1. Ni ikihe cyizere Pawulo na bagenzi be bari bafite, kandi se ni iki cyatumye bagira icyo cyizere?

 UBWATO bwari bufite ikimenyetso cy’“Abana ba Zewu,” bukaba bushobora kuba bwari ubwato bunini bwatwaraga ibinyampeke, bwahagurutse ku kirwa cyo mu nyanja ya Mediterane cya Malita bwerekeje mu Butaliyani. Hari mu mwaka wa 59. Bwarimo intumwa Pawulo, icyo gihe wari imfungwa irinzwe n’abasirikare, akaba yari kumwe n’Abakristo bagenzi be, ari bo Luka na Arisitariko (Ibyak 27:2). Abo babwiriza bari batandukanye n’abasare, kuko bo batishingikirizaga ku burinzi bw’abana b’impanga b’imana y’Abagiriki Zewu, ari bo Castor na Pollux (Ibyak 28:11). Ahubwo Pawulo na bagenzi be bakoreraga Yehova, we wamenyesheje Pawulo ko yari kuzahamiriza ukuri i Roma kandi agahagarara imbere ya Kayisari.—Ibyak 23:11; 27:24.

2, 3. Ubwato Pawulo yarimo bwanyuze he, kandi ni ubuhe bufasha yabonye kuva agitangira urwo rugendo?

² Ubwo bwato bwahagaze i Sirakuza, umugi mwiza wo muri Sisile wari ukomeye nka Atene na Roma, buhamara iminsi itatu, maze bukomeza bwerekeza i Regiyo mu majyepfo y’u Butaliyani. Hanyuma, ubwo bwato bwakoze urugendo rw’ibirometero 320 bubifashijwemo n’umuyaga, bugera ku cyambu cy’u Butaliyani cya Puteyoli (hafi y’umugi wa Naples wo muri iki gihe) buhakoresheje igihe gito cyane, kuko bwahageze ku munsi wa kabiri.—Ibyak 28:12, 13.

³ Icyo gihe Pawulo yari atangiye igice cya nyuma cy’urugendo rwe ajya i Roma, aho yagombaga kuzahagarara imbere y’Umwami w’abami Nero. Kuva urwo rugendo rwatangira kugeza rurangiye, “Imana nyir’ihumure ryose” yari kumwe na Pawulo (2 Kor 1:3). Nk’uko turi bubibone, ubwo bufasha ntibwigeze bugabanuka, kandi na Pawulo ntiyigeze agabanya ishyaka yagiraga mu murimo w’ubumisiyonari.

4, 5. (a) Pawulo na bagenzi be bakiriwe bate bageze i Puteyoli, kandi se kuki yahabwaga umudendezo usesuye? (b) Iyo Abakristo bafunzwe bagaragaje imyifatire myiza, bigira akahe kamaro?

⁴ Pawulo na bagenzi be bageze i Puteyoli ‘bahasanze abavandimwe, barabinginga ngo bagumane na bo iminsi irindwi’ (Ibyak 28:14). Mbega ukuntu abo  Bakristo bagaragaje urugero rwiza mu birebana no kwakira abashyitsi! Nta gushidikanya ko abo bavandimwe bagaragaje umuco wo kwakira abashyitsi babonye imigisha myinshi, kubera ko Pawulo na bagenzi be babateye inkunga mu buryo bw’umwuka. Ariko se kuki imfungwa yari irinzwe n’abasirikare yahabwaga umudendezo ungana utyo? Bishobora kuba byaratewe n’uko imyifatire ya Pawulo yatumye abo basirikare b’Abaroma bamugirira icyizere mu buryo bwuzuye.

⁵ Mu buryo nk’ubwo muri iki gihe, igihe Abahamya ba Yehova babaga bari muri gereza no mu bigo byakoranyirizwagamo imfungwa, akenshi bahabwaga umudendezo udasanzwe bitewe n’imyifatire yabo ya gikristo. Urugero, muri Rumaniya hari umugabo wari warakatiwe imyaka 75 azira ubujura, watangiye kwiga Ijambo ry’Imana maze arahinduka agira imico myiza cyane. Ibyo byatumye abayobozi ba gereza bamutuma mu mugi, atarinzwe, ajya kugura ibikoresho bya gereza. Birumvikana ariko ko ikirenze ibyo byose, ari uko imyifatire yacu myiza ihesha Yehova ikuzo.—1 Pet 2:12.

6, 7. Abavandimwe b’i Roma bagaragaje bate urukundo rudasanzwe?

⁶ Pawulo na bagenzi be bavuye i Puteyoli, bashobora kuba barakoze urugendo rw’ibirometero 50 n’amaguru bakagera i Kapuwa ku muhanda wa Apiyo ugana i Roma. Uwo muhanda wari uzwi cyane wari ushashemo amabuye magari, iyo wawunyuragamo wagendaga ureba uturere twiza cyane two mu cyaro cyo mu Butaliyani, kandi hamwe na hamwe wagendaga ubona inyanja ya Mediterane. Nanone uwo muhanda wanyuzaga abagenzi mu bishanga bya Pontin, biri ku birometero 60 uvuye i Roma, ahari isoko rya Apiyo. Luka yanditse avuga ko igihe abavandimwe b’i Roma ‘bumvaga inkuru’ yabo, bamwe baje kubasanganira ku Isoko, abandi bo bakabategerereza ahitwa ku Macumbi Atatu aho abagenzi baruhukiraga, ku birometero 50 uvuye i Roma. Mbega urukundo rudasanzwe!—Ibyak 28:15.

⁷ Isoko rya Apiyo ntiryari rifite ahantu heza umugenzi wakoze urugendo runaniza  yashoboraga kuruhukira. Umusizi w’Umuroma wandikaga ibisigo witwaga Horace avuga ko iryo soko “ryabaga ryuzuye abasare n’abanyamacumbi b’abahemu.” Yanditse ko “amazi yaho yabaga ari umwanda.” Ndetse we ntiyashoboraga kurya ibyokurya byaho. Nubwo hari ibyo bibazo byose ariko, itsinda ry’abavandimwe baturutse i Roma bari bategereje Pawulo na bagenzi be bishimye, kugira ngo babaherekeze basoze urugendo rwabo amahoro.

8. Kuki Pawulo yashimiye Imana ‘abonye’ abavandimwe be?

⁸ Iyo nkuru ivuga ko ‘Pawulo abonye [abavandimwe be] yashimiye Imana kandi bimutera inkunga’ (Ibyak 28:15). Koko rero, kuba iyo ntumwa yarabonye abo bantu yakundaga byonyine, kandi bamwe muri bo akaba yari abazi neza, byaramukomeje kandi biramuhumuriza. Kuki Pawulo yashimiye Imana? Yari azi ko urukundo ruzira ubwikunde ari kimwe mu bigize imbuto z’umwuka (Gal 5:22). Muri iki gihe na bwo, umwuka wera utuma Abakristo bitangira bagenzi babo kandi bagahumuriza ababikeneye.—1 Tes 5:11, 14.

9. Twakwigana dute abavandimwe bagiye gusanganira Pawulo?

⁹ Urugero, umwuka wera utuma abantu bafite imitima ishimira bacumbikira abagenzuzi b’uturere, abamisiyonari n’abandi bakozi b’igihe cyose. Abenshi muri abo bakozi b’igihe cyose baba barigomwe byinshi kugira ngo bakorere Yehova mu buryo bwuzuye. Ibaze uti “ese nshobora gukora byinshi kugira ngo nshyigikire uruzinduko rw’umugenzuzi usura amatorero, wenda nkamucumbikira we n’umugore we niba yarashatse? Ese nshobora gushyiraho gahunda yo kujyana na bo kubwiriza?” Nubigenza utyo uzabona imigisha myinshi. Urugero, tekereza ukuntu abavandimwe b’i Roma bishimye igihe Pawulo na bagenzi be bababwiraga amakuru menshi ateye inkunga.—Ibyak 15:3, 4.

10. Igihe Pawulo yari i Roma yabayeho ate, kandi se yakoze iki akigerayo?

¹⁰ Amaherezo bageze i Roma, maze ‘Pawulo yemererwa kuba ukwe, ariko ahabwa umusirikare umurinda’ (Ibyak 28:16). Ababaga bafunzwe mu buryo bworoheje, ubusanzwe babaga bafite umunyururu ubahuza n’umurinzi kugira ngo badatoroka. Nubwo byari bimeze bityo, Pawulo yakomeje kuba umubwiriza w’Ubwami, kandi umunyururu ntiwashoboraga kumucecekesha. Ni yo mpamvu amaze kuruhuka iminsi itatu, yateranyije abari bakomeye bo mu Bayahudi b’i Roma kugira ngo abibwire kandi ababwirize.

11, 12. Igihe Pawulo yavuganaga na bagenzi be b’Abayahudi, yagerageje ate gukuraho urwikekwe urwo ari rwo rwose bashobora kuba bari bafite?

¹¹ Pawulo yarababwiye ati “bavandi, nubwo nta kosa nakoreye aba bantu cyangwa ngo ngire icyo nkora kinyuranyije n’imigenzo ya ba sogokuruza, i Yerusalemu bampaye Abaroma bangira imfungwa. Bamaze kugenzura ibyanjye bashaka kundekura, kuko nta mpamvu babonye yo kunyica. Ariko kubera ko Abayahudi bakomeje gusakuza babirwanya, byabaye ngombwa ko njuririra Kayisari, ariko bidatewe n’uko hari icyo mbarega.”—Ibyak 28:17-19.

¹² Igihe Pawulo yitaga Abayahudi bari bamuteze amatwi ati “abavandimwe,” yageragezaga gushaka icyo bahuriraho, kandi yifuzaga ko badakomeza kumwishisha  (1 Kor 9:20). Nanone yasobanuye mu buryo bwumvikana neza ko atari azanywe no gushinja bagenzi be b’Abayahudi, ahubwo ko yari aje kujuririra Kayisari. Icyakora Abayahudi b’i Roma ntibari barigeze bumva iby’ubujurire bwa Pawulo (Ibyak 28:21). Kuki Abayahudi b’i Yudaya bashobora kuba bataramenyesheje abandi ayo makuru? Hari igitabo cyagize kiti “ubwato Pawulo yarimo bushobora kuba ari bwo bwa mbere bwageze mu Butaliyani nyuma y’igihe cy’amezi y’imbeho, mbere yuko abari bahagarariye ubuyobozi bw’Abayahudi i Yerusalemu bahagera, cyangwa ibaruwa isobanura icyo kibazo.”

13, 14. Pawulo yatangiye ate kuvuga iby’Ubwami, kandi se twakwigana dute urugero rwe?

¹³ Pawulo yatangiye kubabwira ibyerekeye Ubwami akoresheje amagambo yari gutuma Abayahudi bari bamusuye barushaho kugira amatsiko. Yarababwiye ati “mu by’ukuri, icyo ni cyo cyatumye ninginga nshaka kubonana namwe no kugira icyo mbabwira, kuko ibyiringiro by’Abisirayeli ari byo byatumye mboheshwa uyu munyururu” (Ibyak 28:20). Birumvikana ko ibyo byiringiro byari bishingiye kuri Mesiya n’Ubwami bwe, nk’uko itorero rya gikristo ryabitangazaga. Abakuru b’Abayahudi baramushubije bati “turabona bikwiriye ko twumva ibitekerezo byawe, kuko mu by’ukuri tuzi ko ako gatsiko k’idini kavugwa nabi ahantu hose.”—Ibyak 28:22.

¹⁴ Mu gihe tubonye uburyo bwo kubwiriza ubutumwa bwiza, dushobora kwigana Pawulo, tukavuga amagambo akangura ibitekerezo, cyangwa tukabaza ibibazo bituma abaduteze amatwi bashimishwa. Dushobora kubona ibitekerezo by’ingirakamaro mu bitabo byacu, urugero nk’igitabo Ungukirwa n’inyigisho z’Ishuri ry’Umurimo wa Gitewokarasi (cyangwa igitabo Comment raisonner à partir des Écritures)  n’agatabo Itoze gusoma no kwigisha. Mbese ukoresha neza ibyo bitabo by’imfashanyigisho za Bibiliya?

15. Ni ibihe bintu bine by’ingenzi bikubiye mu buhamya Pawulo yatanze?

¹⁵ Ku munsi bari bumvikanyeho, abo Bayahudi ‘baje ari benshi,’ basanga Pawulo ku icumbi rye. Pawulo yabasobanuriye “iby’Ubwami bw’Imana abyitondeye, ahera mu gitondo ageza nimugoroba. Hanyuma yifashisha Amategeko ya Mose n’ibyavuzwe n’abahanuzi abemeza ibya Yesu” (Ibyak 28:23). Ubuhamya Pawulo yatanze bukubiyemo ibintu bine by’ingenzi. Icya mbere, yibanze ku Bwami bw’Imana. Icya kabiri, yagerageje kugera ku mutima abari bamuteze amatwi “abemeza.” Icya gatatu, yabafashije gutekereza ku Byanditswe. Icya kane, yagaragaje imyifatire izira ubwikunde, akomeza kubabwiriza “ahera mu gitondo ageza nimugoroba.” Mbega urugero rwiza yadusigiye! None se byagize akahe kamaro? ‘Bamwe barizeye,’ ariko abandi ntibizera. Luka avuga ko abantu bacitsemo ibice, maze ‘bagahita bigendera.’—Ibyak 28:24, 25a.

16-18. Kuki Pawulo atatunguwe n’uko Abayahudi b’i Roma banze kwemera ubutumwa yababwiraga, kandi se twagombye kumva tumeze dute mu gihe abantu banze ubutumwa bwacu?

¹⁶ Ibyo ntibyatangaje Pawulo, kuko byari bihuje n’ubuhanuzi bwa Bibiliya, kandi akaba atari ubwa mbere yari abonye abantu bitwara batyo (Ibyak 13:42-47; 18:5, 6; 19:8, 9). Ni yo mpamvu Pawulo yabwiye abanze kumva ibyo yababwiraga bakagenda ati “umwuka wera wabivuze ukuri, ubwo wabwiraga ba sogokuruza banyu binyuze ku muhanuzi Yesaya. Waravuze uti ‘Sanga abo bantu ubabwire uti “Muzumva, ariko ntimuzasobanukirwa. Muzareba, ariko nta cyo muzamenya. Aba bantu ntibumva”’” (Ibyak 28:25b-27). Ijambo ry’umwimerere ryahinduwemo ngo “ntibumva,” ryumvikanisha umutima “wagiyeho ibinure byinshi,” bigatuma ubutumwa bw’Ubwami butawinjiramo (Ibyak 28:27). Mbega ibintu bibabaje!

¹⁷ Pawulo yashoje avuga ko ubwo butumwa Abayahudi bari bamuteze amatwi banze, ‘abanyamahanga bari kuzabwumva nta kabuza’ (Ibyak 28:28; Zab 67:2; Yes 11:10). Koko rero, iyo ntumwa yashoboraga kubivugana ubutwari kuko yari yariboneye Abanyamahanga benshi bitabiriye ubutumwa bw’Ubwami.—Ibyak 13:48; 14:27.

¹⁸ Kimwe na Pawulo, nimucyo natwe tujye twirinda kurakara mu gihe abantu banze ubutumwa bwiza. N’ubundi kandi, tuzi ko abantu bake cyane ari bo babona inzira igana ku buzima (Mat 7:13, 14). Byongeye kandi, mu gihe abafite imitima itaryarya bahindukiriye ugusenga k’ukuri, tujye twishima kandi tubakirane urugwiro.—Luka 15:7.

19. Ni mu buhe buryo Pawulo yakoresheje neza igihe cye?

¹⁹ Luka asoza inkuru ye avuga amagambo atera inkunga rwose kandi  asusurutsa umutima, agira ati “nuko [Pawulo] amara imyaka ibiri yose aba mu nzu yakodeshaga, kandi abazaga kumusura bose yabakiraga abishimiye, akababwiriza iby’Ubwami bw’Imana kandi akabigisha iby’Umwami Yesu Kristo afite ubutwari, nta kintu na kimwe kimubangamiye” (Ibyak 28:30, 31). Mbega ukuntu yatanze urugero rwiza mu birebana no kwakira abashyitsi, kugaragaza ukwizera n’ishyaka!

20, 21. Vuga zimwe mu ngero z’abo umurimo Pawulo yakoreye i Roma wafashije.

²⁰ Umwe muri abo bantu Pawulo yakiranye urugwiro, ni umugaragu w’i Kolosayi witwaga Onesimo wari waratorotse shebuja. Pawulo yafashije Onesimo ahinduka Umukristo, hanyuma Onesimo na we abera Pawulo ‘umuvandimwe we yakundaga kandi wizerwa.’ Pawulo yaravugaga ati “umwana wanjye Onesimo, uwo nabyaye” (Kolo 4:9; File 10-12). Onesimo agomba rwose kuba yarateraga Pawulo inkunga cyane. a

²¹ Hari n’abandi urugero rwiza Pawulo yatanze rwafashije. Yandikiye Abafilipi ati “ibyambayeho byatumye ubutumwa bwiza butera imbere aho kububera inkomyi, ku buryo ibyanjye byamamaye cyane mu basirikare bose barinda Kayisari no mu bandi bose, ko naboshywe nzira kwizera Kristo. Abavandimwe bari mu Mwami hafi ya bose, ingoyi zanjye zabateye kugira icyizere, none barushaho kugaragaza ubutwari bwo kuvuga ijambo ry’Imana badatinya.”—Fili 1:12-14.

22. Ni mu buhe buryo Pawulo yakoresheje neza igihe yari afite ubwo yari afungiwe i Roma?

²² Pawulo yakoresheje neza igihe yari afite ubwo yari afungiwe i Roma, yandika amabaruwa y’ingenzi, ubu akaba ari amwe mu bigize Ibyanditswe by’Ikigiriki bya Gikristo. b Ayo mabaruwa yagiriye akamaro Abakristo bo mu kinyejana cya mbere yandikiwe. Natwe amabaruwa Pawulo yanditse adufitiye akamaro, kuko inama zahumetswe yatanze ari iz’ingenzi muri iki gihe nk’uko byari bimeze igihe zandikwaga.— 2 Tim 3:16, 17.

23, 24. Ni mu buhe buryo Abakristo benshi bo muri iki gihe biganye Pawulo bakagaragaza imyifatire myiza nubwo bafunzwe barengana?

²³ Igihe Pawulo yafunguriwe ntikivugwa mu Byakozwe, ariko yari amaze imyaka ine afunzwe, ibiri akaba yarayimaze i Kayisariya, indi ibiri akayimara i Roma (Ibyak 23:35; 24:27). c Icyakora yakomeje kurangwa n’icyizere, kandi yakoraga ibyo ashoboye byose mu murimo w’Imana. Mu buryo nk’ubwo, abagaragu ba Yehova benshi muri iki gihe bakomeje kurangwa n’ibyishimo kandi bakomeza kubwiriza, nubwo bafunzwe barengana bazira ukwizera kwabo. Reka dufate urugero rwa Adolfo,  wafungiwe muri Esipanye azira kutivanga muri politiki. Hari umusirikare wamubwiye ati “uradutangaza cyane. Twakomeje kugukorera ibintu bibi cyane, ariko uko twarushagaho kukugirira nabi, ni ko warushagaho kurangwa n’akanyamuneza, kandi buri gihe wavugaga neza.”

²⁴ Byageze aho bizera Adolfo cyane ku buryo batari bagikinga urugi rwa kasho yari afungiwemo. Abasirikare bazaga kumusura bakamubaza ibibazo byerekeranye na Bibiliya. Ndetse umwe mu barinzi yajyaga muri kasho ya Adolfo gusoma Bibiliya, Adolfo agacunga ko hagira uza. Bityo, imfungwa ni yo “yarindaga” umurinzi wa gereza. Turifuza ko urugero rwiza rw’abo Bahamya bizerwa rwatuma ‘turushaho kugaragaza ubutwari bwo kuvuga ijambo ry’Imana tudatinya,’ kabone niyo twaba turi mu mimerere igoranye.

25, 26. Mu myaka itageze kuri 30, ni ubuhe buhanuzi bushishikaje Pawulo yabonye busohozwa, kandi se ibyo bihuriye he n’ibibaho muri iki gihe?

²⁵ Inkuru ishishikaje yo mu gitabo cy’Ibyakozwe isoza ivuga iby’intumwa ya Kristo yari ifungiwe mu rugo, ‘yabwirizaga iby’ubwami’ abazaga kuyisura bose. Mu gice cya mbere, twasomye ibyerekeye inshingano Yesu yahaye abigishwa be igihe yababwiraga ati “umwuka wera nubazaho muzagira imbaraga, kandi muzambera abahamya i Yerusalemu, i Yudaya n’i Samariya mugere no mu turere twa kure cyane tw’isi” (Ibyak 1:8). None mu gihe kitageze ku myaka 30, ubutumwa bw’Ubwami bwari “bwarabwirijwe mu baremwe bose bari munsi y’ijuru” (Kolo 1:23). d Mbega ukuntu ibyo bigaragaza imbaraga z’umwuka w’Imana!—Zek 4:6.

²⁶ Muri iki gihe, uwo mwuka w’Imana watumye abavandimwe ba Kristo basigaye basutsweho umwuka hamwe na bagenzi babo bagize “izindi ntama,” bashobora gukomeza ‘gusobanura iby’ubwami bw’Imana babyitondeye’ mu bihugu birenga 240 (Yoh 10:16; Ibyak 28:23). Ese wifatanya muri uwo murimo mu buryo bwuzuye?