1-3. (a) Ni ibintu biteye ubwoba ibihe bishikira Sitefano, yamara avyifatamwo gute? (b) Ni ibibazo ibihe tugiye kurimbura?

 SITEFANO ari imbere ya sentare. Ni mu ngoro amahero irimwo abagabo 71 bicaye mu ntebe zitondetse ku buryo zigira igice c’umuzingi munini, kumbure iyo ngoro ikaba iri hafi y’urusengero rw’i Yeruzalemu. Iyo sentare, ari yo Nama nkuru, ishashe kugira ngo icire urubanza Sitefano. Abacamanza b’iyo sentare ni abantu bafise ububasha, bemerwa cane, kandi benshi muri bo barakengera uwo mwigishwa wa Yezu. Nkako, uwakoranije iyo sentare ni Umuherezi mukuru Kayifa, wa wundi nyene yari ayihagarikiye igihe yacira Yezu Kristu urwo gupfa amezi makeyi imbere y’aho. None Sitefano yoba atekewe n’ubwoba?

² Muri uwo mwanya, mu maso ha Sitefano ntihasanzwe. Nya bacamanza baramuhanga amaso maze bakabona ko mu maso hiwe «hasa n’ah’umumarayika.» (Ivyak. 6:15) Abamarayika batwara ubutumwa buva kuri Yehova Imana, ni co gituma usanga batagira ubwoba, batekanye kandi bafise amahoro. Ukwo ni ko bimeze no kuri Sitefano, kandi n’abo bacamanza buzuye urwanko baravyibonera. Bishoboka bite none ngo abe atekanye ukuraho?

³ Hariho ibintu vyinshi abakirisu bo muri iki gihe bashobora kwigira ku nyishu y’ico kibazo. Turakwiye kandi kumenya icatumye Sitefano ashikirwa n’ivyo bintu bitoroshe. None yari yaburaniye gute ukwizera kwiwe imbere y’aho? Twomwigana gute?

4, 5. (a) Ni kubera iki Sitefano yari kirumara cane mw’ishengero? (b) Ni mu buryo ki Sitefano yari «yuzuye ubuntu bw’Imana n’ububasha»?

⁴ Twamaze kubona yuko Sitefano yari kirumara cane mw’ishengero rya gikirisu ryari riherutse gushingwa. Mu kigabane c’imbere y’iki, twabonye yuko Sitefano yari umwe muri ba bagabo indwi bicisha bugufi bemera n’umutima ukunze gusahiriza intumwa igihe zabibasaba. Turakorwa cane ku mutima n’ukwicisha bugufi kw’uwo mugabo igihe  turimbuye ingabirano zitandukanye yari afise. Mu Vyakozwe 6:8, havuga yuko yari afise ubushobozi bwo gukora «ibitangaza n’ibimenyetso bikomeye,» nk’intumwa zimwezimwe. Tubwirwa kandi yuko yari «yuzuye ubuntu bw’Imana n’ububasha.» None ivyo vyasobanura iki?

⁵ Biboneka ko abantu bakunda cane Sitefano kubera yuko yabafatana ubuntu n’umutima mwiza. Yavuga mu buryo bwiza cane ku buryo benshi mu bamwumviriza yabumvisha bakanyurwa. Baremera badakeka yuko yavuga ibivuye ku mutima be n’uko ukuri yabashikiriza kwari ngirakamaro. Yari yuzuye ububasha kubera ko impwemu ya Yehova yakorera muri we, kuko yemera kuyoborwa na yo yicishije bugufi. Aho kwishira hejuru kubera ingabirano yari afise be n’ububangukirwe bwiwe, ugushemezwa kwose yakwerekeza kuri Yehova, kandi yaritwararikana urukundo abo yaba ariko arabwira inkuru nziza. Ntibitangaje rero kuba abamurwanya babona ko atari uwo guta mu nda nsa!

6-8. (a) Ni ibintu bibiri ibihe abarwanya Sitefano bamwagirije, kandi kubera iki? (b) Ni kubera iki akarorero ka Sitefano gashobora gufasha cane abakirisu bo muri kino gihe?

⁶ Hariho abagabo batari bake bahagurutse kugira ngo baharire na Sitefano, ariko «ntibashoboye kumutsinda kuko yavugana ubukerebutsi kandi afashijwe n’impwemu.» a N’ishavu n’akantu, baciye “bosha mu mpisho” abagabo bamwe kugira ngo bagirize uwo muyoboke wa Kristu ata co azira. Vyongeye, “baragumuye abantu,” abagabo b’inararibonye be n’abanditsi, kugira ngo bacakire Sitefano, bamujane imbere y’Inama nkuru. (Ivyak. 6:9-12) Abamurwanya bamwagirije ibi bintu bibiri: Gutuka Imana no gutuka Musa. None yatukanye gute?

⁷ Abamwagiriza ibinyoma bavuze yuko Sitefano yatutse Imana. Ngo yavuze nabi «iki kibanza ceranda,» ni ukuvuga urusengero rw’i Yeruzalemu. (Ivyak. 6:13) Bamwagirije kandi ko yatutse Musa. Ngo yavuze nabi amategeko ya Musa, ahindura imigenzo Musa yari yarashizeho. Ivyo birego vyari bikomeye cane kubera ko ico gihe Abayuda baha agaciro cane urusengero, utuntu tw’ido n’ido twavugwa mu mategeko ya Musa, hamwe n’imigenzo itari mike yagenda irahanahanwa ku munwa, iyo bari barongeye muri ayo mategeko. Ni nk’aho rero bariko bamwagiriza yuko ari umuntu ateye akaga, akwiriye gupfa!

⁸ Ikibabaje, ni uko usanga no muri iki gihe abanyamadini bakunda gukoresha ivyo binyoma kugira ngo bamerere nabi abasavyi b’Imana. Birashika abanyamadini barwanya Ivyabona vya Yehova bakosha  abategetsi kugira ngo babahame. None dukwiye kuvyifatamwo gute igihe twagirijwe ibinyoma? Hariho ibintu vyinshi dushobora kwigira kuri Sitefano.

9, 10. Abihweza utuntu n’utundi bavuze iki ku bijanye n’insiguro ya Sitefano igihe yari imbere y’Inama Nkuru? Ni ibiki dukwiye kugumiza ku muzirikanyi?

⁹ Nk’uko vyamaze kuvugwa, igihe Sitefano yariko yumviriza ivyo bamwagiriza, mu maso hiwe hari hatekanye, hasa nko mu maso h’umumarayika. Kayifa yaciye ahindukira aramuraba hanyuma amubaza ati: «Ivyo bavuga ni vyo?» (Ivyak. 7:1) Sitefano yari ahawe ijambo, na we aca abagira ku muriri!

¹⁰ Abihweza utuntu n’utundi bamwebamwe baraneguye insiguro Sitefano yashikirije, bavuga yuko muri iyo nsiguro yose atigeze yiregura ku vyo yagirijwe. Ariko rero, Sitefano yaradusigiye akarorero keza mu bijanye n’ukuntu “twoburanira” inkuru nziza. (1 Pet. 3:15) Niwibuke ko Sitefano yagirijwe ko yatutse Imana mu kuvuga nabi urusengero be n’uko yatutse Musa mu kuvuga nabi amategeko. Mu nsiguro Sitefano yashikirije, yavuze mu ncamake ibiringo bitatu vyaranze kahise ka Isirayeli, akaba yagiye arashimika ku bintu bimwebimwe abigiranye ukwiyubara. Reka turimbure ivyo biringo bitatu kimwekimwe ukwaco.

11, 12. (a) Ni mu buryo ki Sitefano yakoresheje neza akarorero ka Aburahamu? (b) Ni kubera iki mu nsiguro Sitefano yashikirije yavuze ivyerekeye Yozefu?

¹¹ Igihe ca ba sekuruza b’imiryango. (Ivyak. 7:1-16) Sitefano yatanguye avuga ivyerekeye Aburahamu, akaba yarubahwa n’Abayuda kubera ukwizera kwiwe. Sitefano yahereye kuri ico kintu gihambaye yahurizako na bo. Yaciye ashimika ku vy’uko Yehova, «Imana y’ubuninahazwa,» yihishuriye Aburahamu ari bwo bwa mbere igihe yari i Mezopotamiya. (Ivyak. 7:2) Ico gihe Aburahamu yari kavamahanga mu Gihugu c’isezerano. Nta rusengero rwariho canke amategeko ya Musa. Wumva none ari nde yari afise uburenganzira bwo kuvuga ko abantu bakeneye urusengero canke amategeko manaka kugira babe abizigirwa ku Mana?

¹² Yozefu, uwakomoka kuri Aburahamu, na we nyene yarubahwa cane n’abariko bumviriza Sitefano. Naho ari ukwo, Sitefano yarabibukije ko benewabo na Yozefu, ba sekuruza b’imiryango ya Isirayeli, bafashe nabi uwo mugororotsi bongera baramugurisha kugira ngo aje kuba umuja. Yamara, Imana yaramukoresheje kugira ngo akize Isirayeli mu gihe c’inzara. Nta gukeka ko Sitefano yabona ibintu bitomoye Yozefu yari ahurijeko na Yezu Kristu. Ariko yaririnze kubivuga kugira ngo atume abariko bamwumviriza baguma bamuteze yompi uko bishoboka kwose.

13. Kuba Sitefano yaravuze ivyerekeye Musa vyishuye gute ivyo yariko yagirizwa? Ivyo vyatumye ashimika ku ciyumviro ikihe?

 ¹³ Igihe ca Musa. (Ivyak. 7:17-43) Sitefano yaravuze vyinshi ku vyerekeye Musa. Ivyo vyararanga ubukerebutsi kubera ko benshi mu bari bagize iyo Nama nkuru bari Abasadukayo kandi muri Bibiliya yose bakaba bemera gusa ibitabu vyanditswe na Musa. Niwibuke kandi yuko Sitefano yagirijwe ko yari yatutse Musa. Amajambo Sitefano yavuze yaciye ubwo nyene yishura ivyo birego. Yarerekanye yuko yubaha Musa be n’amategeko bimwe bigera kure. (Ivyak. 7:38) Sitefano yarerekanye ko Musa na we nyene yiyamirijwe n’abo yariko aragerageza kurokora. Baramwiyamirije igihe yari afise imyaka 40. Haciye yindi myaka irenga 40, na ho nyene bararwanije ubukuru bwiwe akatari gake. b Buhorobuhoro Sitefano yarashimitse kuri iki ciyumviro gihambaye: Abasavyi ba Yehova Imana bariyamirije akatari gake abo yari yaragenye kugira ngo babayobore.

14. Muri ya nsiguro ya Sitefano, ni iciyumviro ikihe yashize ahabona igihe yavuga ivyerekeye akarorero ka Musa?

¹⁴ Sitefano yaribukije abariko baramwumviriza yuko Musa yari yaravuze ko muri Isirayeli hohagurutse umuhanuzi ameze nka we. None uwo muhanuzi yobaye nde, kandi yokwakiriwe gute? Ico kibazo Sitefano yacishuye ariko arasozera insiguro yiwe. Yaciye avuga ikindi ciyumviro gihambaye: Musa yari yaratahuye yuko ahantu aho ari ho hose hashobora kugirwa heranda, nk’uko vyagenze kuri ca kibanza carimwo igisaka caka umuriro, hamwe Yehova yavuganira na Musa. None Yehova yoba ashaka ko tumusengera gusa mu nyubakwa kanaka, nka rwa rusengero rw’i Yeruzalemu? Reka tubirabe.

15, 16. (a) Ni kubera iki vyari bihambaye ko Sitefano avuga ibijanye n’ihema mu nsiguro yiwe? (b) Ni ibiki Sitefano yavuze ku bijanye n’urusengero rwa Salomo?

 ¹⁵ Ihema be n’urusengero. (Ivyak. 7:44-50) Sitefano yaribukije abari bagize ya sentare ko imbere y’uko i Yeruzalemu hubakwa urusengero, Imana yari yarategetse Musa gukora ihema ryo gusengeramwo kandi bashobora kuza barimukangana. Ni nde none yari kwubahuka kuvuga yuko urusengero rwaruta iryo hema, kandi ari ho Musa yasengera?

¹⁶ Mu nyuma, igihe Salomo yubaka urusengero i Yeruzalemu, yarashikirije icigwa gihambaye cane mw’isengesho yatuye, akaba yagihishuriwe n’Imana. Nk’uko Sitefano yabivuze, «Musumbavyose ntaba mu nzu zubakishijwe amaboko.» (Ivyak. 7:48; 2 Ngo. 6:18) Yehova yoshobora gukoresha urusengero kugira ngo ateze imbere imigambi yiwe, ariko n’igihe rutoba ruhari, nta comubuza kubikora. Wumva none hari icotuma abasavyi biwe babona yuko ugusenga gutyoroye gutegerezwa kugirirwa gusa mu nyubakwa yakozwe n’amaboko y’abantu? Ico ciyumviro ni co Sitefano yasozereyeko mu buryo bukomeye. Yasubiyemwo amajambo yo mu gitabu ca Yesaya agira ati: «“Ijuru ni yo ntebe yanje y’ubwami, isi na yo ni intebe y’ibirenge vyanje. None ni inzu nyabaki mwonyubakira?”, ni ko Yehova avuga. “Canke ahantu noruhukira ni hehe? Mbega ukuboko kwanje si kwo kwakoze ibi vyose?”»​—Ivyak. 7:49, 50; Yes. 66:1, 2.

17. (a) Insiguro ya Sitefano yerekanye gute agatima abamwumviriza bari bafise? (b) Iyo nsiguro yishuye gute ivyo bamwagiriza?

¹⁷ Gushika aha, turavye ivyo Sitefano yabwiye abagize Inama nkuru, turabona yashize ku mugaragaro agatima kabi k’abo bantu bamurwanya abigiranye ubuhanga. Yarerekanye ko umugambi wa Yehova ugenda uraranguka intambwe ku yindi, ko uguma utera imbere be n’uko utisunga imigenzo y’abantu. Abaha agaciro kanini urwo rusengero rwiza igitangaza rw’i Yeruzalemu, bakibanda ku migenzo be no ku mico vyongewe ku mategeko ya Musa, ntibari baratahuye neza intumbero yatumye urwo rusengero n’ayo mategeko bishirwaho! Ni nk’aho Sitefano yariko abaza iki kibazo gihambaye ati: Mbega uburyo bwiza kuruta bwo kwubaha amategeko be n’urusengero, si ukugamburukira Yehova? Mu vy’ukuri, ivyo Sitefano yavuze vyarashigikiye rwose ivyo we ubwiwe yakora, kuko yagamburukira Yehova uko ashoboye kwose.

18. Twokwigana Sitefano mu biki?

¹⁸ None ni ibiki twokwigira kuri iyo nsiguro ya Sitefano? Bigaragara ko yari azi neza Ivyanditswe. Na twebwe nyene, turakwiye kwiyigisha Ijambo ry’Imana tubigiranye umwete, nimba twipfuza gukoresha «neza ijambo ry’ukuri.» (2 Tim. 2:15) Akarorero ka Sitefano karatwigisha kandi ko dukwiye kuvugana ubuntu kandi tukiyubara igihe tuyaga n’abandi. Emwe, nta woharira yuko abariko barumviriza Sitefano bari ababisha cane! Naho vyari ukwo, yarihatiye kuguma  avuga ivyo bahurizako, aguma yibanda ku vyo bari basanzwe baha agaciro. Vyongeye, yabavugishije mu rupfasoni, abagabo b’inararibonye akabita «ba data.» (Ivyak. 7:2) Na twebwe nyene dukwiye kubwira abandi ukuri kwo mw’Ijambo ry’Imana tubigiranye «ubwitonzi n’icubahiro kigera kure.»​—1 Pet. 3:15.

19. Ni mu buryo ki Sitefano yashikirije ya Nama Nkuru ubutumwa bwerekeye urubanza rwa Yehova abigiranye umutima rugabo?

¹⁹ Ariko rero, ntitureka kubwira abantu ukuri kwo mw’Ijambo ry’Imana ngo ni uko twohava tubababaza kandi ntitujoborora ubutumwa bwerekeye urubanza rwa Yehova. Sitefano ni akarorero keza muri ivyo. Yariboneye neza yuko ibimenyamenya vyose yatanze igihe yari imbere y’iyo Nama nkuru bitatumye abo bacamanza b’umutima ukomantaye bahinduka. Ni co gituma abitumwe n’impwemu nyeranda, yasozereye insiguro yiwe mu kubereka ata bwoba yuko ata ho bari batandukaniye na ba sekuruza babo biyamirije Yozefu na Musa hamwe n’abahanuzi bose. (Ivyak. 7:51-53) Nakare, abacamanza bo muri iyo Nama nkuru bari baragandaguye Mesiya, umwe Musa be n’abahanuzi bose bari baravuze ibijanye n’ukuza kwiwe. Mu vy’ukuri, bari barahonyanze amategeko ya Musa bimwe vy’agahomerabunwa!

20, 21. Abagize ya Nama nkuru bakiriye gute ivyo Sitefano yavuze, kandi Yehova yamukomeje gute?

²⁰ Kuba Sitefano yaravuze ukuri nk’ukurima vyatumye abo bacamanza baca barurumba ishavu. N’akagaye n’akantu, baciye batangura kumuhekenyera imisaya. Uwo muntu w’umwizigirwa ategerezwa kuba yarabonye yuko ata kagongwe yogiriwe, nk’uko na Shebuja Yezu atakagiriwe.

²¹ Sitefano yari akeneye umutima rugabo kugira ngo ashobore kwihanganira ivyagira bimushikire, kandi nta gukeka ko yaremeshejwe cane n’ivyo Yehova yaciye amwereka. Sitefano yarabonye ubuninahazwa bw’Imana, yongera abona Yezu ahagaze iburyo bwa Se. Igihe Sitefano yariko aradondora ivyo yeretswe, nya bacamanza baciye biziba amatwi. Uti kubera iki? Imbere y’aho, Yezu yari yabwiye abagize iyo sentare nyene yuko yari we Mesiya be n’uko vuba yobaye ari iburyo bwa Se. (Mrk. 14:62) Ivyo Sitefano yeretswe vyarerekanye ko Yezu yari yavuze ukuri. Mu vy’ukuri, abagize iyo Nama nkuru bari barihakanye Mesiya bongera baramugandagura! Bamaze guhuza inama, baciye bakwakwanya basohora Sitefano kugira ngo aje kwicishwa amabuye. c

22, 23. Ni mu buryo ki Sitefano yishwe nk’uko Shebuja yishwe? Kubera iki abakirisu bo muri iki gihe bakwiye gushira umutima mu nda nka Sitefano?

 ²² Sitefano yishwe mu buryo busa cane n’uko Shebuja yishwe. Yapfuye afise amahoro mu mutima, yizigiye cane Yehova kandi apfa agiriye ikigongwe abamwishe. Yavuze ati: «Mukama Yezu, akira impwemu yanje.» Ivyo yabivuze kumbure kubera ko mu vyo yariko arerekwa, yaguma abona Umwana w’umuntu ari kumwe na Yehova. Nta gukeka ko Sitefano yari azi amajambo aremesha Yezu yavuze, agira ati: «Ndi izuka n’ubuzima.» (Yoh. 11:25) Amaherezo, Sitefano yaciye yerekeza isengesho ryiwe ku Mana n’ijwi rirenga, ati: «Yehova, ntubaharureko iki gicumuro.» Ahejeje kuvuga ivyo, aca aracikana.​—Ivyak. 7:59, 60.

²³ Sitefano rero ni we muyoboke wa mbere wa Kristu yishwe rumaratiri. (Raba uruzitiro ruvuga ngo « Ni mu buryo ki Sitefano yabaye “umumaratiri?”») Ariko ikibabaje ni uko atabaye n’uwa nyuma. No muri iki gihe cacu, hariho abasavyi ba Yehova b’abizigirwa bishwe n’abantu b’ishaka rirenze mu vy’idini, mu vya politike, be n’abandi bantu baturwanya bimwe bikaze. Ariko ntiwumve, turafise imvo zotuma dushira umutima mu nda nka Sitefano. Muri iki gihe, Yezu araganza, akaba ariko akoresha ububasha ntangere yahawe na Se. Nta kintu na kimwe kizomubuza kuzura abayoboke biwe b’abizigirwa.​—Yoh. 5:28, 29.

24. Sawuli yagize ico aterereye gute mw’iyicwa rya Sitefano? Urupfu rw’uwo mwizigirwa rwavuyemwo ivyiza ibihe vy’igihe kirekire?

²⁴ Hariho umusore umwe yitwa Sawuli yariko yitegereza ivyariko biraba vyose. Yarashigikiye igandagurwa rya Sitefano, aranacunga impuzu z’abariko bamutera amabuye. Haciye igihe gito ivyo bibaye, yaragiye imbere abandi mu vyo guhama bunyamaswa abakirisu. Yamara, urupfu rwa Sitefano rwovuyemwo ivyiza vy’igihe kirekire. Akarorero kiwe kokomeje abandi bakirisu kugira ngo bagume ari abizigirwa bongere batahukane intsinzi nk’iyo yatahukanye. N’ikindi kandi, Sawuli, uwahavuye amenyekana cane kw’izina rya Pawulo, yosubije amaso inyuma akazirikana ku ruhara yagize mw’igandagurwa rya Sitefano, maze akicuza cane. (Ivyak. 22:20) Naho yari yaragize ico aterereye mw’iyicwa rya Sitefano, mu nyuma yotahuye ko ico gihe “yavuga nabi Imana, agahama abantu bayo, akaba n’umuntu atisonera.” (1 Tim. 1:13) Biragaragara ko Pawulo atigeze yibagira Sitefano be na ya nsiguro ikomeye yashikiriza ca gihe. Nkako, mu nsiguro zimwezimwe Pawulo yashikirije be no mu makete amwamwe yanditse, yaravuzemwo ivyiyumviro dusanga mu nsiguro ya Sitefano. (Ivyak. 7:48; 17:24; Heb. 9:24) Pawulo yahavuye yiga gukurikiza neza akarorero Sitefano yasize mu bijanye no kugaragaza ukwizera be n’umutima rugabo. Sitefano yari umuntu «yuzuye ubuntu bw’Imana n’ububasha.» Ikibazo gica kivyuka ni iki: Tweho bite?