1-3. (a) Chaza kutsi yini leyenteka ngebusuku Oyithikhusi lafa ngabo. (b) Yini Pawula layenta, futsi loko kusifundzisani ngaye?

 PAWULA usekamelweni lelisetulu leligcwele bantfu eThrowasi. Ukhuluma nebazalwane, futsi lenkhulumo yakhe itsatsa sikhatsi lesidze njengobe lobu kubusuku bekugcina akanye nabo. Sekusekhatsi nebusuku. Kunetibane letimbalwa letikhanyisa lelikamelo, letenta kutsi kufutfumale futsi mhlawumbe tenta kutsi kube nentfutfu. Kunalelinye lijaha lokutsiwa ngu-Oyithikhusi lelihleti efasitelweni. Njengobe Pawula achubeka akhuluma, Oyithikhusi uyawa, usuka esitezi sesitsatfu!

² Njengobe angudokotela, kungenteka Lukha waba semkhatsini webantfu bekucala labaphumela ngephandle kuyohlola lelijaha. Kute lobekangangabata kutsi Oyithikhusi ‘sewufile.’ (Imis. 20:9) Ngemuva kwaloko, kwabese kwenteka simangaliso. Pawula watijika etikwalelijaha, futsi watsi kulesicumbi: “Ningakhatsateki, ngobe sewuyaphila.” Pawula besekavuse Oyithikhusi ekufeni!​—Imis. 20:10.

³ Lesentakalo sikhombisa emandla emoya longcwele waNkulunkulu. Pawula bekangeke asolwe ngekufa kwa-Oyithikhusi. Nobe kunjalo, bekangafuni kutsi lokufa kwalelijaha kone lomhlangano lobalulekile nobe kukhube labanye ebuhlotjeni babo naNkulunkulu. Ngekutsi avuse Oyithikhusi, Pawula washiya lelibandla lidvudvutekile futsi livuselelekile kutsi lichubeke nemsebenti wekushumayela. Kuyacaca kutsi Pawula bekanendzaba nekuphila kwalabanye bantfu. Loku sikukhunjutwa ngemavi akhe latsi: “Ngimsulwa engatini yabo bonkhe bantfu.” (Imis. 20:26) Asesihlole kutsi sibonelo sakhe sisifundzisani ngalendzaba.

4. Ngusiphi simo lesimatima Pawula lebekabhekene naso?

⁴ Njengobe sibonile esehlukweni lesisuka kuso, Pawula bekabhekene nesimo lesimatima. Umsebenti wakhe wekushumayela e-Efesu wasusa siphitsiphitsi. Lamadvodza lebekatiphilisa ngekwakha tithico telisiliva lebetisetjentiselwa kukhonta Athemisi, bekayincenye yalabantfu  lebebasuse lesiphitsiphitsi! Imisebenti 20:1 itsi, “Pawula wabita bafundzi, wabakhutsata futsi wabavalelisa, wase uyesuka uya eMasedoniya.”

5, 6. (a) Kungenteka Pawula wahlala sikhatsi lesingakanani eMasedoniya, futsi yini layentela bazalwane balapho? (b) Ngusiphi simo sengcondvo Pawula lebekanaso ngalabo lebekakholwa nabo?

⁵ Endleleni yakhe leya eMasedoniya, Pawula wafike wema esikhumulweni semikhumbi saseThrowasi, futsi wahlala sikhatsi lapho. Bekanelitsemba lekutsi kutawufika Thithusi lebekatfunyelwe eKhorinte, futsi lebekufanele ahlangane naye lapho. (2 Khor. 2:12, 13) Nobe kunjalo, watsi nakabona kutsi Thithusi aketi, wachubeka neluhambo lwakhe loluya eMasedoniya, futsi wafike wahlala sikhatsi lesingaba ngumnyaka lapho, ‘akhutsata bazalwane bakhona.’ a (Imis. 20:2) Ekugcineni Thithusi wahlangana naPawula eMasedoniya, amletsele tindzaba letimnandzi mayelana nendlela bazalwane baseKhorinte labasabele ngayo encwadzini yakhe yekucala. (2 Khor. 7:5-7) Loko kwakhutsata Pawula kutsi ababhalele lenye incwadzi, lesiyati namuhla ngekutsi yincwadzi yaKubaseKhorinte besibili.

⁶ Lokunakekako kulendzaba kutsi Lukha wasebentisa ligama lelitsi ‘kukhutsata’ nakachaza luhambo lwaPawula lwekuvakashela bazalwane base-Efesu nebaseMasedoniya. Leligama lisiveta kahle simo sengcondvo Pawula  lebekanaso ngalabo lebekakholwa nabo! Ngalokungafani nebaFarisi lebebabukela labanye bantfu phansi, Pawula bekatsatsa labantfu labafana netimvu njengetisebenti labekanye nato. (Joh. 7:47-49; 1 Khor. 3:9) Pawula wachubeka analesimo sengcondvo ngisho nalapho bekudzingeka abanikete seluleko lesicinile.​—2 Khor. 2:4.

7. Babonisi labangemaKhristu lamuhla bangasilingisa njani sibonelo saPawula?

⁷ Lamuhla, labadzala belibandla kanye nebabonisi betigodzi balwela kulingisa sibonelo saPawula. Ngisho nalapho baniketa seluleko, umgomo wabo kucinisa labo labadzinga lusito. Babonisi bafuna kukhutsata, kunekugceka. Lomunye umzalwane losanesikhatsi lesidze angumbonisi wesigodzi, ukubuka ngalendlela: “Linyenti lebazalwane nabodzadzewetfu liyafuna kwenta lokulungile, kodvwa esikhatsini lesinyenti likutfola kumatima ngobe litiva licindzetelekile, lesaba futsi linemuva wekutsi lite emandla ekutisita.” Babonisi bangabacinisa bazalwane babo labakuleso simo.​—Heb. 12:12, 13.

8, 9. (a) Yini leyaphatamisa tinhlelo taPawula tekuya eSiyira? (b) Yini lokungenteka yenta emaJuda afukamela inzondo ngaPawula?

⁸ Pawula wesuka eMasedoniya waya eKhorinte. b Ngemuva kwekuhlala tinyanga letintsatfu eKhorinte, besekakulungele kuya eKhenkhariya lapho bekahlele kugibela khona umkhumbi loya eSiriya. Nasekalapho, besekangakhona kuya eJerusalema kuze ayomikisa iminikelo kubazalwane bakhona labeswele. c (Imis. 24:17; Rom. 15:25, 26) Nobe kunjalo, kwabese kwenteka intfo lengakalindzeleki leyashintja tinhlelo taPawula. Imisebenti 20:3 iyasibikela: “EmaJuda bekente lisu lekumbulala”!

⁹ Akumangalisi kutsi emaJuda bekafukamele inzondo ngaPawula ngobe bekacabanga kutsi usihlubuki. Esikhatsini lesendlulile, Pawula bekasite Khrispusi, indvodza lebeyinesikhundla lesiphakeme esinagogeni laseKhorinte kutsi abe ngumKhristu. (Imis. 18:7, 8; 1 Khor. 1:14) Kulesinye sentakalo, emaJuda aseKhorinte bekamangalele Pawula kuGaliyo losiphatsimandla sase-Akhaya. Nobe kunjalo, Galiyo walicitsa lelicala ngobe belite bufakazi, futsi loko kwenta letitsa taPawula tatfukutsela tabila. (Imis. 18:12-17) Kungenteka lamaJuda aseKhorinte bekacabanga nobe ati kutsi ngekushesha Pawula bekatawuhamba aye eKhenkhariya, ngako enta lisu lekumbhacela endleleni kuze ambulale. Bekatawenta njani Pawula?

10. Bekakhombisa kutsi uligwala yini Pawula ngekungayi eKhenkhariya? Chaza.

¹⁰ Kuze aphephe futsi avikele naleminikelo laniketwe yona, Pawula wakhetsa kungasayi eKhenkhariya kodvwa wabuyela emuva, wahamba ngaseMasedoniya. Kuyavunywa kutsi kuhamba ngetinyawo nako bekunetingoti tako,  ngobe imigwaco yakadzeni beyigcwala tigebengu, kantsi netindzawo tekulala lebetitfolakala endleleni nato betingakaphephi. Nobe kunjalo, Pawula wakhetsa kuhamba ngetinyawo kunalengoti lebeyimhlalele eKhenkhariya. Lokuhle kutsi bekangahambi yedvwa kuloluhambo lwakhe, kodvwa bekahamba na-Aristakhusi, Gayusi, Sekhundusi, Sopateri, Thimothi, Trofimusi kanye naThikhikhusi.​—Imis. 20:3, 4.

11. Yini emaKhristu layentako lamuhla kuze ativikele, futsi ngusiphi sibonelo Jesu lasibekela sona kulendzaba?

¹¹ NjengaPawula, emaKhristu lamuhla enta lokutsite kuze ativikele nawenta umsebenti wekushumayela. Kuletinye tindzawo, ahamba asicumbi nobe ngababili, kunekutsi ahambe odvwana. Kutsiwani nawahlushwa? EmaKhristu ayati kutsi angeke aze akubalekele kuhlushwa. (Joh. 15:20; 2 Thim. 3:12) Nobe kunjalo, awatifaki engotini ngemabomu. Cabanga ngesibonelo saJesu. Kwatsi baphikisi nabetama kumjikijela ngematje, “Jesu wabhaca futsi waphuma ethempelini.” (Joh. 8:59) Ngekuhamba kwesikhatsi emaJuda nawahlela kumbulala, “Jesu bekangasahambi lapho bekangabonwa khona bantfu labanyenti, kodvwa wesuka lapho waya esifundzeni lesisedvute nelihlane.” (Joh. 11:54) Jesu wenta konkhe langakhona kukwenta kuze ativikele, nangabe kwenta njalo bekungashayisani nentsandvo yaNkulunkulu ngaye. EmaKhristu lamuhla enta lokufanako.​—Mat. 10:16.

12, 13. (a) Kuvuswa kwa-Oyithikhusi kwalitsintsa njani libandla? (b) Nguliphi litsemba lelisekelwe eBhayibhelini lelidvudvuta labo labashonelwe ngulababatsandzako lamuhla?

¹² Pawula nalabo lebekahamba nabo bendlula eMasedoniya, ngemuva kwaloko behlukana. Kubonakala shengatsi baphindze bahlangana eThrowasi. d Lokulandzisa kutsi: “Sabakhandza eThrowasi ngemuva kwemalanga lasihlanu.” e (Imis. 20:6) Lapha kukulendzawo lapho lelijaha lokutsiwa ngu-Oyithikhusi lavuswa khona ekufeni njengobe kuvetiwe ekucaleni kwalesehluko. Cabanga ngendlela labazalwane labadvudvuteka ngayo nababona umngani wabo Oyithikhusi avuka ekufeni! Njengobe lokulandzisa kusho, “bebadvudvuteke kakhulu.”​—Imis. 20:12.

¹³ Kuliciniso kutsi timangaliso letifana naleti atisenteki lamuhla. Nobe kunjalo, labo labashonelwe ngulababatsandzako ‘badvudvuteka kakhulu’ nabafundza ngelitsemba lelisekelwe eBhayibhelini lekuvuswa kwebantfu labafile. (Joh. 5:28, 29) Cabanga nganaku: Ngenca yekutsi Oyithikhusi bekanesono, waphindze wafa. (Rom. 6:23) Kepha labo labatawuvuswa kuze baphile eveni lelisha laNkulunkulu, batawuba nelitsemba lekuphila phakadze! Ngetulu kwaloko, labo labavuselwa ezulwini kuze babuse naJesu bembatsa kungafi. (1 Khor.  15:51-53) EmaKhristu lamuhla, ngisho nobe agcotjiwe nobe ‘anguletinye timvu,’ anesizatfu lesihle ‘sekudvudvuteka kakhulu.’​—Joh. 10:16.

14. Yini Pawula layitjela bazalwane base-Efesu ngesikhatsi ahlangana nabo eMilethusi?

¹⁴ Pawula nalabo lebekahamba nabo basuka eThrowasi baya e-Asosi, ngemuva kwaloko baya eMithilene, eKhiyosi, eSamosi naseMilethusi. Umgomo waPawula bekukutsi afike eJerusalema ngesikhatsi seMkhosi weliPhentekhoste. Kufuna kwakhe kusheshe afike eJerusalema ngesikhatsi seliPhentekhoste kubonakala ngekutsi wakhetsa kuhamba ngemkhumbi lobewungangeni e-Efesu. Nobe kunjalo, njengobe bekafuna kukhuluma nalabadzala base-Efesu, wabacela kutsi bahlangane eMilethusi. (Imis. 20:13-17) Batsi nabafika, Pawula watsi kubo: “Nati kahle kutsi bengiphila njani ngesikhatsi nginani kusukela ngelilanga lekucala lengefika ngalo esifundzeni sase-Asiya, ngisebentela iNkhosi ngekutfobeka lokukhulu, ngetinyembeti, nangekuhlupheka lengahlangabetana nako ngenca yemachinga emaJuda; angizange nginigodlele kunitjela konkhe lokulusito, nekunifundzisa embikwebantfu nasemtini ngemuti. Kodvwa ngafakaza ngalokuphelele kumaJuda nakumaGriki kutsi kufanele aphendvuke, abuyele kuNkulunkulu futsi akholwe yiNkhosi yetfu Jesu.”​—Imis. 20:18-21.

15. Ngutiphi letinye tinzuzo tekufakaza emtini ngemuti?

 ¹⁵ Tinyenti tindlela tekutjela bantfu tindzaba letimnandzi lamuhla. NjengaPawula, silwela kuya nobe ngabe ngukuphi lapho bantfu batfolakala khona, kungaba setiteshini temabhasi, emigwacweni lephitsitelako nobe etimakethe. Nobe kunjalo, kuya emtini ngemuti kuseyindlela lebalulekile BoFakazi BaJehova labayisebentisako. Leni? Lesinye sizatfu kutsi kushumayela emtini ngemuti kuniketa wonkhe umuntfu litfuba lekuva tindzaba letimnandzi ngalokuchubekako, ngaleyondlela kuvete liciniso lekutsi Nkulunkulu akakhetsi. Kuphindze kunikete labanetinhlitiyo leticotfo litfuba lekutsi batfole lusito lolucondzene nabo, kuye ngetidzingo tabo. Ngetulu kwaloko, umsebenti wekushumayela emtini ngemuti ucinisa kukholwa kwalabo labawentako, uphindze ubente babeketele. Ecinisweni, luphawu lwemaKhristu eliciniso lamuhla kukhutsala ‘ekufundziseni embikwebantfu kanye nasemtini ngemuti.’

16, 17. Pawula wakhombisa njani kutsi unesibindzi, futsi emaKhristu lamuhla asilingisa njani sibonelo sakhe?

¹⁶ Pawula wachazela labazalwane base-Efesu kutsi bekangati kutsi ngutiphi tingoti lebekatawuhlangabetana nato nakabuyela eJerusalema. Watsi kubo, “Nanobe kunjalo, kuphila kwami akusilutfo kimi, yingci nje nangingacedza indzima yami nemsebenti lengiwunikwe yiNkhosi Jesu, wekufakaza ngetindzaba letimnandzi temusa lomkhulu waNkulunkulu.” (Imis. 20:24) Ngaphandle kwekwesaba, Pawula akazange avumele nome ngabe ngusiphi simo, lokungaba yimphilo lebutsakatsaka nobe kuphikiswa kamatima, simvimbele kutsi acedzele sabelo sakhe.

¹⁷ Ngalokufanako lamuhla, emaKhristu abeketelela timo letehlukahlukene letimatima. Lamanye avinjelwe bohulumende kutsi ente umsebenti wekushumayela, kantsi lamanye ayahlushwa. Lamanye alwisana nekugula lokumatima. EmaKhristu lasemasha abeketelela kucindzetelwa bontsanga esikolweni. Kunome ngusiphi simo labatitfola bakuso, BoFakazi BaJehova bema bacine njengobe kwenta Pawula. Batimisele ‘kufakaza ngalokuphelele ngetindzaba letimnandzi.’

18. Pawula watigcina njani ete licala lengati, futsi labadzala base-Efesu bebangenta njani ngendlela lefanako?

¹⁸ Ngemuva kwaloko, Pawula wabecwayisa labazalwane labadzala base-Efesu, asebentisa sibonelo sakhe. Kwekucala, wabatjela kutsi kungenteka lesi bekusikhatsi sekugcina bambona. Ngemuva kwaloko, watsi: “Ngimsulwa engatini yabo bonkhe bantfu, ngobe anginigodlelanga kunitjela konkhe lokuyintsandvo yaNkulunkulu.” Labadzala base-Efesu bebangamlingisa njani Pawula, ngaleyondlela babe bete licala lengati? Wabatjela: “Ticapheleni nine kanye nawo wonkhe umhlambi, loyo umoya longcwele lonibeke kutsi nibe babonisi bawo, futsi neluse libandla laNkulunkulu lalitsenga ngengati yeNdvodzana yakhe.” (Imis. 20:26-28) Pawula wecwayisa labazalwane kutsi emkhatsini walomhlambi  bekutawuvela “timphisi letiyingoti” futsi ‘betitawukhuluma tintfo letisontsekile kuze tidvonse bafundzi kutsi batilandzele.’ Yini labazalwane lebekufanele bayente? Wabecwayisa: “Hlalani nicaphele, nikhumbula nekutsi busuku nemini, angizange ngiyekele kufundzisa ngamunye wenu ngetinyembeti kwaze kwaphela iminyaka lemitsatfu.”​—Imis. 20:29-31.

19. Ngukuphi kuhlubuka lokwavela ngasekupheleni kwelikhulu lekucala, futsi kwaholela kuphi emakhulwini eminyaka leyalandzela?

¹⁹ “Timphisi letiyingoti” tavela ngasekupheleni kwelikhulu lekucala. Cishe nga-98 C.E., umphostoli Johane wabhala: “Sebanyenti baphikikhristu, . . . Basishiyile, kodvwa bebangasikanye natsi; ngobe kube bebakanye natsi bebatawuhlala natsi. Basishiyile kuze kubonakale kutsi akusibo bonkhe labakanye natsi.” (1 Joh. 2:18, 19) Ngelikhulu lesitsatfu, kuhlubuka kwenta kutsi kube nebafundisi beTinkholo Letitsi TebuKhristu, futsi ngelikhulu lesine uMbusi Constantine waniketa “lamaKhristu” lakhohlakele imvume yekutsi abe semtsetfweni. Ngekwemukela emasiko emacaba kanye nekuwenta abonakale shengatsi “ebuKhristu,” ngalokucinisekile, labaholi betinkholo ‘bakhuluma tintfo letisontsekile.’ Imiphumela yalokuhlubuka isabonakala etimfundzisweni kanye nasemikhubeni leyentiwa nguleTinkholo Letitsi TebuKhristu.

20, 21. Pawula wakhombisa njani kutsi uyatidzela, futsi labadzala labangemaKhristu lamuhla bangamlingisa njani?

²⁰ Indlela Pawula lebekaphila ngayo beyehluke kakhulu kuleyalabo lebebatawuphatsa kabi umhlambi ngekuhamba kwesikhatsi. Wenta umsebenti wekutisekela kuze angabi ngumtfwalo ebandleni. Loko lebekakwentela bazalwane bekangakwenti ngenca yekutsi ufuna kunjinga. Pawula wacela labadzala base-Efesu kutsi bakhombise lutsandvo lwekutidzela. Watsi: “Nginikhombise kanyenti kutsi kufanele nisite lababutsakatsaka ngekutsi nikhandleke, futsi kufanele nikhumbule emavi iNkhosi Jesu leyawasho, latsi: ‘Kunenjabulo lenkhulu ekupheni kunasekwemukeleni.’”​—Imis. 20:35.

²¹ NjengaPawula, labadzala labangemaKhristu lamuhla bayatidzela. Ngalokungafani nebafundisi beTinkholo Letitsi TebuKhristu, labaphundla imihlambi yabo, labo labaniketwe umsebenti ‘wekwelusa libandla laNkulunkulu’ bawenta ngekutidzela. Bantfu labatatiko nalabatifunela ludvumo bete indzawo ebandleni lebuKhristu, ngobe labo ‘labatifunela ludvumo’ angeke baphumelele. (Taga 25:27) Kutigcabha kungaholela ehlazweni.​—Taga 11:2.

22. Yini leyenta labadzala base-Efesu batsandza Pawula?

²² Indlela Pawula lebekabatsandza ngayo bazalwane bakhe yabenta bamtsandza nabo. Ecinisweni, kwatsi nasekufike sikhatsi sekutsi ahambe, “bonkhe bakhala, bamgaca futsi bamanga.” (Imis. 20:37, 38) EmaKhristu lamuhla ayabatsandza futsi abatisa kakhulu labo labatinikela ngekutidzela kuze banakekele umhlambi njengobe kwenta Pawula. Ngemuva kwekucabanga ngesibonelo saPawula lesimangalisako, awuvumi yini kutsi bekangatigcabhi, futsi bekangafuni kugcame yena ngesikhatsi atsi: “Ngimsulwa engatini yabo bonkhe bantfu”?​—Imis. 20:26.