1, 2. (a) Nguyiphi ingoti Pawula kanye nalabo lebekanabo lababhekana nayo e-Efesu? (b) Sitawucoca ngani kulesehluko?

 KUVAKALA umsindvo lomkhulu emigwacweni yase-Efesu njengobe kunekumemeta, kukhala kanye nemsindvo wekugijima kwebantfu labanyenti. Sekwakheke sicumbi sebantfu lesitfukutsele, futsi sekucale lesikhulu siphitsiphitsi! Lababili balaba labahamba naPawula sebabanjwe ngulesicumbi futsi siyabahudvula. Ngekushesha, sekukhala libhungane kulomgwaco lonetitolo njengobe lesicumbi lesitfukutsele sigcwala enkhudleni yetemidlalo lengalayisha bantfu labangaba ngu-25 000. Linyenti lalabantfu alati kutsi yini lebangele lesiphitsiphitsi, kodvwa linemuva wekutsi lithempeli lalo kanye nankulunkulukati walo lotsandzekako, Athemisi, kuyasongelwa. Ngako bacala kumemeta baphindzaphindza batsi: “Mkhulu Athemisi webantfu base-Efesu!”​—Imis. 19:34.

² Njengasekhulwini lekucala, nalamuhla sibona Sathane etama kusebentisa sicumbi sebantfu lesitfukutsele kuze emise kwandza kwetindzaba letimnandzi teMbuso waNkulunkulu. Kuliciniso kutsi lokusongela ngebudlova akusiyo indlela lekuphela kwayo Sathane layisebentisako. Kulesehluko sitawucoca ngemachinga Sathane lawasebentisa kuze entele phansi umsebenti kanye nebunye bemaKhristu angelikhulu lekucala. Lokubaluleke nakakhulu kutsi sitawubona kutsi onkhe lamachinga akhe awazange aphumelele, ngobe “livi laJehova lachubeka landza futsi liba nemandla.” (Imis. 19:20) Yini leyenta lamaKhristu ancoba? Ancoba ngenca yetizatfu letisenta sincobe natsi lamuhla. Liciniso likutsi, lokuncoba akusiko kwetfu, kodvwa kwaJehova. Nobe kunjalo, njengemaKhristu angelikhulu lekucala, natsi senta incenye yetfu. Ngekusitwa ngumoya waJehova singaba nebuntfu lobungasisita siphumelele emsebentini wetfu wekushumayela. Asesicale ngekubuka sibonelo sa-Apholosi.

3, 4. Yini bo-Akhwila naPhrisila lababona shengatsi Apholosi ushoda ngayo, futsi yini labayenta kuze bamsite?

³ Ngesikhatsi Pawula aseluhambweni lwakhe lwesitsatfu asitfunywa selivangeli aya e-Efesu, kwefika lomunye umJuda lokutsiwa ngu-Apholosi kulelidolobha. Bekavela edolobheni lelidvumile laseGibhithe lokutsiwa yi-Alekzandriya. Apholosi bekanebuntfu lobuhle futsi akhuluma kahle. Ngetulu kwekutsi bekasikhulumi lesihle, bekayati “kahle nemiBhalo,” futsi ‘bekavutsa nasemoyeni.’ Wakhuluma nemaJuda lebekamlalele esinagogeni ngemdlandla nangesibindzi.​—Imis. 18:24, 25.

⁴ Bo-Akhwila naPhrisila bamuva Apholosi ngesikhatsi akhuluma. Siyaciniseka kutsi bajabula ngesikhatsi bamuva “afundzisa kahle ngetintfo letimayelana naJesu.” Loko lakusho ngaJesu bekuliciniso. Nobe kunjalo, ngekushesha laba labashadene labangemaKhristu babona kutsi kunetintfo letitsite letibalulekile Apholosi labekangatati. “Bekatayelene nelubhabhatiso lwaJohane kuphela.” Laba labashadene labatfobekile, labenta umsebenti wekwakha emathende, abazange besatjiswe likhono la-Apholosi lekufundzisa nobe imfundvo lebekanayo. Kunaloko, “bamtsatsa bamchazela kahle indlela yaNkulunkulu.” (Imis. 18:25, 26) Lendvodza lekhulunyelwa kahle nalefundze kakhulu yenta njani? Kuyacaca kutsi yakhombisa buntfu lobubaluleke kakhulu umKhristu langaba nabo, lokukutfobeka.

5, 6. Yini leyenta Apholosi wasetjentiswa nguJehova, futsi tsine sifundzani esibonelweni sakhe?

⁵ Ngenca yekutsi Apholosi walwemukela lusito lwabo-Akhwila naPhrisila, waba sikhonti saJehova lesiphumelelako. Wahamba waya e-Akhaya lapho efika waba ‘lusito lolukhulu’ khona kubazalwane. Kushumayela kwakhe kwaniketa bufakazi lobuhle nakumaJuda akuleso sifundza lebewasolo anamatsele ekutseni Jesu bekangesuye Mesiya lobeketsenjisiwe. Lukha wabhala: “Ngobe wakuveta ngalokucacile embikwebantfu, kanye nangemdlandla kutsi timfundziso temaJuda tingemanga, futsi wakhombisa ngemiBhalo kutsi Jesu unguKhristu.” (Imis. 18:27, 28) Apholosi waba lusito lolukhulu emabandleni! Ecinisweni, ungulesinye sizatfu lesenta “livi laJehova” labanemandla. Yini lesingayifundza esibonelweni sa-Apholosi?

⁶ Kutfobeka kubaluleke kakhulu kumaKhristu. Sonkhe sibusiswe ngemakhono lehlukahlukene; kungaba ngemakhono langekwemvelo, likhono lolifundze ekuphileni nobe lwati lonalo. Nobe kunjalo, kutfobeka kwetfu kufanele kuwendlule onkhe emakhono lesinawo. Ngalekwaloko, lamakhono angagcine sekalugibe futsi asente sitikhukhumete. (1 Khor. 4:7; Jak. 4:6) Nasitfobeke mbamba, sitawulwela kutsatsa labanye njengalabakhulu kunatsi. (Fil. 2:3) Sitawuvuma kulungiswa kanye nekufundziswa ngulabanye. Angeke sibambelele emibonweni yetfu ngekutigcabha ngisho sesati kutsi ayivumelani nekuhola kwemoya longcwele. Jehova neNdvodzana yakhe batawuchubeka basisebentisa kuphela nje nasichubeka sitfobekile.​—Luk. 1:51, 52.

7. BoPawula na-Apholosi basibeka njani sibonelo sekutfobeka?

 ⁷ Kutfobeka kungasita nasekucedzeni kuncintisana. Cabanga nje kutsi Sathane bekakulangatelela kangakanani kubanga kuncintisana emkhatsini wemaKhristu ekucala. Kufanele kube bekatawujabula kakhulu kube labazalwane lababili labanemdlandla, boPawula na-Apholosi bavuma kuncintisana, mhlawumbe ngekutsi loyo naloyo kubo etame kuba ngulovelele emabandleni! Bekungaba melula ngabo kutsi bente njalo ngobe eKhorinte lamanye emaKhristu bese acale kutsi, “Mine ngiwaPawula,” kantsi lamanye bewatsi, “Mine ngiwa-Apholosi.” BoPawula na-Apholosi bakukhutsata yini lokwehlukana? Cha! Ngekutfobeka Pawula wawatisa umsebenti lobewentiwa ngu-Apholosi futsi wamniketa emalungelo lengetiwe. Apholosi yena walandzela sicondziso saPawula. (1 Khor. 1:10-12; 3:6, 9; Thit. 3:12, 13) Lesi sibonelo lesihle kitsi namuhla sekusebenta ngekubambisana!

8. Nguyiphi indlela Pawula layitsatsa nakabuyela e-Efesu, futsi leni?

⁸ Pawula wetsembisa kubuyela e-Efesu, futsi wasigcina lesetsembiso sakhe. a (Imis. 18:20, 21) Nobe kunjalo, naka kutsi wabuyela kanjani. Nasigcina kukhuluma ngaye bekase-Antiyokhi, leseSiriya. Kuze efike e-Efesu, bekangatsatsa luhambo lolufishane loluya eSeloyisiya, agibele umkhumbi futsi acondze e-Efesu. Kunaloko, “wahamba wadzabula etindzaweni letisekhatsi nesifundza.” Kulinganiselwa kutsi loluhambo lwaPawula lokukhulunywa ngalo encwadzini yeMisebenti 18:23 nakusehluko 19:1 lwaba ngemakhilomitha langu-1 600! Yini leyenta Pawula wakhetsa lendlela lematima kangaka? Kungobe umgomo wakhe bekukuhamba “acinisa bonkhe bafundzi.” (Imis. 18:23) Njengeluhambo lwakhe lwesibili, loluhambo lwakhe lwesitsatfu asitfunywa selivangelli belutawudzinga atidzele kakhulu, kodvwa akazange atisole ngalo. Babonisi betigodzi nabomkabo lamuhla banesimo sengcondvo lesifanako. Asibongi yini ngalolutsandvo lwabo lwekutidzela?

9. Yini leyenta kutsi licembu lebafundzi lidzinge kuphindze libhajatiswe, futsi ngusiphi sifundvo lesingasifundza endleleni lelenta ngayo?

⁹ Watsi nakefika e-Efesu, Pawula watfola licembu lebafundzi baJohane umbhabhatisi labangaba ngu-12. Bebabhabhatiswe ngelubhabhatiso lwaJohane lebelungasasebenti. Ngetulu kwaloko, kubonakala shengatsi kuncane lebebakwati nobe bebangati sanhlobo ngemoya longcwele. Pawula wabachazela ngekubaluleka kwekubhajatiswa egameni laJesu, futsi njenga-Apholosi, lelicembu lakhombisa kutsi litfobekile futsi liyafuna kufundza. Ngemuva kwekubhajatiswa egameni laJesu, latfola umoya longcwele kanye naletinye tipho ngalokusimangaliso. Ngako, kuyacaca kutsi kuhambisana nenhlangano yaJehova letfutfukako kuletsa tibusiso.​—Imis. 19:1-7.

10. Yini leyenta Pawula wesuka esinagogeni waya ehholweni lesikolwa, futsi wasibekela siphi sibonelo emsebentini wetfu wekushumayela?

¹⁰ Ngekushesha kwalandzela lesinye sibonelo sekwandza. Ngesibindzi Pawula  washumayela esinagogeni tinyanga letintsatfu. Ngisho nobe ‘beketama kubenta kutsi bakholwe nguMbuso waNkulunkulu,’ labanye bacinisa tinhloko futsi bamphikisa. Kunekucitsa sikhatsi kulabo ‘lebebabakhuluma kabi ngaleNdlela,’ Pawula wacala kubeka tinkhulumo ehholweni lesikolo onkhe malanga. (Imis. 19:8, 9) Labo lebebafuna kutfutfuka ebuhlotjeni babo naJehova kwadzingeka basuke esinagogeni baye kulelihhola lesikolwa. NjengaPawula, natsi singayincamula incociswano nasibona kutsi umnikati welikhaya akafuni kusilalela kodvwa ufuna imphikiswano. Basesebanyenti bantfu labafana netimvu labafuna kuva umlayeto wetfu lokhutsatako!

11, 12. (a) Pawula wasibekela njani sibonelo sekukhutsala nesekuvumelana netimo? (b) BoFakazi BaJehova bakhombise njani kutsi bakhutsele futsi bavumelana netimo nabashumayela?

¹¹ Kungenteka Pawula bekakhuluma kulelihholwa lesikolwa onkhe malanga kusukela nga-11 ekuseni kuye ku-4 ntsambama. (Imis. 19:9) Kungenteka lesi bekusikhatsi lapho kuthule kakhulu khona futsi kushisa kakhulu, nebantfu bayekele kusebenta kuze badle futsi baphumule. Nakungenteka kutsi Pawula washumayela kusukela nga-11 ekuseni kuze kube ngu-4 entsambama iminyaka lemibili, loko kusho kutsi wacitsa ema-awa langetulu kwa-3 000 afundzisa. b Loku kungenteka kungulesinye sizatfu lesenta livi laJehova lachubeka landza futsi laba nemandla. Pawula bekakhutsele futsi avumelana netimo. Washintja sikhatsi lebekashumayela ngaso kuze sivumelane nesikhatsi bantfu balendzawo lebebatfolakala ngaso. Waba yini umphumela? “Bonkhe lebebahlala esifundzeni sase-Asiya, lobekufaka ekhatsi emaJuda nemaGriki, baliva livi leNkhosi.” (Imis. 19:10) Lena kwaba yindlela lenhle kakhulu yekufakaza ngalokuphelele!

¹² Nasesikhatsini salamuhla BoFakazi BaJehova bakhombise kutsi bakhutsele futsi bavumelana netimo. Silwela kutfola bantfu  nobe ngabe ngukuphi lapho batfolakala khona nanganobe ngusiphi sikhatsi labatfolakala ngaso. Sishumayela emigwacweni, etimakethe kanye nalapho kupaka khona timoto. Siphindze sishumayele bantfu ngekutsi sibashayele lucingo nobe sibabhalele tincwadzi. Setama kushumayela emtini ngemuti ngesikhatsi bantfu labatfolakala ngaso emakhaya.

13, 14. (a) Jehova wamniketa emandla ekwentani Pawula? (b) Nguliphi liphutsa lelentiwa ngemadvodzana aSkheva, futsi tinkholo letitsi tebuKhristu tilenta njani liphutsa lelifanako lamuhla?

¹³ Lukha usitjela kutsi Pawula watfola imiphumela lemihle emsebentini wekushumayela, ikakhulukati ngobe Jehova wamniketa emandla ekwenta “timangaliso letinkhulu.” Ngisho timphahla netidziya lebekatigcoka betitsatfwa timikiswe kubantfu labagulako, futsi bebelapheka. Letiphahla betisetjentiswa kuze kukhishwe ngisho nemadimoni. c (Imis. 19:11, 12) Lokuncoba kwaPawula emadimoni aSathane kwamenta wanakwa, kodvwa hhayi ngendlela lenhle kuphela.

¹⁴ Lamanye “emaJuda lebekahamba akhipha emadimoni” beketama kwenta timangaliso letifana naleto lebetentiwa nguPawula. Lamanye awo etama kukhipha emadimoni asebentisa ligama laJesu nelaPawula. Lukha usitjela ngalabanye labetama kwenta loku, lokungemadvodzana langu-7 aSkheva lobekangumphristi lomkhulu wemaJuda. Lidimoni latsi kuwo: “Ngiyamati Jesu naPawula, nine-ke nibobani?” Lendvodza lebeyinelidimoni yabahlasela labatentisi, yabazubela njengesilwane sesiganga yabenta babaleka balimele futsi bangcunu. (Imis. 19:13-16) Loku kwaba kuncoba lokukhulu ‘kwelivi laJehova,’ njengobe kwaveta emandla Pawula lebekaniketwe wona kanye nekubabete emandla kwalamalunga enkholo yemanga. Kunetigidzi tebantfu namuhla leticabanga kutsi kubita nje ligama laJesu nobe kutibita ngekutsi ‘tingemaKhristu’ kwenele. Njengobe Jesu aveta, ngulabo labenta intsandvo yaBabe wakhe kuphela labanelitsemba sibili ngelikusasa.​—Mat. 7:21-23.

15. Nakutiwa endzabeni yebudimoni nobe sinetintfo letihlobene nemadimoni, singasilingisa njani sibonelo sebantfu base-Efesu?

¹⁵ Kuhlazeka kwemadvodzana aSkheva kwenta bantfu besaba Nkulunkulu, labanyenti babo babangemakholwa futsi balahla nemikhuba yekukhonta emadimoni.  Lisiko lase-Efesu beligcwele imilingo nekutsakatsa, lokutintfo ngalokuvamile lebetitfolakala etincwadzini. Bantfu labanyenti base-Efesu bakhutsateka kutsi baletse letincwadzi tabo temilingo futsi batishisa, ngisho nobe letincwadzi betibita emashumi etinkhulungwane temadola ngekwemali yalamuhla. d Lukha utsi: “Ngako livi laJehova lachubeka landza futsi liba nemandla.” (Imis. 19:17-20) Loku kwaba bufakazi lobumangalisako bekutsi liciniso liyawancoba emanga kanye nebudimoni! Labantfu labetsembekile basibekela sibonelo lesihle lamuhla, ngobe natsi siphila emhlabeni logcwele budimoni. Nasitfola kutsi kunalokutsite lesinako lokuhlobene nebudimoni, sitawube senta kahle nasingalisa bantfu base-Efesu, ngekutsi sikulahle ngekushesha! Kufanele sikhweshe ngalokuphelele etintfweni letenyanyekako ngisho nobe loko kusho kutsi sitawulahlekelwa ngulokutsite.

16, 17. (a) Chaza indlela Demetriyusi lacala ngayo siphitsiphitsi e-Efesu. (b) Bantfu base-Efesu bakhombisa njani kutsi bayitsandza kakhulu inkholo?

¹⁶ Kwabese kuvumbuka lelinye lisu laSathane lelachazwa nguLukha nakabhala atsi “kwavela kuphikisana lokukhulu mayelana naleNdlela.” Lukha bekangakhulumi ngentfo lengekho. e (Imis. 19:23) Indvodza lokutsiwa nguDemetriyusi lebeyakha tithico isebentisa lisiliva, yasusa siphitsiphitsi. Wabita labanye lebekasebenta nabo wabakhumbuta kutsi imali yabo bebayitfola ngekutsengisa tithico. Wabese uveta kutsi lomlayeto Pawula lebekawushumayela bewubamisa kabi kulelibhizinisi ngobe emaKhristu bewangatikhonti tithico. Wabakhumbuta ngebuve babo bekuba bantfu base-Efesu, wabecwayisa nangekutsi nkulunkulukati wabo Athemisi kanye nelithempeli lakhe lelatiwako, bekusengotini yekwentiwa ‘intfo lengenamsebenti.’​—Imis. 19:24-27.

¹⁷ Loko Demetriyusi lakusho kwaba nemphumela lebekawufuna. Labantfu lebebakha tithico ngelisiliva bacala kumemeta batsi, “Mkhulu Athemisi webantfu base-Efesu!” futsi kwaba nemsindvo kulelidolobha lokwaholela ekutseni kube nesicumbi lesikhulu sebantfu lesitfukutsele lesikhulume ngaso ekucaleni kwalesehluko. f Ngenca yekutsi bekangumuntfu lotidzelako, Pawula bekafuna kuya kulenkhundla kuze ayokhuluma nalabantfu, kodvwa bafundzi bamncenga kutsi angatifaki engotini. Lomunye lokutsiwa ngu-Alekzanda wema embikwalesicumbi wetama kukhuluma naso. Njengobe bekangumJuda, bekakulangatelela  kuchaza umehluko emkhatsini wemaJuda kanye nalamaKhristu. Lesicumbi besingeke size sibe nandzaba naloko bekafuna kukuchaza. Batsi nababona kutsi ungumJuda bamthulisa, base bamemeta kakhulu batsi, “Mkhulu Athemisi webantfu base-Efesu!” sikhatsi lesingaba ngema-awa lamabili. Bantfu labatsandza inkholo abakashintji kuze kube ngulamuhla, solo abacabangeli.​—Imis. 19:28-34.

18, 19. (a) Lendvodza lesesikhundleni lesisetulu e-Efesu yasithulisa njani lesicumbi sebantfu? (b)  Ngaletinye tikhatsi tiphatsimandla tibavikele njani bantfu baJehova, futsi nguyiphi indzima tsine lesingayidlala kulokuvikelwa?

¹⁸ Ekugcineni, kwefika indvodza lesesikhundleni lesibalulekile kulelidolobha, yathulisa lesicumbi. Lendvodza lenengcondvo lehlutekile yacinisekisa lesicumbi kutsi lithempeli laso kanye nankulunkulu waso bekungekho engotini ngenca yalamaKhristu. Yaphindze yatjela lesicumbi kutsi kute bucala Pawula kanye nalabo lebekanabo lababentile ethempelini la-Athemisi, nekutsi bekunendlela lefanele yekuveta tikhalo letinjengaleti. Kungenteka emavi lanemandla lendvodza leyawasho ngulapho ikhumbuta lesicumbi kutsi besingabekwa licala ngephansi kwemtsetfo waseRoma nasitawuchubeka nalombutsano longalawuleki nalongekho emtsetfweni. Ngemuva kwaloko, lendvodza lesesikhundleni lesibalulekile yakhulula lesicumbi. Intfukutselo yalesicumbi yaphela ngekushesha njengekucala kwayo, ngenca yalamavi lanengcondvo lakhulunywa ngulendvodza.​—Imis. 19:35-41.

¹⁹ Bekungesiko kwekucala kutsi indvodza lenemoya lophansi, lehlakaniphile nalesesikhundleni lesisetulu ivikele balandzeli baJesu futsi bekungesiko nekwekugcina. Ecinisweni, umphostoli Johane wabona embonweni kutsi ngemalanga ekugcina bohulumende bebantfu emhlabeni bebatawucedza kuhlushwa kwebalandzeli baJesu, lokufana netikhukhula letivela kuSathane. (Semb. 12:15, 16) Loko kube liciniso ngobe etimeni letinyenti emajaji langakhetsi avikele emalungelo aBoFakazi BaJehova ekuhlangana ndzawonye kuze bakhonte Nkulunkulu futsi bashumayele tindzaba letimnandzi kulabanye. Kuliciniso kutsi natsi indlela lesitiphatsa ngayo ingadlala indzima lebalulekile kulokuncoba. Kubonakala shengatsi kutiphatsa kwaPawula kwamenta wahlonishwa nguletinye tikhulu tahulumende wase-Efesu, ngako letikhulu betifuna kumbona aphephile. (Imis. 19:31) Shengatsi natsi kutiphatsa kwetfu kahle kanye nekuba nenhlonipho kungenta bantfu lesihlangana nabo basihloniphe. Asati kutsi imiphumela yaloku ingahamba umgamu lomudze kangakanani.

20. (a) Utiva njani ngendlela livi laJehova lelachubeka linemandla ngayo ngelikhulu lekucala nalelichubeka libanemandla ngayo lamuhla? (b) Yini lotimisele kuyenta kuze usekele kuncoba kwaJehova lamuhla?

²⁰ Akujabulisi yini kucabanga ngendlela ‘livi laNkulunkulu lelachubeka landza futsi libanemandla’ ngayo ngelikhulu lekucala? Kujabulisa ngendlela lefanako kubona indlela Jehova lasekela ngayo kuncoba kwetfu kulesikhatsi salamuhla. Ungatsandza yini kuba nelilungelo lekuba nencenye ngisho ingaba yincane kangakanani kulokuncoba? Nakunjalo, fundza kuletibonelo lesicoce ngato. Hlale utfobekile, uhambisane nenhlangano yaJehova letfutfukako, uchubeke usebenta kamatima, ulahle tintfo letihlobene nebudimoni, futsi unikete bufakazi lobuhle ngendlela lotiphatsa uphindze uhloniphe ngayo.