1, 2. Kwentekani ngesikhatsi boPawula naBhanabasi baseListra?

 KUNESIPHITSIPHITSI eListra. Indvodza leyatalwa ikhubatekile igcumagcuma ngenjabulo ngemuva kwekwelashwa ngemadvodza lamabili langatiwa. Bantfu bamangele futsi umphristi uletsela lamadvodza lamabili imichele njengobe labantfu bacabanga kutsi abonkulunkulu. Tinkunzi tiyabhodla futsi tiyabhonsa njengobe baphristi baZeyusi balungiselela kutihlaba. BoPawula naBhanabasi bayamemeta njengobe bevakalisa kungavumelani kwabo naloku labentelwa kona. Badzabula tingubo tabo, basondzela kulesicumbi, futsi ngemuva kwekusincenga sikhatsi lesidze, lesicumbi siyayekela kubakhonta.

² Ngemuva kwaloko, kufika baphikisi labangemaJuda labavela e-Antiyokhi lesePhisidiya kanye nase-Ikhoniyumi. Labaphikisi banyundzela boPawula naBhanabasi kulabantfu baseListra futsi labantfu bayabalalela. Lesicumbi lebesifuna kukhonta boPawula naBhanabasi, nyalo sesibajikele futsi sigcoba Pawula ngematje aze aculeke. Naseyiphelile intfukutselo yalesicumbi, sidvonsela Pawula ngephandle kwelidolobha futsi simshiya lapho sicabanga kutsi ufile.

3. Ngumiphi imibuto lesitawucoca ngayo kulesehluko?

³ Yini leyaholela ekugcotjweni kwaPawula ngematje? EmaKhristu lamemetela tindzaba letimnandzi lamuhla angafundzani kulokwenteka kuBhanabasi, Pawula kanye nakubantfu baseListra labasheshe batsatseke? Emadvodza lamadzala langemaKhristu angasilingisa njani sibonelo sekubeketela emsebentini wekushumayela lesabekwa nguPawula naBhanabasi, labo ‘Jehova labanika sibindzi sekukhuluma’?​—Imis. 14:3.

4, 5. Yini leyenta boPawula naBhanabasi baya e-Ikhoniyumi, futsi kwentekani lapho?

⁴ Emalangeni lambalwa lendlulile, boPawula naBhanabasi bacoshwa edolobheni lemaRoma, i-Antiyokhi lesePhisidiya, ngemuva kwekutsi baphikisi labangemaJuda basuse umsindvo. Nobe kunjalo, kunekutsi baphelelwe ngemandla, “batsintsitsa lutfuli etinyaweni tabo” ngenca yalabantfu bakulelidolobha labangalaleli. (Imis. 13:50-52; Mat. 10:14) Ngekuthula, boPawula  naBhanabasi bahamba kulelidolobha. Bashiya labantfu labangalaleli kuze babhekane nemiphumela yekungalaleli kwabo levela kuNkulunkulu. (Imis. 18:5, 6; 20:26) Ngenjabulo, letitfunywa telivangeli letimbili tachubeka neluhambo lwato lwekwenta umsebenti wekushumayela. Tahamba ngetinyawo emakhilomitha langaba ngu-150 tabheka emphumalanga lengaseningizimu, taze tefika endzaweni lenemhlaba lovundzile lesemkhatsini wetintsaba iTaurus kanye neSultan.

⁵ Ekucaleni, boPawula naBhanabasi bangena e-Ikhoniyumi, lidolobha lebelilandzela emasiko emaGriki futsi ingulelinye lemadolobha labalulekile esifundzeni saseGalathiya lebesibuswa ngemaRoma. a Kulelidolobha, bekunemaJuda latiwako kanye nebantfu labanyenti betive labagucukele enkholweni yebuJuda. Njengobe boPawula naBhanabasi bebavamise kwenta, bangena esinagogeni futsi bacala kushumayela. (Imis. 13:5, 14) “Indlela labakhuluma ngayo yenta kutsi emaJuda nemaGriki lamanyenti abe ngemakholwa.”​—Imis. 14:1.

6. Yini leyenta Pawula naBhanabasi baba bafundzisi labaphumelelako, futsi singabalingisa njani?

⁶ Yini leyenta indlela boPawula naBhanabasi bebakhuluma ngayo yaphumelela? Pawula bekahlakaniphile futsi anelwati lolunyenti ngemiBhalo. Ngebuciko, wacaphuna emlandvweni, etiphrofethweni kanye naseMtsetfweni waMosi kuze afakazele kutsi Jesu bekanguMesiya lowetsenjisiwe. (Imis. 13:15-31; 26:22, 23) Indlela Bhanabasi bekakhuluma ngayo beyikhombisa kutsi unendzaba nebantfu. (Imis. 4:36, 37; 9:27; 11:23, 24) Omabili lamadvodza bewangaketsembeli ekuhlakanipheni kwawo, kodvwa ‘nguJehova wawanika sibindzi sekukhuluma.’ Ungatilingisa njani letitfunywa telivangeli nawenta umsebenti wekushumayela? Ngekwenta naku lokulandzelako: Tetayelanise kakhulu neliVi laNkulunkulu. Khetsa imiBhalo letawutsintsa tinhlitiyo talabo lobashumayelako. Funa tindlela letiphumelelako longatisebentisa kuze udvudvute labo lobashumayelako. Konkhe lokufundzisako hlale ukusekela eVini laJehova, hhayi ekuhlakanipheni kwakho.

7. (a) Tindzaba letimnandzi tiletsa miphi imiphumela? (b) Yini lokufanele uyikhumbule nangabe umndeni wakho wehlukene ekhatsi ngenca yekutsi wena ulalela tindzaba letimnandzi?

⁷ Akusibo bonkhe bantfu base-Ikhoniyumi labakujabulela loko lebekushiwo boPawula naBhanabasi. Lukha utsi: “EmaJuda langazange akholwe afaka umoya lomubi kubantfu betive kuze bavukele bazalwane.” BoPawula naBhanabasi babona kunesidzingo sekutsi bahlale kuze bavikele tindzaba letimnandzi futsi “bahlala sikhatsi lesidze lapho” futsi ‘bakhuluma ngesibindzi.’ Ngenca yaloko, “labanyenti kulelodolobha behlukana ekhatsi, labanye baba ngakumaJuda kantsi labanye baba ngakubaphostoli.” (Imis. 14:2-4) Nalamuhla, kuba nemiphumela lefanako nasishumayela tindzaba letimnandzi. Tindzaba letimnandzi tenta labanye bantfu babe nebunye, kantsi labanye tibenta behlukane ekhatsi. (Mat. 10:34-36) Nangabe umndeni wakho wehlukene ekhatsi ngenca yekutsi wena ulalela tindzaba letimnandzi, khumbula kutsi kuphikiswa kubangelwa ngemahemuhemu langemanga nobe kunyundzelwa. Kutiphatsa kwakho lokuhle kungaveta kutsi lamahemuhemu angemanga futsi ekugcineni labo labakuphikisako bangayishintja indlela labakuphatsa ngayo.​—1 Phet. 2:12; 3:1, 2.

8. BoPawula naBhanabasi basukelani e-Ikhoniyumi, futsi yini lesingayifundza esibonelweni sabo?

 ⁸ Ngemuva kwesikhatsi, baphikisi base-Ikhoniyumi benta lisu lekugcoba boPawula naBhanabasi ngematje. Letitfunywa telivangeli letimbili tatsi natitjelwa ngaloku, takhetsa kuhamba kulendzawo tayoshumayela kulenye. (Imis. 14:5-7) Bashumayeli beMbuso benta lokufanako nalamuhla. Nabasiphikisa, sikhuluma ngesibindzi. (Fil. 1:7; 1 Phet. 3:13-15) Nangabe basilwisa, siyakubalekela kubeka kuphila kwetfu nekwebazalwane betfu engotini ngalokungenasidzingo.​—Taga 22:3.

9, 10. Beyikuphi iListra, futsi yini lesiyatiko ngebantfu lebebahlala khona?

⁹ BoPawula naBhanabasi baya eListra, lidolobha lebelingephansi kwembuso wemaRoma futsi lebelikhashane ngemakhilomitha langu-30 eningizimu lengasenshonalanga ye-Ikhoniyumi. IListra beyinebudlelwane lobucinile ne-Antiyokhi lesePhisidiya, kodvwa bantfu bakhona bebehlukile ngobe bekute emaJuda latiwako. Ngisho nobe bantfu bakulelidolobha bebakhuluma siGriki, kodvwa lulwimi labalumunya bekusiLikhawoniya. Kungenteka ngenca yekutsi lelidolobha belite lisinagoge, boPawula naBhanabasi bacala kushumayela endzaweni levulekile. Ngesikhatsi aseJerusalema, Phetro welapha indvodza leyatalwa ikhubatekile. Ngesikhatsi aseListra, Pawula welapha indvodza leyatalwa ingakwati kuhamba. (Imis. 14:8-10) Ngenca yalesimangaliso lebesentiwe nguPhetro, bantfu labanyenti besebangemakholwa. (Imis. 3:1-10) Simangaliso lesentiwa nguPawula sona saba nemiphumela leyehluke kakhulu.

¹⁰ Njengobe kuchaziwe ekucaleni kwalesehluko, ngesikhatsi lendvodza lengakhoni kuhamba igcuma ima ngetinyawo, lesicumbi saseListra lebesikhonta bonkulunkulu labangemacaba, ngekushesha safinyelela siphetfo lesingesiso. Sabita Bhanabasi ngaZeyusi, losikhulu sabonkulunkulu,  katsi Pawula sambita ngaHemesi, loyindvodzana yaZeyusi aphindze abe ngumkhulumeli wabonkulunkulu. (Buka libhokisi lelitsi “ IListra Kanye Nekukhontwa KwaZeyusi NaHemesi.”) Nobe kunjalo, boPawula naBhanabasi bebatimisele kwenta lesicumbi sicondze kutsi bebangakhulumi nobe bente letimangaliso ngemandla labawanikwe bonkulunkulu bemacaba, kodvwa konkhe loku bebakwenta ngemandla labawanikwe nguJehova, longuNkulunkulu weliciniso.​—Imis. 14:11-14.

11-13. (a) Yini boPawula naBhanabasi labayisho kubantfu labahlala eListra? (b) Ngusiphi sifundvo lesingasifundza kuloko lokwashiwo boPawula naBhanabasi?

¹¹ Ngetulu kwako konkhe loku lokwenteka, boPawula naBhanabasi bebasolo bafuna tindlela tekutsintsa tinhlitiyo talabo lebebabalalele. Asebentisa loku lokwenteka, Lukha wabhala ngendlela lephumelelako yekushumayela tindzaba letimnandzi kubantfu labakhonta bonkulunkulu labangemacaba. Naka indlela boPawula naBhanabasi labatsintsa ngayo tinhlitiyo talabo lebebabalalele, batsi: “Madvodza, nikwentelani loku? Natsi simane nje sibantfu njengani futsi sinebutsakatsaka lobufana nebenu. Simemetela tindzaba letimnandzi kini, kuze nishiye letintfo letingenamsebenti bese nikhonta Nkulunkulu lophilako, lowadala lizulu, umhlaba, lwandle, nato tonkhe tintfo letikuko. Esikhatsini lesendlulile, wativumela tonkhe tive kutsi tichubeke tenta letikutsandzako, kodvwa ngekunentela lokuhle, wativeta kini kutsi ungubani. Wanehlisela imvula ezulwini, waniletsela netikhatsi tenala, waninika nekudla lokunyenti futsi wagcwalisa tinhlitiyo tenu ngenjabulo.”​—Imis. 14:15-17.

¹² Ngusiphi sifundvo lesisifundza kulamavi lasenta sicabange? Sekucala, boPawula naBhanabasi abazange batikhandze babakhulu kunalabantfu lebebabashumayela. Abazange batente loko labangesiko.  Kunaloko, ngekutitfoba bavuma kutsi bebanebutsakatsaka lobufana nebalabantfu labakhonta bonkulunkulu bemacaba. Kuliciniso kutsi boPawula naBhanabasi bebakhululiwe etimfundzisweni temanga futsi batfola nemoya longcwele. Bebabusiswe nangelitsemba lekubusa naKhristu. Nobe kunjalo, bebati kutsi nalabantfu baseListra bebangatfola letipho letifanako nabangalalela Khristu.

¹³ Sibatsatsa njani labo lesibashumayelako? Sitibona sifana yini nabo? Njengobe sisita labanye kutsi bafundze emaciniso laseVini laNkulunkulu, siyakubalekela yini kufuna kudvunyiswa njengobe kwenta boPawula naBhanabasi? Charles Taze Russell, lobekangumfundzisi lonelikhono lebekahola emsebentini wekushumayela ekupheleni kwelikhulu lesi-19 nasekucaleni kwelikhulu lesi-20 leminyaka, wasibekela sibonelo lesihle kuloku. Wabhala watsi: “Asitifuneli ludvumo nobe kukhontwa, tsine nobe loko lesikubhalako futsi asifisi kubitwa ngekutsi siBafundisi nobe boRabi.” Kutfobeka kweMzalwane Russell bekufana naloko kwaPawula naBhanabasi. Ngendlela lefanako, injongo yekushumayela kwetfu akusiko kutifunela ludvumo, kodvwa kusita bantfu kutsi bakhonte “Nkulunkulu lophilako.”

14-16. Ngusiphi sifundvo sesibili kanye nesesitsatfu lesingasifundza kuloko Pawula naBhanabasi labakusho kubantfu baseListra?

¹⁴ Cabanga ngesifundvo sesibili lesisitfola kulokwashiwo boPawula naBhanabasi. BoPawula naBhanabasi bebakwati kuvumelana netimo. Ngalokungafani nemaJuda nebantfu labagucukele enkholweni yebuJuda e-Ikhoniyumi, bantfu lebebahlala eListra bebanelwati loluncane ngemiBhalo nobe bangayati sanhlobo, futsi bebangayati indlela Nkulunkulu lasebentelana ngayo nema-Israyeli. Nobe kunjalo, labo labalalela Pawula naBhanabasi bebabalimi. IListra beyibusiswe ngesimo selitulu lesihle kanye nemhlaba lovundzile. Bekunetintfo letinyenti lebetikhombisa labantfu buntfu lobuhle beMdali, letinjengetikhatsi tenala, futsi letitfunywa telivangeli tasebentisa loko kuze tibashumayele.​—Rom. 1:19, 20.

¹⁵ NjengaPawula naBhanabasi, natsi singativumelanisa yini netimo tebantfu? Ngisho nobe umlimi ahlanyela inhlanyelo lefanako emasimini akhe lehlukahlukene, kodvwa kufanele asebentise tindlela letingafani nakalungisa lomhlaba. Kungenteka lomunye umhlabatsi sewuvele utsambile futsi ulungele kutsi kuhlanyelwe kuwo, kantsi lomunye kungenteka usadzinga kulungiswa kakhudlwana. Ngendlela lefanako, inhlanyelo lesiyihlanyelako ayishintji, ihlale ingumlayeto weMbuso lotfolakala eVini laNkulunkulu. Nobe kunjalo, nasilingisa Pawula naBhanabasi, sitawetama kucondza timo tebantfu lesibashumayelako kanye naloko labakukholelwako. Sitawubese sivumela loko lesikwatiko ngabo kutsintse indlela lesibashumayela ngayo.​—Luk. 8:11, 15.

¹⁶ Singafundza sifundvo sesitsatfu kulendzaba lemayelana naPawula, Bhanabasi kanye nebantfu baseListra. Nanobe singenta konkhe lokusemandleni etfu, kodvwa ngaletinye tikhatsi inhlanyelo yetfu ingadliwa tilwane nobe iwele emadvwaleni. (Mat. 13:18-21) Nangabe loko kwenteka, ungapheli emandla. Njengobe Pawula akhumbuta bafundzi baseRoma, “Nkulunkulu utawehlulela umuntfu ngamunye [lokufaka ekhatsi umuntfu ngamunye lesicoca naye ngeliVi laNkulunkulu] kuye ngekwaloko lakwentile.”​—Rom. 14:12.

17. BoPawula naBhanabasi baya kuphi nabesuka eDebe, futsi leni?

¹⁷ Ngemuva kwekutsi Pawula advonselwe ngephandle kwaseListra kucatjangwa kutsi ufile, bafundzi beta kuye bamsukumisa futsi bamniketa nendzawo yekulala kulelidolobha ngalobobusuku. Ngelilanga lelilandzelako, boPawula naBhanabasi batsatsa luhambo lwabo loluya eDebe, lekhashane ngemakhilomitha langu-100. Sewungacabanga kutsi loluhambo belumatima kangakanani kuPawula ngobe bekagcotjwe ngematje ema-aweni lambalwa nje lendlulile. Nobe kunjalo, yena naBhanabasi bacinisela futsi batsi nabefika eDebe, benta bantfu “labanyenti kutsi babe bafundzi.” Kunekutsi batsatse indlela lejubelako leya emakhaya abo lase-Antiyokhi leseSiriya, “babuyela eListra, e-Ikhoniyumi, nase-Antiyokhi [lesePhisidiya].” Leni? Kuze ‘bacinise bafundzi, babakhutsate kutsi babe nekukholwa.’ (Imis. 14:20-22) Sihle kakhulu sibonelo lesabekwa ngulamadvodza lamabili! Abeka tidzingo telibandla kucala kunetawo. Nalamuhla babonisi labajikeletako kanye netitfunywa telivangeli balingisa sibonelo sabo.

18. Yini lebukwako nangabe umzalwane abekwa kutsi abe ngulomdzala welibandla?

¹⁸ Ngetulu kwekucinisa labafundzi ngemavi nangekubabekela sibonelo, boPawula naBhanabasi “babeka emadvodza lamadzala kulelo nalelo bandla.” Ngisho nobe “bebatfunywe ngumoya longcwele” kuloluhambo lwetitfunywa telivangeli, boPawula naBhanabasi bathantaza futsi bazila nekudla ‘nabaletsa [lamadvodza lamadzala] kuJehova.’ (Imis. 13:1-4; 14:23) Kwentiwa intfo lefanako nalamuhla. Ngembikwekutsi umzalwane aniketwe emalungelo, labadzala belibandla lakulo bayathantaza futsi bahlole kutsi lomzalwane uyafaneleka yini ngekuvumelana nemiBhalo. (1 Thim. 3:1-10, 12, 13; Thit. 1:5-9; Jak. 3:17, 18; 1 Phet. 5:2, 3) Kutsi lomzalwane unesikhatsi lesidze kangakanani angumKhristu akukabaluleki kakhulu. Kunaloko, indlela lomzalwane lakhuluma ngayo, latiphatsa ngayo kanye nalatiwa ngayo, kufanele ivete indlela umoya longcwele losebenta ngayo ekuphileni kwakhe. Kutiphatsa kwakhe ngendlela levumelana nalokushiwo yimiBhalo, ngiko lokuncumako kutsi uyafaneleka yini kuba ngumelusi wemhlambi. (Gal. 5:22, 23) Kungumsebenti wembonisi wesigodzi kubabeka lamadvodza lamadzala.​—Catsanisa na-1 Thimothi 5:22.

19. Labadzala belibandla bati kutsi yini labatawulandzisa ngayo, futsi bangabalingisa njani boPawula naBhanabasi?

¹⁹ Labadzala belibandla bayati kutsi batawulandzisa kuNkulunkulu ngendlela labaliphatsa ngayo libandla. (Heb. 13:17) NjengaPawula naBhanabasi, labadzala belibandla bahamba embili ekwenteni umsebenti wekushumayela. Bacinisa kukholwa kwebafundzi labakanye nabo ngalabakushoko. Bakulungele nekubeka tidzingo telibandla kucala kunetabo.​—Fil. 2:3, 4.

20. Sizuza njani nasifundza ngemibiko lemayelana nemsebenti wekwetsembeka lowentiwa bazalwane betfu?

²⁰ Ngesikhatsi boPawula naBhanabasi sebalucedzile luhambo lwabo lwetitfunywa telivangeli, babuyela e-Antiyokhi leseSiriya futsi babika “tonkhe letintfo Nkulunkulu lebekatentile asebentisa bona, nekutsi besekavulele bantfu betive umnyango wekutsi bakholwe.” (Imis. 14:27) Nasifundza ngemsebenti wekwetsembeka lowentiwa bazalwane betfu, siyayibona indlela Jehova layibusisa ngayo imetamo yabo, futsi singakhutsateka kutsi sichubeke ‘sikhuluma ngesibindzi lesisinikwa nguJehova.’