1-3. (a) Pawula nalabo labehamba nabo basitfola njani sicondziso semoya longcwele? (b) Yini lesitawucoca ngayo?

 LICEMBU lebantfu besifazane liyahamba lishiya lidolobha laseFiliphu leliseMasedoniya. Bangakahambi lokuyaphi, befika emfuleni lomncane i-Gangites. Njengobe bavamise kwenta, bahlala phansi elusentseni lwalomfula kuze bathantaze kuNkulunkulu wema-Israyeli, futsi Jehova ubabukile.​—2 Khr. 16:9; Hla. 65:2.

² Ngesikhatsi lesifanako, kunemadvodza lesuka edolobheni laseListra leliseningizimu yeGalathiya futsi lelikhashane ngemakhilomitha langu-800 nawusuka eFiliphu ubheka emphumalanga. Ngemuva kwemalanga latsite, efika emgwacweni lomkhulu wemaRoma lowakhiwe kahle futsi lobheka enshonalanga, esifundzeni sase-Asiya lesihlala bantfu labanyenti. Lamadvodza, lokunguPawula, Silasi, kanye naThimothi atimisele kuchubeka ngalomgwaco aze ayofika e-Efesu kanye nakulamanye emadolobha lapho kuhlala khona tinkhulungwane tebantfu letisadzinga kuva ngaKhristu. Kusenjalo, asengakalucali ngisho nekulucala loluhambo lwawo, umoya longcwele uyawavimba ngendlela lengakachazwa eBhayibhelini. Ayavinjwa kutsi ashumayele e-Asiya. Leni? Jesu, asebentisa umoya waNkulunkulu ucondzisa Pawula nalabo lebekahamba nabo futsi badzabula e-Asia Minor, bewele lwandle i-Aegean, baze bayofika kulomfula lomncane lowatiwa ngekutsi yi-Gangites.

³ Indlela Jesu lacondzisa ngayo Pawula kanye nalabekahamba nabo eluhambeni loluya eMasedoniya, ingasifundzisa tifundvo letibalulekile lamuhla. Ngako, asesihlole lokunye kwaloko lokwenteka eluhambweni lwaPawula lwesibili asitfunywa selivangeli, lolwacala cishe ngabo-49 C.E.

4, 5. (a) Yini leyenteka kuPawula nalabo bekahamba nabo nasebatofika eBithiniya? (b) Ngusiphi sincumo labafundzi labasenta, futsi waba yini umphumela?

⁴ Njengobe bebavinjiwe kushumayela e-Asiya, Pawula kanye nalebekahamba nabo base babheka enyakatfo kuze bayoshumayela  emadolobheni aseBithiniya. Kuze befike lapho, bahamba emalanga lamanyenti etindleleni letinetintfuli letisemkhatsini wetifundza taseFrigiya naseGalathiya futsi letite bantfu labanyenti. Nobe kunjalo, nase batofika eBithiniya, Jesu waphindze wasebentisa umoya longcwele kuze abavimbe. (Imis. 16:6, 7) Ngaleso sikhatsi, lamadvodza abese ayadideka ngobe bewati kutsi kufanele ashumayele atsini, ashumayele kanjani kodvwa bewangati kutsi kufanele ashumayele kuphi. Bewanconcotsile emnyango longekwemfanekiso loholela e-Asiya, kodvwa lomnyango awuzange uvuleke. Bewanconcotsile nasemnyango loholela eBhithiniya, nawo awuzange uvuleke. Nobe kunjalo, Pawula bekatimisele kuchubeka anconcotsa kuze kube ngulapho atfola umnyango lotawuvuleka. Lamadvodza abese enta sincumo lebesingabonakala singenangcondvo. Ahamba emakhilomitha langu-550 abheka enshonalanga, endlula emadolobha lamanyenti aze efika esikhumulweni semikhumbi lesiseTrowasi, lokuyindlela leholela eMasedoniya. (Imis. 16:8) Nabefika lapho, Pawula waphindze wanconcotsa kwesitsatfu kulomnyango longekwemfanekiso, futsi lomnyango wavuleka nge!

⁵ Umbhali weliVangeli Lukha, lowahamba naboPawula ngesikhatsi befika eTrowasi, ubika naku lokwabese kuyenteka: “Ebusuku, Pawula wabona umbono. Wabona kume indvodza yaseMasedoniya imncenga itsi: ‘Yewelela eMasedoniya utosisita.’ Ngekushesha nasekabone lombono, satilungiselela kuya eMasedoniya, ngobe besesibonile kutsi Nkulunkulu usitfuma khona kuze simemetele tindzaba letimnandzi.” a (Imis. 16:9, 10) Ekugcineni, Pawula besekati kutsi kufanele ashumayele kuphi. Kungenteka wajabula kakhulu ngekutsi akazange aphelelwe ngemandla emkhatsini naloluhambo! Ngekushesha, lamadvodza agibela umkhumbi aya eMasedoniya.

6, 7. (a) Ngusiphi sifundvo lesisifundzako kulokwenteka eluhambweni lwaPawula? (b) Ngusiphi sicinisekiso lesisitfola kuloko lokwenteka kuPawula?

 ⁶ Ngusiphi sifundvo lesisitfolako kulendzaba? Naka naku: Umoya waNkulunkulu wangenela kuphela ngemuva kwekutsi Pawula acale luhambo lwakhe lwekuya e-Asiya, Jesu wangenela kuphela ngemuva kwekutsi Pawula asondzele eBhithiniya, futsi Jesu wacondzisa Pawula kutsi aye eMasedoniya kuphela ngemuva kwekutsi Pawula sekefike eTrowasi. Jesu, loyiNhloko yelibandla, angasicondzisa ngendlela lefanako natsi lamuhla. (Khol. 1:18) Sibonelo nje, kungenteka sesinesikhatsi lesidze sicabangela kuba ngemahlahlandlela nobe kutfutsela endzaweni lenesidzingo lesikhulu sebamemeteli beMbuso. Nobe kunjalo, asebentisa umoya waNkulunkulu, Jesu angasicondzisa kuphela ngemuva kwekutsi sesitsetse tinyatselo tekufinyelela lomgomo wetfu. Leni? Cabanga nganasi sibonelo: Umshayeli wemoto angakhona kujikisa lemoto kuphela nayihamba. Ngendlela lefanako, Jesu angasicondzisa emsebentini wetfu wekushumayela kuphela nje nasenta imetamo yekuwenta.

⁷ Ngako-ke, kutsiwani nangabe imetamo yetfu ingaphumeleli ngekushesha? Kufanele yini siphelelwe ngemandla, sicabange kutsi umoya waNkulunkulu awusicondzisi? Cha. Khumbula kutsi naPawula akazange aphumelele ngekushesha. Kunaloko, wachubeka anconcotsa kwaze kwaba ngulapho atfola umnyango longekwemfanekiso lowavuleka. Natsi singaciniseka kutsi kubeketela kwetfu njengobe sifuna umnyango “lomkhulu wekwenta umsebenti weNkhosi” kutawubusiswa ngendlela lefanako.​—1 Khor. 16:9.

8. (a) Chaza lidolobha laseFiliphi. (b) Ngusiphi sentakalo lesijabulisako lesenteka ngesikhatsi Pawula ashumayela ‘endzaweni yekuthantaza’?

⁸ Ngemuva kwekufika esifundzeni saseMasedoniya, Pawula nalabo bekahamba nabo bendlulela eFiliphi, lokulidolobha lebelinebantfu lebebatigcabha ngekuba bantfu bekutalwa eRoma. Lelidolobha laseFiliphi lebelibuswa ngumbuso wemaRoma belifana neTaliyane lencane nobe iRoma lencane leseMasedoniya kumasotja langemaRoma lebekatsetse umhlalaphansi lebekahlala kulo. Letitfunywa telivangeli tatfola indzawo lebeticabanga kutsi “yindzawo yekuthantaza,” ngaphandle kweligede lalelidolobha, eceleni kwemfula lomncane. b NgeliSabatha, tehlela kuleyondzawo futsi tatfola besifazane labanyenti lebebabutsene lapho kuze bakhonte Nkulunkulu. Labafundzi bahlala phansi futsi bakhuluma nabo. Lomunye wesifazane lokutsiwa nguLidiya “bekalalele . . . [futsi] Jehova wavula inhlitiyo yakhe.” Loko Lidiya lakufundza kuletitfunywa telivangeli kwamtsintsa kakhulu kangangekutsi yena nemndeni wakhe babhajatiswa. Ngemuva kwaloko, wancenga Pawula nalabo lebekahamba nabo kutsi batohlala ekhaya lakhe. c​—Imis. 16:13-15.

9. Bantfu labanyenti lamuhla basilingise njani sibonelo saPawula, futsi batfole tiphi tibusiso?

⁹ Cabanga injabulo leyabakhona ngesikhatsi Lidiya abhajatiswa! Cabanga nangendlela Pawula lajabula ngayo nakatfola simemo sekutsi ‘ewelele eMasedoniya,’ nekutsi Jehova wakhetsa kusebentisa yena nalebekahamba nabo  kuze aphendvule imithantazo yalabesifazane labesaba Nkulunkulu! Nalamuhla, bazalwane nabodzadze labanyenti, labancane nalabadzala, labashadile nalabangakashadi, baya etindzaweni lapho kunesidzingo lesikhulu khona sebamemeteli beMbuso. Kuliciniso kutsi babeketelela timo letimatima, kodvwa loko kuba lite nakucatsaniswa nekwenetiseka lababa nako nabatfola bantfu labafana naLidiya, labemukela emaciniso eliBhayibheli. Kukhona yini wena lushintjo longalwenta kuze ukwati ‘kwewelela’ endzaweni lapho kunesidzingo lesikhulu khona? Kunetibusiso letinyenti letikulindzile. Sibonelo nje, cabanga nga-Aaron, umzalwane loseminyakeni yabo-20 lowatfutsela kulelinye live leliseCentral America. Utiva ngendlela labanyenti labativa ngayo futsi utsi: “Kukhonta kulenye indzawo kungisite kutsi ngikhule ebuhlotjeni bami naNkulunkulu futsi kwangenta ngasondzelana kakhulu naJehova. Kuyangijabulisa kushumayela, futsi nyalo nginebantfu labangu-8 lengifundza nabo liBhayibheli!”

10. Lidimoni lasifaka njani sandla ekucaliseni kuphikiswa kwaPawula kanye nalabo lebekahamba nabo?

¹⁰ Kufanele kube Sathane watfukutsela wagana lunwabu ngenca yekutsi tindzaba letimnandzi besetifike encenyeni yemhlaba lapho khona yena nemadimoni akhe bebenta nobe yini labayifunako. Akumangalisi kutsi emadimoni aba nesandla ekuphikiseni umsebenti wekushumayela lebewentiwa nguPawula nalebekahamba nabo! Njengobe bebachubeka baya kulendzawo yekuthantaza, intfombatana lesigcili lenelidimoni futsi lebeyitfolela banikati bayo imali lenyenti ngekuphengula, yachubeka ilandzela Pawula nalebekahamba nabo imemeta itsi: “Lamadvodza lamemetela kini indlela leningasindziswa ngayo, atinceku taNkulunkulu Losetikwako Konkhe.” Kungenteka lelidimoni lenta lentfombatana yamemeta lamagama kuze lente kubonakale shengatsi loko lebeyikusho kanye naloku lebekufundziswa nguPawula bekuvela emtfonjeni munye. Ngaleyondlela, bantfu lebebabukele bebangeke babanake balandzeli baKhristu beliciniso, kodvwa Pawula wathulisa lentfombatana ngekutsi acoshe lelidimoni.​—Imis. 16:16-18.

11. Kwentekani kuboPawula naSilasi ngemuva kwekutsi bakhiphe lelidimoni kulentfombatana?

¹¹ Ngesikhatsi banikati balentfombatana babona kutsi litsemba labo lekutfola imali alisekho, batfukutsela kakhulu. Babamba Pawula naSilasi babahudvulela emakethe, lapho bomantji kanye netikhulu letimelele iRoma betihlangana khona kuze takhe inkantolo. Labanikati balentfombatana bancenga lamajaji bawenta aba nelubandlululo futsi atigcaba ngebuve bawo, kwafana nekutsi batsi kuwo: ‘LamaJuda abanga siphitsiphitsi ngekufundzisa emasiko tsine emaRoma lesingawemukeli.’ Lamavi abo aba nemphumela ngekushesha. “Sicumbi sebantfu [bakulendzawo] . . . sabavukela [boPawula naSilasi]”, futsi ngemuva kwekutsi labomantji badzabule tingubo taboPawula naSilasi, babese bakhipha umyalo wekutsi “babhambabulwe ngemizaca.” Ngemuva kwaloko, boPawula naSilasi bahudvulelwa ejele. Umgcini welijele wafaka lamadvodza lalimele esitokisini futsi wabophela tinyawo tawo etingodvweni. (Imis. 16:19-24) Ngesikhatsi lomgcini welijele avala umnyango, kwaba mnyama kakhulu kulelijele kangangekutsi kwaba matima ngaPawula naSilasi kutsi babonane. Nobe kunjalo, Jehova bekabona konkhe.​—Hla. 139:12.

12. (a) Bafundzi baJesu bebakutsatsa njani kuphikiswa, futsi leni? (b) Nguluphi luhlobo lwekuphikisa Sathane kanye nalabo labamsebentelako labalusebentisako nalamuhla?

 ¹² Besekuphele iminyaka letsite Jesu atsi kubalandzeli bakhe: “Bataniphatsa kabi.” (Joh. 15:20) Kungako ngalesikhatsi Pawula nalabekahamba nabo baya eMasedoniya, bebakulungele kuphikiswa. Ngako kwatsi nakucala lokuhlushwa, abazange bakubuke njengeluphawu lwekungemukelwa nguJehova, kodvwa njengendlela yaSathane yekuveta intfukutselo yakhe. Nalamuhla labo labasebentela Sathane basasebentisa tindlela letifana naleto letasetjentiswa eFiliphi. Baphikisi labanemanga basiphatsa kabi etikolweni kanye nasemisebentini, futsi babangela kutsi siphatfwe kabi. Kulamanye emave, baphikisi labasetinkholweni bavamise kusimangalela etinkantolo batsi: ‘LaboFakazi babangela siphitsiphitsi ngekufundzisa emasiko “tsine makholwa” lesingawemukeli.’ Kuletinye tindzawo bazalwane betfu bayashaywa futsi bafakwe emajele. Nobe kunjalo, Jehova ubukile.​—1 Phet. 3:12.

13. Yini leyabangela lomgcini welijele kutsi abute: “Yini lokufanele ngiyente kuze ngisindziswe?”

¹³ Kungenteka boPawula naSilasi bebasadzinga sikhatsi sekucabangisisa ngaloku lebekwenteke ngalelolanga. Nobe kunjalo, ekhatsi nebusuku besebativa bancono kulobuhlungu bekushaywa kangangekutsi “bathantaza, baphindze badvumisa Nkulunkulu ngetingoma.” Ngekushesha, kwaba nekutamatama kwemhlaba lokwanyakatisa lelijele! Lomgcini welijele wavuka, futsi wabona tivalo tivulekile, wase ufikelwa kwesaba acabanga kutsi letiboshwa tibalekile. Bekati kutsi utawujeziswa ngekutsi uvumele letiboshwa tabaleka. “Wahoshula inkemba yakhe afuna kutibulala,” kodvwa Pawula wamemeta watsi: “Ungatibulali, sikhona sonkhe!” Lomgcini welijele lokhatsatekile wababuta watsi: “Banumzane, yini lokufanele ngiyente kuze ngisindziswe?” BoPawula naSilasi bebangeke bakwati kumsindzisa, kodvwa nguJesu kuphela lebekangamsindzisa. Ngako, bamphendvula: “Kholwa yiNkhosi Jesu, futsi wena nemndeni wakho nitawusindziswa.”​—Imi 16:25-31.

14. (a) Nguluphi lusito boPawula naSilasi labaluniketa lomgcini welijele? (b) Ngutiphi tibusiso boPawula naSilasi labatitfola ngenca yekujabula ngisho nobe bahlushwa?

¹⁴ Lombuto walomgcini welijele bewusuka enhlitiyweni yini? Pawula akazange akungabate kuba cotfo kwalombuto. Lomgcini welijele bekanguMuntfu Wetive, futsi angakejwayelani nemiBhalo. Ngaphambi kwekutsi abe ngumKhristu, bekufanele afundze futsi emukele emaciniso eliBhayibheli lasisekelo. Ngako, boPawula naSilasi batsatsa sikhatsi kuze ‘bashumayele ngelivi laJehova kuye.’ Njengobe bekagcile ekufundziseni ngemiBhalo, kungenteka lamadvodza akhohlwa ngebuhlungu lebekabuva ngenca yekushaywa. Ngako, lomgcini welijele wabona letilondza lebetisemihlane yabo, futsi watigeza. Ngemuva kwaloko, ngaphandle kwekucitsa sikhatsi, yena nawo wonkhe umndeni wakhe “babhajatiswa.” Lesi sibusiso boPawula naSilasi labasitfola ngenca yekujabula ngisho nobe babeketelela kuhlushw!​—Imis. 16:32-34.

15. (a) BoFakazi labanyenti lamuhla basilandzele njani sibonelo saPawula naSilasi? (b) Yini leyenta kubaluleke kutsi sichubeke sibuyela emakhaya alabo labasensimini lesishumayela kuyo?

¹⁵ NjengaPawula naSilasi, boFakazi labanyenti lamuhla bashumayele tindzaba letimnandzi bavalelwe emajele ngenca yekukholwa kwabo, futsi loko kube nemiphumela  lemihle. Sibonelo nje, kulelinye live lapho umsebenti wetfu uvinjelwe khona, kuke kwaba nesikhatsi lapho khona emaphesenti langu-40 aboFakazi labahlala kulelo live lafundza liciniso ngaJehova ejele! (Isa. 54:17) Phindze unake kutsi lomgcini welijele wacela lusito ngemuva kwekutsi sekube nekutamatama kwemhlaba. Ngendlela lefanako, labanye bantfu lamuhla lebebangakaze bawemukele umlayeto weMbuso bawemukela ngemuva kwekutsi kwenteke intfo letsite lebuhlungu ekuphileni kwabo kungakalindzeleki. Ngekuya njalo kulabo labasendzaweni lesishumayela kuyo kanye nekubuyela kubo, sisuke sibacinisekisa kutsi sikhona kuze sibasite.

16. Tajika njani tintfo ngelilanga lelingemuva kwalelo boPawula naSilasi labashaywa ngalo?

¹⁶ Ekuseni ngelilanga lelilandzela lelo boPawula naSilasi labashaywa ngalo, bomantji bakhipha umyalo wekutsi bakhululwe, kodvwa Pawula watsi: “Basibhambabule embikwebantfu sibe site licala, ngisho nobe singemaRoma, futsi basivalela ejele. Manje sebafuna kusikhulula ngasense? Cha, ngeke! Akute bona batosikhipha.” Ngemuva kwekutfola kutsi lamadvodza lamabili anebuve baseRoma, labomantji “besaba kakhulu” ngenca yekutsi bebahlukumete emalungelo awo. d Tintfo besetijikile. Labafundzi bebashaywe embikwebantfu, ngako nalabomantji bekufanele bacolise embikwebantfu. Bancenga boPawula naSilasi kutsi bahambe eFiliphi. Labafundzi lababili bavuma kuhamba, kodvwa bacale batinika sikhatsi sekukhutsata lelicembu lebelisakhula lebafundzi labasha. Ngemuva kwaloko bahamba.

17. Ngusiphi sifundvo lesibalulekile lokungenteka labafundzi labasha basitfola ngekubona kubeketela kwaboPawula naSilasi?

¹⁷ Kube emalungelo abo njengetakhamuti taseRoma bekahlonishiwe ngaphambi kwekutsi kwenteke konkhe loku, kungenteka boPawula naSilasi bebangeke baze bashaywe. (Imis. 22:25, 26) Nobe kunjalo, loko bekungenta labafundzi baseFiliphi bacabange kutsi lamadvodza asebentise emalungelo awo njengetakhamuti taseRoma kuze angahlupheki ngenca yaKhristu. Loko bekungakutsintsa njani kukholwa kwebafundzi labangasito takhamuti taseRoma? Lomtsetfo bewungeke ubavikele ekushayweni. Ngako, ngekubeketelela lokujeziswa, Pawula naloyo lebekahamba naye, babekela labafundzi labasha sibonelo sekutsi balandzeli baKhristu bangakhona kuma bacine ngisho bahlushwa. Ngetulu kwaloko, ngekufuna kwatiwa kutsi batakhamuti taseRoma, boPawula naSilasi benta kwatiwa kutsi letento talabomantji betingekho emtsetfweni. Kungenteka loko kwenta kutsi tikhonti taNkulunkulu tingahlushwa futsi umtsetfo utivikele nakwenteka intfo lefanako esikhatsini lesitako.

18. (a) Lamuhla, babonisi labangemaKhristu basilingisa njani sibonelo saPawula? (b) ‘Sitivikela siphindze siticalise njani tindzaba letimnandzi’ lamuhla?

¹⁸ Nalamuhla babonisi ebandleni lebuKhristu bahola ngesibonelo. Nobe ngabe yini labalindzele kutsi labakholwa nabo bayente, belusi labangemaKhristu nabo batimisele kuyenta. NjengaPawula, siyatihlolisisa timo kuze sibone lapho kufanele  sisebentise khona emalungelo etfu langekwemtsetfo kuze sivikeleke. Nakudzingeka, sendlulisela emacala etinkantolo tendzawo, telive nobe temhlaba kuze sivikeleke nasichubeka nekukhonta kwetfu. Umgomo wetfu awusiko kugucula simo sendzawo, kodvwa ‘kuvikela tindzaba letimnandzi nekuticalisa ngalokusemtsetfweni,’ njengobe Pawula abhalela lelibandla laseFiliphi eminyakeni lengu-10 ngemuva kwekuboshwa kwakhe lapho. (Fil. 1:7) Ngisho nobe singatati tijubo tenkantolo kutsi titawutsini kulamacala, kodvwa njengaPawula kanye nalabo lebekahamba nabo, sitimisele kuchubeka ‘simemetela tindzaba letimnandzi’ nobe ngabe ngukuphi lapho umoya waNkulunkulu usiholela khona.​—Imis. 16:10.