1, 2. Ngusiphi simangaliso lesentiwa boPhetro naJohane ngasegedeni lelithempeli?

 NJENGOBE seliyoshona, lilanga likhanyise sicumbi sebantfu, lokungemaJuda latinikele kanye nebafundzi baKhristu labayongena emabaleni elithempeli. Madvutane kutawuba ‘li-awa lekuthantaza.’ a (Imis. 2:46; 3:1) Kulesicumbi sebantfu kunaPhetro naJohane, nabo labayongena egedeni lelithempeli lelibitwa ngekutsi Ligede Lelihle. Ngetulu kwemsindvo wekucoca kwebantfu nekuhuliswa kwetinyawo, bekuphindze kube nemsindvo wendvodza leyatalwa ikhubatekile lebeyiphila ngekucela iminikelo.​—Imis. 3:2; 4:22.

² Njengobe boPhetro naJohane basondzela egedeni lelithempeli, lendvodza lephila ngekucela iphindzaphindza emagama lewasho nayicela. Labaphostoli bayema futsi banaka lendvodza. Phetro utsi kuyo: “Ngite lisiliva neligolide, kodvwa ngitakunika loko lenginako. Egameni laJesu Khristu waseNazaretha ngitsi kuwe, sukuma uhambe!” Cabanga indlela lesicumbi sebantfu lesamangala ngayo ngesikhatsi Phetro abamba lendvodza ngesandla futsi ayisukumisa kwekucala ngca ekuphileni kwayo! (Imis. 3:6, 7) Uyayibona yini lendvodza ngeliso lengcondvo ibuka tinyawo tayo letelashiwe futsi icala kucatfuta njengobe ihamba ngekungaciniseki? Akumangalisi kutsi ibese iyagcumagcuma, imemete futsi idvumise Nkulunkulu!

3. Ngusiphi sipho lesibaluleke kakhulu lebesingatfolwa ngulendvodza lebeyikhubatekile kanye nalesicumbi sebantfu?

³ Lesicumbi sebantfu lesijabulile sigijima siya kuPhetro naJohane lebebasemhubheni waSolomoni. Phetro ume kulendzawo Jesu lake wema kuyo nakafundzisa, futsi utjela lesicumbi ngekubaluleka kwaloko lokusandza kwenteka. (Joh. 10:23) Uniketa lesicumbi nalendvodza lebeyikhubatekile sipho lesibaluleke kwendlula lisiliva nobe ligolide. Lesipho sisho lokungetulu nje kwekwelashwa, sibaniketa litfuba lekuphendvuka, kutsetselelwa tono tabo kanye nekuba balandzeli ‘beMmeleli Loyinhloko wekuphila’ lobekwe nguJehova, lokunguJesu Khristu.​—Imis. 3:15.

4. (a) Ngukuphi kungevani lokwacaliswa ngulokwelashwa ngalokusimangaliso kwalendvodza lebeyikhubatekile? (b) Ngumiphi imibuto lemibili lesitayiphendvula?

⁴ Leli bekulilanga lelimangalisako ngobe munye umuntfu bekelashiwe  futsi besekakhona kuhamba, kantsi labanye labatinkhulungwane bebaniketwe litfuba lekutfola lwati lolungulonalona nekucondza livi laNkulunkulu kuze bahambe ngendlela leyemukelwa nguNkulunkulu. (Khol. 1:9, 10) Nobe kunjalo, loko lokwenteka ngalelolanga kwacalisa kungevani emkhatsini webalandzeli baKhristu labetsembekile kanye nebantfu labasemagunyeni lebebetama kubavimba kutsi balalele umlayeto waJesu wekushumayela ngeMbuso. (Imis. 1:8) Yini lesingayifundza endleleni boPhetro naJohane lebebacabanga ngayo kanye nangetindlela labatisebentisa nabashumayela lesicumbi sebantfu, ngisho nobe bebatsatfwa njengemadvodza ‘langakafundzi lokuyaphi nebantfukatana nje?’ b (Imis. 4:13) Singayilingisa njani indlela bona kanye nalabanye bafundzi labenta ngayo ngesikhatsi baphikiswa?

5. Yini lesiyifundzako endleleni Phetro lakhuluma ngayo nalesicumbi sebantfu?

⁵ BoPhetro naJohane bebati kutsi labanye kulesicumbi lebebeme embikwaso kungenteka baba nesandla ekubulaweni kwaJesu. (Mak. 15:8-15; Imis. 3:13-15) Ngako, cabanga ngesibindzi Phetro lasikhombisa njengobe amemetela ngalokuvakalako kutsi lendvodza lebeyikhubatekile seyelashiwe egameni laJesu. Phetro akazange agege liguma, watjela lesicumbi sebantfu ngalokucondzile kutsi labanye kuso bebabe nesandla ekubulaweni kwaKhristu. Nobe kunjalo, Phetro bekangakababambeli ligcubu, ngobe loku ‘bebakwente ngekungati.’ (Imis. 3:17) Wakhuluma nabo shengatsi ukhuluma nebanakabo futsi wabatjela ngetintfo letinhle letimayelana nemlayeto weMbuso. Nabaphendvuka futsi bakholwa nguKhristu, Jehova bekatawubaletsela ‘tikhatsi tekuvuseleleka.’ (Imis. 3:19) Ngendlela lefanako, natsi kufanele sibe nesibindzi futsi singagegi nasimemetela ngesehlulelo saNkulunkulu lesitako. Ngesikhatsi lesifanako, akukafaneli sibe neludlame nobe sehlulele bantfu. Kunaloko, kufanele sitsatse labo lesibashumayelako njengemaKhristu akusasa, futsi njengaPhetro, sikhulume kakhulu ngetintfo letinhle letimayelana nemlayeto weMbuso.

6. BoPhetro naJohane bakukhombisa njani kutfobeka?

⁶ Labaphostoli bebangemadvodza latfobekile. Abazange batsi lesimangaliso lebebasentile bebasente ngemandla abo. Kungako Phetro atsi kulesicumbi: “Nisibukani kangaka shengatsi ngemandla etfu nobe kwetsembeka kwetfu kuNkulunkulu lokwente lomuntfu wahamba?” (Imis. 3:12) Phetro kanye nalalabanye baphostoli bebati kutsi nobe yini lenhle labayifezako emsebentini wekushumayela bekungenca yemandla aNkulunkulu, hhayi abo. Ngenca yaloko, ngekutfobeka, bacondzisa lonkhe ludvumo kuJehova nakuJesu ngetintfo labatifeza.

7, 8. (a) Ngusiphi sipho lesingasiniketa bantfu? (b) Setsembiso ‘sekubuyisela tonkhe tintfo’ sigcwaliseka njani lamuhla?

⁷ Ngendlela lefanako, kufanele sikhombise kutfobeka nasenta umsebenti wekushumayela ngeMbuso. Kuyavunywa kutsi umoya waNkulunkulu awuwaniketi  emaKhristu alamuhla emandla ekwelapha ngalokusimangaliso. Nobe kunjalo, sisengabasita bantfu babe nekukholwa kuNkulunkulu nakuKhristu futsi batfole sipho lesifana naleso Phetro lasinika sicumbi sebantfu, lokulitfuba lekutsetselelwa tono tabo nekutfola kuvuselelwa lokuvela kuJehova. Njalo ngemnyaka, emakhulu etinkhulungwane ebantfu emukela lesipho futsi abe bafundzi baKhristu lababhajatisiwe.

⁸ Kuliciniso kutsi siphila esikhatsini ‘sekubuyisela tonkhe tintfo’ njengobe kwasho Phetro. UMbuso wacala kubusa ezulwini ngemnyaka wanga-1914 kuze kugcwaliseke emavi Nkulunkulu lawasho “ngebaphrofethi bakhe labangcwele basendvulo.” (Imis. 3:21; Hla. 110:1-3; Dan. 4:16, 17) Ngekushesha nje ngemuva kwaloko, Khristu wacala kucondzisa umsebenti wekubuyiselwa kwekukhonta kweliciniso emhlabeni. Ngenca yaloko, tigidzi tebantfu tingene enhlanganweni yaJehova futsi taba tikhonti ngephansi kweMbuso wakhe. Letigidzi tebantfu tikhumule buntfu lobudzala lobonakalisiwe futsi tagcoka “buntfu lobusha lobentiwe ngentsandvo yaNkulunkulu.” (Ef. 4:22-24) Njengalokwelashwa kwalendvodza lebeyikhubatekile futsi iphila ngekucela, lomsebenti awufezwanga ngemandla ebantfu, kodvwa ngemoya waNkulunkulu. NjengaPhetro, kufanele sifundzise labanye liVi laNkulunkulu ngesibindzi nangendlela lephumelelako. Nobe nguyiphi imphumelelo lesiyitfolako ekusiteni bantfu kutsi babe bafundzi baKhristu ayifezwa ngenca yemandla etfu, kodvwa ngemandla aNkulunkulu.

9-11. (a) Yini leyentiwa baholi labangemaJuda ngesikhatsi beva umlayeto waPhetro naJohane? (b) Yini labaphostoli labancuma kuyenta?

⁹ Inkhulumo yaPhetro nekugcumagcuma kwalendvodza leyelashiwe kwabangela siphitsiphitsi. Indvuna lebekwe kutsi igadze tekuphepha ethempelini kanye nebaphristi labakhulu, bagijima bayohlola kutsi kwentekani nabeva lomsindvo. Kungenteka lamadvodza bewabaSadusi, lokulicembu lemadvodza lanjingile nalanemandla kutepolitiki lebewenta kutsi kube nekuthula emkhatsini wemaJuda nemaRoma. Bewangawunaki umtsetfo lebewutsandvwa baFarisi futsi bewahlekisa ngenkholelo yekuvuswa kwalabafile. c Sewungacabanga kutsi atfukutsela kangakanani nawakhandza boPhetro naJohane ethempelini bafundzisa ngesibindzi kutsi Jesu bekavusiwe ekufeni!

¹⁰ Labaphikisi labatfukutsele bavalela boPhetro naJohane ejele futsi ngakusasa babahudvulela enkantolo lephakeme yemaJuda. Ngekwembono walababusi lebebatibona bancono, boPhetro naJohane bebangemadvodza ‘langakafundzi lokuyaphi futsi babantfukatane nje,’ lebebangenalo lilungelo lekufundzisa ethempelini ngobe bebangakafundzi etikolweni tenkholo letidvumile. Nobe kunjalo, indlela yabo lecondzile yekukhuluma kanye nekuciniseka kwabo, kwabamangalisa lebebakhona enkantolo. Yini lebeyenta boPhetro naJohane baphumelele kangaka? Lesinye sizatfu kutsi bebake ‘bahamba naJesu.’ (Imis. 4:13) INkhosi yabo beyifundzisa njengemuntfu loneligunya, hhayi njengetati temtsetfo.​—Mat. 7:28, 29.

 ¹¹ Inkantolo yayala labaphostoli kutsi bayekele kushumayela. Kuleyondzawo, lebekushiwo yinkantolo bekufanele kuhlonishwe. Emavikini lambalwa nje lendlulile, ngesikhatsi Jesu eme embikwalenkantolo emalunga ayo atsi Jesu “kufanele afe.” (Mat. 26:59-66) Nobe kunjalo, boPhetro naJohane abazange besabe. Njengobe bebeme embikwalamadvodza lanjingile, nalafundze kakhulu futsi laneligunya, ngesibindzi nangenhlonipho boPhetro naJohane batsi: “Kutawubona nine kutsi kulungile yini emehlweni aNkulunkulu kutsi silalele nine kunekutsi silalele Yena. Kodvwa tsine ngeke siyekele kukhuluma ngetintfo lesitibonile nalesitivile.”​—Imis. 4:19, 20.

12. Yini lengasisita kutsi sibe nesibindzi kanye nekukholwa?

¹² Wena nawutfola litfuba lekushumayela bantfu labanjingile, labafundze kakhulu nobe labaneligunya endzaweni lohlala kuyo, uba naso yini sibindzi lesifana nesaPhetro naJohane? Ufikelwa kwesaba yini nangabe emalunga emndeni, lofundza nabo nobe losebenta nabo bahlekisa ngetinkholelo takho? Nangabe kunjalo, ungakuncoba lokwesaba ngobe ngesikhatsi Jesu alapha emhlabeni wafundzisa baphostoli bakhe indlela yekukuvikela ngesibindzi nangenhlonipho loko labakukholelwako. (Mat. 10:11-18) Ngemuva kwekuvuswa kwakhe, Jesu wetsembisa bafundzi bakhe kutsi bekatawuchubeka anabo “onkhe emalanga kuze kube sekupheleni kwalelive.” (Mat. 28:20) Sicondziswa nguJesu, ‘sisebenti lesetsembekile nalesihlakaniphile’ sisifundzisa indlela yekuvikela loko lesikukholelwako. (Mat. 24:45-47; 1 Phet. 3:15) Loku sikwenta ngeticondziso lesititfola emihlanganweni yelibandla lenjengalotsi Kuphila KwemaKhristu Nemsebenti Wawo kanye nangetihloko letisekelwe eBhayibhelini, letinjengalesitsi “Timphendvulo Temibuto Lemayelana NeliBhayibheli” letitfolakala ku-website letsi jw.org. Uyisebentisa kahle yini lemihlangano kanye naletihloko? Nangabe kunjalo, sibindzi kanye nekukholwa kwakho kutawucina, futsi njengebaphostoli, angeke uvumele lutfo lukuvimbe kutsi ukhulume ngemaciniso lamangalisako lowafundzile.

13, 14. Yini lokufanele siyente nasiphikiswa, futsi leni?

¹³ Ngekushesha nje ngemuva kwekukhululwa ejele, boPhetro naJohane bahlangana nalamanye emalunga elibandla. Ngebunye, “bathantaza . . . kuNkulunkulu”  bacela sibindzi sekuchubeka bashumayela. (Imis. 4:24) Phetro bekabati kahle bulima bekutetsemba ngalokwecile nawetama kwenta intsandvo yaNkulunkulu. Emavikini lambalwa lendlulile wakhombisa kutetsemba nakatsi kuJesu: “Ngisho nobe bonkhe laba labanye bangakushiya, mine angeke ngize ngikushiye!” Kwenteka njengobe Jesu bekashito. Ngekushesha Phetro wancotjwa kwesaba bantfu futsi waphika umngani wakhe kanye nemfundzisi wakhe. Nobe kunjalo, Phetro wafundza kuleliphutsa lakhe.​—Mat. 26:33, 34, 69-75.

¹⁴ Kutimisela kukodvwa angeke kusisite ekufezeni umsebenti wetfu wekuba bofakazi baKhristu. Nangabe baphikisi betama kucedza kukholwa kwakho nobe kukuyekelisa kushumayela, landzela sibonelo saPhetro naJohane. Thantaza kuJehova ucele emandla. Cela libandla likusekele ngekutsi utjele labadzala belibandla nalamanye emaKhristu lavutsiwe ngetinkinga lobhekene nato. Imithantazo yabo ingakuniketa emandla lowadzingako.​—Ef. 6:18; Jak. 5:16.

15. Yini lengasita labo labake bayekela kushumayela kwesikhashana kutsi bangadvumateki?

¹⁵ Ungadvumateki nangabe uke wancotjwa kucindzetelwa wase uyayekela kushumayela kwesikhashana. Khumbula kutsi bonkhe baphostoli bake bayekela kwesikhashana kushumayela ngemuva kwekufa kwaJesu, kodvwa baphindze bachubeka. (Mat. 26:56; 28:10, 16-20) Kunekutsi uvumele emaphutsa lowente esikhatsini lesendlulile akucedze emandla, ungafundza kuloko lokwentekile futsi ukusebentise kuze ucinise labanye.

16, 17. Yini lesingayifundza emthantazweni lowentiwa balandzeli baKhristu eJerusalema?

¹⁶ Yini lokufanele siyithantazele nangabe labasemagunyeni basiphatsa kabi? Sicela unake kutsi bafundzi abazange bathantazele kutsi bangabhekani netinkinga. Bakhumbula emavi aJesu latsi: “Nangabe bangiphetse kabi mine, bataniphatsa kabi nani.” (Joh. 15:20) Labafundzi labetsembekile bacela Jehova kutsi ‘abukisise lokubesabisa’ kwalabaphikisi. (Imis. 4:29) Labafundzi bebati kutsi lokuhlushwa kwabo bekumane kukugcwaliseka kwesiphrofetho. Bebati nekutsi ngisho nobe babusi lababantfu bangatsini, intsandvo yaNkulunkulu ‘beyitawenteka emhlabeni’ njengobe Jesu bekabafundzisile emthantazweni losibonelo.​—Mat. 6:9, 10.

¹⁷ Kuze bente intsandvo yaNkulunkulu, bafundzi bathantaza kuJehova: Yenta “tinceku takho tichubeke tikhuluma livi lakho  ngesibindzi.” Yini Jehova layenta ngekushesha? “Indzawo lebebahlangene kuyo yatamatama, futsi bonkhe bagcwala umoya longcwele, bakhuluma livi laNkulunkulu ngesibindzi.” (Imis. 4:29-31) Kute lokungavimba intsandvo yaNkulunkulu kutsi yenteke. (Isa. 55:11) Ngisho nobe kungabonakala kumatima kwani, nesitsa sinemandla kangakanani, nasithantaza ngebunye kuNkulunkulu, singaciniseka kutsi utasinika emandla ekuchubeka sikhuluma ngelivi lakhe ngesibindzi.

18. Entelana ini emalunga elibandla laseJerusalema?

¹⁸ Lelibandla lelisha lebeliseJerusalema lacina futsi lakhula ngekushesha laba nemalunga langetulu kwa-5 000. d Labafundzi baba “nenhlitiyo yinye, nemcondvo munye” ngisho nobe bebachamuka etindzaweni letehlukahlukene. Lokusho kutsi bebamunye endleleni yekucabanga. (Imis. 4:32; 1 Khor. 1:10) Labafundzi benta lokungetulu nje kwekumane bathantaze kuJehova bacele kutsi abusise imetamo yabo, basekelana ebuhlotjeni babo naNkulunkulu baphindze basitana ngetintfo lebebatidzinga. (1 Joh. 3:16-18) Sibonelo nje, umfundzi Josefa, loyo baphostoli labamnika ligama lelitsi Bhanabasi, watsengisa indzawo yakhe futsi wanikela ngayo yonkhe lemali kuze kusitwe labo labasuka khashane lebebete eJerusalema kuze bafundze lokunyenti ngenkholo yabo lensha.

19. Jehova wababulalelani bo-Ananiyase naSafira?

¹⁹ Ananiyase nemkakhe Safira batsengisa indzawo yabo futsi benta shengatsi banikela ngayo yonkhe lemali kantsi ‘bagodla lenye yayo.’ (Imis. 5:2) Jehova wababulala, hhayi ngobe lemali beyishoda, kodvwa ngenca yetisusa tabo letimbi. Abazange ‘bayenge bantfu, kodvwa bayenga Nkulunkulu.’ (Imis. 5:4) Njengebatentisi labalahlwa nguJesu, bo-Ananiyase naSafira bebakhatsateke ngekudvunyiswa bantfu kunekwemukelwa nguNkulunkulu.​—Mat. 6:1-3.

20. Ngutiphi tifundvo lesititfolako mayelana nekunikela kuJehova?

²⁰ NjengemaKhristu letsembekile lebekephana ngelikhulu lekucala leminyaka eJerusalema, tigidzi taboFakazi lamuhla tisekela umsebenti wekushumayela emhlabeni wonkhe ngekunikela ngekutitsandzela. Kute umuntfu lophocelelekile kutsi anikele ngesikhatsi nobe ngemali yakhe kuze asekele lomsebenti. Kuliciniso kutsi Jehova akafuni simkhonte ngekutitila nobe ngekucindzetelwa. (2 Khor. 9:7) Nasinikela, kufanele sikhumbule kutsi lokubaluleke kakhulu kuJehova akusilo linani lemali lesinikela ngayo, kodvwa tisusa tetfu. (Mak. 12:41-44) Asifuni kufana na-Ananiyase naSafira, sivumele tisusa tetfu tekukhonta Jehova tibe tekutizuzisa tsine nobe kufuna ludvumo. Kunaloko, njengaPhetro, Johane naBhanabasi, shengatsi tisusa tetfu tekukhonta Jehova tingaba kutsi simtsandza mbamba Nkulunkulu kanye nalabanye bantfu.​—Mat. 22:37-40.