1, 2. Sawuli yari agiye gukora iki i Damasiko?

 AKAGWI k’abantu barakaye begereje gushika i Damasiko, bakaba bajanywe n’umugambi ugayitse. Bahava binjira mu mazu y’abo banka, ni ukuvuga abigishwa ba Yezu, bababohe, babamaramaze, baheze babajane imbere y’Inama Nkuru i Yeruzalemu bababuruta, kugira ngo bibonereko.

² Kizigenza w’ako kagwi k’inkorabara ni uwitwa Sawuli, akaba asanzwe yagirwa n’amaraso. a Gatoya imbere y’aho, igihe abanyedini bagenziwe b’ishaka rirenze bariko bicisha amabuye Sitefano, wa mwigishwa wa Yezu w’umunyamwete, Sawuli ni ho yari ari, avyitegereza kandi yarabishigikiye. (Ivyak. 7:57–8:1) Sawuli aca atangura guhama abakirisu baba i Yeruzalemu. Ariko kandi, arafata iya mbere mu kurondera no guhama abigishwa ba Yezu baba mu tundi turere. Yipfuza kurandurana n’imizi abagize akagwi bivugwa ko gateye akaga, ni ukuvuga abakurikira «ya nzira y’Umukama.»​—Ivyak. 9:1, 2; raba uruzitiro ruvuga ngo « Ububasha Sawuli yari afise i Damasiko.»

3, 4. (a) Ni ibiki vyashikiye Sawuli? (b) Ni ibibazo ibihe tugiye kurimbura?

³ Bukwi na bukwi, umuco ukayangana urakikuza Sawuli irya n’ino. Abo bafatanije urugendo barabona nya muco, maze bakajumararirwa. Uwo muco watumye Sawuli ahuma, aca agwa hasi. Naho Sawuli adashobora kubona, arumva ijwi rivuye mw’ijuru rigira riti: «Sawuli, Sawuli, umpamira iki?» Sawuli aca abaza yumiwe ati: «Uri nde ga Mukama?» Nta gukeka ko inyishu Sawuli ahabwa imuca ivutu. Abwirwa ati: «Ndi Yezu uriko urahama.»​—Ivyak. 9:3-5; 22:9.

⁴ Ni igiki none twokwigira kuri ico kibazo Yezu yabajije Sawuli? Twokwungukira gute ku kurimbura ibintu vyabaye muri ico gihe Sawuli yacika umukirisu? Vyongeye, ni ibiki twokwigira ku kuntu ishengero ryakoresheje ikiringo c’amahoro cakurikiye inyuma y’aho Sawuli abereye umukirisu?

5, 6. Ni ibiki twokwigira ku majambo Yezu yabwiye Sawuli?

⁵ Igihe Yezu yahagarika Sawuli ku nzira ija i Damasiko, ntiyamubajije ngo «Uhamira iki abigishwa banje?» Nk’uko twamaze kubibona, yavuze ati: «Umpamira iki?» (Ivyak. 9:4) Emwe, ibigeragezo bishikira abigishwa ba Yezu, abibona nk’aho ari we biba biriko birashikira.​—Mat. 25:34-40, 45.

⁶ Nimba uriko uragirirwa nabi uhorwa ko wizera Kristu, numenye neza ko Yehova na Yezu bazi neza ibiriko biragushikira. (Mat. 10:22, 28-31) Vyoshika ikigeragezo kiriko kiragushikira ntuce ugikurwako ubwo nyene. Niwibuke yuko Yezu yabonye ingene Sawuli yariko agira uruhara mw’iyicwa rya Sitefano, yongera arabona n’ingene Sawuli yaburuta abigishwa biwe b’abizigirwa abasohora mu mazu yabo i Yeruzalemu. (Ivyak. 8:3) Yamara rero, Yezu ntiyagize ico akoze ico gihe. Naho vyari ukwo, Yehova abicishije kuri Kristu, yararonkeje Sitefano be n’abandi bigishwa inkomezi bari bakeneye kugira ngo bagume ari abizigirwa.

7. Ni ibiki ukwiye gukora kugira ngo wihanganire uruhamo?

⁷ Na wewe nyene urashobora kwihanganira uruhamo hamwe: (1) Wokwiyemeza kuguma uri intahemuka naho woshikirwa n’ibiki. (2) Wosaba Yehova ngo agufashe. (Flp. 4:6, 7) (3) Woreka kwihora, ukabirekera mu maboko ya Yehova. (Rom. 12:17-21) (4) Wokwizigira yuko Yehova azokuronsa inkomezi ukeneye kugira ngo wihanganire ikigeragezo, gushika abonye ko bibereye yuko kikuvako.​—Flp. 4:12, 13.

8, 9. Ananiya yumvise amerewe gute igihe yashingwa igikorwa?

⁸ Yezu ahejeje kwishura ikibazo Sawuli yari amubajije ngo «Uri nde ga Mukama?», yaciye amubwira ati: «Haguruka winjire mu gisagara. Niwashikayo uzobwirwa ico utegerezwa gukora.» (Ivyak. 9:6) Sawuli, uwari yacitse impumyi, yarajanywe i Damasiko, aho yamaze imisi itatu atarya yongera asenga. Muri ico gihe, Yezu yarabwiye ibijanye na Sawuli umwigishwa yitwa Ananiya yaba muri ico gisagara, uwo Ananiya «akaba yavugwa neza n’Abayuda bose» baba i Damasiko.​—Ivyak. 22:12.

⁹ Iyumvire ukuntu Ananiya ategerezwa kuba yarazazaniwe! Ico gihe, Umutwe w’ishengero ari we Yezu Kristu, uwari aherutse kuzurwa, ni we yariko yivuganira na we, aramuhitamwo kugira ngo amushinge igikorwa kidasanzwe. Emwe, ntako kari agateka, ariko ryari n’ibanga ribangirwa ingata! Igihe Ananiya yabwirwa yuko ategerezwa kuja kuvugana  na Sawuli, yishuye ati: «Mukama, narumvise benshi bavuga ivy’uwo mugabo, n’amabi yose yakoreye aberanda bawe i Yeruzalemu. Kandi n’ino arafise ububasha yahawe n’abakuru b’abaherezi bwo gufata abantu bose bambaza izina ryawe.»​—Ivyak. 9:13, 14.

10. Ukuntu Yezu yafashe Ananiya bitwigisha iki?

¹⁰ Yezu ntiyahambariye Ananiya kubera ko yaseruye ivyari bimuhagaritse umutima. Ahubwo riho, Yezu yaramuhaye ubuyobozi butomoye. Vyongeye, yaramuteye iteka mu kumumenyesha igituma yipfuza ko ari we yorangura ico gikorwa kidasanzwe. Yezu yavuze ibijanye na Sawuli ati: «Uwo muntu [ni] igikoresho nitoreye kugira amenyeshe izina ryanje amahanga, abami n’Abisirayeli. Nzomwereka neza ibintu vyose bitegerezwa kumushikira ku bw’izina ryanje.» (Ivyak. 9:15, 16) Ananiya yaragamburukiye Yezu adatebaganye. Yaciye aja kurondera Sawuli, uwahora ahama abakirisu, hanyuma amubwira ati: «Muvukanyi Sawuli, Umukama Yezu, umwe yakubonekera kuri rya barabara wazananye, yantumye kugira uhumuke wongere wuzuzwe impwemu nyeranda.»​—Ivyak. 9:17.

11, 12. Ni ibiki dushobora kwigira ku nkuru yerekeye Yezu, Ananiya be na Sawuli?

¹¹ Hariho ibintu bitari bike dushobora kwigira kuri iyo nkuru yerekeye Yezu, Ananiya be na Sawuli. Nk’akarorero, Yezu aragira uruhara rukomeye mu bijanye no kuyobora igikorwa co kwamamaza, nk’uko yari yarabisezeranye. (Mat. 28:20) Naho Yezu ativuganira n’abantu muri iki gihe, arayobora koko igikorwa co kwamamaza abicishije ku mushumba w’umwizigirwa, uwo yajeje abakozi biwe bo mu nzu. (Mat. 24:45-47) Biciye ku buyobozi butangwa n’Inama Nyobozi, abamamaji be n’abatsimvyi bararungikwa kugira ngo baje kurondera abipfuza kumenya vyinshi ku bijanye na Kristu. Nk’uko ikigabane c’imbere y’iki kivyerekana, abenshi muri abo bantu usanga bagenderwa n’Ivyabona vya  Yehova igihe baba basenze Imana bayisaba ko yobayobora.​—Ivyak. 9:11.

¹² Ananiya yaragamburutse, arakora igikorwa yashinzwe, maze ivyo bituma ahezagirwa. Woba nawe ugamburuka itegeko ridusaba gushinga intahe bimwe bishitse, mbere n’igihe kubigira vyoba bisa n’ibiguteye ubwoba? Bamwebamwe usanga kwamamaza inzu ku nzu be no kuganiriza abo batazi bibahagarika umutima. Abandi na bo ugasanga bibabera urugamba kubwira inkuru nziza abantu basanze aho barangurira imirimo yabo, mu mabarabara, kuri telefone canke mu makete. Ananiya yaratsinze ubwoba yari afise, araheza aterwa agateka ko gufasha Sawuli  kugira ngo aronke impwemu nyeranda. b Ananiya yaroraniwe muri ico gikorwa kubera yuko yizigiye Yezu, kandi akaba yabona Sawuli nk’umuvukanyi wiwe. Nk’ukwo kwa Ananiya, na twebwe turashobora gutsinda ubwoba, mu gihe twokwemera tudakeka ko Yezu ariko arayobora igikorwa co kwamamaza, mu gihe twogirira impuhwe abandi bantu, no mu gihe mbere n’abantu badutera ubwoba kurusha abandi twobabona nk’aho bazohava bacika abavukanyi bacu.​—Mat. 9:36.

13, 14. Nimba uriko uriga Bibiliya yamara ukaba utarabatizwa, wokwigira iki ku karorero ka Sawuli?

¹³ Sawuli ntiyatevye gushira mu ngiro ivyo yari yize. Amaze guhumuka, yarabatijwe hanyuma atangura kwifatanya n’abigishwa b’i Damasiko. Ariko ntiwumve, yarakoze n’ibindi. Bibiliya yigana iti: «Ubwo nyene aca atangura kwamamaza ivyerekeye Yezu mu masinagogi, atangaza ko Yezu ari Umwana w’Imana.»​—Ivyak. 9:20.

¹⁴ Nimba uriko uriga Bibiliya yamara ukaba utarabatizwa, woba uzoshira mu ngiro ata gufyina ivyo wiga, nk’ukwo kwa Sawuli? Ego ni ko, Sawuli yariboneye igitangaro Kristu yakoze, kandi nta gukeka ko ivyo vyamukoze ku mutima bigatuma na we agira ico akoze. Yamara, hariho n’abandi biboneye ibitangaro Yezu yakoze. Nk’akarorero, hari umugwi umwe w’Abafarizayo wiboneye igitangaro Yezu yakoze co gukiza umugabo umwe yari anyunyutse ukuboko. Vyongeye, Abayuda benshi cane baramenye yuko Yezu yari yazuye Lazaro mu bapfuye. Naho ari ukwo, benshi muri bo nta co vyababwiye, mbere baranamurwanije. (Mrk. 3:1-6; Yoh. 12:9, 10) Ariko Sawuli wewe, yarahindutse. None ni kubera iki Sawuli yacitse umwigishwa wa Kristu mu gihe abandi vyabananiye? Ni kubera yuko yatinya Imana aho gutinya abantu, kandi akaba yarakenguruka bimwe bigera kure imbabazi Kristu yari yaramugiriye. (Flp. 3:8) Niwabigenza gutyo nawe, ntuzoreka ngo hagire ikintu na kimwe kikubuza kugira uruhara mu gikorwa co kwamamaza canke ngo kikubuze gukwiza ibisabwa kugira ngo ubatizwe.

15, 16. Sawuli yakoze iki igihe yaja mu masinagogi, kandi Abayuda b’i Damasiko bavyakiriye gute?

¹⁵ Woba ushobora kwiha ishusho y’ukuntu abantu amasinzi bakubiswe n’inkuba, bakajongoroka, abandi na bo ishavu rikaniga aho  baboneye Sawuli atanguye kwamamaza mu masinagogi ivyerekeye Yezu? Babajije bati: «Mbega uyo si wa wundi yatoteza abambaza iryo zina i Yeruzalemu?» (Ivyak. 9:21) Igihe Sawuli yariko arasigura icatumye ahindura ukuntu yari asanzwe abona ivyerekeye Yezu, «[yarabahaye] ivyemeza vyumvikana vyerekana ko Yezu ari we Kristu.» (Ivyak. 9:22) Ariko ntiwumve, ukuri ntigukundwa na bose. Ntigushobora guhindura ivyiyumviro vy’abantu bose bumira ku migenzo canke biziziwe n’ubwibone. Naho biri ukwo, Sawuli ntiyatanye n’akabando.

¹⁶ Mu myaka itatu yose yakurikiye, Abayuda b’i Damasiko bari bakirwanya Sawuli. Bahavuye barondera no kumwica. (Ivyak. 9:23; 2 Kor. 11:32, 33; Gal. 1:13-18) Igihe uwo mugambi ugayitse wahinyuka, Sawuli yaciye ava muri ico gisagara mu mpisho, mu kwemera bakamwururutsa bamucishije mu gitoboro c’uruzitiro, ari mu giseke. Luka avuga ko «abigishwa [ba Sawuli],» ari bo bamufashije guhunga muri iryo joro. (Ivyak. 9:25) Ayo majambo asa n’ayerekana yuko mu bumvirije Sawuli igihe yariko aramamaza inkuru nziza i Damasiko, hariho n’imiburiburi abayakiriye neza, hanyuma bagacika abayoboke ba Kristu.

17. (a) Abantu usanga bakira gute ukuri kwo muri Bibiliya? (b) Ni ibiki dukwiye kubandanya dukora, kandi kubera iki?

¹⁷ Igihe watangura kuyagira abo mu muryango wawe, abagenzi bawe, be n’abandi bantu ibintu vyiza wariko uriga, hari aho woba wariteze yuko bose bokwakiriye neza ukwo kuri gutomoye kwo muri Bibiliya. Bake bashobora kuba baremeye ukwo kuri, abandi benshi na bo barakwiyamiriza. Wanashaka, hashobora kuba hariho abo mu muryango wawe bwite babonye ko ucitse nk’umwansi wabo. (Mat. 10:32-38) Ariko rero, niwabandanya kuryohora ubushobozi bwawe bwo kuzirikana n’abantu ku Vyanditswe kandi ukaguma wigenza nk’umukirisu, hari aho n’abakurwanya bohava bagahindura ukuntu bahora babona ibintu.​—Ivyak. 17:2; 1 Pet. 2:12; 3:1, 2, 7.

18, 19. (a) Aho Barunaba amariye kwerekana neza ko Sawuli yahindutse, vyavuyemwo iki? (b) Twokwigana gute Barunaba na Sawuli?

¹⁸ Birumvikana kubona igihe Sawuli yaja i Yeruzalemu, abandi bigishwa barakekeranije ku vyo yavuga yuko yari asigaye ari umwigishwa. Ariko rero, aho Barunaba amariye kwerekana neza ko Sawuli yahindutse, intumwa zaciye zimwakira, hanyuma amarana na zo ikiringo kanaka. (Ivyak. 9:26-28) Sawuli yariyubara naho ataterwa isoni no kuvuga inkuru nziza. (Rom. 1:16) Yaramamaje inkuru nziza i Yeruzalemu abigiranye ubutinyutsi, aho nyene akaba ari ho yari yatangurije isekeza ryo guhama bunyamaswa abigishwa ba Yezu Kristu. Abayuda b’i Yeruzalemu barashavuye cane aho batahuriye yuko uwahoze ari kizigenza wabo yari yahemutse, baca barondera ingene bomwica. Iyo nkuru yigana iti: «Abavukanyi babimenye, [baca bamanukana Sawuli]  i Sezariya hanyuma bamurungika i Taruso.» (Ivyak. 9:30) Sawuli yarakurikije ubuyobozi Yezu yatanze abicishije kw’ishengero, kandi ivyo vyaramugiriye akamaro vyongera bikagirira n’ishengero.

¹⁹ Niwibuke yuko Barunaba ari we yibwirije gufasha Sawuli. Nta gukeka yuko ico kintu yakoze kiranga ubuntu cagize ico giterereye mu gutuma abo basavyi ba Yehova b’abanyamwete bagiranira ubucuti bukomeye. Nk’ukwo kwa Barunaba, woba nawe uhora ufasha abashasha mw’ishengero ubigiranye umutima ukunze, ugakorana na bo mu ndimiro ukongera ukabafasha kugira ngo batere imbere mu vy’impwemu? Niwabigira uzoronka imihezagiro myinshi. Nimba na ho uri umwamamaji mushasha, woba uhora wemera gufashwa nk’ukwo kwa Sawuli? Niwaza urakorana n’abamamaji bazi utuntu n’utundi, uzoryohora ubuhanga ukoresha mu busuku, utume umunezero wawe wongerekana, kandi bizotuma uronka abagenzi bazokubera kirumara ibihe vyose.

20, 21. Abasavyi b’Imana bo mu gihe ca kera be n’abo mu gihe ca none bakoresheje neza gute ‘ibiringo vy’amahoro’?

²⁰ Inyuma y’aho Sawuli abereye umukirisu, kandi akarusimba, “ishengero ryari i Yudaya, i Galilaya n’i Samariya hose ryaciye rija mu kiringo c’amahoro.” (Ivyak. 9:31) None abo bigishwa bakoresheje gute ico gihe ciza? (2 Tim. 4:2) Inkuru ivyigana ivuga yuko “bakomeye.” Intumwa be n’abandi bavukanyi bari bajejwe amabanga barakomeje ukwizera kw’abigishwa, bongera baraja imbere abandi uko iryo ishengero «ryabandanya gutinya Yehova no kuronka uruhoza rw’impwemu nyeranda.» Nk’akarorero, Petero yarakoresheje ico kiringo kugira ngo akomeze abigishwa bo mu gisagara c’i Luda no mu kiyaya ca Sharoni. Utwigoro yagize twaratumye abantu batari bake bo mu micungararo yaho bizera «Umukama.» (Ivyak. 9:32-35) Aho gusamazwa no gukurikirana ibindi bintu, nya bigishwa baguma bihatira kwitwararikana be no kwamamaza inkuru nziza. Ivyo vyatumye ishengero “riguma rigwira.”

²¹ Amaja mu mpera z’ikinjana ca 20, Ivyabona vya Yehova bo mu bihugu bitari bike na bo nyene barinjiye mu «kiringo c’amahoro» nk’ico. Intwaro zari zimaze imyaka mirongo zicinyiza abasavyi b’Imana zaratemvye giturumbuka, bituma dutezurirwa mu bijanye n’igikorwa co kwamamaza canke na ho amategeko yatubuza kwamamaza arakurwaho burundu. Ivyabona ibihumbi mirongo baciye baboneraho akaryo ko kwamamaza ku mugaragaro, kandi ivyo vyavuyemwo ivyiza bitangaje.

22. Wokoresha neza gute umwidegemvyo ufise ubu?

²² Woba nawe uriko urakoresha neza umwidegemvyo ufise mu bijanye no gusenga? Nimba uba mu gihugu kirangwamwo umwidegemvyo mu vy’ugusenga, icohimbara Shetani ni uko yokuryosharyosha kugira  ngo ukurikirane amaronko, aho gukurikirana ivyungura Ubwami. (Mat. 13:22) Ntusamare. Nukoreshe neza agahengwe ako ari ko kose woba ufise ubu. Nubone ko ari akaryo ko gushinga intahe bimwe bishitse no kwubaka ishengero. Ntiwibagire yuko buca bugacana ayandi.

23, 24. (a) Ni ibiki twigira ku nkuru ivuga ivyerekeye Tabita? (b) Dukwiye kugira umwiyemezo uwuhe?

²³ Rimbura ivyashikiye umwigishwa umwe yitwa Tabita, ari we Doruka, uwaba i Yopa, igisagara co hafi y’i Luda. Uwo mushiki wacu w’umwizigirwa yarakoresha mu buryo buranga ubukerebutsi umwanya wiwe be n’ivyo yari atunze, agakora «ibikorwa vyiza vyinshi, [kandi] agafasha cane aboro.» Ariko rero, bukwi na bukwi yararwaye, mu nyuma arapfa. c Urwo rupfu rwiwe rwaratumye abigishwa b’i Yopa bagira intuntu ikomeye, canecane abapfakazi yari yarakoreye ibikorwa biranga ubuntu. Igihe Petero yashika aho ikiziga ciwe cariko kirategurirwa ku bw’amaziko, yarakoze igitangaro kitari bwigere gikorwa n’intumwa za Yezu Kristu. Petero yarasenze hanyuma Tabita aca arasubira kuba muzima! Woba ushobora kwibaza akanyamuneza nya bapfakazi be n’abandi bigishwa bagize, igihe Petero yabahamagara ngo bagaruke muri nya cumba, hanyuma akabashikiriza Tabita ari muzima? Ese ukuntu ivyo bintu bitegerezwa kuba vyarabakomeje kugira ngo bitegurire guhangana n’ibigeragezo vyari biraririye kubashikira! Birumvikana rero ko ico gitangaro «camenyekanye i Yopa hose, bituma abantu benshi bizera Umukama.»​—Ivyak. 9:36-42.

²⁴ Hariho ibintu bibiri bihambaye twigira kuri iyo nkuru ikora ku mutima ivuga ivyerekeye Tabita. (1) Ubuzima bumara umwanya nk’uwo urume rumara. Ku bw’ivyo rero, ese ukuntu bihambaye cane ko twihesha izina ryiza ku Mana, magingo tugishobora kubikora! (Umus. 7:1) (2) Izuka si umugani. Yehova yarabonye ibikorwa bitari bike Tabita yari yarakoze biranga ubuntu, kandi vyatumye amuhezagira. Azokwibuka igikorwa turangura, kandi nivyashika tugapfa imbere y’uko Harumagedoni ishika, azotuzura. (Heb. 6:10) Ku bw’ivyo rero, twaba  turi mu «bihe bigoye» canke mu «kiringo c’amahoro,» nimuze tubandanye gushinga intahe bimwe bishitse ku vyerekeye Kristu.​—2 Tim. 4:2.