidwa ndi ulamuliro wamphamvu kwambiri padziko lonse pa nthawiyo. Koma iye anangotuluka m’ndendemo popanda vuto lililonse. N’zoona kuti Yehova sachita zozizwitsa ngati zimenezi kwa atumiki ake onse. Iye sanachite zimenezi kwa Yakobo komanso patapita nthawi, kwa Petulo, pamene mawu a Yesu aja onena za mtumwiyu anakwaniritsidwa. Masiku anonso, Akhristu sayembekezera kupulumutsidwa mozizwitsa. Komabe, tisaiwale kuti Yehova sanasinthe. (Mal. 3:6) Posachedwapa, adzagwiritsa ntchito Mwana wake kumasula anthu ambirimbiri ku imfa, imene ndi ndende yoipa kwambiri. (Yoh. 5:28, 29) Malonjezo amenewa amatilimbikitsa kwambiri masiku ano tikamakumana ndi mayesero.

13-15. (a) Kodi Akhristu amene anasonkhana kunyumba kwa Mariya anatani Petulo atafika kunyumbako? (b) Kodi buku la Machitidwe linayamba kufotokoza za chiyani, nanga Petulo anapitiriza bwanji kuthandiza abale ndi alongo ake auzimu?

¹³ Kunja kunali mdima ndipo Petulo anaima mumsewu n’kumaganiza koti apite. Kenako anadziwa kopita. Mayi wina wa Chikhristu dzina lake Mariya, ankakhala pafupi ndi msewu umenewu. Zikuoneka kuti Mariya anali mkazi wamasiye wolemera ndipo anali ndi nyumba yaikulu imene mpingo unkatha kusonkhanamo. Iyeyu anali mayi ake a Yohane Maliko, amene akutchulidwa koyamba m’buku la Machitidwe pa nkhani imeneyi, ndipo patapita nthawi Petulo anayamba kumuona ngati mwana wake. (1 Pet. 5:13) Usiku umenewo, anthu ambiri a mumpingowo anali kunyumba kwa Mariya ndipo ankapemphera kuchokera pansi pa mtima, ngakhale kuti unali usiku kwambiri. N’zoonekeratu kuti ankapempherera Petulo kuti amasulidwe, komabe sankaganiza kuti Yehova awayankha nthawi yomweyo.

¹⁴ Petulo anagogoda pachitseko cha pageti cholowera kubwalo lomwe linali  kutsogolo kwa nyumbayo. Mtsikana wina wantchito, dzina lake Roda, dzina limene pa nthawiyo linali lofala m’Chigiriki ndipo limatanthauza “duwa lotchedwa Rozi,” anabwera pagetipo. Iye sanakhulupirire atamva mawu a Petulo. M’malo motsegula, mtsikanayo, yemwe anasangalala kwambiri, anangomusiya Petulo ataima pagetipo n’kuthamangira m’nyumba kuti akauze mpingowo kuti Petulo ali pageti. Ngakhale kuti anthuwo ankamunena kuti wachita misala, iye sanagwe ulesi, koma anapitirizabe kuwauza motsimikizira kuti akunena zoona. Ndiyeno povomereza mokayikirabe, ena ananena kuti mwina mtsikanayo anamva mawu a mngelo amene anaimira Petulo. (Mac. 12:12-15) Pamene zonsezi zinkachitika, n’kuti Petulo akugogodabe ndipo kenako anthuwo anapita kukatsegula pagetipo.

¹⁵ Anthuwo atatsegula getilo, “anaona kuti ndi iyeyodi ndipo anadabwa kwambiri.” (Mac. 12:16) Petulo anauza anthu amene ankasangalalawo kuti akhale chete n’cholinga choti awafotokozere zimene zinachitika, kuti iwo akafotokozere wophunzira Yakobo ndi abale ena, kenako iye achoke panyumbayo kuti asilikali a Herode asamupeze. Petulo anapita kudera lina kumene anali wotetezeka ndipo anapitiriza kuchita utumiki wake mokhulupirika. Kuchokera pa nthawiyi, Petulo anangotchulidwanso kamodzi kokha pa Machitidwe chaputala 15 pamene anathandiza nawo kuthetsa nkhani ya mdulidwe. Kenako buku la Machitidwe limafotokoza ntchito ndi maulendo aumishonale a mtumwi Paulo. Komabe, tikukhulupirira kuti Petulo anathandiza abale ndi alongo ake kukhala ndi chikhulupiriro cholimba kulikonse kumene anapita. Pamene ankasiyana ndi gulu la anthu amene anasonkhana kunyumba kwa Mariya, anthuwo anali osangalala kwambiri.

16. N’chifukwa chiyani tikukhulupirira kuti tidzalandira madalitso ambiri m’tsogolo muno?

¹⁶ Nthawi zina Yehova amapereka madalitso ochuluka kwambiri kwa atumiki ake, moti iwo amasangalala kwambiri ndipo samvetsa kuti zatheka bwanji. Zimenezi ndi zimene zinachitikira abale ndi alongo auzimu a Petulo usiku uja. Ifenso masiku ano tikalandira madalitso a Yehova, timasangalala kwambiri ndipo nthawi zina sitimvetsa kuti zatheka bwanji. (Miy. 10:22) M’tsogolo muno, tidzaona malonjezo onse a Yehova akukwaniritsidwa padziko lonse, moti pa nthawiyo zinthu zidzakhala bwino kwambiri kuposa mmene tingaganizire panopa. Choncho, ngati tipitirizabe kukhala okhulupirika, sitikukayikira kuti tidzalandira madalitso ambiri.

17, 18. Kodi chinachitika n’chiyani kuti gulu la anthu liyambe kutamanda Herode?

¹⁷ Herode anadabwa kwambiri atamva kuti Petulo wathawa m’ndende ndipo sizinamusangalatse. Nthawi yomweyo iye analamula anthu kuti amufufuze ndipo analamulanso kuti asilikali amene ankamulondera aja afunsidwe mafunso. Kenako ‘anawatenga kuti akawapatse chilango,’ mwina kuti akawaphe. (Mac. 12:19) Herode Agiripa anali munthu wouma mtima kwambiri ndiponso wopanda chifundo. Kodi munthu wankhanza ameneyu analangidwa?

¹⁸ Agiripa ayenera kuti anachita manyazi atalephera kupha Petulo, komabe anapeza njira ina imene anaona kuti imuchotsa manyazi. Iye anachititsa msonkhano wa boma, ena mwa adani ake atamupempha kuti akambirane naye za mtendere ndipo n’zoonekeratu kuti ankafunitsitsa kulankhula pamaso pa  chigulu cha anthu. Luka anafotokoza kuti pamsonkhanowo, “Herode anavala zovala zake zachifumu.” Myuda wina yemwe anali katswiri wa mbiri yakale, dzina lake Josephus, analemba kuti chovala cha Herode chinali chopangidwa ndi siliva ndipo akakhala pamalo owala, ankanyezimira komanso ankaoneka waulemerero. Kenako mtsogoleri wodzitukumulayu anayamba kulankhula. Pofuna kumusangalatsa, gulu la anthu linakuwa kuti: “Amenewa ndi mawu a mulungu, osati a munthu!”​—Mac. 12:20-22.

19, 20. (a) N’chifukwa chiyani Herode analangidwa ndi Yehova? (b) Kodi nkhani yofotokoza imfa yadzidzidzi ya Herode Agiripa ikutilimbikitsa bwanji?

¹⁹ Mulungu ndi amene anali woyenera kulandira ulemerero umenewo, ndipo ankaona zimene zinkachitikazo. Herode akanatha kupewa tsoka limene linamugwera podzudzula anthuwo, kapena kungowauza kuti zimene akunenazo si zoona. M’malomwake, iye anakwaniritsa mwambi wakuti: “Kunyada kumachititsa kuti munthu awonongeke.” (Miy. 16:18) “Nthawi yomweyo mngelo wa Yehova anamudwalitsa,” ndipo munthu wonyadayu anafa imfa yowawa. Herode “anadyedwa ndi mphutsi n’kufa.” (Mac. 12:23) Josephus ananena kuti Agiripa anadwala mwadzidzidzi ndipo ananenanso kuti mfumuyo inkadziwa kuti imwalira chifukwa chololera kuti anthuwo azimutamanda. Josephus analemba kuti Agiripa anadwala kwa masiku 5 asanamwalire. b

²⁰ Nthawi zina zingaoneke kuti anthu oipa sakulandira chilango. Zimenezo siziyenera kutidabwitsa chifukwa chakuti “dziko lonse lili m’manja mwa woipayo.” (1 Yoh. 5:19) Komabe, atumiki okhulupirika a Mulungu, amavutika zikamaoneka ngati anthu oipa sakulandira chilango. N’chifukwa chake nkhani zofanana ndi zimene zinachitikira Herodezi zili zolimbikitsa. Munkhaniyi tikuona kuti Yehova analowererapo, ndipo zimenezi zikukumbutsa atumiki ake onse kuti iye amakonda chilungamo. (Sal. 33:5) Ngakhale patapita nthawi yaitali bwanji, chilungamo chake chidzachitika ndithu.

21. Kodi ndi mfundo yaikulu iti imene tikuphunzira m’buku la Machitidwe chaputala 12, ndipo n’chifukwa chiyani zimenezi zili zolimbikitsa kwa ife masiku ano?

²¹ Nkhani imeneyi ikutha ndi mfundo inanso yolimbikitsa yakuti: “Mawu a Yehova anapitiriza kufalikira ndipo anthu ambiri anakhala okhulupirira.” (Mac. 12:24) Nkhaniyi, imene ikusonyeza kuti ntchito yolalikira inkapita patsogolo, ikutikumbutsa mmene Yehova wadalitsiranso ntchitoyi masiku ano. N’zoonekeratu kuti nkhani ya m’buku la Machitidwe chaputala 12 sikungonena zakuti mtumwi wina anaphedwa pomwe wina anapulumuka. Nkhaniyi ikufotokoza mmene Yehova analepheretsera zolinga za Satana zofuna kufafaniza mpingo wa Chikhristu ndi kufooketsa Akhristu amene ankagwira ntchito yolalikira mwakhama. Zolinga za Satanazo zinalephereka, ndipo masiku anonso zimalephereka. (Yes. 54:17) Koma amene ali kumbali ya Yehova ndi Yesu Khristu akugwira ntchito yomwe palibe amene angailepheretse. Kodi zimenezi si zolimbikitsa? Tilitu ndi mwayi waukulu masiku ano wogwira nawo ntchito yofalitsa “mawu a Yehova.”