1-3. N’chifukwa chiyani mtumwi Paulo anapita ku Korinto, nanga ndi zinthu ziti zimene ziyenera kuti zinkamudetsa nkhawa?

 CHAKUMAPETO kwa chaka cha 50 C.E., mtumwi Paulo anali ku Korinto, kuchimake kwa malonda ndipo kunkapezeka Agiriki, Aroma komanso Ayuda ambiri. a Paulo sanapite ku Korinto kukachita malonda kapena kukafuna ntchito. Iye anapita kumeneko kukagwira ntchito yofunika kwambiri yochitira umboni za Ufumu wa Mulungu. Paulo ankafunikira malo okhala, koma anatsimikiza ndi mtima wonse kuti asalemetse anthu ena. Iye sanafune kuti anthu ena aziona kuti ndi wofunika kumuthandiza chifukwa cha utumiki umene ankachita. Kodi pamenepa iye anatani?

² Paulo ankadziwa kupanga matenti. Ngakhale kuti kupanga matenti ndi ntchito yovuta, iye anali wofunitsitsa kugwira ntchitoyo kuti azipeza zinthu zofunika pa moyo wake. Kodi Paulo akanapeza ntchito mumzinda umenewu? Kodi akanapeza malo abwino okhala? Ngakhale kuti iye anafunika kupeza zinthu zimenezi, sananyalanyaze utumiki wake womwe unali ntchito yofunika kwambiri.

³ Zikuoneka kuti Paulo anakhala ku Korinto kwa kanthawi ndipo utumiki wake kumeneko unkayenda bwino kwambiri. Kodi tingaphunzire chiyani pa zimene Paulo anachita ku Korinto, zimene zingatithandize kuchitira umboni mokwanira za Ufumu wa Mulungu m’gawo lathu?

4, 5. (a) Kodi Paulo ali ku Korinto ankakhala kuti, nanga ankagwira ntchito yanji? (b) Kodi Paulo ayenera kuti anaphunzira bwanji ntchito yopanga matenti?

⁴ Patapita kanthawi kuchokera pamene Paulo anafika ku Korinto, anakumana ndi banja lina la Chiyuda lodziwa kuchereza alendo la Akula ndi mkazi wake Purisila, kapena kuti Purisika. Banjali linasamukira ku Korinto chifukwa Mfumu Kalaudiyo inalamula “Ayuda onse kuti achoke ku Roma.” (Mac. 18:1, 2) Akula ndi Purisila analandira Paulo kuti azikhala naye kunyumba kwawo komanso kuti azigwira naye ntchito limodzi. Timawerenga kuti: “Popeza ntchito yawo inali imodzi, [Paulo] anakhala kunyumba kwawoko. Iwo  ankagwirira ntchito limodzi, chifukwa onse anali opanga matenti.” (Mac. 18:3) Paulo anakhalabe kunyumba kwa anthu achifundo ndi odziwa kulandira alendo amenewa, pa nthawi yonse imene ankachita utumiki wake ku Korinto. Pamene Paulo ankakhala ndi Akula ndi Purisila, ayenera kuti analemba ena mwa makalata amene kenako anadzakhala mabuku a m’Baibulo. b

⁵ Kodi zinatheka bwanji kuti Paulo, munthu amene ‘anaphunzitsidwa ndi Gamaliyeli,’ akhalenso wodziwa ntchito yopanga matenti? (Mac. 22:3) Zikuoneka kuti Ayuda kalelo sankachita manyazi kuphunzitsa ana awo ntchito yamanja, ngakhale kuti anawo anachita maphunziro ena apamwamba. Paulo ayenera kuti anaphunzira ntchitoyi ali mwana, chifukwa anachokera ku Tariso m’dera la Kilikiya, limene linali lotchuka chifukwa chopanga nsalu yamtengo wapatali yopangira matenti. Kodi pankakhala ntchito yotani popanga matenti? Ankawomba nsalu, kudula ndi kusoka nsaluyo, yomwe inali yolimba ndipo ntchito yonseyi inali yowawa.

6, 7. (a) Kodi Paulo ankaiona bwanji ntchito yopanga matenti, nanga n’chiyani chikusonyeza kuti Akula ndi Purisila ankaionanso chimodzimodzi? (b) Kodi Akhristu masiku ano amatsanzira bwanji Paulo, Akula ndi Purisila?

⁶ Paulo sankaona ntchito yopanga matenti ngati yofunika kwambiri pa moyo wake. Iye ankagwira ntchito imeneyi kuti azipeza zofunika pa moyo wake n’kumalalikira uthenga wabwino ‘popanda ena kulipira.’ (2 Akor. 11:7) Kodi Akula ndi Purisila ankaiona bwanji ntchito yawoyi? Monga Akhristu, n’zodziwikiratu kuti iwo ankaona ntchito yawo ngati mmene Paulo ankaionera. Ndipotu pamene Paulo ankachoka ku Korinto mu 52 C.E., Akula ndi Purisila anasamuka n’kumutsatira ku Efeso, ndipo kumeneko mpingo unkasonkhana kunyumba kwawo. (1 Akor. 16:19) Patapita nthawi, anabwerera ku Roma ndipo  kenako anapitanso ku Efeso. Banja lakhama limeneli linkaika patsogolo zinthu za Ufumu ndipo linadzipereka ndi mtima wonse kutumikira ena. Chifukwa cha zimenezi, “mipingo yonse ya anthu a mitundu ina” inawayamikira.​—Aroma 16:3-5; 2 Tim. 4:19.

⁷ Akhristu omwe amatumikira Mulungu mwakhama masiku ano, amatsanzira Paulo, Akula ndi Purisila ndipo amagwira ntchito molimbika kuti aliyense ‘asawalipirire kanthu kalikonse pofuna kuwathandiza.’ (1 Ates. 2:9) N’zosangalatsa kuti anthu ambiri amene amalalikira za Ufumu nthawi zonse amagwira maganyu kuti azitha kupeza zofunika pa moyo wawo pamene akugwira ntchito yofunika kwambiri yolalikirayi. Mofanana ndi Akula ndi Purisila, atumiki a Yehova ambiri amene amakonda kuchereza alendo amalandira oyang’anira madera kunyumba zawo. Choncho, anthu amene ‘amakhala ochereza’ amaona kuti amalimbikitsidwa akamachita zimenezi.​—Aroma 12:13.

8, 9. Kodi Paulo anachita chiyani anthu atayamba kumutsutsa pa ntchito yake yochitira umboni kwa Ayuda, ndipo zitatero anayamba kulalikira kuti?

⁸ Mfundo yakuti Paulo ankagwira ntchito yamanja kuti angopeza zosowa zake pamene ankachita utumiki inaonekera pamene Sila ndi Timoteyo anabwera kuchokera ku Makedoniya ndi mphatso zambiri. (2 Akor. 11:9) Nkhaniyi imati nthawi yomweyo, “Paulo anatanganidwa kwambiri ndi ntchito yolalikira mawu a Mulungu.” (Mac. 18:5) Komabe Ayuda ankamutsutsa akamagwira ntchito yake yolalikirayo. Posonyeza kuti iye alibe mlandu chifukwa choti anthuwo anakana okha uthenga wopulumutsa moyo wonena za Khristu, Paulo anakutumula zovala zake n’kuuza Ayuda otsutsawo kuti: “Magazi anu akhale pamutu panu. Ine ndilibe mlandu. Kuyambira panopa ndizipita kwa anthu a mitundu ina.”​—Mac. 18:6; Ezek. 3:18, 19.

⁹ Kodi Paulo anayamba kulalikira kuti? Munthu wina dzina lake Titiyo Yusito, amene mwina analowa Chiyuda, anali ndi nyumba yake pafupi ndi sunagoge ndipo analandira Paulo kunyumba kwake. Choncho Paulo anachoka mu sunagoge n’kupita kunyumba kwa Yusito. (Mac. 18:7) Paulo ankakhalabe kunyumba kwa Akula ndi Purisila pa nthawi yonse imene anali ku Korinto, koma akafuna kulalikira, ankapita kunyumba kwa Yusito.

10. N’chiyani chikusonyeza kuti Paulo sankangolalikira anthu a mitundu ina okha?

¹⁰ Pamene Paulo ananena kuti ‘azipita kwa anthu a mitundu ina,’ kodi ankatanthauza kuti iye sadzalalikiranso Myuda aliyense kapenanso munthu aliyense amene analowa Chiyuda ngakhale atachita chidwi ndi uthenga wabwino? Ayi, sankatanthauza zimenezo. Mwachitsanzo, “Kirisipo, mtsogoleri wa sunagoge, anakhulupirira Ambuye pamodzi ndi anthu onse a m’banja lake.” Zikuoneka kuti anthu ambiri ndithu amene ankasonkhana ndi Kirisipo m’sunagoge anakhalanso okhulupirira chifukwa Baibulo limati: “Anthu ambiri a ku Korinto, amene anamva uthenga wabwino, anayamba kukhulupirira n’kubatizidwa.” (Mac. 18:8) Choncho, mpingo wa Chikhristu umene unali utangoyamba kumene ku Korinto unayamba kusonkhana kunyumba kwa Titiyo Yusito. Ngati Luka analemba nkhani ya m’buku la Machitidwe mwandondomeko monga mwa nthawi zonse, ndiye kuti Ayuda kapena anthu amene analowa Chiyuda amenewo, anakhala Akhristu Paulo atakutumula kale zovala zake. Choncho nkhaniyi ikusonyezeratu kuti mtumwiyu sankaumirira mfundo imodzi koma ankasintha mogwirizana ndi mmene zinthu zilili.

11. Kodi a Mboni za Yehova masiku ano amatsanzira bwanji Paulo poyesetsa kuti alalikire anthu a m’matchalitchi amene amati ndi a Chikhristu?

¹¹ M’mayiko ambiri masiku ano, matchalitchi amene amati ndi a Chikhristu ndi odziwika bwino ndipo anthu awo amatsatira mokhulupirika zimene amawaphunzitsa. M’mayiko ena, amishonale a matchalitchi amene amati ndi a Chikhristu akopa anthu ambiri. Anthu amene amati ndi Akhristu, nthawi zambiri amangotsatira miyambo ngati mmene ankachitira Ayuda a m’nthawi ya atumwi ku Korinto. Komabe, mofanana ndi Paulo, a Mboni za Yehovafe timachita khama kulalikira anthu oterowo kuti tiwathandize kudziwa Malemba  molondola. Sititaya mtima ngakhale anthuwo azititsutsa kapena atsogoleri awo achipembedzo azitizunza. Pagulu la anthu “odzipereka potumikira Mulungu, koma sakumudziwa molondola,” pali anthu ambiri ofatsa amene tikufunika kuwafufuza ndi kuwapeza.​—Aroma 10:2.

12. Kodi Paulo analimbikitsidwa bwanji m’masomphenya?

¹² Ngati Paulo anali ndi maganizo oti asapitirize utumiki wake ku Korinto, maganizowo ayenera kuti anasintha usiku umene Ambuye Yesu anaonekera kwa iye m’masomphenya ndi kumuuza kuti: “Usaope, pitiriza kulankhula. Usakhale chete, chifukwa ine ndili nawe. Palibe munthu amene adzakukhudze n’kukuvulaza, popeza ndili ndi anthu ambiri mumzindawu.” (Mac. 18:9, 10) Masomphenya amenewa anali olimbikitsa kwambiri. Ambuye anamutsimikizira Paulo kuti amuteteza ndiponso kuti mumzindawo munali anthu ambiri achidwi. Kodi Paulo anatani ataona masomphenyawo? Timawerenga kuti: “Anakhala kumeneko chaka ndi miyezi 6, akuwaphunzitsa mawu a Mulungu.”​—Mac. 18:11.

13. Kodi pamene Paulo ankayandikira mpando woweruzira milandu ayenera kuti ankaganizira chiyani, koma anali ndi chifukwa chotani chokhulupirira kuti zimenezo sizimuchitikira?

¹³ Paulo atakhala pafupifupi chaka chimodzi ku Korinto, panachitika zinthu zina zimene zinamutsimikizira kuti Ambuye apitiriza kumuthandiza. “Ayuda ananyamuka mogwirizana n’kuukira Paulo ndipo anamutengera kumpando woweruzira milandu.” (Mac. 18:12) Ena amaganiza kuti mpando woweruzira milandu umenewu unali pamalo okwera ndipo unapangidwa ndi miyala ya mabo ya buluu komanso yoyera. Mpandowo anaukongoletsa kwambiri ndipo uyenera kuti unali cha pakatikati pa msika wa ku Korinto. Patsogolo pa mpando umenewu panali malo aakulu ndithu pamene anthu ankatha kusonkhanapo. Zimene anthu ofufuza zinthu zakale anapeza zikusonyeza kuti mpando woweruzira milandu umenewu uyenera kuti unali pafupi ndi sunagoge ndipo zimenezi zikutanthauza kuti unalinso pafupi ndi nyumba ya Yusito. Pamene Paulo ankayandikira mpandowo ayenera kuti anakumbukira za kuponyedwa miyala kwa Sitefano, yemwe anali  Mkhristu woyamba kuphedwa chifukwa cha chikhulupiriro chake. Paulo amene pa nthawiyo ankatchedwa kuti Saulo, “anavomereza zoti Sitefano aphedwe.” (Mac. 8:1) Kodi tsopano Paulo akumananso ndi zimenezo? Ayi, chifukwa analonjezedwa kuti: ‘Palibe munthu amene adzakuvulaze.’​—Mac. 18:10.

14, 15. (a) Kodi Ayuda ankaimba Paulo mlandu wotani, nanga n’chifukwa chiyani Galiyo anathetsa mlanduwo? (b) Kodi n’chiyani chinachitikira Sositene nanga ayenera kuti anatani patapita nthawi?

¹⁴ Kodi chinachitika n’chiyani Paulo atafika kumpando woweruzira milanduwo? Pampandowo panakhala woweruza wina dzina lake Galiyo, yemwe anali bwanamkubwa wa ku Akaya, ndipo anali mkulu wake wa Seneca, katswiri wa nzeru za anthu ku Roma. Ayuda anayamba kuimba mlandu Paulo kuti: “Munthu uyu akukopa anthu kuti azipembedza Mulungu m’njira yosemphana ndi chilamulo.” (Mac. 18:13) Ponena zimenezi, Ayudawo ankatanthauza kuti Paulo ankaphwanya malamulo pokopa anthu kuti akhale Akhristu. Koma Galiyo anaona kuti Paulo sanachite “cholakwa” kapena kupalamula “mlandu waukulu” uliwonse. (Mac. 18:14) Galiyo sankafuna kulowerera m’mikangano ya Ayuda. Choncho iye anathetsa mlanduwo Paulo asananene n’komwe chilichonse. Anthu amene ankaimba mlandu Paulowo anakwiya kwambiri ndipo anaphwetsera mkwiyo wawo pa Sositene, amene mwina anakhala mtsogoleri wa sunagoge m’malo mwa Kirisipo. Anthuwo anagwira Sositene “n’kuyamba kumumenya pafupi ndi mpando woweruzira milanduwo.”​—Mac. 18:17.

¹⁵ N’chifukwa chiyani Galiyo sanaletse khamu la anthulo kuti lisamenye Sositene? Mwina Galiyo ankaganiza kuti Sositene anali mtsogoleri wa gulu la anthu achiwawawo amene ankadana ndi Paulo ndipo anayeneradi kumenyedwa. Komabe, kaya zinali choncho kapena ayi, zikuoneka kuti zotsatira za nkhaniyi zinali zabwino. M’kalata yake yoyamba yopita kumpingo wa Korinto, imene inalembedwa patapita zaka zingapo chichitikireni zimenezi, Paulo anatchula munthu wina dzina lake Sositene kuti anali m’bale. (1 Akor. 1:1, 2) Kodi Sositene ameneyu anali yemwe uja amene anamenyedwa ku Korinto? Ngati analidi yemweyo, zimene zinamuchitikirazo ziyenera kuti zinamuthandiza kuyamba Chikhristu.

16. Kodi mawu a Ambuye akuti ‘pitiriza kulankhula, usakhale chete, chifukwa ine ndili nawe,’ amatithandiza bwanji pa utumiki wathu?

¹⁶ Kumbukirani kuti Ayuda anali atakana kale kumvetsera zimene Paulo ankalalikira pamene Ambuye Yesu anamutsimikizira m’masomphenya kuti: “Usaope, pitiriza kulankhula. Usakhale chete, chifukwa ine ndili nawe.” (Mac. 18:9, 10) Ifenso tiyenera kukumbukira mawu amenewa, makamaka anthu akamakana kumvetsera uthenga wathu. Musaiwale kuti Yehova amaona mmene mitima ilili ndipo amakokera anthu oona mtima kwa iye. (1 Sam. 16:7; Yoh. 6:44) Zimenezi zimatilimbikitsa kuti tizilalikira mwakhama. Chaka chilichonse anthu masauzande amabatizidwa, zomwe zikutanthauza kuti anthu mahandiredi amabatizidwa tsiku lililonse. Anthu amene amamvera lamulo lakuti “mukaphunzitse anthu a mitundu yonse kuti akhale ophunzira anga,” Yesu akuwatsimikizira kuti: “Ine ndili limodzi ndi inu masiku onse mpaka m’nyengo ya mapeto a nthawi ino.”​—Mat. 28:19, 20.

17, 18. Kodi Paulo ayenera kuti ankaganizira chiyani pamene anali m’ngalawa yopita ku Efeso?

¹⁷ Sitikudziwa ngati mpingo wa ku Korinto unalowa m’nyengo ya mtendere chifukwa cha zimene Galiyo anachita kwa anthu amene ankatsutsa Paulo. Komabe, Paulo anakhala “kumeneko kwa masiku ndithu” asanatsanzikane ndi abale a ku Korinto. Chapakatikati pa chaka cha 52 C.E., iye anaganiza zokwera ngalawa kupita ku Siriya kuchokera padoko la Kenkereya, ulendo wokwana pafupifupi makilomita 11 kum’mawa kwa Korinto. Koma asanachoke ku Kenkereya, Paulo “anameta tsitsi lake . . . chifukwa cha lonjezo limene anachita.” c (Mac. 18:18) Kenako, iye ananyamuka limodzi ndi Akula ndi Purisila ndipo anawoloka nyanja ya Aegean kupita ku Efeso m’chigawo cha Asia Minor.

¹⁸ Paulo atakwera ngalawa kuchokera ku Kenkereya, ayenera kuti ankaganizira nthawi imene anakhala ku Korinto. Iye ankakumbukira zinthu zabwino zambiri zimene zinkamusangalatsa. Utumiki umene anachita kumeneko kwa miyezi 18 unakhala ndi zotsatirapo zabwino. Mpingo woyamba ku Korinto unakhazikitsidwa ndipo unkasonkhana kunyumba kwa Yusito. Ena mwa anthu amene anakhala Akhristu anali Yusito, Kirisipo ndi banja lake, komanso anthu ena ambiri. Paulo ankakonda kwambiri Akhristu atsopanowo, chifukwa ndi iyeyo amene anawathandiza kukhala Akhristu. Patapita nthawi, anawalembera kalata imene anawatchula kuti iwo anali ngati kalata yomuchitira umboni yolembedwa mumtima mwake. Ifenso timakonda anthu amene tinawathandiza kuti adziwe choonadi. Timalimbikitsidwa kwambiri tikaona anthu amenewa omwe ali ngati “makalata otichitira umboni.”​—2 Akor. 3:1-3.

19, 20. Kodi Paulo anachita chiyani atafika ku Efeso, nanga tingaphunzire chiyani kwa iye pamene tikuyesetsa kuchita zimene Mulungu amafuna?

¹⁹ Atangofika ku Efeso, Paulo anayamba kugwira ntchito yake yofunika. Iye “analowa m’sunagoge n’kuyamba kukambirana ndi Ayuda.” (Mac. 18:19) Pa nthawiyi, Paulo sanakhalitse ku Efeso moti ngakhale kuti abale anam’pempha kuti akhalitse, “iye sanalole.” Ndipo pamene ankatsanzikana ndi abale a ku Efeso, iye anawauza kuti: “Yehova akalola ndidzabweranso kudzakuonani.” (Mac. 18:20, 21) Mosakayikira, Paulo anazindikira kuti uthenga wabwino unafunika kulalikidwa kwambiri ku Efeso. Mtumwiyu anaganiza zobwereranso, koma anasankha kusiya nkhaniyi m’manja mwa Yehova. Chimenechitu ndi chitsanzo chabwino kwambiri chofunika kuti tizichikumbukira. Kuti Mulungu atithandize kukwaniritsa zolinga zathu zauzimu, tiziyamba ndi ifeyo kuchitapo kanthu. Komabe, nthawi zonse tiyenera kudalira malangizo a Yehova ndi kuyesetsa kuchita zinthu zogwirizana ndi zimene iye amafuna.​—Yak. 4:15.

²⁰ Atasiyana ndi Akula ndi Purisila ku Efeso, Paulo anayamba ulendo wa panyanja ndipo anafika ku Kaisareya. Zikuoneka kuti iye “anapita” ku Yerusalemu kukapereka moni ku mpingo wa kumeneko. (Mac. 18:22) Kenako Paulo anapita kunyumba kwake ku Antiokeya wa ku Siriya. Iye anamaliza bwino kwambiri ulendo wake wachiwiri waumishonale. Koma kodi Paulo anakumana ndi zotani pa ulendo wake womaliza waumishonale?