1-3. Ndawa chani ntumi Paulo adayenda ku Korinto, ndipo angadekana kugumana chani kumuko?

 CHAKUMAPETO kwa gole ya 50 EC. Paulo wenze ku Korinto kunikachiro kwa bizi. Agiriki, Aroma komasoti Ayuda azinji ambagumanika kumuko. a Paulo alibe kuyenda ku Korinto kukachita bizi panango kukafaga basa, iye adayenda kumuko kukaphata basa yodikana maninge yochitira umboni va ufumu wa Mulungu. Koma iye angadikana malo yokhala ndipo adatsimikiza na ntima wose kuti ashupiselini wanthu anango. Paulo ambafunalini kuti wanthu anango ambaone kuti ankufunika kuthandiziwa ndawa ya basa ya utumiki yomwe ambaichita. Ko iye adachita chani?

² Paulo ambadziwa—basa yokonza matenti. Olo kuti kukonza matenti ni basa yoshupa, iye wenze wofunisisa kuphata basa mweyi kuti ambagumane vosowa pa moyo wake. Ko Paulo adagumana basa muthaundi mumo? Ko adakagumana malo yabwino yokhala? Olo kuti iye angadekana kugumana vinthu vimwevi, alibe kuyebwa basa yomwe niyodekana maninge pa moyo wake.

³ Vinkuwoneka kuti Paulo adakhala ku Korinto kwa kanthawe, ndipo utumiki wake kumoku umbafamba bwino maninge. Ko tingapfunzire chani pa vomwe Paulo adachita ku Korinto, vomwe vingatithandize kuchitira uboni mokwana va ufumu wa Mulungu mu gawo yathu?

4, 5. (a) Ko Paulo pomwe wenze ku Korinto ambaphata basa iponi yamanja? (b) Ko adapfunzira tani basa yakonza matenti?

⁴ Paidapita nthawe idikidiki kuchokera pomwe Paulo adafika ku  Korinto, adagumana na banja inango ya Chiyuda yodziwa kutambira bwino alendo ndipo banja mweyi yenze ya Akula na nkazi wake Purisila panango kuti Purisika. Banja mweyi idafulukira ku Korinto ndawa yakuti mpfumu Kalaudiyo adalamula kuti “Ayuda wose kuti achoke ku Roma.” (Mac. 18:1, 2) Akula na Purisila adatambira Paulo kuti ambakhale nawo kumuyi kwawo na kuti ambaphate nawo basa pabodzi. Tichawerenga kuti: “Pakuti basa yawo yenze ibodzi, adakhala kunyumba kwawo kumuko. Iwo ambaphatira basa pabodzi, ndawa wose enze okonza matenti.” (Mac. 18:3) Paulo adakhala kumuyi kwa wanthu wachifundo na wodziwa kutambira bwino alendo mwawa panthawe yose yomwe iye ambachita utumiki wake ku Korinto. Pomwe ambakhala na Akula komasoti Purisika vinkuoneka kuti iye wenze adanemba kale yanango mwa makalata yomwe patsogolo pake yadadzakhala mabukhu ya m’Baibolo. b

⁵ Ko vidakakwanisika tani kuti Paulo, munthu yemwe “adapfunzisiwa na Gamaliyeli” akwanise pomwe basa yokonza matenti? (Mac. 22:3) Vinkuoneka kuti Ayuda wakalekale mwawa enze alibe manyazi kupfunzisa wana wawo basa yamanja, olo kuti wana mwawo adapfunzira mapfunziro yanango yapadzulu. Vinkuoneka kuti Paulo adapfunzira basa mweyi pewenze mwana ndawa adachokera ku Tariso dera ya Kilikiya yomwe yenze yobvekera ndawa yokonza nguwo zodula maninge zokonzera matenti. Ko pambakhala basa  iponi pakukonza matenti? Pambakhala basa yogwata nguwo, kusona kuti akonzere matenti ndipo basa yose mweyi yenze yowawa maninge.

6, 7. (a) Ko Paulo angaiwona tani basa yokonza matenti, ndipo ni chani chinkuonesa kuti Akula na Purisila angaionambo chibodzibodzi? (b) Ko Akhrisitu ntsiku zino achatewedzera tani Paulo, Akula na Purisila?

⁶ Paulo ambawonalini basa yokonza matenti ninge basa yodekana maninge pa moyo wake. Iye ambaphata basa imweyi kuti agumane vosowa pa moyo wake ‘pakulengeza ntontholo wabwino ndipo ambafunalini kuti wanthu ambamupasire kobiri.’ (2 Akor. 11:7) Ko Akula na Purisila ambaiwona tani basa yawo mweyi? Ninge Akhrisitu wodziwika bwino iwo ambaiwona ninge momwe Paulo ambaiwonera, ndipomwapa pomwe Paulo ambachoka ku Korinto mu 52 EC, Akula na Purisila adafuluka nkumutewera ku Efeso ndipo kumuko mpingo umbasonkhana kumuyi kwawo. (1 Akor. 16:19) Payidapita nthawe, adabwerera ku Roma ndipo patsogolo pake adayenda pomwe ku Efeso. Banja yakhama mweyi imbayikha patsogolo vinthu va ufumu ndipo idadzipereka na mtima wose kutumikira anango. Ndawa ya vimwevi “mipingo yose ya wanthu wamakhaindi yanango” yadawatembeja maninge.—Aro. 16:3-5; 2 Tim. 4:19.

⁷ Akhirisitu ntsiku zino omwe achatumikira Mulungu mwakhama achatewedzera Paulo, Akula na Purisila. Ndipo achaphata basa molimbika kuti ‘aliyese aleke kuwalipirira chinthu pakufuna kuwathandiza.’ (1 Ates. 2:9) Vokomedza ni vakuti wanthu azinji womwe achalalikira va Ufumu nthawe zose, achachita mapisuweki yomwe yangawathandize kugumana vosowa pomwe ankuphata basa yodikana maninge yolalikira. Molingana na Akula na Purisila atumiki wa Yahova azinji omwe achakonda kutambira bwino alendo, achatambira wonyang’anira madera kumamiyi kwawo. Ndipomwapa, ‘wanthu omwe achatambira bwino alendo’  achalimbikisiwa akambachita vimwevi.—Aro. 12:13.

8, 9. Ko Paulo adachita chani pomwe wanthu adayamba kumutsutsa pa basa yake yochitira umboni kwa Ayuda, ndipo pavidachitika vimwevi adayamba kulalikira kuponi?

⁸ Mpfundo yakuti Paulo ambaphata basa ya manja kuti agumane vosowa vake pakuchita utumiki wake, idawonekera pomwe Sila na Timoteyo adabwera kuchokera ku Makedoniya na mphaso zizinji. (2 Akor. 11:9) Nkhani mweyi ichati nthawe mweyo, “Paulo adatangwanika maninge na basa yolalikira mawu ya Mulungu.” (Mac. 18:5) Koma Ayuda angamutsutsa akambaphata basa yake mweyi yolalikira. Vikuwoneka kuti iye wenze alibe mulandu ndawa yakuti wanthu mwawa adalamba wokha nthontholo wopulumusa moyo wolewa va Khrisitu. Koma iwo padapitiriza  kumutsutsa na kumunyoza, iye adakutumula vovala vake nkuwauza kuti: “Magazi yanu yakhale pamsolo panu. Ine nilibe mulandu. Kuyambira manjeuno nimbayende kwa wanthu wa makhaindi yanango.”—Mac. 18:6; Ezek. 3:18, 19.

⁹ Ko Paulo adayamba kulalikira kuponi? Munthu munango dzina yake Titiyo Yusito adangena Chiyuda, wenze na nyumba yake pafupi na sunagoge ndipo adatambira Paulo pamuyi pake. Paulo adachoka ku sunagoge na kuyenda kumuyi kwa Yusito. (Mac. 18:7) Paulo ambakhala kumuyi kwa Akula na Purisila pa nthawe yose yomwe wenze ku Korinto. Koma akafuna kulalikira ambayenda kumuyi kwa Yusito.

10. Nchani chomwe chinkuonesa kuti Paulo ambandolalikiralini kwa wanthu wa makhaindi yanango yokha?

¹⁰ Ko pomwe Paulo adanena kuti ninkuyenda kwa wanthu wamakhaindi yanango, ambatanthauza kuti adzalalikirelini pomwe Muyuda aliyese panango munthu aliyese yemwe adangena Chiyuda podiya achichita chidwi na ntontholo wabwino? Neye ambatanthauzalini vimwevo. Mwakulinganiza, “Kisipo mtsogoleri wa sunagoge, adakhulupirira Ambuya pabodzi na wanthu wose wa m’banja yake.” Vikuonesa kuti wanthu azinji womwe angasonkhana na Kisipo adakhala pomwe wokhulupirira ndawa Baibolo ichati: “Wanthu azinji wa ku Korinto, omwe adabva ntontholo wabwino, adayamba kukhulupirira nkubatiziwa.” (Mac. 18:8) Olo nteno, mpingo wa Chikhrisitu womwe wenze udandoyamba manjemanje ku Korinto udayamba kusonkhana kumuyi kwa Titiyo Yusito. Peno Luka yemwe adanemba nkhani ya m’bukhu ya Machitidwe adanemba motewedza ninge momwe ambaachitira kale, ndiye kuti Ayuda panango wanthu womwe adangena mu Chiyuda adakhala Akhrisitu Paulo wakutumula kale vovala vake. Vimwevi vikuoneseratu kuti ntumi moyu ambaumiriralini mpfundo ibodzi koma ambachinja mobverana na momwe vinthu venzere pa nthawe mwiyo.

11. Ko Mboni za Yahova ntsiku zino zitewedzera tani Paulo polalikira wanthu wa m’matchetchi ya Chikhrisitu?

¹¹ M’madziko yazinji ntsiku zino matchetchi ya chikhrisitu ni yazinji ndipo wanthu wawo achatewedza mokhulupirika vomwe achawapfunzisa. M’madziko yanango amishonale wa matchetchi yomwe achati ni ya Chikhrisitu, achanyengerera wanthu azinji. Wanthu womwe achati ni Akhrisitu nthawe zizinji achandotewedza miyambo ninge momwe ambachitira Ayuda mu nthawe ya atumi ku Korinto. Koma molingana na Paulo, isepano wa Mboni za Yahova, tichachita khama kulalikira wanthu wa teneuyu, kuti tiwathandize kudziwa Malemba molondola. Tifokalini olo wanthu achititsutsa panango atsogoleri wachipembedzo achitidzudza, ndawa pagulu yawo, pana wanthu “wodzipereka pa kutumikira  Mulungu koma ankumudziwalini bwinobwino.” Pali wanthu azinji ofatsa omwe tichadekana kuwafagafaga na kuwagumana.’—Aro. 10:2.

12. Ko Paulo adalimbikisiwa tani m’masomphenya?

¹² Peno Paulo wenze na maganizo yakuti aleke kupitiriza utumiki wake ku Korinto, maganizo mwaya yadachinja pomwe Ambuya Yesu adaonekera  m’masomphenya usiku nkumuuza kuti: “Ayi kugopa, pitiriza kuyankhula. Ayi kukhala chete ndawa inepano nili nawe. Palibe munthu yemwe adzakuguntse na kukudzonga, ndawa ninawanthu azinji muthaundi mweyi.” (Mac. 18:9, 10) Masomphenya mwaya yenze yolimbikisa maninge. Ambuya adamutsimikizira Paulo kuti amuteteze komasoti ndawa yakuti mu thaundi mumo muna wanthu azinji wachidwi. Ko Paulo adachita tani padawona masomphenya mwayo? Tiwerenga kuti: “Pamwapo adakhala kumuko gole na minyezi 6 akuwapfunzisa Mawu ya Mulungu.”—Mac. 18:11.

13. Ko Paulo ambaganiza va chani pangafenderera mpando wotongera milandu, ndipo nchani chidamutsimikizira kuti vimwevi vidzamuchitikirelini?

¹³ Paulo padakhala pafupifupi gole ibodzi ku Korinto adatsimikiza kuti Ambuya apitirize kumuthandiza. “Ayuda adanyamuka mobverana kuti amuchitire voipa Paulo ndipo adamutenga kuyenda naye ku mpando wotongera milandu.” (Mac. 18:12) Anango aganiza kuti mpando wotongera milandu moyu wenze pamalo yapadzulu ndipo udakondzewa na minyala ya azuri komasoti yachena, mpando muyu adaukhuzisa maninge ndipo wenze pakatikati pa bazali ya ku Korinto. Kutsogolo kwa mpando muyu kwenze malo yakulu yowe wanthu ambakwanisa kukhalako. Vomwe wanthu wofagafaga vinthu vakalekale adagumana vinkuonesa kuti mpando wotongera milandu moyu wenze pafupi na sunagoge. Ndipo vimwevi vinkutanthauza kuti wenze pafupi na nyumba ya Yusito. Pomwe Paulo angafenderera mpando moyu adakumbukira va kuthusiriwa minyala kwa Sitefano Nkhrisitu woyambira kuphewa ndawa ya chikhululupiriro chake. Paulo yemwe pa nthawe mweire ambachemerewa kuti Saulo “adadawikiza vakuti Sitefano aphewe.” (Mac. 8:1) Ko Paulo adagumanambo na vimwevi? Neye ndawa adapolomisiwa kuti: ‘palibe munthu yemwe  . . . adzamupweteke.’—Mac. 18:10.

14, 15. (a) Ko Ayuda ambanena kuti Paulo anamulandu uponi, ndipo ndawa chani Galiyo adamalisa mulandu muyu? (b) Ko nchani chidachitikira Sositene, ndipo panango nkuyenda kwa nthawe adachita chani?

¹⁴ Ko nchani chidachitika pomwe Paulo adafenderera mpando wotongera milandu? Pa mpando wotongera milandu moyu penze khale wotonga munango dzina yake Galiyo yemwe wenze Governador wa ku Akaya ndipo wenze nkulu wake wa Seneka shasha wamapfunziro wofagafaga nzeru zapadzulu wa ku Roma. Ayuda adayamba kuyimba mulandu Paulo wakuti: “Munthu muyu ankuchitisa wanthu kuti ambatumikire Mulungu mosabverana na chilamulo.” (Mac. 18:13) Polewa vimwevi Ayuda mwawa ambatanthauza kuti Paulo angabveralini malamulo pakunyengerera wanthu kuti akhale Akhrisitu. Koma Galiyo adaona kuti Paulo palibe “chawaphonya” chirichose panango alibe kupalamula “mulandu ukulu” uliwose  (Mac. 18:14) Galiyo ambafunalini kungenerera kugegedzana kwa Ayuda, pamwapo iye adamalisa mulandu muyo Paulo akalibe kulewa chirichose. Wanthu womwe ambamuyimba mulandu Paulo adakalipa maninge ndipo adafuzira ukali wawo pa Sositene yemwe panango adakhala mtsogoleri wa sunagoge m’malo mwa Kirisipo. Wanthu mwawo adaphata Sositene na “kuyamba kumumenya pafupi na mpando muyo.”—Mac. 18:17.

¹⁵ Ndawa chani Galiyo adalambiza gulu ya wanthu mwawa kuti ayi kuti amumenye Sositene? Panango Galiyo ambaganiza kuti Sositene wenze mtsogoleri wa gulu ya wanthu wachiwawa yomwe imbazondana na Paulo ndipo angadekana kumenyewa, koma peno venzedi teno panango neye vinkuwoneka kuti maphindu yake ya nkhani mweyi yenze yabwino. Kalata yake yoyamba yoyenda ku mpingo wa ku Korinto yomwe idanembewa payadapita magole yanganani pomwe vidachitika vimwevi, Paulo adatomola munthu munango dzina yake Sositene kuti wenze m’bale. (1 Akor. 1:1, 2) Ko Sositene muyu wenze ule yemwe adamenyewa ku Korinto? Peno wenzedi moyu, vomwe vidamuchitikira ivi vidamuthandiza kuti ayambe Chikhrisitu.

16. Ko mawu ya Ambuya yakuti “pitiriza kuyankhula, ayi kuti ukhale chete, inepano nili nawe,” yachatithandiza tani pa utumiki wathu?

¹⁶ Kumbukirani kuti Ayuda enze adalamba kale kubvesera vomwe Paulo angalalikira pomwe ambuya Yesu adamutsimikizira m’masomphenya kuti: “Ayi kugopa, pitiriza kuyankhula ayi kukhala chete. Ndawa inepano niri nawe.” (Mac. 18:9, 10) Isepanombo tichadekana kumbakumbukira mawu mwaya makamaka wanthu akambalamba kubvesera ntontholo wathu, ayi kuyebwa kuti Yahova achaona momwe ntima uliri ndipo akwekwetera wanthu wa ntima wabwino kwa iye. (1 Sam. 16:7; Yoh. 6:44)  Vimwevi vichatilimbikisa kuti timbalalikire mwakhama. Gole iriyose wanthu pafupifupi 300 mil achabatizika ndipo namba mweyi inkuonesa kuti wanthu pafupifupi 800 abatizika ntsiku iriyose. Wanthu womwe abvera lamulo yakuti “ndipomwapa yendani mukapfunzise wanthu wamakhaindi yose kuti akhale opfunzira wangu” mumbawabatize mu dzina ya Mwana na ya mzimu uchena, ndipo mumbawapfunzise kuti ambaphatise basa vinthu vose vomwe nidakulamulani.” Yesu ankuwatsimikizira kuti ndipo dziwani kuti “inepano nilinamwe pabodzi ntsiku zose mpakana mapeto ya nthawe ino”—Mat. 28:19, 20.

17, 18. Ko Paulo ambaganizira chani pomwe wenze mu barko pangayenda ku Efeso?

¹⁷ Tinkudziwalini peno mpingo wa ku Korinto udakhala pa ntendere ndawa ya vomwe Galiyo adachita kwa wanthu womwe angatsutsa Paulo. Koma olo nteno Paulo adakhala kumuko kwa “ntsiku zizinji” akalibe walawirana na abale wa ku Korinto. Pakatikati pa gole ya 52 EC., iye adaganiza vopakira barko kuyenda ku Siriya kuchoka pa paraje ya Kenkereya ulendo wa pafupifupi 11 kilometro kuyenda ku machibese kwa Korinto. Koma akanati wachoka ku Kenkereya adagera tsitsi yake . . . , ndawa ya polomisi yomwe adachita.” c (Mac. 18:18) Patsogolo pake iye adanyamuka pabodzi na Akula na Purisila nkuyambuka nyanja ya Aegean kuyenda ku Efeso mu chigawo cha Asia Menor.

¹⁸ Pomwe Paulo adakwera barko kuyenda ku Kenkereya vinkuoneka kuti ambaganizira nthawe yomwe wenze ku Korinto. Iye ambakumbukira vinthu vizinji vomwe vidamuchitisa kukhala wokondwa. Utumiki womwe adachita kumoku kwa minyezi 18 udabala vipaso vabwino. Mpingo woyamba udakhazikisiwa ku Korinto ndipo umbasonkhana kumuyi kwa Yusito. Anango womwe adakhala Akhrisitu wenze Yusito Kirisipo na banja yake komasoti wanthu anango azinji. Paulo angakonda maninge Akhrisitu anyowani mwawa ndawa yakuti adawathandiza kuti akhale Akhrisitu. Ndipo patsogolo pake adawanembera kalata yomwe yenze na mawu yakuti iwo enze ninge kalata yomuchitira umboni yonembewa muntima mwake. Isembo tikonda wanthu womwe tiwathandiza kuti adziwe chonadi. Tilimbikisiwa maninge tikaona wanthu mwawa womwe ali ninge ‘makalata yotichitira umboni!’—2 Akor. 3:1-3.

19, 20. Ko Paulo adachita chani pomwe adafika ku Efeso, ndipo tingapfunzire chani kwa iye pomwe tinkuyesesa kuchita chifuniro cha Mulungu?

¹⁹ Padandofika ku Efeso Paulo adayamba kuphata basa yake yodekana maninge. Iye adangena mu sunagoge nkuyamba kukambirana na  Ayuda. (Mac. 18:19) Pa nthawe mweyi Paulo alibe kukhalisa ku Efeso. Olo kuti abale adamukumbira kuti akhalise, iye alibe kubvuma ndipo pomwe angalawirana nawo abale wa ku Efeso mwawa adawauza kuti “Yahova akabvuma nidzabwerepomwe kudzakuonani.” (Mac. 18:20, 21) Mosakayika Paulo adazindikira kuti ntontholo wabwino ungadekana kulalikiriwa maninge ku Efeso. Ntumi moyu adaganiza vobwererapomwe ku Efeso koma adasiya nkhani mweyi m’manja mwa Yahova. Ni chitsanzo chabwino maninge chodekana kuti timbachikumbukire. Kuti Mulungu atithandize kukwanirisa volinga vathu vauzimu, timbayambe ndise kuchitapo kanthu. Koma nthawe zose tichadekana kuthemba malangizo ya Yahova na kuyesesa kuchita vinthu vobverana na chifuniro chake.—Yak. 4:15.

²⁰ Padasiyana na Akula na Purisila ku Efeso, Paulo adayamba ulendo wapanyanja kukafika ku Kaisareya ndipo vinkuoneka kuti iye adayenda ku Yerusalemu kukapereka moni ku mpingo wa kumuko. (Mac. 18:22) Patsogolo pake Paulo adabwerera kumuyi kwake ku Antiyokeya waku Siriya. Iye adamaliza bwino maninge ulendo wake wa umishonale. Koma ko iye adagumana na vinthu viponi pa ulendo wake womalizira moyu wa umishonale?