1, 2. (a) Ni ibihe bibazo Pawulo na bagenzi be bahuye na byo muri Efeso? (b) Ni iki turi busuzume muri iki gice?

 IMIHANDA yo muri Efeso yari yuzuyemo urusaku rw’abantu benshi birukaga bavuza induru. Abantu bari bamaze gukora agatsiko kandi hari imvururu. Bafashe abagabo babiri bafatanyaga urugendo n’intumwa Pawulo barabakurubana. Imihanda minini iriho amaduka yasigayemo ubusa, mu gihe abantu birukaga ari benshi mu kibuga kinini cy’imikino cyo muri uwo mugi, cyashoboraga kwakira abantu 25.000. Abenshi muri bo nta nubwo bari bazi impamvu hari akavuyo. Ariko batinyaga ko urusengero rwabo n’imanakazi yabo Arutemi bakundaga cyane byashoboraga guhura n’ibibazo. Ni yo mpamvu batangiye gusakuriza icyarimwe bavuga bati “Arutemi y’Abefeso irakomeye!”—Ibyak 19:34.

² Aha nanone turabona ukuntu Satani yarimo agerageza gukoresha urugomo rw’abantu bakoze agatsiko, kugira ngo ahagarike umurimo wo kubwiriza ubutumwa bwiza bw’Ubwami bw’Imana. Birumvikana ariko ko ibikorwa by’urugomo atari yo mayeri yonyine Satani akoresha. Muri iki gice, turi busuzume uburyo bunyuranye Satani yakoresheje kugira ngo ace intege Abakristo bo mu kinyejana cya mbere ntibakore neza umurimo wabo kandi asenye ubumwe bwabo. Icy’ingenzi kurushaho, turi bubone ko ayo mayeri yose atagize icyo ageraho, kubera ko “ijambo rya Yehova ryakomeje kwamamara no kugira imbaraga” (Ibyak 19:20). Ni iki cyatumye abo Bakristo batsinda Satani? Ni igituma natwe tumutsinda muri iki gihe. Birumvikana ariko ko tumutsinda biturutse kuri Yehova, bidaturutse kuri twe. Icyakora, kimwe n’Abakristo bo mu kinyejana cya mbere, tugomba gukora ibitureba. Umwuka wa Yehova ushobora kudufasha kugira imico izatuma tugira icyo tugeraho mu murimo wacu. Reka dusuzume mbere na mbere urugero rwa Apolo.

3, 4. Akwila na Purisikila babonye ko Apolo yari abuze iki, kandi se babikozeho iki?

³ Igihe Pawulo yari mu nzira ajya muri Efeso mu rugendo rwe rwa gatatu  rw’ubumisiyonari, Umuyahudi witwaga Apolo yageze muri uwo mujyi. Yakomokaga mu mujyi wari uzwi cyane wa Alegizandiriya ho muri Egiputa. Apolo yari afite imico yihariye cyane. Yari azi kuvuga neza. Uretse kuba yari umuhanga mu kuvuga, ‘yari n’umuhanga mu Byanditswe.’ Byongeye kandi, “yari afite ishyaka ryinshi atewe n’umwuka wera.” Apolo yari afite ishyaka ryinshi, akabwiriza Abayahudi mu isinagogi ashize amanga.—Ibyak 18:24, 25.

⁴ Akwila na Purisikila bumvise Apolo avuga. Nta gushidikanya ko bashimishijwe no kumwumva yigisha “ibya Yesu nk’uko biri koko.” Ibyo yavugaga kuri Yesu byari ukuri. Icyakora, uwo mugabo n’umugore we b’Abakristo bahise babona ko hari ikintu gikomeye Apolo atari asobanukiwe. “Yari azi ibyerekeye umubatizo wa Yohana gusa.” Uwo mugabo n’umugore we bari boroheje, bakoraga umwuga wo kuboha amahema, ntibatinye Apolo bitewe n’uko yari intyoza cyangwa ko yari yarize amashuri menshi. Ahubwo ‘bamujyanye iwabo maze bamusobanurira ibyerekeye Imana kugira ngo arusheko kubimenya neza’ (Ibyak 18:25, 26). Ariko se, uwo mugabo wari intyoza kandi wari warize yabyakiriye ate? Uko bigaragara, yagaragaje umuco w’ingenzi cyane kuruta indi yose Umukristo ashobora kwitoza kugaragaza, ari wo wo kwicisha bugufi.

5, 6. Ni iki cyatumye Apolo aba umukozi wa Yehova ugera kuri byinshi, kandi se urugero rwe rutwigisha iki?

⁵ Kubera ko Apolo yemeye ko Akwila na Purisikila bamufasha, byatumye aba umugaragu wa Yehova wageze kuri byinshi. Yagiye muri Akaya, “afasha cyane” abari barizeye. Nanone yashoboye kubwiriza neza Abayahudi bo muri ako karere bakomezaga kwemeza ko Yesu atari we Mesiya wasezeranyijwe. Luka agira ati “yagaragarizaga mu ruhame ko Abayahudi bibeshya, akabikorana imbaraga kandi akerekana akoresheje Ibyanditswe ko Yesu ari we Kristo” (Ibyak 18:27, 28). Mbega ukuntu Apolo yagiriye akamaro amatorero! Mu by’ukuri, na we ari mu batumye “ijambo rya Yehova” rikomeza kugira imbaraga. Ariko se urugero rwa Apolo rutwigisha iki?

⁶ Kwicisha bugufi ni umuco Abakristo bose bagomba kwitoza. Buri wese muri twe afite impano zinyuranye, zaba ari izifitanye isano n’ubushobozi twavukanye, ibyatubayeho mu buzima cyangwa ubumenyi dufite. Ariko kandi, umuco wacu wo kwicisha bugufi ugomba kugira imbaraga kurusha izo mpano. Naho ubundi bitabaye ibyo, impano zacu zahinduka inenge. Iyo mico myiza ishobora gutuma dutangira kwishyira hejuru (1 Kor 4:7; Yak 4:6). Niba twicisha bugufi by’ukuri, tuzihatira kubona ko abandi baturuta (Fili 2:3). Ntituzarakarira abandi nibadukosora cyangwa ngo twange ko batwigisha. Nitumenya ko ibitekerezo byacu bidahuje n’ubuyobozi umwuka wera utanga muri iki gihe, ntituzakomeza kubitsimbararaho tubitewe n’ubwibone. Igihe cyose dukomeje kwicisha bugufi, Yehova n’Umwana we baradukoresha.—Luka 1:51, 52.

7. Ni mu buhe buryo Pawulo na Apolo batanze urugero rwo kwicisha bugufi?

⁷ Nanone kwicisha bugufi bidufasha kwirinda ishyari. Ese ushobora kwiyumvisha ukuntu Satani yari ashishikajwe no kubiba amacakubiri muri abo Bakristo bo mu kinyejana cya mbere? Satani yari kwishima cyane iyo ababwiriza babiri bari bafite ubushobozi bwo kwemeza, urugero nka Apolo n’intumwa Pawulo, baza kugirana ibibazo, wenda ishyari rigatuma buri wese ashaka kuba ukomeye  mu matorero. Kubigenza batyo byari kuborohera cyane. N’ikimenyimenyi, i Korinto hari Abakristo bari baratangiye kuvuga bati “ndi uwa Pawulo,” abandi bakavuga bati “ariko jye ndi uwa Apolo.” Ese Pawulo na Apolo ni bo babashishikarizaga kugira ibyo byiyumvo bikurura amacakubiri? Ashwi da! Pawulo yemeye yicishije bugufi ko Apolo yari yaragize uruhare mu guteza imbere umurimo, amuha inshingano z’inyongera mu murimo. Apolo na we yakurikizaga ubuyobozi bwa Pawulo (1 Kor 1:10-12; 3:6, 9; Tito 3:12, 13). Mbega ukuntu badusigiye urugero rwiza rwo gukorera mu bumwe twicishije bugufi!

8. Ni iyihe nzira Pawulo yanyuzemo igihe yasubiraga muri Efeso, kandi se kuki ari yo yanyuze?

⁸ Pawulo yari yarasezeranyije Abefeso ko yari kuzagaruka kubasura, kandi koko yarabikoze (Ibyak 18:20, 21). a Icyakora, zirikana uko yagarutse. Twamuherukaga ari muri Antiyokiya ya Siriya. Kugira ngo agere muri Efeso, yashoboraga kunyura inzira ya hafi akajya i Selukiya, agafata ubwato agahita ajya muri Efeso. Aho kugira ngo abigenze atyo, yanyuze “mu turere two mu gihugu.” Ugenekereje, urugendo Pawulo yakoze nk’uko ruvugwa mu Byakozwe 18:23 na 19:1, rwageraga ku birometero hafi 1.600. Kuki Pawulo yahisemo kunyura inzira iruhije? Yabitewe n’uko yari afite intego yo kugenda “atera inkunga abigishwa bose” (Ibyak 18:23). Urugendo rwe rwa gatatu rw’ubumisiyonari, kimwe n’izindi ebyiri zarubanjirije, rwari kumusaba kwigomwa byinshi, ariko yabonaga ko byari ngombwa. Muri iki gihe, abagenzuzi b’uturere n’abagore babo na bo bagaragaza imyifatire nk’iyo. Mbese ntitwishimira urukundo rurangwa no kwigomwa bagaragaza?

9. Kuki hari itsinda ry’abigishwa bagombaga kongera kubatizwa, kandi se urugero rwabo rutwigisha iki?

⁹ Pawulo ageze muri Efeso, yahasanze abigishwa ba Yohana Umubatiza bagera kuri cumi na babiri. Bari barabatijwe umubatizo wa Yohana utari ugifite agaciro. Byongeye kandi, basaga naho bari bazi bike cyane ku byerekeye umwuka wera, cyangwa se ari nta n’icyo bawuziho. Pawulo yabasobanuriye ibyo batari bazi, maze kimwe na Apolo, bagaragaza ko bicishaga bugufi kandi ko bari biteguye kwiga babishishikariye. Bamaze kubatizwa mu izina rya Yesu, bahawe umwuka wera n’impano zo gukora ibitangaza. Uko bigaragara rero, kugendana n’umuryango wa Yehova ukomeza kujya mbere bihesha imigisha.—Ibyak 19:1-7.

10. Kuki Pawulo yavuye mu isinagogi akajya kubwiririza mu cyumba cy’ishuri, kandi se ibyo biduha uruhe rugero twakurikiza mu murimo wacu?

¹⁰ Bidatinze, habonetse urundi rugero rugaragaza uko umuryango wa Yehova wakomezaga kujya mbere. Pawulo yamaze amezi atatu abwiriza mu isinagogi. Nubwo ‘yasobanuriraga abantu iby’ubwami bw’Imana,’ hari bamwe banze kumwumva, baramurwanya cyane. Aho kugira ngo ate igihe abwiriza abo bantu ‘basebyaga Inzira y’Ukuri,’ yashyizeho gahunda yo kujya atanga ibiganiro mu cyumba cy’ishuri (Ibyak 19:8, 9). Abifuzaga kugira amajyambere mu buryo bw’umwuka  bagombaga kuva mu isinagogi bakajya muri icyo cyumba cy’ishuri. Kimwe na Pawulo, natwe dushobora guhagarika ibiganiro niba tubonye ko nyir’inzu atifuza kudutega amatwi cyangwa ko ashaka kujya impaka gusa. Haracyari abantu benshi bagereranywa n’intama bifuza kumva ubutumwa bwacu butera inkunga.

11, 12. (a) Ni mu buhe buryo Pawulo yatanze urugero mu birebana no gukorana umwete no guhuza n’imimerere? (b) Ni mu buhe buryo Abahamya ba Yehova bihatira gukorana umwete no guhuza n’imimerere mu murimo wabo wo kubwiriza?

¹¹ Pawulo ashobora kuba yaratangaga ibiganiro muri icyo cyumba cy’ishuri buri munsi ahereye mu ma saa tanu akageza mu ma saa kumi (Ibyak 19:9). Ayo ashobora kuba ari amasaha yabaga atuje ariko nanone arimo ubushyuhe bwinshi, igihe abenshi babaga bahagaritse akazi kabo kugira ngo bajye kurya kandi baruhuke. Bitekerezeho nawe: niba Pawulo yarakurikije iyo gahunda mu gihe cy’imyaka ibiri yuzuye, agomba kuba yaramaze amasaha asaga 3.000 yigisha. b Aha nanone hagaragaza indi mpamvu ijambo rya Yehova ryakomeje kwamamara no kuganza. Pawulo yakoranaga umwete kandi akamenya guhuza n’imimerere. Yagiraga icyo ahindura kuri gahunda ye kugira ngo ahuze n’ibyo abantu bo muri ako gace babaga bakeneye. Ibyo byageze ku ki? “Abari batuye mu ntara ya Aziya bose yaba Abayahudi cyangwa Abagiriki, bumvise ijambo ry’Umwami” (Ibyakozwe 19:10). Mbega ukuntu yabwirije iby’Ubwami mu buryo bwitondewe!

¹² Abahamya ba Yehova bo muri iki gihe na bo bakorana umwete kandi bahuza n’imimerere. Twihatira kugera ku bantu aho bashobora kuboneka hose n’igihe bashobora kubonekera cyose. Tubwiriza mu mihanda, mu masoko n’aho imodoka zihagarara. Dushobora guterefona abantu cyangwa tukabandikira. Iyo tubwiriza ku nzu n’inzu, twihatira  kugera ku bantu mu gihe baba bashobora kuboneka mu ngo zabo.

13, 14. (a) Yehova yatumye Pawulo ashobora gukora iki? (b) Ni irihe kosa abahungu ba Sikewa bakoze, kandi se ni mu buhe buryo abantu benshi bo mu madini yiyita aya gikristo bakora ikosa nk’iryo?

¹³ Luka atumenyesha ko hakurikiyeho igihe gishishikaje cyane, kuko Yehova yahaye Pawulo ububasha bwo “gukora ibitangaza.” Ndetse n’ibitambaro n’amataburiya Pawulo yakoreshaga barabijyanaga bakabishyira abarwayi bagakira. Nanone byatumaga imyuka mibi isohoka mu bantu (Ibyak 19:11, 12). c Kuba ingabo za Satani zaratsinzwe mu buryo budasubirwaho, byashishikaje abantu benshi, ariko si ko bose bari bafite intego nziza.

¹⁴ “Bamwe mu Bayahudi bagendaga hose birukana abadayimoni,” na bo bagerageje kwigana ibitangaza bya Pawulo. Bamwe muri abo Bayahudi bagerageje kwirukana abadayimoni mu izina rya Yesu n’irya Pawulo. Luka atanga urugero rw’abahungu barindwi ba Sikewa bakomokaga mu muryango w’abatambyi, na bo bagerageje kubikora. Umwuka mubi warababwiye uti “Yesu ndamuzi kandi na Pawulo ndamuzi. Ariko se mwe muri ba nde?” Uwo muntu wari watewe n’umwuka mubi yasimbukiye abo bantu bihaga gukora ibyo badashoboye arabanesha, maze basohoka bakomeretse, biruka bambaye ubusa (Ibyak 19:13-16). Icyo gihe “ijambo rya Yehova” ryari ritsinze mu buryo budasubirwaho, kuko byagaragaje neza itandukaniro ryari hagati y’imbaraga Pawulo yari yarahawe, n’intege nke z’abo bayoboke b’idini ry’ikinyoma. Muri iki gihe hari abantu babarirwa muri za miriyoni bibeshya ko kwambaza izina rya Yesu gusa, cyangwa kwiyita “Umukristo” byonyine bihagije. Ariko nk’uko Yesu yabigaragaje, abakora ibyo Se ashaka ni bo bonyine bafite ibyiringiro nyakuri by’igihe kizaza.—Mat 7:21-23.

15. Ku birebana n’ubupfumu cyangwa ibintu bifitanye isano na bwo, twakurikiza dute urugero rw’Abefeso?

¹⁵ Kuba abahungu ba Sikewa barakojejwe isoni byatumye abantu benshi batinya Imana, maze benshi barizera kandi bacika ku migenzo yabo y’ubupfumu.  Umuco wo muri Efeso wari wiganjemo ubupfumu. Ahantu hose wahasangaga impigi, kandi habaga hari amagambo y’imitongero, akenshi yabaga yanditswe. Icyo gihe Abefeso benshi bumvise bagomba kuzana ibitabo byabo by’ubumaji, maze babitwikira mu ruhame, nubwo byari bifite agaciro k’amadolari agera mu bihumbi bibarirwa muri za mirongo ubaze mu gaciro k’ubu. d Luka agira ati “nguko uko ijambo rya Yehova ryakomeje kwamamara no kugira imbaraga” (Ibyak 19:17-20). Mbega ukuntu ukuri kwatsinze ikinyoma n’abadayimoni mu buryo buhebuje! Abo bantu bizerwa badusigiye urugero rwiza muri iki gihe. Natwe tuba mu isi yiganjemo ubupfumu. Turamutse tubonye ko hari ikintu dutunze gifitanye isano n’ubupfumu, twagombye kwigana Abefeso, tugahita tucyikuraho. Nimucyo dukomeze kugendera kure bene ibyo bikorwa biteye iseseme, icyo byadusaba cyose.

16, 17. (a) Sobanura ukuntu Demetiriyo yatangije imvururu muri Efeso. (b) Abefeso bagaragaje bate ko bakabyaga gutsimbarara ku myizerere yabo?

¹⁶ Ubu noneho tugeze ku mayeri ya Satani Luka yavuze igihe yandikaga ati “hatangira imvururu zikaze ku bihereranye n’Inzira y’Ukuri.” Ntiyakabirizaga ibintu rwose (Ibyak 19:23). e Umucuzi witwaga Demetiriyo ni we watangije izo mvururu. Kugira ngo yumvishe bagenzi be ikibazo bari bafite, yabanje kubibutsa ko ubutunzi bwabo babukeshaga kugurisha ibigirwamana. Yabumvishije ko ubutumwa Pawulo yabwirizaga bwari bubangamiye ubucuruzi bwabo, kuko Abakristo batasengaga ibigirwamana. Hanyuma yagerageje kugera ku mutima abari bamuteze amatwi ahereye ku ishema baterwaga n’igihugu cyabo bakundaga birenze urugero, ababurira ko imanakazi yabo Arutemi n’urusengero rwabo rwari rwaramamaye mu isi yose byari byugarijwe n’akaga ko kuba bitazongera ‘guhabwa icyubahiro.’—Ibyak 19:24-27.

¹⁷ Amagambo ya Demetiriyo yatumye agera ku cyo yifuzaga. Abacuzi bose batangiye gutera hejuru bagira bati “Arutemi y’Abefeso irakomeye,” maze umugi wose uravurungana, abantu birema agatsiko nk’uko byavuzwe mu ntangiriro y’iki gice. f Kubera ko Pawulo yari umuntu urangwa no kwigomwa, yashakaga kujya mu kibuga cy’imikino kugira ngo agire icyo abwira iyo mbaga y’abantu, ariko abigishwa bamubujije kujyayo kugira ngo atishyira mu kaga. Umugabo witwaga Alegizanderi yahagaze imbere y’abantu agerageza kugira icyo avuga. Kubera ko yari Umuyahudi, ashobora kuba yari ashishikajwe no kwiregura asobanura aho Abayahudi  bari batandukaniye n’abo Bakristo. Ibyo bisobanuro nta cyo byari bivuze kuri abo bantu. Igihe bamenyaga ko ari Umuyahudi ntibamukundiye ko akomeza kuvuga, ahubwo basakurije icyarimwe batera hejuru bati “Arutemi y’Abefeso irakomeye,” bamara amasaha nk’abiri. Gukabya gutsimbarara ku myizerere y’idini, ntibyigeze bihinduka kuva icyo gihe. Na n’ubu biracyatuma abantu badashyira mu gaciro.—Ibyak 19:28-34.

18, 19. (a) Umuyobozi w’umugi yacecekesheje ate abantu bari bakoraniye muri Efeso? (b) Ni mu buhe buryo Abahamya ba Yehova bagiye barindwa n’abategetsi, kandi se ni uruhe ruhare dushobora kubigiramo?

¹⁸ Amaherezo umuyobozi w’umugi yacecekesheje abantu. Uwo mugabo wari ushoboye kandi washyiraga mu gaciro, yijeje abo bantu ko nta kaga abo Bakristo bari bateje urusengero rwabo n’imanakazi yabo. Nanone, yabijeje ko nta kintu kibi Pawulo na bagenzi be bari bakoreye urusengero rwa Arutemi kandi ko hariho uburyo bwemewe bwo gukemura bene ibyo bibazo. Birashoboka ko icyatumye bacururuka, ari uko yabibukije ko bari mu kaga ko kuba bakwikongereza uburakari bw’abategetsi b’i Roma bitewe n’uko bari bakoranye mu buryo butemewe n’amategeko kandi bagateza imvururu. Amaze kubabwira atyo, yarabasezereye. Uburakari bwabo bwahise bushira nk’uko bwari bwatangiye, bitewe n’ayo magambo yumvikana neza kandi ahuje n’ubwenge.—Ibyak 19:35-41.

¹⁹ Icyo gihe ntibwari ubwa mbere umuyobozi ushyira mu gaciro agize icyo akora kugira ngo arinde abigishwa ba Yesu, kandi nta nubwo bwari ubwa nyuma. Mu by’ukuri, intumwa Yohana yabonye mu iyerekwa ko mu minsi y’imperuka ibintu by’ishingiro bigize umuryango w’abantu bigereranywa n’isi, byari kwasama bikamira uruzi Satani yari yaciriye, rugereranya ibitotezo byibasira abigishwa ba Yesu (Ibyah 12:15, 16). Ibyo ni ko byagiye bigenda. Mu manza nyinshi, abacamanza bashyira mu gaciro bagiye bumva ko bagomba kurengera uburenganzira bw’Abahamya ba Yehova bwo guteranira hamwe kugira ngo basenge Imana no kugeza ku bandi ubutumwa bwiza. Birumvikana ariko ko imyifatire yacu na yo ishobora kugira uruhare muri uko gutsinda. Imyifatire ya Pawulo ishobora kuba yari yaratumye bamwe mu bategetsi bo muri Efeso bamwubaha kandi bakamukunda, bityo bakaba barifuzaga ko atagira icyo aba (Ibyak 19:31). Turifuza ko imyifatire yacu irangwa no kubaha no kuba inyangamugayo yatuma abo duhura na bo batubona neza. Nta wamenya, hari igihe byagira ingaruka nziza mu rugero rwagutse.

20. (a) Iyo utekereje ukuntu Ijambo rya Yehova ryamamaye mu kinyejana cya mbere n’ukuntu rikomeza kuganza muri iki gihe, wumva umeze ute? (b) Ni iki wiyemeje ku bijyanye no gutsinda kwa Yehova muri iki gihe?

²⁰ Ese iyo utekereje ukuntu “ijambo rya Yehova ryakomeje kwamamara no kugira imbaraga” mu kinyejana cya mbere, ntiwumva wishimye? Nanone kandi, birashimisha cyane kubona ukuntu Yehova yagiye atuma natwe dutsinda muri iki gihe. Mbese wakwishimira kugira uruhare muri uko gutsinda, naho byaba ari mu rugero ruto? Niba ari uko bimeze, vana isomo ku ngero twasuzumye. Komeza kuba umuntu wicisha bugufi, ukomeze kugendana n’umuryango wa Yehova ukomeza kujya mbere, ukomeze gukorana umwete, uce ukubiri n’ubupfumu kandi ukore uko ushoboye kose kugira ngo utange ubuhamya bwiza binyuze ku myifatire yawe irangwa no kubaha no kuba inyangamugayo.