21 EKOBEE

“M Ɛɛ Loo Miī Lo Dɛ̄dɛɛ̄ Bui”

PLAY

Mɛm Pɔɔl bee su zuema ue le zuurabahtɔ̄ a bee nɛ pya kanɛɛ

Dɛɛa nyɔɔ Doonu 20:1-38

1-3. (a) Naa baatɛ̄ nu a bee sira sɔ̄ Yutikɔs bee u. (b) Ena Pɔɔl bee doo a, e ena siranu ama tɔgɛ akiiloo Pɔɔl a?

¹Buū bu English

² Buū bu English

³ Buū bu English

“A . . . Kii Masɛdɔnia” (Doonu 20:1, 2)

4. Amunu kɛ̄tɔɔ̄ a bee piya na Pɔɔl bee tɛɛ̄ bu a?

⁴ Buū bu English

5, 6. (a) Kuma mɛ sɔ̄ na Pɔɔl bee tɔɔ̄ Masɛdɔnia a, e ena a bee doo nɛ pya wuga a le lo kɛ̄ a? (b) Amunu elap dogo na Pɔɔl bee kiisī lo e’ɛrɛ kumaloo pya ye wuga a?

⁵ Buū bu English

⁶ Buū bu English

7. Bu mɛ sīdee na pya kanɛɛ anii’ee dap nɔ edoba Pɔɔl a?

⁷ Buū bu English

PAUL’S LETTERS FROM MACEDONIA

In his second letter to the Corinthians, Paul says that when he arrived in Macedonia, he was anxious about his brothers in Corinth. However, Titus brought him good news from Corinth, and Paul was comforted. It was then, in about 55 C.E., that Paul wrote 2 Corinthians in which he indicates that he was still in Macedonia. (2 Cor. 7:5-7; 9:2-4) One of the things on Paul’s mind during this period was the completing of the collection for the holy ones in Judea. (2 Cor. 8:18-21) He was also worried about the presence in Corinth of “false apostles, deceitful workers.”—2 Cor. 11:5, 13, 14.

It is possible that Paul’s letter to Titus was written from Macedonia. Sometime during the years 61 to 64 C.E., after being released from his first Roman captivity, Paul visited the island of Crete. He left Titus there to correct certain problems and make congregation appointments. (Titus 1:5) Paul asked Titus to meet him in Nicopolis. There were a number of cities of this name in the ancient Mediterranean area, but it seems most likely that Paul was referring to the Nicopolis in northwest Greece. The apostle was probably working in that general area when he wrote to Titus.—Titus 3:12.

Paul’s first letter to Timothy also belongs to the period between his two imprisonments in Rome, from 61 to 64 C.E. In the introduction to this letter, Paul indicates that he asked Timothy to remain in Ephesus, while he himself went to Macedonia. (1 Tim. 1:3) From there, it seems, Paul wrote this letter to give Timothy fatherly advice, encouragement, and direction on certain procedures to be followed in the congregations.

“Pya Juu [Bira] Pɔrɔ Bira Ye Pima” (Doonu 20:3, 4)

8, 9. (a) Ena a bee doo kɔ Pɔɔl a nyaana ye biaɛfii lo ekii Siria a? (b) Ena anua pya Juu bee baaloo Pɔɔl a?

⁸ Buū bu English

⁹ Buū bu English

10. Ekɔ Pɔɔl bee lu nɛɛ ezu nyɔɔbee a naa bee kii Kɛnkria ni? Naa baatɛ̄.

¹⁰ Buū bu English

11. Ena Pya Nɛɛ Kraist dap doo anyaawo lo ekpega aba aba a, e amunu edoba na Jizɔs bee sere kɛ̄ bu edoo lo ama a?

¹¹ Buū bu English

PAUL DELIVERS RELIEF CONTRIBUTIONS

In the years that followed Pentecost 33 C.E., Christians in Jerusalem suffered many hardships—famine, persecution, and the plundering of their belongings. As a consequence, some of them were in need. (Acts 11:27–12:1; Heb. 10:32-34) Hence, in about 49 C.E. when the elders in Jerusalem directed Paul to concentrate his preaching activities among the Gentiles, they urged him to “keep the poor in mind.” That is just what Paul did by supervising the collection of relief funds in the congregations.—Gal. 2:10.

In 55 C.E., Paul told the Corinthians: “You may follow the directions I gave to the congregations of Galatia. On the first day of every week, each of you should set something aside according to his own means, so that collections will not take place when I arrive. But when I get there, I will send the men you approve of in your letters to take your kind gift to Jerusalem.” (1 Cor. 16:1-3) Shortly thereafter, when Paul wrote his second inspired letter to the Corinthians, he urged them to get their gift ready, and he mentioned that the Macedonians too were contributing.—2 Cor. 8:1–9:15.

Thus it was that in 56 C.E., representatives of various congregations met with Paul to deliver the proceeds of the collection. Nine men traveling together not only provided a certain degree of security but also shielded Paul from any possible accusation of impropriety in the handling of donated funds. (2 Cor. 8:20) The delivery of these contributions was the main purpose of Paul’s journey to Jerusalem. (Rom. 15:25, 26) Paul later remarked to Governor Felix: “After quite a number of years, I arrived to bring gifts of mercy to my nation and to make offerings.”—Acts 24:17.

“Wa Agɛrɛ Beenyiɛ Naa Bee Lu Nwīgbagbara” (Doonu 20:5-12)

12, 13. (a) Amunu pah na lɛɛ Yutikɔs kɛ̄ bu luh bee ɛrɛ nyɔɔ lo bɔŋanaloo a? (b) Amunu bɛābu a aabu Baibol na a nɛ egbɔ̄nyiɛ pya nɛɛ ba peere wa nɛɛ ba wereloo bu luh a?

¹² Buū bu English

¹³ Buū bu English