1, 2. Ni iki cyatumye Pawulo ajya i Yerusalemu, kandi se ni izihe ngorane yahuye na zo agezeyo?

 PAWULO yari yongeye kugera i Yerusalemu, agenda mu mihanda mito yaho yuzuye abantu. Nta mugi n’umwe ku isi ufite amateka yihariye mu birebana n’ubucuti Yehova yagiye agirana n’ubwoko bwe kuruta uwo. Muri rusange, abaturage baho baterwaga ishema n’uko uwo mugi wari warigeze kugira amateka ahambaye. Pawulo yari azi ko Abakristo benshi bo muri uwo mugi bari bagikomeje kugendera ku bya kera, bigatuma badashobora kugendana n’umuryango wa Yehova wakomezaga gutera imbere. Igihe Pawulo yari akiri muri Efeso, yamenye ko bari bakeneye imfashanyo, yiyemeza kongera kugaruka muri uwo mugi ukomeye, ariko awugezemo abona ko bari banakeneye gufashwa mu buryo bw’umwuka (Ibyak 19:21). Nubwo yari azi ko yashoboraga guhura n’ibibazo muri uwo mugi, yakomeje gukora ibyo yari yiyemeje.

² None se ni izihe ngorane Pawulo yahuye na zo ageze i Yerusalemu? Ikibazo cya mbere Pawulo yahuye na cyo cyaturutse ku bigishwa ba Kristo, bamwe muri bo bakaba bari barahungabanyijwe n’impuha bari baramwumviseho. Ibibazo bikomeye kurushaho byaturutse ku banzi ba Kristo. Bamureze ibinyoma byinshi, baramukubita kandi bashaka kumwica. Iyo mivurungano Pawulo yanyuzemo, nanone yamuhaye uburyo bwo kwiregura. Ukuntu yahanganye n’ibyo bibazo yicishije bugufi, abigiranye ubutwari n’ukwizera, ni urugero ruhebuje ku Bakristo bo muri iki gihe. Reka tubirebe.

3-5. (a) Ni iyihe nama Pawulo yagiyemo ageze i Yerusalemu, kandi se ni ibiki byavugiwemo? (b) Ni ayahe masomo twavana ku nama yahuje Pawulo n’abasaza b’i Yerusalemu?

³ Hashize umunsi umwe Pawulo na bagenzi be bageze i Yerusalemu, bagiye kureba abasaza bari bafite inshingano mu itorero. Nta n’umwe mu ntumwa zari zikiriho uvugwa muri iyo nkuru, bikaba biterwa n’uko wenda muri icyo gihe bose bari baragiye gukorera umurimo mu tundi turere tw’isi. Icyakora Yakobo wavaga inda imwe na Yesu, we yari agihari (Gal 2:9). Birashoboka ko ari we wayoboye iyo nama, igihe “abasaza bose bari” kumwe na Pawulo.—Ibyak 21:18.

 ⁴ Pawulo yasuhuje abo basaza “atangira kubabwira ibintu byose Imana yakoreye mu banyamahanga binyuze ku murimo wo kubwiriza yakoraga” (Ibyak 21:19). Ibyo bigomba rwose kuba byarateye abavandimwe inkunga. Natwe muri iki gihe twishimira kumva inkuru z’ukuntu umurimo utera imbere mu bindi bihugu.—Imig 25:25.

⁵ Mu gihe Pawulo yari akibibatekerereza, ashobora kuba yarababwiye iby’imfashanyo yari yazanye azivanye i Burayi. Abari bateze Pawulo amatwi bagomba kuba barishimiye kwibonera ukuntu abavandimwe babo bo mu turere twa kure cyane babahangayikiraga. Ikibigaragaza ni uko iyo nkuru ivuga ko abo basaza bamaze kumva ibyo Pawulo yababwiraga, ‘bashingije Imana’ (Ibyak 21:20a). Mu buryo nk’ubwo, benshi mu bahuye n’ibibazo cyangwa ibiza cyangwa abarwaye indwara zikomeye, iyo bagenzi babo bahuje ukwizera babahaye imfashanyo bakeneye mu gihe gikwiriye kandi bakababwira amagambo yo kubatera inkunga, bibakora ku mutima.

6. Ni ikihe kibazo Pawulo yamenyeshejwe?

⁶ Abasaza babwiye Pawulo ko muri Yudaya hari ikibazo cyamurebaga mu buryo bwihariye. Baramubwiye bati “muvandi, rwose urabona ko hari Abayahudi babarirwa mu bihumbi bizera. Kandi bose bakurikiza Amategeko babyitondeye. Ariko hari impuha bumvise zivuga ko wigisha Abayahudi bose bo mu mahanga kudakurikiza Amategeko ya Mose, ukababwira ko batagomba gukeba abana babo kandi ntibakore imigenzo bakurikizaga kuva kera.” a—Ibyak 21:20b, 21.

7, 8. (a) Ni iyihe mitekerereze idakwiriye Abakristo benshi b’i Yudaya bari bafite? (b) Kuki imitekerereze idakwiriye ya bamwe mu Bakristo b’Abayahudi itari ubuhakanyi?

⁷ Kuki hari Abakristo benshi bari bagifite ishyaka ry’Amategeko ya Mose kandi hari hashize imyaka isaga 20 akuweho (Kolo 2:14)? Mu mwaka wa 49, intumwa n’abasaza bari bateraniye i Yerusalemu bari baroherereje amatorero urwandiko  basobanura ko Abanyamahanga bizeye batasabwaga gukebwa no gukurikiza Amategeko ya Mose (Ibyak 15:23-29). Icyakora, iyo baruwa nta cyo yavugaga ku Bayahudi bizeye, benshi muri bo bakaba batari basobanukiwe ko Amategeko ya Mose atari agikurikizwa.

⁸ None se iyo mitekerereze ikocamye yatumaga abo Bayahudi bizeye batuzuza ibisabwa kugira ngo bakomeze kuba Abakristo? Oya. Ntibyari bimeze nk’aho mbere baba barasengaga imana z’abapagani none bakaba bari bagikomeza gukurikiza imigenzo y’idini bahozemo. Amategeko abo Bayahudi bizeye bari bakomeyeho, yari yaratanzwe na Yehova. Nta ho yari ahuriye n’abadayimoni cyangwa ikindi kintu kibi. Ariko kandi, ayo Mategeko yari afitanye isano n’isezerano rya kera, kandi Abakristo bari bafite isezerano rishya. Ku birebana no gusenga kutanduye, gukurikiza ibyasabwaga mu isezerano ry’Amategeko ntibyari bikiri ngombwa. Abakristo b’Abaheburayo bari bacyubahiriza Amategeko babyitondeye, ntibari basobanukiwe itorero rya gikristo kandi ntibari barifitiye icyizere. Bagombaga guhindura imitekerereze yabo bakayihuza n’ukuri kwagendaga guhishurwa. b—Yer 31:31-34; Luka 22:20.

9. Ni iki Pawulo yigishaga ku birebana n’Amategeko ya Mose?

⁹ Bite se ku bihereranye n’impuha zavugaga ko Pawulo yigishaga Abayahudi bo mu mahanga “ko batagomba gukeba abana babo kandi ntibakore imigenzo bakurikizaga kuva kera”? Pawulo yari intumwa ku Banyamahanga, kandi yashyigikiye umwanzuro w’uko Abanyamahanga batasabwaga gukurikiza Amategeko. Byongeye  kandi, yagaragaje ko umuntu wese wageragezaga kwemeza Abanyamahanga bizeye ko bagombaga gukebwa bagaragaza ko bumvira Amategeko ya Mose, yabaga yibeshya (Gal 5:1-7). Nanone Pawulo yabwirizaga ubutumwa bwiza Abayahudi bo mu migi yajyagamo. Nta gushidikanya ko yasobanuriraga abemeraga kumutega amatwi ko urupfu rwa Yesu rwakuyeho Amategeko, kandi ko umuntu abarwaho gukiranuka ari uko yizeye, bidaterwa n’uko yakoze imirimo isabwa n’Amategeko.—Rom 2:28, 29; 3:21-26.

10. Ni iyihe mitekerereze ishyize mu gaciro Pawulo yari afite ku birebana no gukurikiza Amategeko no gukebwa?

¹⁰ Icyakora, Pawulo yagaragaje ko yumvaga rwose abantu bashakaga gukomeza kuziririza imigenzo imwe n’imwe y’Abayahudi, urugero nko kutagira icyo bakora ku Isabato no kutarya ibyokurya bimwe na bimwe (Rom 14:1-6). Kandi ntiyashyizeho amategeko arebana no gukebwa. Koko rero, Pawulo yakebye Timoteyo kugira ngo Abayahudi batamugirira urwikekwe kuko se yari Umugiriki (Ibyak 16:3). Gukebwa wari umwanzuro umuntu yifatira ku giti cye. Pawulo yabwiye Abagalatiya ati “ari ugukebwa cyangwa kudakebwa byose nta gaciro bifite. Ahubwo kwizera gukorera mu rukundo ni ko gufite agaciro” (Gal 5:6). Ariko kandi, umuntu wakebwaga kugira ngo akurikize Amategeko, cyangwa akavuga ko uwo mugenzo ari ngombwa kugira ngo yemerwe na Yehova, yabaga agaragaje ko adafite ukwizera.

11. Ni iyihe nama abasaza bagiriye Pawulo, kandi se kuyumvira byari kuba bikubiyemo iki? (Reba nanone ibisobanuro ahagana hasi ku ipaji.)

¹¹ Bityo rero, nubwo izo mpuha zari ibinyoma byambaye ubusa, zari zarahungabanyije Abayahudi bizeye. Kubera iyo mpamvu, abasaza babwiye Pawulo bati “dufite abagabo bane bashaka gusohoza ibyo basezeranyije Imana. Ujyane n’abo bagabo, ukorane na bo umuhango wo kwiyeza kandi ubishyurire kugira ngo bashobore kwiyogoshesha.  Ibyo bizatuma abantu bose bamenya ko impuha bakuvugaho nta shingiro zifite, ahubwo ko ufite imyifatire ikwiriye kandi ko nawe wubahiriza Amategeko.” c—Ibyak 21:23, 24.

12. Pawulo yagaragaje ate ko yashyiraga mu gaciro kandi yari yiteguye gufatanya n’abandi igihe abasaza b’i Yerusalemu bamugiraga inama?

¹² Pawulo yashoboraga kujya impaka avuga ko ikibazo nyakuri kitari izo mpuha zimwerekeyeho, ahubwo ko cyari gifitwe n’abo Bayahudi bizeye bari bafite ishyaka ry’Amategeko ya Mose. Ariko yari yiteguye kugira icyo ahindura akumvira inama abo basaza bamugiriye igihe cyose itamusabaga kurenga ku mahame y’Imana. Mbere yaho yari yaranditse ati “ku batwarwa n’amategeko nabaye nk’utwarwa n’amategeko nubwo ntatwarwa n’amategeko, kugira ngo nunguke abatwarwa n’amategeko” (1 Kor 9:20). Kuri icyo kibazo, Pawulo yafatanyije n’abasaza b’i Yerusalemu, maze aba “nk’utwarwa n’amategeko.” Rwose yadusigiye urugero rwiza ku birebana n’uko twafatanya n’abasaza muri iki gihe, ntidutsimbarare ku bitekerezo byacu dushaka gukora ibintu nk’uko tubyumva.—Heb 13:17.

13. (a) Kuki Abayahudi bamwe bateje umuvurungano mu rusengero? (b) Pawulo yabarokotse ate?

¹³ Ibintu ntibyagenze neza mu rusengero. Igihe iminsi yo guhigura imihigo yari igiye kurangira, Abayahudi bo muri Aziya babonye Pawulo bamurega ibinyoma ko yazanaga Abanyamahanga mu rusengero, maze batuma abantu bigaragambya. Iyo umukuru w’abasirikare b’Abaroma atahagoboka, bari gukubita Pawulo kugeza apfuye. Umukuru w’abasirikare b’Abaroma yaramufunze, afungurwa hashize imyaka isaga ine. Ariko akaga kari kugarije Pawulo kari katararangira. Igihe umukuru w’abasirikare yabazaga Abayahudi impamvu bashakaga gufata Pawulo, bateye hejuru bamurega ibintu bitandukanye. Muri uwo muvurungano, nta cyo umutware w’abasirikare yashoboraga kumva. Amaherezo byabaye ngombwa ko baterura Pawulo bakamuvana aho hantu. Igihe Pawulo n’abasirikare b’Abaroma bari bagiye kwinjira mu kigo cy’abasirikare, yabwiye umukuru wabo ati “ndakwinginze nyemerera ngire icyo mbwira abantu” (Ibyak 21:39). Umukuru w’abasirikare yarabyemeye, maze Pawulo atangira kuvuganira ukwizera kwe abigiranye ubutwari.

14, 15. (a) Ni iki Pawulo yasobanuriye Abayahudi? (b) Ni izihe ngamba umukuru w’abasirikare b’Abaroma yafashe kugira ngo amenye neza icyatumye Abayahudi barakarira Pawulo?

¹⁴ Pawulo yatangiye agira ati ‘nimutege amatwi ibyo mvuga niregura’ (Ibyak 22: 1).  Pawulo yabwiye abantu mu giheburayo, bituma barushaho gutuza. Yabasobanuriye adaciye ku ruhande impamvu yari yarahindutse umwigishwa wa Kristo. Pawulo yatanze ibyo bisobanuro abigiranye ubuhanga, avuga ibintu abo Bayahudi bashoboraga kwigenzurira iyo babishaka. Pawulo yari yarigiye ku birenge by’umuhanga wari uzwi cyane witwaga Gamaliyeli kandi yari yaratoteje abigishwa ba Kristo, nk’uko bamwe mu bari aho bashobora kuba bari babizi. Icyakora igihe yari mu nzira ajya i Damasiko, Kristo wazutse yaramubonekeye avugana na we. Abari kumwe na Pawulo muri urwo rugendo babonye umucyo mwinshi kandi bumvaga ijwi, ariko ntibasobanukirwe ayo magambo (Ibyakozwe 9:7; 22:9). Nyuma y’ibyo abari kumwe na Pawulo baramurandase bamujyana i Damasiko kuko iryo yerekwa ryari ryatumye ahuma. Agezeyo, umugabo wari uzwi cyane n’Abayahudi bo muri ako karere witwaga Ananiya, yatumye Pawulo yongera kureba mu buryo bw’igitangaza.

¹⁵ Pawulo yakomeje ababwira ko nyuma yaho yagarutse i Yerusalemu, Yesu akamubonekera mu rusengero. Amaze kuvuga ayo magambo Abayahudi bararakaye cyane batangira gutera hejuru bagira bati “mukure uwo muntu ku isi kuko adakwiriye kubaho” (Ibyak 22:22). Byabaye ngombwa ko umukuru w’abasirikare yinjiza Pawulo mu kigo cy’abasirikare, kugira ngo batamugirira nabi. Kubera ko umukuru w’abasirikare yari yiyemeje kumenya impamvu yari yatumye Abayahudi barakarira Pawulo, yategetse ko bamuhata ibibazo bamukubita. Ariko Pawulo yiyambaje amategeko yamurengeraga, ababwira ko yari afite ubwenegihugu bw’Abaroma. Muri iki gihe, abasenga Yehova na bo bakoresha amategeko ariho abarengera, kugira ngo bavuganire ukwizera kwabo. (Reba agasanduku gafite umutwe uvuga ngo “ Amategeko y’Abaroma n’abaturage b’Abaroma,” ku ipaji  ya 184, n’agafite umutwe uvuga ngo “ Imanza zagejejwe mu nkiko muri iki gihe”.) Umukuru w’abasirikare amaze kumenya ko Pawulo yari afite ubwenegihugu bw’Abaroma, yabonye ko yagombaga gushakisha ubundi buryo yamenya neza ikibazo cye. Bukeye bwaho, yajyanye Pawulo imbere y’inama idasanzwe y’Urukiko rw’Ikirenga rw’Abayahudi.

16, 17. (a) Sobanura uko byagenze igihe Pawulo yireguriraga imbere y’Urukiko rw’Ikirenga rw’Abayahudi. (b) Igihe Pawulo yakubitwaga, yatanze ate urugero rwo kwicisha bugufi?

¹⁶ Pawulo yatangiye kwiregura imbere y’Urukiko rw’Ikirenga rw’Abayahudi agira ati “bavandimwe, kugeza ubu nkomeje kugira umutimanama ukeye rwose imbere y’Imana” (Ibyak 23:1). Ntiyashoboye kugira ikindi ababwira. Iyo nkuru igira iti “avuze atyo, umutambyi mukuru Ananiya ategeka ko abari bamuhagaze iruhande bamukubita ku munwa” (Ibyak 23:2). Mbega agasuzuguro! Kandi kuba barise Pawulo umunyabinyoma na mbere y’uko bumva uko yiregura, bigaragaza urwikekwe bari bamufitiye. Ntibitangaje rero kuba Pawulo yaramushubije ati “nawe Imana izagukubita wa ndyarya we! Wicajwe no kuncira urubanza ruhuje n’Amategeko, none ni wowe wica Amategeko utegeka ngo nkubitwe?”—Ibyak 23:3.

¹⁷ Bamwe mu bari aho bararakaye cyane, batarakajwe n’uwakubise Pawulo, ahubwo barakajwe n’uko Pawulo abyitwayemo. Baramubajije bati “nta soni uratuka umutambyi mukuru w’Imana?” Pawulo agiye kubasubiza, yabahaye isomo mu birebana no kwicisha bugufi no kumvira Amategeko. Yarababwiye ati “bavandi, sinari nzi ko ari umutambyi mukuru, kuko handitswe ngo ‘ntukavuge nabi umutware wanyu’” (Ibyak 23:4, 5; Kuva 22:28). d Pawulo yahinduye uburyo yireguragamo. Abonye ko Urukiko rw’Ikirenga rw’Abayahudi rwari rugizwe n’Abafarisayo n’Abasadukayo, yaravuze ati “bavandi, ndi Umufarisayo, nkaba umwana w’Abafarisayo. Ibyiringiro by’umuzuko w’abapfuye ni byo bitumye nshyirwa mu rubanza.”—Ibyak 23:6.

18. Kuki Pawulo yiyise Umufarisayo, kandi se twakoresha dute ubwo buryo mu mimerere imwe n’imwe?

¹⁸ Kuki Pawulo yiyise Umufarisayo? Ni uko yari “umwana w’Abafarisayo,” wo mu  muryango wo muri ako gatsiko. Bityo rero, hari benshi bari bakimubona batyo. e None se kuki yavuze ko iby’umuzuko yabibonaga kimwe n’Abafarisayo? Bivugwa ko Abafarisayo bizeraga ko iyo umuntu apfuye ubugingo bwe budapfa, kandi ko ubugingo bw’abakiranutsi bwongera kubaho buri mu mibiri y’abantu. Pawulo ntiyemeraga ibyo bitekerezo. Yizeraga umuzuko wigishijwe na Yesu (Yoh 5:25-29). Icyakora yemeranyaga n’Abafarisayo ko abapfuye bashobora kongera kubaho. Abasadukayo bo ntibemeraga ko abapfuye bashobora kuzuka. Natwe dushobora gukoresha ubwo buryo mu gihe tuganira n’Abagatolika cyangwa Abaporotesitanti. Dushobora kubabwira ko natwe twemera Imana kimwe na bo. Nubwo bemera Ubutatu twe tukaba twemera Imana ivugwa muri Bibiliya, twese twemera ko Imana ibaho.

19. Kuki inama y’Urukiko rw’Ikirenga rw’Abayahudi yajemo akaduruvayo?

¹⁹ Ibyo Pawulo yavuze byatumye Urukiko rw’Ikirenga rw’Abayahudi rucikamo ibice. Iyo nkuru igira iti “nuko haba umuvurungano mwinshi, bamwe mu banditsi bo mu gatsiko k’Abafarisayo barahaguruka, bajya impaka barakaye cyane, bavuga bati ‘nta kibi tubonye kuri uyu muntu! Ariko birashoboka ko hari ikiremwa cy’umwuka cyangwa umumarayika wamuvugishije, . . . ’” (Ibyak 23:9). Igitekerezo cy’uko umumarayika ashobora kuba yari yavuganye na Pawulo, Abasadukayo ntibashoboraga kucyemera kuko batemeraga ko abamarayika babaho. (Reba agasanduku gafite umutwe uvuga ngo “ Abafarisayo n’Abasadukayo.”) Uwo muvurungano wariyongereye ku buryo umukuru w’abasirikare b’Abaroma yongeye gukiza Pawulo (Ibyak 23:10). Icyakora, ibyago bye byari bitararangira. None se ni iki kindi cyari kigiye kumubaho? Ibyo tuzabireba mu gice gikurikira.