1-3. (a) Ni mu buhe buryo Pawulo n’abo bari kumwe babonye ubuyobozi bw’umwuka wera? (b) Ni ibihe bintu tugiye gusuzuma?

 ITSINDA ry’abagore ryavuye mu mugi wa Filipi ho muri Makedoniya. Bidatinze, bageze ku mugezi muto wa Gangitès. Nk’uko bari bamenyereye, bicaye ku nkombe z’uwo mugezi batangira gusenga Imana ya Isirayeli. Yehova yarabarebaga.—2 Ngoma 16:9; Zab 65:2.

² Hagati aho, ku birometero bisaga 800 mu burasirazuba bwa Filipi, itsinda ry’abagabo ryahagurutse mu mugi wa Lusitira mu majyepfo ya Galatiya. Hashize iminsi, bageze ku muhanda w’Abaroma ushashwemo amabuye werekeza iburengerazuba mu karere gatuwe cyane k’intara ya Aziya. Abo bagabo, ari bo Pawulo, Silasi na Timoteyo bifuzaga cyane kumanuka uwo muhanda ngo bajye muri Efeso no mu yindi migi yari ituwe n’abantu babarirwa mu bihumbi, bari bakeneye kumva ibyerekeye Kristo. Icyakora, na mbere y’uko batangira urwo rugendo, umwuka wera warababujije mu buryo butasobanuwe. Babujijwe kubwiriza muri Aziya. Kubera iki? Yesu akoresheje umwuka w’Imana, yifuzaga kuyobora Pawulo n’abo bari kumwe, bakanyura muri Aziya Ntoya, bakambuka Inyanja ya Égée, bagakomeza bakagera ku nkombe z’uwo mugezi muto wa Gangitès.

³ Ukuntu Yesu yayoboye Pawulo n’abo bari kumwe muri urwo rugendo rudasanzwe akabageza muri Makedoniya, bitwigisha amasomo y’ingenzi muri iki gihe. Ku bw’ibyo rero, nimucyo twongere dusuzume bimwe mu bintu byabaye mu rugendo rwa kabiri rw’ubumisiyonari rwa Pawulo rwatangiye mu mwaka wa 49.

4, 5. (a) Byagendekeye bite Pawulo n’abo bari kumwe bageze hafi y’i Bituniya? (b) Ni uwuhe mwanzuro abo bigishwa bafashe, kandi se wagize izihe ngaruka?

⁴ Pawulo na bagenzi be bamaze kubuzwa kubwiriza muri Aziya, berekeje mu majyaruguru bajya kubwiriza mu migi y’i Bituniya. Kugira ngo bagereyo, bashobora kuba baramaze iminsi bagenda mu nzira zitameze neza zinyura mu turere twa Furugiya na Galatiya dutuwe n’abaturage batuye batatanye. Icyakora bageze hafi y’i Bituniya, Yesu yongeye gukoresha umwuka wera arabahagarika (Ibyak 16:6, 7). Icyo gihe abo bagabo bagomba kuba baraguye mu rujijo. Bari bazi ubutumwa bagombaga kubwiriza n’uko babubwiriza, ariko ntibari bazi aho bagombaga kubwiriza. Mu buryo bw’ikigereranyo, bari  bakomanze ku irembo ryerekeza muri Aziya, ariko ntibyagira icyo bitanga. Bakomanze ku irembo ryerekeza muri Bituniya, na ho bigenda bityo. Nubwo ari uko byari bimeze ariko, Pawulo yari yiyemeje gukomeza gukomanga kugeza igihe yari kubonera irembo ryari gukinguka. Hanyuma, abo bagabo bafashe umwanzuro umuntu yatekereza ko utari ushyize mu gaciro. Berekeje iburengerazuba, bakora urugendo rw’ibirometero 550 n’amaguru, banyura mu migi myinshi bagera ku cyambu cya Tirowa, aho bari gufatira ubwato bujya muri Makedoniya (Ibyak 16:8). Pawulo ageze kuri icyo cyambu, yongeye gukomanga ku ncuro ya gatatu, maze irembo rihita rikinguka.

⁵ Umwanditsi w’Ivanjiri Luka, wasanze Pawulo n’abo bari kumwe i Tirowa bagakomezanya urugendo, avuga uko byagenze agira ati “bigeze nijoro, Pawulo abona mu iyerekwa umugabo w’Umunyamakedoniya ahagaze amwinginga ati ‘ngwino i Makedoniya udufashe.’ Pawulo akimara kubona iryo yerekwa, tujya i Makedoniya kuko twari twamaze kubona ko Imana ishaka ko tujyayo tukababwira ubutumwa bwiza” (Ibyak 16:8-10). a Amaherezo Pawulo yari amenye aho yagombaga kubwiriza. Mbega ukuntu agomba kuba yarishimiye ko atacitse intege ngo ahagarike urugendo! Abo bagabo uko ari bane bahise bafata ubwato berekeza iya Makedoniya.

6, 7. (a) Ni irihe somo twavana ku byabaye kuri Pawulo mu rugendo rwe? (b) Ni ikihe cyizere dushobora kuvana ku byabaye kuri Pawulo?

⁶ Iyo nkuru itwigisha iki? Zirikana ibi: umwuka w’Imana wagize icyo ukora ari uko gusa Pawulo amaze gutangira urugendo rugana muri Aziya. Yesu yagize icyo akora ari uko gusa Pawulo amaze kugera hafi y’i Bituniya, kandi nanone Yesu yamubwiye kujya muri Makedoniya ari uko gusa amaze kugera i Tirowa. Kubera ko  Yesu ari Umutware w’itorero, ashobora kutuyobora mu buryo nk’ubwo muri iki gihe (Kolo 1:18). Urugero, dushobora kuba tumaze igihe dutekereza gukora umurimo w’ubupayiniya cyangwa kwimukira mu karere ababwiriza b’Ubwami bakenewemo cyane kurushaho. Ariko kandi, birashoboka cyane ko Yesu azaduha ubuyobozi akoresheje umwuka w’Imana ari uko gusa tumaze gutera intambwe zigaragara zigana kuri iyo ntego. Kubera iki? Tekereza kuri uru rugero: umushoferi ashobora kuyobora imodoka ayerekeza iburyo cyangwa ibumoso ari uko gusa imaze guhaguruka. Mu buryo nk’ubwo, mu gihe dushaka kwagura umurimo wacu, Yesu atuyobora ari uko gusa twagize icyo dukora, tugashyiraho imihati igaragara kugira ngo tuwagure.

⁷ Ariko se byagenda bite turamutse dushyizeho iyo mihati ntihite igira icyo igeraho? Ese twagombye gucika intege tugatekereza ko umwuka w’Imana utatuyobora? Oya. Ibuka ko Pawulo na we yahuye n’inzitizi nk’izo. Ariko yakomeje gushakisha kugeza igihe yaboneye irembo ryakingutse. Natwe dushobora kwiringira ko nidukomeza kwihangana dushakisha “irembo rigari rijya mu murimo,” tuzagororerwa.—1 Kor 16:9.

8. (a) Umugi wa Filipi wari umeze ute? (b) Ni ibihe bintu bishimishije byabayeho igihe Pawulo yabwirizaga abantu bari “ahantu ho gusengera”?

⁸ Pawulo n’abo bari kumwe bageze mu ntara ya Makedoniya, bagiye mu mugi wa Filipi, wari ufite abaturage baterwaga ishema n’uko bari Abaroma. Abasirikare b’Abaroma bari mu kiruhuko cy’iza bukuru babaga muri uwo mugi, babonaga umugi wa Filipi umeze nk’u Butaliyani, mbese umeze nka Roma bateruye bakayitereka muri Makedoniya. Hanze y’irembo ry’uwo mugi, iruhande rw’umugezi muto, abo bamisiyonari babonye ahantu batekerezaga ko hari “ahantu ho gusengera.” b Ku Isabato, baramanutse bajya aho hantu, bahasanga abagore benshi bari bahateraniye basenga. Abo bigishwa baricaye barabaganiriza. Umugore witwaga Lidiya “yari ateze amatwi. Hanyuma Yehova aramufasha, kugira ngo yite ku byo Pawulo yavugaga kandi abyemere.” Ibyo Lidiya yumvanye abo bamisiyonari byamukoze ku mutima cyane ku buryo we n’abo mu rugo rwe bose babatijwe. Hanyuma yajyanye Pawulo n’abo bari kumwe iwe arabacumbikira. c—Ibyak 16:13-15.

9. Ni mu buhe buryo abantu benshi biganye urugero rwa Pawulo, kandi se ni iyihe migisha babonye?

⁹ Tekereza ibyishimo Lidiya yagize ubwo yabatizwaga! Pawulo agomba rwose kuba yarishimiye ko yemeye itumira ryamusabaga ‘kujya i Makedoniya.’ Nanone yishimiye ko Yehova yabonye ko bikwiriye kumukoresha we na bagenzi be kugira ngo asubize amasengesho y’abo bagore batinyaga Imana. Muri iki gihe, abavandimwe na bashiki bacu batari bake, baba abato n’abakuze, abashatse n’abatarashaka, na bo bimukira mu turere dukeneye ababwiriza b’Ubwami kurushaho. Ni iby’ukuri ko bahura n’ingorane, ariko usanga izo ngorane nta cyo zivuze uzigereranyije n’ibyishimo bagira iyo babonye abantu bameze nka Lidiya, bakemera ukuri kwa Bibiliya.  Ese nawe ushobora kugira icyo uhindura kugira ngo ushobore ‘kujya’ mu ifasi ikeneye cyane ababwiriza? Hari imigisha myinshi igutegereje. Urugero, umuvandimwe witwa Aaron ugeze mu kigero cy’imyaka 20 yimukiye mu gihugu cyo muri Amerika yo Hagati. Yagaragaje ibyiyumvo asangiye n’abandi benshi agira ati “gukorera mu gihugu cy’amahanga byamfashije gukura mu buryo bw’umwuka kandi ndushaho kwegera Yehova. Umurimo wo kubwiriza urashimishije cyane. Ubu nigisha Bibiliya abantu umunani.”

10. Ni mu buhe buryo abadayimoni bagize uruhare mu gutuma abantu batita ku ntego Pawulo na bagenzi be bari bafite?

¹⁰ Nta gushidikanya ko Satani yarakajwe nuko ubutumwa bwiza bwari butangiye gushinga imizi mu gace k’isi aho we n’abadayimoni be bakoreraga nta wubarwanya. Ntibitangaje rero kuba abadayimoni baratumye abantu barwanya umurimo wo kubwiriza wakorwaga na Pawulo na bagenzi be. Mu gihe bari bagiye ha hantu ho gusengera, umukobwa w’umuja wari waratewe n’umudayimoni waheshaga ba shebuja inyungu nyinshi bitewe no kuragura, yakomezaga gukurikira ba Pawulo, agasakuza agira ati “aba bantu ni abagaragu b’Imana Isumbabyose. Bari kubabwira icyo mwakora kugira ngo muzakizwe.” Birashoboka ko uwo mudayimoni yatumye uwo mukobwa avuga ayo magambo, kugira ngo abantu babone ko ibyo yavugaga n’inyigisho za Pawulo byakomokaga hamwe. Bityo, ibyo byari kurangaza ababyitegerezaga ntibakurikire abigishwa nyakuri ba Kristo. Ariko Pawulo yacecekesheje uwo mukobwa kandi yirukana uwo mudayimoni.—Ibyak 16:16-18.

11. Pawulo na Silasi bamaze kwirukana umudayimoni, byabagendekeye bite?

¹¹ Igihe ba shebuja b’uwo muja babonaga ko aho bavanaga inyungu bitabaruhije habuze, bararakaye cyane. Bafashe Pawulo na Silasi barabakurubana babajyana mu isoko, aho abacamanza bari bahagarariye ubutegetsi bwa Roma baciraga imanza. Ba shebuja buririye ku rwikekwe rw’abacamanza no gukunda igihugu by’agakabyo. Mbese ni nk’aho bavuze bati ‘aba Bayahudi baduhungabanya bigisha ibintu twebwe Abaroma tudashobora kwemera.’ Amagambo yabo yahise agera ku byo bifuzaga. ‘Abantu bose [bari muri iryo soko] bibasiye [Pawulo na Silasi],’ kandi abacamanza batanze itegeko ngo ‘babakubite inkoni.’ Nyuma y’ibyo, bafashe Pawulo na Silasi barabakurubana babajyana muri gereza. Umurinzi wa gereza yajugunye abo bagabo bari bakomeretse muri gereza y’imbere, kandi afungira ibirenge byabo mu mbago arabikomeza (Ibyak 16:19-24). Igihe umurinzi wa gereza yakingaga urugi, muri gereza hahise hazamo umwijima mwinshi ku buryo Pawulo na Silasi batashoboraga kurebana. Ariko kandi, Yehova yarabirebaga byose.—Zab 139:12.

12. (a) Abigishwa ba Kristo babonaga bate ibitotezo byabageragaho, kandi se kuki babibonaga batyo? (b) Ni ubuhe buryo bwo kuturwanya Satani n’abagaragu be bagikoresha?

¹² Mu myaka runaka mbere yaho, Yesu yari yarabwiye abigishwa be ati “bazabatoteza” (Yoh 15:20). Bityo, igihe Pawulo n’abo bari kumwe bambukaga bakajya muri Makedoniya, bari biteguye kurwanywa. Igihe batotezwaga, ntibabonye ko ari ikimenyetso cy’uko Yehova atabemera, ahubwo babonye ko ari  ikimenyetso cy’uko Satani yabarakariye. No muri iki gihe, abagaragu ba Satani baracyakoresha uburyo nk’ubwo bakoresheje i Filipi. Abaturwanya b’abariganya batubeshyera ku ishuri no ku kazi, kandi bagatuma abandi baturwanya. Mu bihugu bimwe na bimwe, abanyamadini baturwanya batubeshyera mu nkiko bavuga amagambo asa n’aya ngo ‘aba Bahamya baraduhungabanya, bigisha imigenzo twebwe “abizera” tudashobora kwemera.’ Mu duce tumwe na tumwe, bagenzi bacu duhuje ukwizera barakubitwa kandi bagafungwa. Ariko Yehova aba abibona.—1 Pet 3:12.

13. Ni iki cyatumye umurinzi wa gereza abaza ati “ngomba gukora iki kugira ngo nzakizwe?”

¹³ Pawulo na Silasi bagomba kuba bari bakeneye igihe runaka kugira ngo bashobore kwakira ibyari byababayeho uwo munsi. Icyakora byageze mu gicuku bamaze koroherwa inkoni bari bakubiswe, ku buryo bashoboraga ‘gusenga kandi bakaririmba indirimbo zo gusingiza Imana.’ Hanyuma mu buryo butunguranye, umutingito wajegeje gereza. Umurinzi wa gereza yakangukiye hejuru, asanga imiryango ikinguye atinya ko imfungwa zaba zatorotse. Kubera ko yari azi ko yari guhanwa kuko zari zamutorotse, ‘yafashe inkota ye ashaka kwiyica.’ Ariko Pawulo yaramuhamagaye aramubwira ati “wikwigirira nabi kuko twese turi hano!” Uwo murinzi wari wataye umutwe yarababajije ati “ba nyakubahwa, ngomba gukora iki kugira ngo nzakizwe?” Pawulo na Silasi ntibashoboraga kumukiza, ahubwo Yesu wenyine ni we washoboraga kumukiza. Ni yo mpamvu bamushubije bati “izere Umwami Yesu, uzakizwa.”—Ibyak 16:25-31.

14. (a) Pawulo na Silasi bafashije bate umurinzi wa gereza? (b) Kuba Pawulo na Silasi barahanganye n’ibitotezo bishimye byatumye babona iyihe migisha?

¹⁴ Ese icyo kibazo uwo murinzi w’imbohe yabajije cyari kivuye ku mutima? Pawulo ntiyigeze ashidikanya ko uwo mugabo yari afite umutima utaryarya. Uwo murinzi wa gereza yari Umunyamahanga, atazi Ibyanditswe. Kugira ngo abe Umukristo yagombaga kubanza kumenya inyigisho z’ibanze z’ukuri ko mu Byanditswe kandi akazemera. Bityo, Pawulo na Silasi bafashe igihe gihagije “bamubwira ijambo rya Yehova.” Mu gihe abo bagabo bari bahugiye mu kumwigisha Ibyanditswe, bashobora kuba baribagiwe ububabare bw’inkoni bari bakubiswe. Ariko uwo murinzi w’imbohe we yabonye ibikomere byari mu mugongo wabo, maze aboza ibyo bikomere. Hanyuma we n’abo mu rugo rwe bose ‘bahise babatizwa.’ Mbega ukuntu Pawulo na Silasi babonye umugisha bitewe n’uko bahanganye n’ibitotezo bishimye!—Ibyak 16:32-34.

15. (a) Ni mu buhe buryo Abahamya benshi muri iki gihe biganye urugero rwa Pawulo na Silasi? (b) Kuki twagombye gukomeza gusura abantu batuye mu ifasi yacu?

¹⁵ Kimwe na Pawulo na Silasi, Abahamya benshi muri iki gihe babwirije ubutumwa bwiza igihe bari muri gereza bazira ukwizera kwabo, kandi byagize icyo bitanga. Urugero, mu gihugu kimwe aho umurimo wacu wari ubuzanyijwe, 40 ku ijana by’Abahamya baho bamenye ukuri ku byerekeye Yehova igihe bari muri gereza (Yes 54:17). Nanone, zirikana ko umurinzi wa gereza yasabye ubufasha nyuma y’uko habaye umutingito. Mu buryo nk’ubwo, abantu batigeze bemera ubutumwa  bw’Ubwami muri iki gihe, bashobora kubwemera, iyo bagezweho n’ibintu bibabaje maze ibyo bari bishingikirijeho bikayoyoka mu buryo butunguranye. Iyo dukomeje gusura abantu baba mu ifasi yacu kandi tukajya dusubira kubasura buri gihe, tuba tugaragaje ko twiteguye kubafasha.

16. Ku munsi ukurikira uwo Pawulo na Silasi bakubitiweho, ibintu byahindutse bite?

¹⁶ Bukeye bwaho, Pawulo na Silasi baraye bakubiswe, abacamanza bategetse ko bafungurwa. Ariko Pawulo yaravuze ati “badukubitiye mu ruhame batatuburanishije kandi turi Abaroma, maze badushyira muri gereza. None ngo barashaka kuturekura mu ibanga? Oya rwose! Ahubwo nibiyizire ubwabo badusohore.” Abo bacamanza bamaze kumenya ko abo bagabo babiri bari Abaroma, ‘bagize ubwoba’ kuko bari barengereye uburenganzira bwabo. d Ibintu byahise bihinduka. Abigishwa bari bakubitiwe mu ruhame. Ubwo rero, abo bacamanza bagombaga kubasabira imbabazi mu ruhame. Binginze Pawulo na Silasi ngo bave i Filipi. Abo bigishwa babiri barabyubahirije, ariko babanje gufata igihe cyo gutera inkunga abigishwa bashya bagendaga biyongera, barangije baragenda.

17. Ni irihe somo ry’ingenzi abigishwa bashya bize, bitegereje ukuntu Pawulo na Silasi bihanganye?

¹⁷ Iyo uburenganzira Pawulo na Silasi bahabwaga n’uko bari bafite ubwenegihugu bw’Abaroma buza kuba bwarubahirijwe mbere, bashoboraga kudakubitwa (Ibyak 22:25, 26). Icyakora, ibyo byashoboraga gutuma abigishwa b’i Filipi batekereza ko abo bagabo bakoresheje umwanya bari bafite kugira ngo batababazwa bazira Kristo. Ibyo byari kugira izihe ngaruka ku kwizera kw’abigishwa batari bafite ubwenegihugu bw’Abaroma? N’ubundi kandi, bo ntibari bafite amategeko yabarengeraga ngo badakubitwa. Ubwo rero, igihe Pawulo na mugenzi we bihanganiraga guhanwa, bahaye abo bigishwa bashya urugero rubereka ko abigishwa ba Kristo bashobora gukomeza gushikama mu bitotezo. Byongeye kandi, igihe Pawulo na Silasi basabaga ko uburenganzira bahabwaga n’uko bari Abaroma bwubahirizwa, bahatiye abo bacamanza kwemera ku mugaragaro ko bari bakoze ibinyuranyije n’amategeko. Ibyo byashoboraga kuzatuma ubutaha abo bacamanza birinda guhohotera bagenzi ba Pawulo bari bahuje ukwizera, kandi bikazababera uburinzi mu rwego rw’amategeko ku buryo batari kuzongera kugerwaho n’ibitero nk’ibyo.

18. (a) Muri iki gihe, abagenzuzi b’Abakristo bigana bate urugero rwa Pawulo? (b) Ni mu buhe buryo ‘turwanirira ubutumwa bwiza, kandi tugatuma umurimo wo kubwiriza ubutumwa bwiza wemerwa n’amategeko’ muri iki gihe?

¹⁸ Muri iki gihe, abagenzuzi mu itorero rya gikristo na bo batanga ubuyobozi binyuze ku rugero rwiza batanga. Ibyo abungeri b’Abakristo basaba bagenzi babo bahuje ukwizera, na bo baba biteguye kubikora. Mu buryo nk’ubwo, kimwe na Pawulo, tugenzura twitonze uko twakoresha uburenganzira duhabwa n’amategeko kugira ngo buturengere, kandi tukareba igihe twabikorera. Iyo bibaye  ngombwa twitabaza inkiko, zaba iz’ibanze, izo mu rwego rw’igihugu cyangwa inkiko mpuzamahanga, kugira ngo uburenganzira bwo gusenga duhabwa n’amategeko bwubahirizwe. Intego yacu si iyo kuzana impinduramatwara mu mibereho y’abaturage, ahubwo ni iyo “kurwanirira ubutumwa bwiza, no gutuma umurimo wo kubwiriza ubutumwa bwiza wemerwa n’amategeko,” nk’uko Pawulo yabyandikiye itorero ry’i Filipi hashize imyaka icumi nyuma yaho afungiwe muri uwo mugi (Fili 1:7). Ariko kandi, uko izo nkiko zaca imanza kose, kimwe na Pawulo na bagenzi be, twiyemeje gukomeza gutangaza ‘ubutumwa bwiza’ aho umwuka w’Imana watuyobora hose.—Ibyak 16:10.