1, 2. Yini Sawula lebekafuna kuyenta eDamaseku?

 LETIHAMBI letitfukutsele tisondzela eDamaseku, lapho tifuna kwenta khona bubi. Titawukhipha bafundzi baJesu emakhaya abo, tibabophe, tibahlaze, bese tibahudvulela eJerusalema kuze bajeziswe yiNkantolo YemaJuda.

² Tandla taSawula longumholi walelicembu setivele tigcwele ingati. a Bekakhona futsi abukele ngesikhatsi Stefano umfundzi waJesu locotfo agcotjwa ngematje futsi abulawa. (Imis. 7:57–8:1) Angenetiswa kuhlupha bafundzi baJesu labahlala eJerusalema, Sawula ufana nemlilo lovutsako lolungele kusakata emalangabi ekuhlushwa kwebalandzeli baJesu. Ufuna kucedza loluhlelo loluyingoti lolwatiwa ngekutsi “Yindlela.”​—Imis. 9:1, 2; Buka libhokisi lelitsi “ Sawula Wayitfola Kuphi Imvume Yekuya EDamaseku?”

3, 4. (a) Yini leyenteka kuSawula? (b) Ngumiphi imibuto lesitawucoca ngayo?

³ Ngekuphatima nje kweliso, kukhanya kwamanyata ndzawotonkhe eceleni kwakhe. Labo lebekahamba nabo bakubona lokukhanya futsi betfuka kakhulu, bangakhoni ngisho nekukhuluma. Sawula angasaboni emehlweni wawa wabese uva livi lelivela ezulwini litsi: “Sawula, Sawula, ungihluphelani?” Etfukile, Sawula wabuta: “Ungubani wena Nkhosi?” Kungenteka imphendvulo Sawula layitfola yametfusa kakhulu: “NginguJesu, loyo lomhluphako.”​—Imis. 9:3-5; 22:9.

⁴ Yini lesingayifundza emavini ekucala Jesu lawasho kuSawula? Singazuza njani ngekuhlola loko lokwenteka ngesikhatsi Sawula agucuka? Ngutiphi tifundvo lesingatitfola endleleni lelibandla lelasebentisa ngayo lesikhatsi sekuthula ngemuva kwekugucuka kwaSawula?

5, 6. Yini lesingayifundza emavini Jesu lawasho kuSawula?

⁵ Ngalesikhatsi Jesu emisa Sawula endleleni leya eDamaseku, akazange ambute kutsi: “Ubahluphelani bafundzi bami?” Njengobe sibonile  ngenhla, watsi: “Ungihluphelani?” (Imis. 9:4) Ngekuhlushwa kwebafundzi bakhe Jesu bekeva shengatsi kuhlushwa yena.​—Mat. 25:34-40, 45.

⁶ Nangabe uyahlushwa ngenca yekukholwa kwakho kuKhristu, ciniseka kutsi Jehova naJesu bayasati simo lokuso. (Mat. 10:22, 28-31) Kungenteka Jehova angakususi lokuhlushwa ngaleso sikhatsi, kodvwa khumbula kutsi Jesu wakubona kutsatsa luhlangotsi kwaSawula ekubulaweni kwaStefano, futsi wabona ngesikhatsi Sawula ahudvula bafundzi bakhe abakhipha emakhaya abo eJerusalema. (Imis. 8:3) Nobe kunjalo, Jesu akazange angenele ngaleso sikhatsi, kodvwa Jehova asebentisa Khristu, waniketa Stefano kanye nalalabanye bafundzi emandla lebebawadzinga kuze bahlale betsembekile.

7. Yini lokufanele uyente kuze ubeketelele kuhlushwa?

⁷ Nawe ungakubeketelela kuhlushwa nawenta naku lokulandzelako: (1) Timisele kuhlala wetsembekile nobe kungentekani. (2) Cela lusito kuJehova. (Fil. 4:6, 7) (3) Shiyela imphindziselo kuJehova. (Rom. 12:17-21) (4) Yetsemba kutsi Jehova utakuniketa emandla ekutsi ubeketele kuze kube ngulapho asusa lenkinga.​—Fil. 4:12, 13.

8, 9. Kungenteka Ananiyase wativa njani ngalesabelo sakhe?

⁸ Ngemuva kwekuphendvula umbuto waSawula lotsi, “Ungubani wena Nkhosi?” Jesu watsi kuye: “Vuka uye edolobheni futsi utawutjelwa loko lokufanele ukwente.” (Imis 9:6) Sawula longaboni emehlweni wamikiswa endlini yakhe eDamaseku, lapho wefika wazila khona kudla futsi wathantaza emalanga lamatsatfu. Ngesikhatsi lesifanako Jesu wakhuluma ngaSawula kulomunye umfundzi kulelodolobha lobekatiwa ngekutsi ngu-Ananiyase ‘lebekakhulunyelwa kahle ngiwo onkhe emaJuda’ lahlala eDamaseku.​—Imis. 22:12.

⁹ Cabanga indlela lokungenteka Ananiyase wativa ngayo nakeva loku! Inhloko yelibandla, Jesu Khristu lovusiwe, bekakhuluma naye matfupha amkhetsa kutsi ayokwenta sabelo lesikhetsekile. Lelo bekulilungelo lelikhulu, kodvwa kusabelo lesimatima! Nakatjelwa kutsi ayokhuluma  naSawula, Ananiyase watsi: “Nkhosi, tinyenti tintfo lengitivile ngalendvodza, ngivile nangendlela lebahlasela ngayo labangcwele bakho eJerusalema kantsi futsi baphristi labakhulu bayinike imvume yekubavalela ejele bonkhe lababita libito lakho.”​—Imis. 9:13, 14.

10. Yini lesiyifundzako ngaJesu endleleni lakhuluma ngayo naAnaniyase?

¹⁰ Jesu akazange amsole Ananiyase ngekuveta indlela lebekativa ngayo. Nobe kunjalo, wamniketa ticondziso ngaloko bekufanele akwente, futsi wakhombisa kumcabangela ngekumtjela sizatfu sekutsi amtfume kutsi ayokwenta lomsebenti longakavami. Jesu watsi ngaSawula: “Lomuntfu usitja sami lengisikhetsile, kuze ngimemetele ngaso libito lami kubantfu betive, nasemakhosini kanye nasemadvodzaneni aka-Israyeli. Ngobe ngitamkhombisa ngalokucacile  kutsi kungakanani kuhlupheka lokufanele ahlangabetane nako ngenca yelibito lami.” (Imis. 9:15, 16) Ngekushesha, Ananiyase wenta loko Jesu bekamtfume kutsi akwente. Wafuna lomhluphi wemaKhristu longuSawula futsi wamtfola watsi kuye: “Sawula mzalwane wami, iNkhosi Jesu lebonakele kuwe emgwacweni lobewuhamba ngawo ingitfumile kuze uphindze ubone futsi ugcwale umoya longcwele.”​—Imis. 9:17.

11, 12. Sifundzani kulokwenteka kuJesu, Ananiyase, naSawula?

¹¹ Manyenti emaciniso lesiwafundzako kulokwenteka kuJesu, Ananiyase, naSawula. Sibonelo nje, Jesu udlala indzima lebalulekile ekucondziseni umsebenti wekushumayela njengobe nje beketsembisile. (Mat. 28:20) Ngisho nobe angakhulumi nebantfu ngalokucondzile lamuhla, Jesu usawucondzisa umsebenti wekushumayela asebentisa sisebenti lesetsembekile, leso lasibeke ngetulu kwaletinye tisebenti takhe. (Mat. 24:45-47) Ngephansi kwesicondziso seSigungu Lesibusako, bamemeteli, emahlahlandlela, kanye netitfunywa telivangeli batfunywa kutsi bayofuna labo labafuna kwati lokunyenti ngaKhristu. Njengobe kuvetiwe esehlukweni lesisuka kuso, labanyenti balabantfu labashunyayelwako basuke bathantazile kuNkulunkulu bacela sicondziso, base bavakashelwa BoFakazi BaJehova.​—Imis. 9:11.

¹² Ananiyase wabusiswa ngekulalela nangekwemukela lesabelo. Wena uyawulalela yini umyalo wekufakaza ngalokuphelele ngisho nobe lesabelo sikwenta ukhatsateke? Labanye, kuya emtini ngemuti kanye nekuhlangana nebantfu labangabati kubenta besabe. Labanye bakutfola kumatima kushumayela etindzaweni temabhizinisi, emgwacweni, kushumayela ngelucingo nobe ngekubhala tincwadzi. Ananiyase wakuncoba kwesaba futsi waba nelilungelo lekusita Sawula kutsi atfole umoya longcwele. b Ananiyase waphumelela ngobe wetsembela kuJesu futsi watsatsa Sawula njengemzalwane wakhe. Njenga-Ananiyase, natsi singakuncoba kwesaba ngekutsi setsembe kutsi nguJesu locondzisa umsebenti wekushumayela, sivelane nalabanye bantfu, futsi sitsatse ngisho bantfu labete bungani njengebazalwane betfu bakusasa.​—Mat. 9:36.

13, 14. Nangabe utadisha liBhayibheli kodvwa usengakabhajatiswa, yini longayifundza esibonelweni saSawula?

¹³ Sawula wakwenta ngekushesha loko lebesekakufundzile. Nasekalashiwe, wabhajatiswa futsi wacala kutihlanganisa nebafundzi lebebaseDamaseku, kodvwa wenta lokungetulu kwaloko. “Ngekushesha wacala kushumayela emasinagogeni, atsi Jesu uyiNdvodzana yaNkulunkulu.”​—Imis. 9:20.

 ¹⁴ Nangabe utadisha liBhayibheli kodvwa usengakabhajatiswa, utawulingisa Sawula yini futsi ukwente ngekushesha loko lokufundzile? Kuyavunywa, Sawula watibonela ngewakhe simangaliso lesentiwa nguKhristu futsi asingabati kutsi samkhutsata kutsi ente loko lakufundzile. Kunalabanye labatibonela ngewabo timangaliso letentiwa nguJesu. Sibonelo nje, lelinye licembu lebaFarisi belibukele ngesikhatsi Jesu elapha sandla lesikhubatekile salenye indvodza, futsi sicumbi lesikhulu semaJuda besati kutsi Jesu wavusa Lazaru ekufeni. Nobe kunjalo, labanyenti babo abazange babe nendzaba futsi bebaze bamphikise. (Mak. 3:1-6; Joh. 12:9, 10) Ngalokungafani nabo, Sawula wagucuka. Yini leyenta Sawula watsatsa sinyatselo ngisho nobe labanye bebehlulekile kwenta njalo? Kungobe Sawula bekesaba Nkulunkulu kunekwesaba bantfu, futsi bekawatisa kakhulu umusa lebekawukhonjiswe nguKhristu. (Fil. 3:8) Nangabe wenta njengaSawula, kute lokutakuvimba kutsi uhlanganyele emsebentini wekushumayela futsi ufanelekele kubhajatiswa.

15, 16. Yini Sawula layenta emasinagogeni, futsi emaJuda labehlala eDamaseku asabela njani?

¹⁵ Cabanga indlela lesicumbi lesimangele lesatfukutsela ngayo ngesikhatsi sibona Sawula acala kushumayela ngaJesu emasinagogeni? Sabuta, “Lomuntfu akusuye yini lona lobekabahlupha kamatima bantfu baseJerusalema lababita leligama?” (Imis. 9:21) Ngesikhatsi achaza loko lokumente washintja indlela bekativa ngayo ngaJesu, Sawula ‘wakufakazela ngalokucacile kutsi Jesu unguKhristu.’ (Imis. 9:22) Bufakazi abusiti wonkhe muntfu. Abubasiti labo lababambelele emasikweni nobe labagcwele umgcabho. Nobe kunjalo, Sawula akazange aphele emandla.

¹⁶ Ngisho nangemuva kweminyaka lemitsatfu, emaJuda aseDamaseku bekachubeka nekuphikisa Sawula. Ekugcineni, besekafuna nekumbulala. (Imis. 9:23; 2 Khor. 11:32, 33; Gal. 1:13-18) Ngesikhatsi eva ngalelicebo, Sawula wenta ngekuhlakanipha, wabaleka kulelidolobha ngekuvuma kutsi ehliswe ngabhasikidi esikhaleni lebesiselubondzeni lwalelidolobha. Lukha uchaza labo labasita Sawula kutsi abaleke ngalobo busuku ngekutsi “bafundzi bakhe [Sawula].” (Imis. 9:25) Lamavi akhombisa kutsi labanye labeva Sawula ashumayela eDamaseku bamlalela futsi baba balandzeli baKhristu.

17. (a) Bantfu basabela ngatiphi tindlela nabeva emaciniso laseBhayibhelini? (b) Yini lokufanele sichubeke siyenta, futsi leni?

¹⁷ Nawucala kucocela umndeni wakho, bangani kanye nalabanye ngetintfo letinhle lotifundzile, kungenteka bewucabanga kutsi bonkhe batalemukela liciniso leliseBhayibhelini ngobe linengcondvo. Kungenteka labanye balemukele kantsi labanye abakalemukeli. Kuliciniso kutsi kungenteka ube sitsa kumalunga emndeni wakho. (Mat. 10:32-38) Nobe kunjalo, nawuchubeka utfutfuka endleleni yakho yekubonisana nabo ngemiBhalo futsi uchubeka utiphatsa kahle njengobe ungumKhristu, ngisho nalabo labakuphikisako bangashintja bagcine sebalemukele liciniso.​—Imis. 17:2; 1 Phet. 2:12; 3:1, 2, 7.

18, 19. (a) Waba yini umphumela ngesikhatsi Bhanabasi afakazela Sawula? (b) Singabalingisa njani boBhanabasi naSawula?

 ¹⁸ Ngalesikhatsi Sawula angena eJerusalema, kuyacondzakala kutsi kungani bafundzi bangazange bamkholwe nakatsi sewungumfundzi. Nobe kunjalo, kwatsi Bhanabasi nakamfakazela, baphostoli bamemukela futsi bahlala naye sikhatsi lesitsite. (Imis. 9:26-28) Sawula bekahlakaniphile, futsi angesabi kushumayela tindzaba letimnandzi. (Rom. 1:16) Washumayela ngesibindzi eJerusalema, indzawo lacala kuyo kuhlupha bafundzi baJesu Khristu ngelunya. Lokwetfusako kutsi emaJuda laseJerusalema abona kutsi lomuntfu lebewacabanga kutsi utawahola ekucedzeni emaKhristu besekangulomunye wawo, ngako afuna kumbulala. Kulandzisa kutsi, “Ngesikhatsi bazalwane bakubona loko, bamtsatsa [Sawula] bamyisa eKhesariya base bamtfumela eThasusi.” (Imis. 9:30) Sawula watitfoba esicondzisweni saJesu lesavela ngelibandla. Loko kwazuzisa Sawula kanye nelibandla.

¹⁹ Naka kutsi Bhanabasi watsatsa sinyatselo kucala kuze asite Sawula. Akungabateki kutsi lesento semusa sasita ekwakheni bungani lobabakhona emkhatsini waletikhonti taJehova letikhutsele. NjengaBhanabasi, wena uyabasita yini bantfu labasandza kuba ngemaKhristu ngekutsi usebente nabo ensimini uphindze ubasite batfutfuke ebuhlotjeni babo naNkulunkulu? Utawubusiswa kakhulu nawenta njalo. Nangabe usandza kuba ngummemeteli wetindzaba letimnandzi, wena uyalwemukela yini lusito loniketwa lona njengaSawula? Ngekusebenta nebamemeteli lese banesikhatsi benta lomsebenti, utawutfutfukisa likhono lakho lekushumayela, ukhulise injabulo yakho futsi utfole bangani sibili.

20, 21. Tikhonti taNkulunkulu tesikhatsi lesendlulile netesikhatsi salamuhla tisisebentise njani ‘sikhatsi sekuthula’?

²⁰ Ngemuva kwekugucuka kwaSawula kanye nekuhamba kwakhe ngekuphepha, “emabandla laseJudiya, eGalile kanye naseSamariya aba nesikhatsi sekuthula.” (Imis. 9:31) Labafundzi basisebentisa njani ‘lesikhatsi lesivumako’? (2 Thim. 4:2) Lokulandzisa kutsi ‘bebakheka.’ Baphostoli kanye nalamanye emadvodza lafanelekako bacinisa kukholwa kwebafundzi, futsi bahola libandla njengobe ‘belikhombisa kutsi lesaba Jehova futsi lisekelwa ngumoya longcwele.’ Sibonelo nje, Phetro wasebentisa lesikhatsi kuze acinise bafundzi lebebasedolobheni laseLida nasetsafeni laseSharoni. Imetamo yakhe yenta labanyenti lebebahlala dvutane nalapho “bakholwa yiNkhosi.” (Imis 9:32-35) Labafundzi abazange baphazanyiswe nguletinye tintfo kodvwa batinikela kuze banakekelane futsi bashumayele tindzaba letimnandzi. Umphumela waba kutsi libandla ‘lachubeka landza.’

²¹ Ngasekupheleni kwelikhulu lesi-20 leminyaka, BoFakazi BaJehova emaveni lamanyenti babanesikhatsi lesifanako, ‘sikhatsi sekuthula.’ Imibuso lebeseyinesikhatsi lesidze icindzetela bantfu baNkulunkulu ngekushesha  yawa, futsi imincele yekushumayela lebebabekelewe yona yasuswa. Emashumi etinkhulungwane aboFakazi atsatsa lelitfuba kuze ashumayele etindzaweni tawonkhewonkhe, futsi loko kwaba nemiphumela lemihle kakhulu.

22. Ungayisebentisa njani kahle inkhululeko lonayo?

²² Wena uyisebentisa kahle yini inkhululeko lonayo? Nangabe uhlala eveni lelinenkhululeko yekukhonta, Sathane angetama kukuyenga kutsi ufune umcebo kunekutsi ukhonte Jehova. (Mat. 13:22) Ungavumeli lutfo kutsi lukuphazamise. Sisebentise kahle sikhatsi sekuthula lokungenteka unaso nyalo. Sitsatse njengelitfuba lekufakaza ngalokuphelele nesekwakha libandla. Khumbula, timo takho tingashintja ngekushesha.

23, 24. (a) Ngutiphi tifundvo letibalulekile lesitifundza endzabeni yaThabitha? (b) Yini lokufanele sitimisele kuyenta?

²³ Cabanga ngaloko lokwenteka kulomunye umfundzi lobitwa ngekutsi nguThabitha, nobe Dokhasi. Bekahlala eJopha, lokulidolobha lelidvutane naseLida. Lodzadze lowetsembekile bekasisebentisa kahle sikhatsi sakhe kanye netintfo lebekanato futsi “bekenta tintfo letinyenti letinhle futsi apha labanye tipho.” Ngekushesha nje, wahlatjwa kugula futsi wafa. c Kufa kwakhe kwabavisa buhlungu kakhulu bafundzi labahlala eJopha, ikakhulukati bafelokati lebebatsintfwe tento takhe temusa. Ngesikhatsi Phetro efika kulendlu lapho bekulungiselwa khona sidvumbu kuyongcwatjwa, wenta simangaliso lebesingakavami kwentiwa baphostoli baJesu Khristu. Phetro wathantaza wase uvusa Thabitha ekufeni! Cabanga ngenjabulo labafelokati nalabafundzi lababanayo ngesikhatsi Phetro ababitela endlini futsi abakhombisa Thabitha lovusiwe? Kufanele kube letentakalo tabacinisa kakhulu kuze batokhona kumelana netilingo lebetiseta! Kuyakhanya kutsi kungani lesimangaliso ‘satiwa kuyo yonkhe iJopha, futsi labanyenti bakholwa eNkhosini.’​—Imis. 9:36-42.

²⁴ Sifundza tifundvo letimbili letibalulekile kulokulandzisa lokutsintsa inhlitiyo lokumayelana naThabitha. (1) Kuphila kufishane kakhulu. Kubaluleke kakhulu kutsi sitentele ligama lelihle naNkulunkulu nyalo sisengakhona kwenta kanjalo! (Umsh. 7:1) (2) Litsemba lekuvuswa kwalabafile liliciniso. Jehova watibona tento letinyenti temusa lebetentiwa nguThabitha futsi wambusisa. Utayikhumbula  imisebenti yetfu futsi asivuse ekufeni nakungenteka sife ngaphambi kwe-Amagedoni. (Heb. 6:10) Ngako, ngisho nobe siphila “ngetikhatsi . . . letimatima” nobe sijabulela ‘sikhatsi sekuthula,’ shengatsi singabeketela njengobe sifakaza ngalokuphelele ngaKhristu.​—2 Thim. 4:2.