1-3. (a) ʻOku fehangahangai ʻa Sitīveni mo e tuʻunga fakatupu manavahē ko e hā, ka ʻoku anga-fēfē ʻa ʻene fakafeangai ki aí? (e) Ko e hā ʻa e ngaahi fehuʻi te tau lāulea ki aí?

 ʻOKU fehangahangai ʻa Sitīveni mo e fakamaauʻangá. ʻI ha holo fakatupu ongoʻi māluʻia, ʻa ia ʻoku ngalingali naʻe tuʻu ʻo ofi ki he temipalé ʻi Selusalema, ʻoku nofo takatakai mai ai ha kau tangata ʻe toko 71. Ko e fakamaauʻangá ni, ʻa e Sanetalimí, ʻoku nau tangutu mai he ʻaho ko ʻení ke fakamāuʻi ʻa Sitīveni. Ko e kau fakamāú ko e kau tangata maʻu mafai lahi mo faitākiekina, ʻa ia ko e tokolahi taha aí ʻoku ʻikai haʻanau teitei tokaʻi ʻe taha ʻa e ākonga ko ʻeni ʻa Sīsuú. He ko hono moʻoní, ko e tangata ko ia naʻá ne ui ke fakatahataha mai ʻa e fakamaauʻangá ko e Taulaʻeiki Lahi ko Kaiafasí, ʻa ia ko ia naʻe sea ʻi he taimi naʻe fakahalaiaʻi ai ʻe he Sanetalimí ʻa Sīsū Kalaisi ki he mate ʻi ha ngaahi māhina pē ki muʻa atu. ʻOku ilifia ʻa Sitīveni?

² ʻOku ʻi ai ʻa e meʻa fakaofo fekauʻaki mo e fofonga ʻo Sitīvení ʻi he mōmeniti ko ʻení. ʻOku sio fakamamaʻu atu ʻa e kau fakamāú kiate ia ʻo nau sio ko hono fofongá ʻoku “hangē ko e fofonga ʻo ha ʻāngeló.” (Ngā. 6:15) Ko e kau ʻāngeló ʻoku nau ʻave ʻa e ngaahi pōpoaki meia Sihova ko e ʻOtuá pea ʻoku nau maʻu ai ʻa e ʻuhinga ke nau taʻemanavahē, nonga, mo melino. Pea ʻoku pehē pē mo Sitīveni​—naʻa mo e kau fakamaau ko ia ʻoku nau fonu he tāufehiʻá ʻoku lava ke nau sio ki he meʻa ko iá. ʻE lava fēfē ke ne mātuʻaki nonga pē ia?

³ Ko e kau Kalisitiane he ʻaho ní ʻe lava ke nau ako ʻa e meʻa lahi mei he tali ki he foʻi fehuʻi ko iá. ʻOku toe fiemaʻu foki kiate kitautolu ke tau ʻiloʻi ʻa e meʻa tofu pē ko ia naʻá ne ʻomi ʻa Sitīveni ki he foʻi mōmeniti mafatukituki ko ʻení. Naʻe anga-fēfē ʻene taukapoʻi ki muʻa heni ʻa ʻene tuí? Pea ʻi he ngaahi founga fē ʻe lava ke tau faʻifaʻitaki ai kiate iá?

4, 5. (a) Ko e hā naʻe hoko ai ʻa Sitīveni ko ha koloa mahuʻinga ki he fakatahaʻangá? (e) ʻI he founga fē naʻe hoko ai ʻa Sitīveni ʻo “fonu ʻi he hōifua fakaʻotuá mo e mālohí”?

⁴ Kuo tau ʻosi ʻiloʻi ʻe kitautolu ko Sitīvení naʻe hoko ia ko ha koloa mahuʻinga ki he fakatahaʻanga Kalisitiane naʻe toki fokotuʻu foʻoú. ʻI he vahe naʻe  toki ʻosi atu ʻo e tohí ni, naʻa tau sio ai naʻá ne kau ʻi he lotolotonga ʻo e kau tangata anga-fakatōkilalo ʻe toko fitu ko ia ne nau loto-lelei ke nau tokoni ki he kau ʻapositoló ʻi he taimi naʻe ui ai kinautolu ke nau fai ha tokoní. Ko ʻene anga-fakatōkilaló ʻoku toe makehe ange ia ʻi he taimi ko ia te tau lāulea ai ki he ngaahi meʻaʻofa ʻa ia naʻe tāpuakiʻiʻaki ʻa e tangatá ni. ʻI he Ngāue 6:8, ʻoku tau lau ai naʻe fakamafeia ia ke ne fakahoko ha “ngaahi fuʻu meʻa fakaofo mo e ngaahi mana,” ʻo hangē ko ia naʻe fai ʻe he niʻihi ʻo e kau ʻapositoló. ʻOku toe tala mai foki kiate kitautolu ʻo pehē naʻá ne “fonu ʻi he hōifua fakaʻotuá mo e mālohí.” Naʻe ʻuhinga ia ki he hā?

⁵ Ko e foʻi lea faka-Kalisi naʻe liliu ko e “hōifua fakaʻotuá” ʻe lava ke toe liliu ia ko e “ʻaloʻofa.” ʻOku hā mahino ko Sitīvení naʻá ne anga-lelei, anga-fakaalaala, ʻo tohoakiʻi mai ai ʻa e kakaí kiate ia. Naʻá ne lea ʻi ha founga ʻa ia naʻá ne ueʻi ʻa e tokolahi ʻo ʻene kau fanongó, ʻo fakatuipauʻi kinautolu ʻo fekauʻaki mo ʻene loto-moʻoní pea mo e lelei ʻo e ngaahi moʻoni naʻá ne leaʻakí. Naʻá ne fonu ʻi he mālohí koeʻuhí naʻe ngāue ʻa e laumālie ʻo Sihová ʻiate ia, he naʻá ne fakamoʻulaloa anga-fakatōkilalo ki he tataki ʻa e laumālié. ʻI he ʻikai ke fakafuofuolahi ko e meʻa ʻi he ngaahi meʻaʻofa mo e ngaahi malava naʻá ne maʻú, naʻá ne tuku ʻa e kotoa ʻo e fakahīkihikí kia Sihova peá ne fakahāhā ʻa e tokanga ʻofa ki he kakai naʻá ne lea ki aí. Tāneʻineʻi leva ke sio ʻa hono kau fakafepakí ko iá naʻá ne hoko ko ha foʻi ivi mālohi naʻá ne fakamanamanaʻi kinautolu!

6-8. (a) Ko e hā ʻa e ongo tukuakiʻi ʻe ua naʻe fai ʻe he kau fakafepaki ʻo Sitīvení ʻo fekauʻaki mo iá, pea ko e hā hono ʻuhingá? (e) Ko e hā ʻoku fakamoʻoniʻi ai ʻe hoko nai ʻa e faʻifaʻitakiʻanga ʻa Sitīvení ʻo ʻaonga ki he kau Kalisitiane ʻi he ʻaho ní?

⁶ Naʻe tuʻu hake ʻa e kau tangata kehekehe ke fakakikihi mo Sitīveni, ka “naʻe ʻikai te nau lava ke fakafepakiʻi ʻa e poto pea mo e laumālie ʻa ia naʻá ne leaʻakí.” a ʻI heʻenau ongoʻi feifeitamakí, naʻa nau “fakalotoʻi fakafufū” ai ha kau tangata ke nau ʻomi ha ngaahi tukuakiʻi ʻo fekauʻaki mo e tokotaha muimui taʻehalaia ko eni ʻo Kalaisí. Naʻa nau toe “fakaʻaiʻai ʻa e kakaí,” kau mātuʻá, pea mo e kau sikalaipé, ko ia naʻe ʻave fakamālohi ai ʻa Sitīveni ki he ʻao ʻo e Sanetalimí. (Ngā. 6:9-12) Naʻe fai ʻe he kau fakafepakí ʻa e tukuakiʻi ʻe ua ko ení ʻo kau kiate ia: Naʻá ne lea taʻemolumalu fakatouʻosi ʻo fekauʻaki mo e ʻOtuá pea mo Mōsese. ʻI he ngaahi founga fē?

⁷ Naʻe pehē ʻe he kau tukuakiʻi loí naʻe lea taʻemolumalu ʻa Sitīveni ʻo fekauʻaki mo e ʻOtuá he naʻá ne lea fakafepaki ki he “potu toputapú ni”​—ʻa e temipale ʻi Selusalemá. (Ngā. 6:13) Naʻá ne lea taʻemolumalu ʻo fekauʻaki mo Mōsese, ko ʻenau tukuakiʻí ia, he naʻá ne lea fakafepaki ki he Lao ʻa Mōsesé, ʻo ne liliu ʻa e ngaahi tōʻonga naʻe tuku mai ʻe Mōsesé. Ko ha tukuakiʻi eni naʻe mātuʻaki mafatukituki, he ko e kau Siú ʻi he taimi ko iá naʻe tō lahi ʻenau fakamamafá ki he temipalé, ngaahi fakaikiiki ʻo e Lao ʻa Mōsesé, pea mo e ngaahi talatukufakaholo tala ngutu lahi  ʻa ia naʻa nau tānaki atu ki he Lao ko iá. Ko ia, naʻe ʻuhinga ʻa e tukuakiʻi ko ení ko Sitīvení ko ha tangata ia naʻe fakatuʻutāmaki, ʻokú ne tuha mo e maté!

⁸ Ko e meʻa fakamamahí, ʻoku ʻikai ko ha meʻa foʻou ia ki he kakai lotú ke nau ngāueʻaki ʻa e ngaahi faʻufaʻu peheé koeʻuhí ke nau fakatupunga ai ha palopalema ki he kau sevāniti ʻa e ʻOtuá. ʻOku aʻu mai ki he ʻahó ni, ʻoku fakaʻaiʻai ʻe he kau fakafepaki fakalotú ʻi he taimi ʻe niʻihi ʻa e kau taki fakaemāmaní ke nau fakatangaʻi ʻa e Kau Fakamoʻoni ʻa Sihová. ʻOku totonu ke fēfē ʻetau fakafeangaí ʻi he taimi ʻoku tau fehangahangai ai mo e ngaahi tukuakiʻi kuo mioʻí pe ngaahi tukuakiʻi loí? ʻE lava ke tau ako ʻa e meʻa lahi meia Sitīveni.

9, 10. Ko e hā ʻa e taukaveʻi kuo fai ʻe he kau fakaangá ʻo fekauʻaki mo e lea ʻa Sitīveni ʻi he ʻao ʻo e Sanetalimí, pea ko e hā ʻoku fiemaʻu ke tau manatuʻí?

⁹ Hangē ko ia naʻe lave ki ai ʻi he kamatá, naʻe nonga ʻa e fofonga ʻo Sitīvení, ʻo hangē ko e fofonga ʻo ha ʻāngeló, ʻi heʻene fanongo ko ia ki he ngaahi tukuakiʻi naʻe fai mai ʻo fekauʻaki mo iá. Naʻe hanga hake leva ʻa Kaiafasi kiate ia ʻo ne pehē ange: “ʻOku moʻoni ʻa e ngaahi meʻá ni?” (Ngā. 7:1) Ko e taimi eni kia Sitīveni ke ne lea aí. Pea naʻá ne lea leva!

¹⁰ Kuo ʻohofi ʻe he kau fakaanga ʻe niʻihi ʻa e lea ʻa Sitīvení, ʻo taukaveʻi neongo ʻene lōloá, naʻe ʻikai pē te ne teitei tali ʻe ia ʻa e tukuakiʻi naʻe fai ange ʻo fekauʻaki mo iá. Ka ko hono moʻoní, naʻe fokotuʻu ʻe Sitīveni ha faʻifaʻitakiʻanga lelei moʻoni kiate kitautolu ʻi he founga ke ‘fai ai ha taukapo’ ʻo fekauʻaki mo e ongoongo leleí. (1 Pita 3:15) Manatuʻi naʻe tukuakiʻi ʻa Sitīvení ʻo pehē naʻá ne lea taʻemolumalu ʻo fekauʻaki mo e ʻOtuá ʻaki ʻene lea fakafepaki ki he temipalé pea mo ʻene lea taʻemolumalu ʻo fekauʻaki mo Mōsese ʻaki ʻene lea fakafepaki ki he Laó. Ko e tali ʻa Sitīvení ko ha fakamatala nounou ia ʻo fekauʻaki mo e ngaahi vahaʻa taimi ʻe tolu ʻi he hisitōlia ʻo ʻIsilelí, ʻa ia ʻoku fakamamafaʻi lelei ai ʻa e ngaahi poini pau. Tau lāulea taha taha angé ki he ngaahi vahaʻa taimi ʻe tolu ko eni ʻi he hisitōliá.

11, 12. (a) Naʻe anga-fēfē hono ngāue ola lelei ʻaki ʻe Sitīveni ʻa e fakatātā fekauʻaki mo ʻĒpalahamé? (e) Ko e hā naʻe kau ai ʻa Siosifa ʻi he lea ʻa Sitīvení?

¹¹ Ko e kuonga ʻo e kau pēteliaké. (Ngā. 7:1-16) Naʻe kamata ʻa Sitīveni ʻaki ʻene talanoa ʻo fekauʻaki mo ʻĒpalahame, ʻa ia naʻe fakaʻapaʻapaʻi ʻe he kau Siú koeʻuhi ko ʻene tuí. Lolotonga ʻene kamata ʻi he makatuʻunga mahuʻinga ko eni ʻa ia ne nau loto-tatau aí, naʻe fakamamafaʻi ʻe Sitīveni ko Sihová, ʻa e “ʻOtua ʻo e lāngilangí,” naʻá ne ʻuluaki fakahaaʻi ʻa ia tonu kia ʻĒpalahame ʻi Mesopotēmia. (Ngā. 7:2) Ko hono moʻoní, ko e tangata ko iá naʻá ne hoko ko ha tokotaha ʻāunofo ʻi he Fonua ʻo e Talaʻofá. Naʻe ʻikai ke maʻu ʻe ʻĒpalahame ia ha temipale pe ko e Lao ʻa Mōsesé. ʻE lava fēfē ke vilitaki ha taha ʻo pehē ko e tauhi faitōnunga ki he ʻOtuá kuo pau maʻu pē ke fakatuʻunga ia ʻi ha temipale pe ko ha ngaahi lao?

¹² Ko e hako ʻo ʻĒpalahame ko Siosifá naʻe toe tokaʻi lahi foki mo ia ʻe he kau fanongo ʻa Sitīvení, ka naʻe fakamanatu ange ʻe Sitīveni kiate kinautolu ko e fanga tokoua tonu ʻo Siosifá, ʻa e ngaahi tamai ʻa e ngaahi matakali ʻo ʻIsilelí, naʻa nau fakatangaʻi ʻa e tangata māʻoniʻoni ko iá pea nau fakatau atu ia ki he nofo pōpula. Neongo ia, naʻe hoko ʻo meʻangāue ʻaki ia ʻe he ʻOtuá ki hono fakahaofi ʻo ʻIsileli  mei he hongé. ʻOku ʻikai ha veiveiua naʻe sio ʻa Sitīveni ki he ngaahi faitatau māʻalaʻala ʻi he vahaʻa ʻo Siosifa mo Sīsū Kalaisí, ka naʻá ne tuku pē ʻa e fakahoatatau ko iá koeʻuhí ke ne kei pukepuke pē ʻa e tokanga ʻa ʻene kau fanongó ʻi he lōloa taha ʻe ala lavá.

13. Naʻe anga-fēfē hono tali ʻe he lāulea fekauʻaki mo Mōsesé ʻa e tukuakiʻi naʻe fai kia Sitīvení, pea ko e hā ʻa e kaveinga naʻe tokoni ʻa e meʻá ni ke fakatupulekiná?

¹³ Ko e taimi ʻo Mōsesé. (Ngā. 7:17-43) Naʻe leaʻaki ʻe Sitīveni ʻa e meʻa lahi ʻo fekauʻaki mo Mōsese​—pea naʻe fakapotopoto pē ia, koeʻuhí ko e tokolahi ʻo e kau mēmipa ʻo e Sanetalimí ko e kau Sātusi, ʻa ia naʻa nau talitekeʻi ʻa e ngaahi tohi kotoa ʻo e Tohi Tapú tuku kehe pē ʻa e ngaahi tohi ko ia naʻe hiki ʻe Mōsesé. Manatuʻi ange foki ʻa e tukuakiʻi ko ia ʻo pehē naʻe lea taʻemolumalu ʻa Sitīveni ʻo fekauʻaki mo Mōsesé. Ko e ngaahi lea ʻa Sitīvení naʻá ne tali hangatonu ʻa e tukuakiʻi ko iá, he naʻá ne fakahaaʻi naʻá ne maʻu ʻa e fakaʻapaʻapa lahi moʻoni kia Mōsese pea mo e Laó. (Ngā. 7:38) Naʻá ne fakahaaʻi ko Mōsesé foki naʻe toe fehangahangai mo ia mo hono talitekeʻi ʻe he faʻahinga ʻa ia naʻá ne feinga ke fakahaofí. Naʻa nau talitekeʻi ia ʻi he taimi naʻá ne taʻu 40 aí. Laka hake he taʻu ʻe 40 ki mui ai, naʻa nau poleʻi ʻa hono tuʻunga-takí ʻi ha ngaahi taimi lahi. b Ko ia naʻe fakatupulekina hokohoko ai ʻe Sitīveni ha kaveinga tefito: Ko e kakai ʻa e ʻOtuá naʻa nau toutou talitekeʻi ʻa e faʻahinga ko ia naʻe fakanofo ʻe Sihova ke ne tataki kinautolú.

14. Ko hono ngāueʻaki ko ia ʻo e fakatātā fekauʻaki mo Mōsesé naʻá ne poupouʻi ai ʻa e ongo poini ko e hā ʻi he lea ʻa Sitīvení?

¹⁴ Naʻe fakamanatu ange ʻe Sitīveni ki heʻene kau fanongó naʻe tomuʻa tala ʻe Mōsese ʻe tupu hake ha palōfita hangē ko Mōsesé mei ʻIsileli. Ko hai nai ia, pea ʻe anga-fēfē hono talitali iá? Naʻe tuku pē ʻe Sitīveni ʻa e tali ki aí ki he konga fakaʻosi ʻo ʻene leá. Naʻá ne fakaeʻa ha toe poini tefito ʻe taha: Naʻe ʻilo ʻe Mōsese ʻe lava pē ke ʻai ʻo toputapu ha faʻahinga konga kelekele pē, ʻo hangē ko ia ko e konga kelekele naʻe tuʻu ai ʻa e fuʻu ʻakau naʻe vela ulouló, ʻa ē naʻe folofola  mai ai ʻa Sihova kiate iá. Ko ia ai, ʻe lava nai ke fakangatangata pē, pe ʻe toki lava pē ʻo fai ʻa e lotu kia Sihová ʻi ha fale pē ʻe taha kuo langa, ʻo hangē ko ia ko e temipale ʻi Selusalemá? Tau sio angé ki aí.

15, 16. (a) Ko e hā naʻe mahuʻinga ai ʻa e tāpanekalé ki he fakaʻuhinga naʻe fakatupulekina ʻe Sitīvení? (e) Naʻe anga-fēfē hono ngāueʻaki ʻe Sitīveni ʻa e temipale ʻo Solomoné ʻi heʻene fakamatalá?

¹⁵ Ko e tāpanekalé mo e temipalé. (Ngā. 7:44-50) Naʻe fakamanatu ʻe Sitīveni ki he fakamaauʻangá ko e ki muʻa ko ia ke ʻi ai ha temipale ʻi Selusalemá, naʻe fekau ʻe he ʻOtuá kia Mōsese ke ne langa ha tāpanekale​—ko ha faʻunga fakaelanga ia hangē ha tēnití ke fai ai ʻa e lotú, ʻa ia naʻe ala fehikitaki holo. Ko hai ia ʻe fakatoʻotoʻa hake ke ne fakakikihiʻi ʻo pehē ko e tāpanekale ko iá naʻe māʻulalo ange ia ʻi he temipalé, he ko Mōsese tonu ē naʻá ne lotu ʻi ai?

¹⁶ Ki mui ai, ʻi he taimi naʻe langa ai ʻe Solomone ʻa e temipale ʻi Selusalemá, naʻe fakamānavaʻi ia ke ne lave ki ha lēsoni mātuʻaki mahuʻinga ʻi heʻene lotú. Hangē ko ia ko e lau ʻa Sitīvení, “ʻoku ʻikai ʻafio ʻa e Fungani Māʻolungá ʻi he ngaahi fale kuo ngaohi ʻe he nimá.” (Ngā. 7:48; 2 Kal. 6:18) ʻE ala ngāueʻaki nai ʻe Sihova ha temipale ke fakahokoʻaki ʻene ngaahi taumuʻá, ka ʻoku ʻikai te ne fakangatangata pē ki ai. Ko e hā leva ka totonu ai ki heʻene kau lotú ke nau ongoʻi ko e lotu maʻá ʻoku fakatuʻunga pē ia ʻi ha fale kuo langa ʻe he nima ʻo e tangatá? Naʻe ʻomi ʻe Sitīveni ʻa e foʻi fakaʻuhinga ko ʻení ki ha fakamulituku mālohi ʻaki ʻene toʻo-lea hangatonu mei he tohi ʻa ʻAiseá: “Ko hēvani ʻa hoku taloní, pea ko e māmaní ʻa hoku tuʻunga-vaʻé. Ko e hā ʻa e faʻahinga fale te mou langa moʻokú? Ko e folofola ia ʻa Sihová. Pe ko fē ʻa hoku mālōlōʻangá? Ko hoku nimá naʻá ne ngaohi ʻa e ngaahi meʻá ni kotoa, ʻikai ko ia?”​—Ngā. 7:49, 50; ʻAi. 66:1, 2. 

17. Naʻe anga-fēfē hono hanga ʻe he lea ʻa Sitīvení ʻo (a) fakaeʻa ʻa e ngaahi fakakaukau fehālaaki naʻe maʻu ʻe heʻene kau fanongó pea (e) tali ʻa e tukuakiʻi naʻe fai ʻo fekauʻaki mo iá?

¹⁷ ʻI hoʻo sivisiviʻi ko ia ʻa e lea ʻa Sitīveni ki he Sanetalimí ʻo aʻu mai ki he taimi ko ʻení, ʻikai te ke loto-tatau ko iá naʻá ne fakaeʻa pōtoʻi ʻa e ngaahi fakakaukau fehālaaki naʻe maʻu ʻe hono kau talatalaakí? Naʻá ne fakahaaʻi ko e taumuʻa ʻa Sihová ʻoku fakalakalaka mo longomoʻui, ʻo ʻikai taʻelakakimuʻa mo nōfoʻi ʻi he talatukufakaholó. Ko e faʻahinga naʻa nau pipiki tōtuʻa ki hono ʻapasiaʻi ʻa e temipale fakaʻofoʻofa ko ia ʻi Selusalemá pea mo e ngaahi tōʻonga mo e ngaahi talatukufakaholo ʻa ia naʻe tupu hake takatakai ʻi he Lao ʻa Mōsesé, naʻe ʻikai te nau mahinoʻi ʻa e taumuʻa kakato naʻe tuʻu mei mui ʻi he Laó pea mo e temipalé! Naʻe ʻohake taʻefakahangatonu ai ʻe he lea ʻa Sitīvení ʻa e fehuʻi mātuʻaki mahuʻinga: ʻIkai te ke tokaʻi ʻa e Laó mo e temipalé ʻi he tuʻunga lelei tahá ʻaki hoʻo talangofua kia Sihová? Ko e moʻoni, naʻe ʻomi ʻe he ngaahi lea ʻa Sitīvení ha taukapo lelei ʻaupito ki he ngaahi meʻa naʻá ne faí, koeʻuhí he naʻá ne talangofua kia Sihova ʻi he lelei taha naʻá ne malavá.

18. ʻI he ngaahi founga fē ʻoku totonu ke tau feinga ai ke tau faʻifaʻitaki kia Sitīvení?

¹⁸ Ko e hā ʻe lava ke tau ako mei he lea ʻa Sitīvení? Naʻá ne maheni fakaʻāuliliki pea mo e Folofolá. ʻI he tuʻunga meimei tatau, ʻoku fiemaʻu ke tau hoko ko e kau ako tōtōivi ʻo e Folofola ʻa e ʻOtuá kapau ʻoku tau loto ke tau “tofa totonu ʻa e folofola ʻo e moʻoní.” (2 Tīm. 2:15) ʻE toe lava foki ke tau ako ʻo fekauʻaki mo e hōifua fakaʻotuá pea mo e fakapotopotó meia Sitīveni. Ko ʻene kau fanongó naʻa nau mātuʻaki fakafili  ʻaupito! Neongo ia, ʻi he lōloa taha ko ia naʻe ala lavá, naʻá ne tauhi maʻu ha makatuʻunga ʻa ia naʻa nau loto-tatau ki ai ʻaki ʻene nōfoʻi pē ʻi he ngaahi meʻa ʻa ia naʻe tokaʻi lahi ʻe he kau tangata ko iá. Naʻá ne toe lea anga-fakaʻapaʻapa foki kiate kinautolu, ʻo ne ui ʻa e kau tangata matuʻotuʻa aí ko e “ngaahi tamai.” (Ngā. 7:2) ʻOku fiemaʻu mo kitautolu foki ke tau ʻoatu ʻa e ngaahi moʻoni ʻo e Folofola ʻa e ʻOtuá ʻaki “ha loto anga-malū mo e fakaʻapaʻapa loloto.”​—1 Pita 3:15.

19. Naʻe anga-fēfē hono talaki loto-toʻa ʻe Sitīveni ʻa e pōpoaki fakaefakamaau ʻa Sihová ki he Sanetalimí?

¹⁹ Kae kehe, ʻoku ʻikai ke tau tauholomui mei hono vahevahe atu ʻa e ngaahi moʻoni ʻo e Folofola ʻa e ʻOtuá koeʻuhí ko ha manavasiʻi naʻa tau fakatupu ʻita ai ki he kakaí; pea ʻoku ʻikai ke tau fakavaivaiʻi ʻa e ngaahi pōpoaki fakaefakamaau ʻa Sihová. Ko Sitīvení ko ha faʻifaʻitakiʻanga lelei ia. ʻOku ʻikai ha veiveiua naʻe lava ke ne sio ki he ʻikai ke teitei maongo ko ia ki he kau fakamaau loto-fefeka ko iá ʻa e kotoa ʻo e ngaahi fakamoʻoni naʻá ne tuku atu ki he ʻao ʻo e Sanetalimí. Ko ia ʻi hono ueʻi leva ia ʻe he laumālie māʻoniʻoní, naʻá ne fakaʻosiʻaki ʻene leá ʻaki ʻene fakahaaʻi taʻemanavahē ange ko kinautolú naʻa nau hangē tofu pē ko ʻenau fanga kuí ʻa ia naʻa nau talitekeʻi ʻa Siosifa, Mōsese, pea mo e kotoa ʻo e kau palōfitá. (Ngā. 7:51-53) Ko hono moʻoní, ko e kau fakamaau ko ʻeni ʻo e Sanetalimí naʻa nau fakapoongi ʻa e Mīsaiá, ʻa ē ko ʻene haʻú tonu ē naʻe tomuʻa tala ʻe Mōsese pea mo e kotoa ʻo e kau palōfitá. Ko e moʻoni, naʻa nau faihala ki he Lao ʻa Mōsesé ʻi he founga kovi taha naʻe ala lavá!

20, 21. Naʻe anga-fēfē ʻa e fakafeangai ʻa e Sanetalimí ki he ngaahi lea ʻa Sitīvení, pea naʻe anga-fēfē hono fakaivimālohiʻi ia ʻe Sihová?

²⁰ Ko e moʻoni taʻetoealafakakikihiʻi ʻo e ngaahi lea ʻa Sitīvení naʻá ne ʻai ai ʻa e kau fakamaau ko iá ke nau fonu ʻi he ʻita teketekelilí. ʻI he ʻikai haʻanau meʻimeʻi anga-fakangeingeia ʻe tahá, naʻe kamata ke nau ʻūʻūnifo mai kia Sitīveni. Kuo pau pē naʻe sio ʻa e tangata faitōnunga ko ʻení ʻe ʻikai pē ke teitei fai ha meesi ange ia kiate ia, ʻo hangē pē ko ia ne hoko ki hono ʻEikí, ʻa Sīsū.

²¹ Naʻe fiemaʻu kia Sitīveni ʻa e loto-toʻa ke ne fehangahangai ai mo e meʻa naʻe toka mai mei muʻá, pea ʻoku ʻikai ha veiveiua naʻá ne maʻu ʻa e fakalototoʻa lahi mei he vīsone naʻe ʻoange anga-ʻofa ʻe Sihova kiate ia ʻi he taimi ko iá. Naʻe sio ʻa Sitīveni ki he lāngilangi ʻo e ʻOtuá, pea naʻá ne sio kia Sīsū ʻoku tuʻu ʻi he nima toʻomataʻu ʻo Sihová! ʻI he fakamatala ʻa Sitīveni ki he vīsone ko iá, naʻe ʻai ʻe he kau fakamāú ia honau nimá ʻo tāpuniʻaki honau telingá. Ko e hā hono ʻuhingá? Ki muʻa atu, naʻe tala ange ai ʻe Sīsū ki he fakamaauʻanga tatau pē ko ení ko ia ʻa e Mīsaiá pea ʻe vavé ni ke ne ʻi he nima toʻomataʻu ʻo ʻene Tamaí. (Mk. 14:62) Naʻe fakamoʻoniʻi ʻe he vīsone ʻa Sitīvení naʻe leaʻaki ʻe Sīsū ʻa e moʻoní. ʻA ia ko hono moʻoní, naʻe lavakiʻi pea tāmateʻi ʻe he Sanetalimi ko ení ʻa e Mīsaiá! Naʻa nau ʻoho taha atu ʻo ʻave ʻa Sitīveni ke tolomakaʻi ke mate. c

22, 23. Naʻe hangē ʻa e mate ʻa Sitīvení ko e mate ʻa hono ʻEikí ʻi he ngaahi founga fē, pea ʻe lava fēfē ke loto-falala ʻa e kau Kalisitiane he ʻaho ní ʻo hangē ko Sitīvení?

 ²² Naʻe mate ʻa Sitīveni ʻo meimei hangē tofu pē ko e founga naʻe mate ai ʻa hono ʻEikí, ʻi ha loto-nonga, ʻo fonu ʻi he falala kia Sihova pea mo e loto-fakamolemole ki hono kau fakapōngí. Naʻá ne pehē, “ʻEiki Sīsū, maʻu atu hoku laumālié,” mahalo nai koeʻuhí he naʻe kei lava pē ke ne sio ʻi he vīsoné ki he Foha ʻo e tangatá mo Sihova. ʻOku ʻikai ha veiveiua, naʻe ʻiloʻi ʻe Sitīveni ʻa e ngaahi lea fakalototoʻa ʻa Sīsū: “Ko au ʻa e toetuʻú pea mo e moʻuí.” (Sione 11:25) Fakaʻosí, naʻe lotu fakahangatonu leʻo-lahi ʻa Sitīveni ki he ʻOtuá ʻo pehē: “Sihova, ʻoua naʻa tukuakiʻi ʻa e angahalá ni kiate kinautolu.” ʻI he hili ʻene leaʻaki ení, naʻá ne mohe leva ʻi he maté.​—Ngā. 7:59, 60.

²³ Naʻe hoko leva ai ʻa Sitīveni ko e ʻuluaki tokotaha māʻata ia kuo lēkooti ʻi he lotolotonga ʻo e kau muimui ʻo Kalaisí. (Sio ki he puha “ Ko ha ‘Tokotaha Māʻata’ ʻi he ʻUhinga Fē?”) Ka ko e meʻa fakamamahí, heʻikai ko ia pē ʻe ngata aí. ʻOku aʻu tonu mai ki hotau ʻahó ni, kuo fakapoongi e kau sevāniti faitōnunga ʻe niʻihi ʻa Sihova ʻe he kau lotu ʻoku nau fuʻu māfana tōtuʻa, kau mamahiʻi-meʻa fakapolitikale, pea mo e kau fakafepaki anga-kakaha kehe. Ka neongo ia, ʻoku tau maʻu ha ʻuhinga ke tau loto-falala pē ʻo hangē ko Sitīvení. ʻOku lolotonga pule ʻa Sīsū he taimí ni ʻi he tuʻunga ko e Tuʻi, ʻo ne ngāueʻaki ʻa e mālohi fakaofo kuo foaki ange kiate ia ʻe heʻene Tamaí. ʻE halaʻatā ha meʻa te ne taʻofi ia mei hono fokotuʻu hake ʻa ʻene kau muimui faitōnungá.​—Sione 5:28, 29.

24. Naʻe anga-fēfē ʻa e kaunga ʻa Saula ki he mate fakamāʻata ʻa Sitīvení, pea ko e hā ʻa e ngaahi ola taimi-lōloa ʻo e mate ʻa e tangata faitōnunga ko iá?

²⁴ Naʻe sio kātoa ʻi he meʻá ni ha kiʻi tangata ko hono hingoá ko Saula. Naʻá ne loto-lelei ki hono fakapoongi ʻo Sitīvení, pea aʻu ki heʻene tokangaʻi ʻa e ngaahi kofu ʻo e faʻahinga naʻa nau tolomakaʻi iá. Taimi nounou pē mei ai, naʻá ne takimuʻa ʻi hono fakahoko ha fuʻu peau ʻo e fakatanga kakaha. Ka ko e mate ʻa Sitīvení ʻe ʻi ai ʻene kaunga ola lelei taimi-lōloa mai. Ko ʻene faʻifaʻitakiʻangá, ko e meʻa pē ʻe hoko aí ko ʻene fakaivimālohiʻi ʻa e kau Kalisitiane kehé ke nau nofoʻaki faitōnunga ai pē pea nau lavaʻi ai ha ikuna meimei tatau. ʻIkai ko ia pē, ko Saula​—ʻa ia naʻe faʻa ui lahi ko Paula ʻi he ngaahi taʻu ki mui aí​—te ne manatu ki heʻene kaunga ko ia ki he mate ʻa Sitīvení fakataha mo e fakaʻiseʻisa lahi moʻoni. (Ngā. 22:20) Naʻá ne tokoni ki hono fakapoongi ʻo Sitīvení, ka naʻá ne toki fakatokangaʻi hake ki mui ai: “Naʻá ku hoko . . . ko ha tokotaha laukovi ki he ʻOtuá pea ko ha tokotaha fakatanga pea ko ha tangata anga-taʻetokaʻi.” (1 Tīm. 1:13) ʻOku hā mahino, naʻe ʻikai ʻaupito ngalo ʻia Paula ʻa Sitīveni pea mo e lea mālohi naʻá ne fai ʻi he ʻaho ko iá. Ko hono moʻoní, ko e niʻihi ʻo e ngaahi lea mo e ngaahi tohi ʻa Paulá ʻoku hā ai ʻa e ngaahi kaveinga naʻe fakakau ʻe Sitīveni ʻi heʻene leá. (Ngā. 7:48; 17:24; Hep. 9:24) ʻI he faai atu ʻa e taimí, naʻe ako kakato ai ʻa Paula ke muimui ʻi he faʻifaʻitakiʻanga ʻo e tui mo e loto-toʻa naʻe fokotuʻu ʻe Sitīvení, ʻa ia ko ha tangata naʻe “fonu ʻi he hōifua fakaʻotuá mo e mālohí.” Ko e fehuʻí, Te tau pehē mo kitautolu?