CIBALO 6
Sitefano—“Kazwide Luzyalo lwa Leza Anguzu”
Kwiiya kubumboni mbwaakapa cabusicamba Sitefano kumbele lya Nkuta Mpati Yaba Juda
Kweelana a Milimo 6:8–8:3
1-3. (a) Ino Sitefano uli mubukkale nzi bukatazya, pele ino wacita buti? (b) Mibuzyo nzi njotutiilange-lange?
SITEFANO uliimvwi kumbele lyankuta. Muŋanda iiyakidwe kabotu, kweelede kuti iili afwaafwi atempele mu Jerusalemu, baalumi bali 71 balikkede azyuuno zibikkidwe mumilongo-longo. Nkuta eeyi, nkokuti Nkuta Mpati Yaba Juda yaswaangana sunu kutegwa ibeteke Sitefano. Babetesi aaba mbaalumi balaanguzu kapati, ibalaampuwo alimwi bunji bwabo tabamulemeki naa kumuyanda sikwiiya wa Jesu ooyu. Alimwi buya, imwaalumi wakakkazika nkuta eeyi ngu Kayafa Mupaizi Mupati, ooyo iwakali sicuuno myezi misyoonto yainda ciindi Nkuta Mpati Yaba Juda noyakakosola kuti Jesu Kristo ajaigwe. Sena Sitefano uliyoowede?
2 Kuli cintu cimwi cigambya kapati kujatikizya busyu bwa Sitefano aciindi eeco. Kabamulangilila babetesi, bakabona kuti busyu bwakwe buli “mbuli busyu bwamungelo.” (Mil. 6:15) Bangelo mbabatola mulumbe wa Jehova Leza nkakaambo kaako ncobaliiba, kubatama akutayoowa. Aboobo ncimwi buyo a Sitefano, nobaba babetesi aaba banyemede kapati balibonena. Nkaambo nzi ncaliibide kapati?
3 Banakristo mazuba aano balakonzya kwiiya zinji kubwiinguzi bwamubuzyo ooyu. Kunze lyaboobo, tweelede kuzyiba cini capa kuti Sitefano ajanike mubukkale oobu bukatazya. Mbuti mbwaakalwiiminina lusyomo lwakwe musyule? Alimwi muunzila nzi motukonzya kumwiiya?
“Bakanyonganya Bantu” (Milimo 6:8-15)
4, 5. (a) Nkaambo nzi Sitefano ncaakali kuyandwa kapati mumbungano? (b) Muunzila nzi Sitefano ‘mwaakazwide luzyalo lwa Leza anguzu’?
4 Twaiya kale kuti Sitefano wakali sikwiiya iwakali kuyandwa kapati mumbungano ya Bunakristo iyakazwa aakutalisyigwa. Mucibalo cainda mubbuku eeli, twakabona kuti wakali akati kabaalumi balicesya ibali ciloba ibakalisungwide kugwasya baapostolo ciindi nobakalombwa. Kulicesya kwakwe kulalibonya kapati ciindi notulanga-langa zipego mwaalumi ooyu nzyaakapedwe. Ku Milimo 6:8, tubala kuti wakali kucita “zintu zigambya zipati azitondezyo,” mbubwenya mbuli baapostolo bamwi. Alimwi tubala kuti mwaalumi ooyu ‘wakazwide luzyalo lwa Leza anguzu.’ Ino eeci cakali kwaamba nzi?
5 Bbala lya Chigiriki lyakasandululwa kuti “luzyalo” lilakonzya alimwi kusandululwa kuti buuya. Aboobo cilalibonya kuti Sitefano wakali siluzyalo, sibuuya alimwi silubomba, calo icakali kubakwelelezya bantu kulinguwe. Wakali kubandika munzila iyakali kubasika amoyo baswiilizi bakwe banji, kubapa kusyoma kuti wakalisinizyide akuti nzyaakali kuyiisya zilakonzya kubagwasya. Wakazwide nguzu nkaambo muuya wa Jehova wakali kubeleka mulinguwe, kayi cakulicesya wakali kutobela busolozi bwamuuya. Muciindi cakulisumpula akaambo kazipego nzyaakajisi azintu nzyaakali kukonzya kucita, wakatondezya kuti Jehova nguweelede kutembaulwa alimwi wakali kubabikkila maano bantu mbaakali kubandika limwi. Aboobo, cilalibonya basikumukazya ncobakali kulibilika kujatikizya nguwe.
6-8. (a) Ino ntwaambo nzi tobilo ntobakamutamikizya basikumukazya Sitefano, alimwi nkaambo nzi? (b) Nkaambo nzi cikozyanyo ca Sitefano ncocikonzya kubagwasya Banakristo mazuba aano?
6 Baalumi baindene-indene bakaboola kutegwa bamukazye Sitefano, pele “kunyina nobakakonzya kuzunda busongo amuuya nzyaakali kubelesya kwaambaula.” a Kabanyemede, “cakusisikizya bakoongelezya” bantu kuti bamubejekezye twaambo ooyu sikutobela Kristo uunyina mulandu. Kuyungizya waawo, “bakanyonganya bantu,” nkokuti baalu abalembi, cakuti Sitefano bakamukwelenkanya kumutola ku Nkuta Mpati Yaba Juda. (Mil. 6:9-12) Basikumukazya bakamutamikizya twaambo ootu tobilo twakuti: Wakali kusampaula Leza a Musa. Munzila nzi?
7 Basikumutamikizya bakaamba kuti Sitefano wakasampaula Leza, mukuti wakasampaula “busena oobu busalala,” nkokuti tempele lyamu Jerusalemu. (Mil. 6:13) Bakaamba kuti wakasampaula Musa mukuti, wakasampaula Mulawo wa Musa, wakacinca zilengwa eezyo zyakapegwa kwiinda muli Musa. Ooyu wakali mulandu mupati, nkaambo ba Juda aciindi eeco bakabikkilide maano kapati kutempele, zibeela zya Mulawo wa Musa alimwi atunsiyansiya tunji ntobakabikkilizya mu Mulawo. Aboobo mulandu ooyu wakali kutondezya kuti Sitefano wakali muntu mubyaabi kapati, iwakeelede kujaigwa.
8 Cuusisya ncakuti, kanji-kanji basizikombelo babelesya nzila zili boobo kutegwa babaletele mapenzi babelesi ba Leza. Kusikila sunu, basizikombelo basikukazya zimwi ziindi boongelezya beendelezi kuti batalike kupenzya Bakamboni ba Jehova. Ncinzi ncotweelede kucita ciindi notwatamikizyigwa twaambo? Tulakonzya kwiiya zinji kuli Sitefano.
Kupa Bumboni Cabusicamba Kujatikizya “Leza Uulemekwa” (Milimo 7:1-53)
9, 10. Ino basikukazya baamba nzi kujatikizya mulumbe wa Sitefano ku Nkuta Mpati Yaba Juda, pele ncinzi ncotweelede kuyeeya?
9 Kweelana ambokwaambwa kumatalikilo aacibalo, ciindi naakali kuswiilila milandu njaakapegwa, Sitefano wakaliliibide kubusyu, mbuli busyu bwamungelo. Lino Kayafa wakati kulinguwe: “Sena zintu eezyi nzyamasimpe?” (Mil. 7:1) Cakasika ciindi cakuti Sitefano lino aambaule. Alimwi eeco ncaakacita.
10 Basikukazya bamwi balautongooka mulumbe wa Sitefano, kabaamba kuti nokuba kuti wakali mulamfwu, kunyina buya naakaingula twaambo ntwaakatamikizyigwa. Pele mubwini, Sitefano wakatusiila cikozyanyo cibotu mbotweelede ‘kwiiminina’ makani mabotu. (1 Pet. 3:15) Amuyeeye kuti, Sitefano wakapegwa mulandu wakusampaula Leza kwiinda mukwaamba majwi mabyaabi kujatikizya tempele, alimwi akusampaula Musa kwiinda mukwaamba majwi mabyaabi kujatikizya Mulawo. Bwiinguzi bwa Sitefano butondezya zibeela zyotatwe mubufwaafwi zyamakani aansiku aabana Israyeli, alimwi twaambo tumwi twakakankaizyigwa kabotu-kabotu. Lino atuzilange-lange zibeela eezyi zyotatwe cimwi acimwi kucigama.
11, 12. (a) Mbuti Sitefano mbwaakacibelesya kabotu cikozyanyo ca Abrahamu? (b) Nkaambo nzi Sitefano ncaakamubikkilizya Josefa mumakani aakwe?
11 Ciindi cabasikale. (Milimo 7:1-16) Sitefano wakatalika kwiinda mukubandika kujatikizya Abrahamu, ooyo ba Juda ngobakali kulemeka kapati akaambo kalusyomo lwakwe. Kwiinda mukutalikila mukaambo aaka kayandika nkobakali kuzuminana, Sitefano wakakankaizya kuti Jehova, “Leza uulemekwa,” wakasaanguna kuliyubununa kuli Abrahamu ku Mesopotamiya. (Mil. 7:2) Alimwi buya, mwaalumi ooyo wakali mweenzu mu Nyika Yakasyomezyedwe. Abrahamu tanaakajisi tempele naa Mulawo wa Musa. Aboobo mbuti muntu mbwanga waamba kuti kusyomeka kuli Leza lyoonse kweelede kuyaama aazintu eezyo?
12 Josefa, iwaluzubo lwa Abrahamu, bakali kumulemeka kapati baswiilizi ba Sitefano, pele Sitefano wakabayeezya kuti banabokwabo Josefa, bamausyi bamisyobo ya Israyeli, bakamupenzya muntu mululami ooyo alimwi akumusambala mubuzike. Nokuba boobo, Leza wakamubelesya kuvwuna bana Israyeli kunzala mpati. Cakutadooneka, Sitefano wakakubona kukozyanya kusalede kuliko akati ka Josefa a Jesu Kristo, pele kunyina naakaaguma makani aaya kutegwa baswiilizi bakwe bazumanane kumuswiilila kufwumbwa buyo kuti kacikonzyeka.
13. Mbuti mubandi uujatikizya Musa mbowakaingula twaambo ntwaakatamikizyigwa Sitefano, alimwi ino eeci cakagwasya buti kukankaizya kaambo kayandika kapati?
13 Ciindi ca Musa. (Milimo 7:17-43) Cabusongo, Sitefano wakaamba zinji kujatikizya Musa mbwaanga banji mu Nkuta Mpati Yaba Juda bakali ba Saduki, aabo ibatakali kwaazumina mabbuku oonse aamu Bbaibbele kunze buyo lyayaayo ngaakalemba Musa. Alimwi amuyeeye kuti, mulandu ngwaakapegwa Sitefano wakali wakusampaula Musa. Majwi aa Sitefano akapa bwiinguzi kumulandu ngwaakapegwa, nkaambo wakatondezya kuti wakali kumulemeka kapati Musa alimwi a Mulawo. (Mil. 7:38) Wakatondezya kuti awalo Musa wakakakwa abaabo mbaakali kusola kufwutula. Bakamukaka ciindi naakajisi myaka iili 40 yakuzyalwa. Nokwakainda myaka iinda ku 40, ziindi zinji bakali kubulwana bweendelezi bwakwe. b Aboobo Sitefano munzila eeyi wakali kukankaizya kaambo aaka kayandika kapati: Bantu ba Leza cakwiinduluka-induluka bakali kubakaka aabo Jehova mbaakasalide kubasololela.
14. Ino kubelesya cikozyanyo ca Musa kwakagwasyilizya kukankaizya twaambo nzi mumakani ngaakabandika Sitefano?
14 Sitefano wakabayeezya baswiilizi bakwe kuti Musa wakasinsima kuti mu Israyeli kwakali kuyoobuka musinsimi uuli mbuli Musa. Ino wakali kuyooba ni ooyo, alimwi mbuti mbwaakali kuyootambulwa? Sitefano kunyina naakayiingula mibuzyo eeyi kusikila kumamanino. Mpoonya wakaamba kaambo akambi kapati kakuti: Musa wakaiya kuti kufwumbwa busena bulakonzya kusalala, mbubonya mbocakabede aabusena aakali citewo icakali kuyaka mulilo, ooko Jehova nkwaakabandika anguwe. Aboobo, sena kukomba Jehova kulakonzya kusinkililwa naa kucitilwa buyo mubusena bomwe, mbuli kutempele mu Jerusalemu? Atubone.
15, 16. (a) Nkaambo nzi makani aatente lyakubunganina ncaakali kuyandika kapati mumubandi wa Sitefano? (b) Mbuti Sitefano mbwaakalibelesya tempele lya Solomoni mumubandi wakwe?
15 Tente lyakubunganina alimwi atempele. (Milimo 7:44-50) Sitefano wakayeezya nkuta kuti kakutanaba tempele lili lyoonse mu Jerusalemu, Leza wakalailila Musa kuyaka tente lyakubunganina, ilyakali kukonzya kulonzyegwa kabuli busena bwakukombela. Ino nguni wakali kukonzya kwaamba kuti tente lyakubunganina tiilyakeelene atempele, mbwaanga Musa kumugama wakalibelesya kukomba?
16 Kumbele, ciindi Solomoni naakayaka tempele mu Jerusalemu, wakasololelwa amuuya kwaamba ciiyo ciyandika kapati mumupailo wakwe. Mbubwenya mbwaakaamba Sitefano, “Mupatikampatila takkali mumaanda aayakidwe amaanza.” (Mil. 7:48; 2 Mak. 6:18) Jehova ulakonzya kulibelesya tempele kutegwa atole ambele makanze aakwe, pele tacaambi kuti mbobusena bulikke mbwayelede kubelesya ziyume zitete. Aboobo ino nkaambo nzi bakombi bakwe ncobateelede kulimvwa kuti bukombi busalala buyeeme aabusena bwakayakwa amaanza aabantu? Sitefano wakaumanizya mubandi wakwe munzila iisika amoyo kwiinda mukuzubulula bbuku lya Isaya ilyaamba kuti: “Ijulu ncuuno cangu cabwami, eelyo nyika ncilyatilo camaulu aangu. Ino niŋanda yamusyobo nzi njomuyoondiyakila? Jehova mbwaamba. Naa, ino buli kuli busena bwangu bwakulyookezyela? Sena talili janza lyangu lyakapanga zintu eezyi zyoonse?”—Mil. 7:49, 50; Is. 66:1, 2.
17. Mbuti majwi aa Sitefano (a) mbwaakatondezya bube bwabaswiilizi bakwe alimwi (b) mbwaakapa bwiinguzi kutwaambo ntobakamutamikizya?
17 Ciindi nomulanga-langa mubandi wa Sitefano ku Nkuta Mpati Yaba Juda kusikila waawa, sena tamuzumini kuti wakacisalazya kuti basikumukazya bakajisi mizeezo iilubide? Wakatondezya kuti makanze aa Jehova lyoonse aunka ambele alimwi alacinca kweelana aciindi, kunyina naayendelezyegwa atunsiya-nsiya pe. Aabo ibakali kubikkila maano kapati kububotu bwamayake mu Jerusalemu, kuzilengwa alimwi atunsiya-nsiya twakayeeme a Mulawo wa Musa, bakaalilwa kumvwisya makanze aa Mulawo alimwi atempele. Munzila yamaambilambali, mubandi wa Sitefano wakabusya mubuzyo ooyu uuyandika kapati: Sena kuulemeka kabotu Mulawo alimwi atempele takubooli kwiinda mukumvwida Jehova? Mubwini, majwi aa Sitefano akapa bwiinguzi busalede kujatikizya zintu nzyaakali kucita, nkaambo wakamvwida Jehova kusikila mpagolela.
18. Muunzila nzi motweelede kusolekesya kumwiiya Sitefano?
18 Ncinzi ncotukonzya kwiiya kumajwi aa Sitefano? Wakalaazyi kabotu Magwalo. Mbubwenya buyo, tweelede kuba basikwiiya ba Jwi lya Leza basungu ikuti katuyanda “kupandulula ijwi lyakasimpe bweelede.” (2 Tim. 2:15) Alimwi tulakonzya kwiiya luzyalo alimwi abupampu kuli Sitefano. Baswiilizi bakwe bakalinyemede kapati! Nokuba boobo, wakasolekesya kusikila mpagolela, kubandika zintu nzyobakali kuzuminana kwiinda mukubikkila maano kuzintu eezyo baalumi aabo nzyobakali kulemeka kapati. Alimwi wakabandika ambabo cabulemu, wakali kwiita baalu aabo kuti “nomatata.” (Mil. 7:2) Andiswe tweelede kubandika kasimpe kali mu Jwi lya Leza “amoyo mubombe alimwi abulemu kapati.”—1 Pet. 3:15.
19. Mbuti Sitefano cabusicamba mbwaakaamba mulumbe walubeta lwa Jehova ku Nkuta Mpati Yaba Juda?
19 Nokuba boobo, tatuwayiwayi kukambauka kasimpe kali mu Jwi lya Leza akaambo kakuyoowa bantu; alimwi kunyina notuubya-ubya mulumbe walubeta lwa Jehova. Sitefano ncikozyanyo cibotu. Cakutadooneka wakali kukonzya kubona kuti bumboni boonse mbwaakapa ku Nkuta Mpati Yaba Juda kunyina nobwakabacinca babetesi aabo bayumu myoyo. Aboobo kwiinda mukusololelwa amuuya uusalala, wakamanizya makani aakwe kwiinda mukubatondezya cakutayoowa kuti bakali buyo mbuli bamausyi ibakamukaka Josefa, Musa abasinsimi boonse. (Mil. 7:51-53) Alimwi buya, babetesi aaba iba Nkuta Mpati Yaba Juda bakajaya Mesiya, ooyo Musa abasinsimi boonse ngobakasinsima kuti wakali kuyooboola. Mubwini, bakausotoka Mulawo wa Musa munzila iitaambiki kapati!
“O Mwami Jesu, Kotambula Muuya Wangu” (Milimo 7:54–8:3)
“Nobakamvwa makani aaya, bakanyema kapati mumyoyo yabo akutalika kumulumina ntwino.”—Milimo 7:54
20, 21. Ino Nkuta Mpati Yaba Juda yakacita buti noyakamvwa majwi aa Sitefano, alimwi mbuti Jehova mbwaakamuyumya?
20 Majwi aa Sitefano aamasimpe akabanyemya kapati babetesi aabo. Kakunyina akulisenda, bakatalika kumulumina ntwino Sitefano. Mwaalumi uusyomeka ooyo weelede kuti wakabona kuti takoofwidwa luse, mbubwenya mbocakabede akuli Simalelaakwe, Jesu.
21 Sitefano wakali kuyandika busicamba kutegwa aliyumye kuzintu izyakali afwaafwi kumucitikila, alimwi kweelede kuti wakakulwaizyigwa kapati kucilengaano ncaakapegwa a Jehova. Sitefano wakabona bulemu bwa Leza alimwi wakabona Jesu kaimvwi kujanza lyalulyo lya Jehova. Ciindi Sitefano naakali kupandulula cilengaano eeco, babetesi bakwe bakalisinka mumatwi. Nkaambo nzi? Musyule, Jesu wakaambilide nkuta njoona eeyi kuti wakali Mesiya akuti muciindi buyo cisyoonto wakali kuyookkala kujanza lyalulyo lya Bausyi. (Mk. 14:62) Cilengaano ca Sitefano cakasinizya kuti ncaakaamba Jesu masimpe. Nkuta Mpati Yaba Juda yakamwaaba akumujaya Mesiya! Caantoomwe boonse bakabalikila kuli Sitefano kuti bamupwaye mabwe kutegwa afwe. c
22, 23. Muunzila nzi lufwu lwa Sitefano molwakali mbuli lwa Simalelaakwe, alimwi mbuti Banakristo mazuba aano mbobakonzya kuba alusyomo mbuli ndwaakajisi Sitefano?
22 Sitefano wakafwa munzila njiyonya njaakafwa Simalelaakwe, nkokuti kali muluumuno, kazwide lusyomo muli Jehova alimwi akubalekelela aabo ibakamujaya. Wakaamba kuti, “O Mwami Jesu, kotambula muuya wangu,” ambweni akaambo kakuti wakali kukonzya kumubona mucilengaano Mwanaamuntu kali a Jehova. Cakutadooneka, Sitefano wakalaazyi majwi aa Jesu aakulwaizya aakuti: “Mebo ndendime bubuke abuumi.” (Joh. 11:25) Mukumanizya, Sitefano wakapaila cacigaminina kuli Leza ajwi pati ulaamba: “Jehova, utabapi mulandu kucibi eeci.” Naakamana kwaamba majwi aaya, wakoona mulufwu.—Mil. 7:59, 60.
23 Aboobo Sitefano wakaba wakusaanguna akati kabasikutobela Kristo balembedwe mu Bbaibbele iwakapenga akufwida nzyasyoma. (Amubone kabbokesi kakuti “ Sitefano Wakafwa Nkaambo Wakali Kamboni wa Jesu”) Pele cuusisya ncakuti, tanaakali kuyooba wamamanino. Kusikila mumazuba eesu, babelesi ba Jehova basyomeka bamwi bajaigwa abasizikombelo alimwi abasitwaambo twacisi ibaciindizya, kubikkilizya abasikukazya bambi ibakali kapati. Nokuba boobo, tulijisi kaambo ikeelede kutupa kuba alusyomo mbubwenya mbwaakabede Sitefano. Jesu ulalela lino kali Mwami, akubelesya nguzu nzyaakapegwa a Bausyi. Kunyina ciyoomulesya kubusya basikumutobela ibasyomeka.—Joh. 5:28, 29.
24. Mbuti Saulo mbwaakajatikizyigwa mukujaya Sitefano, alimwi nzintu nzi zyakacitika kumbele akaambo kalufwu lwamwaalumi ooyo uusyomeka?
24 Mwaalumi uucili mwana-mwana wazina lya Saulo wakali kulangilila zintu zyoonse eezyi kazicitika. Wakaluzuminizya lufwu lwa Sitefano, mane buya akulindilila zisani zyabaabo ibakali kumupwaya mabwe. Nokwakainda buyo ciindi cisyoonto, nguwakatalika kusololela mukupenzya kutaambiki ikwakatalika. Pele lufwu lwa Sitefano lwakali kuyoosiya cikozyanyo cibotu kwaciindi cilamfwu kumbele. Cikozyanyo cakwe cakali kuyoobayumya Banakristo bambi kuzumanana kusyomeka alimwi akuzunda mbubwenya mbwaakazunda walo. Kuyungizya waawo, Saulo, ooyo mumyaka yakumbele iwakali kwiitwa kuti Paulo, wakali kunooyeeya cakuusa kapati akaambo kalubazu ndwaakajisi mulufwu lwa Sitefano. (Mil. 22:20) Wakagwasya kujaya Sitefano, pele kumbele wakali kuyoozyiba kuti: “Ndakali sikusampaula Leza asikupenzya bantu bakwe alimwi asikasampusampu.” (1 Tim. 1:13) Cilisalede kuti, Paulo kunyina naakamuluba Sitefano alimwi amajwi aanguzu ngaakaamba buzuba oobo. Alimwi buya, twaambo tumwi ntwaakaamba Paulo anzyaakalemba zyakali kubikkilizya nzyaakaamba Sitefano mumulumbe wakwe. (Mil. 7:48; 17:24; Heb. 9:24) Mukuya kwaciindi, Paulo wakaiya kabotu-kabotu kutobela cikozyanyo calusyomo alimwi abusicamba ncaakatondezya Sitefano, mwaalumi ‘wakazwide luzyalo lwa Leza anguzu.’ Mubuzyo ngwakuti, Sena andiswe tuyoocita oobo?
a Basikukazya bamwi aaba bakali kuzulilwa kunkamu ya “Cikombelo ca Bantu Baangulukide.” Kulangilwa kuti aciindi cimwi bakajatwa abana Roma mpoonya bakaangululwa, naa bakali bazike bakaangununwa akuba ba Juda basandule. Bamwi bakali kuzwa ku Kilikiya, mbuli Saulo waku Tarso. Cibalo tacaambi naa Saulo wakali akati kabana Kilikiya aabo ibatakakonzya kumuzunda Sitefano.
b Makani ngaakabandika Sitefano ajisi twaambo ntotutakonzyi kujana muzibalo zimbi zyamu Bbaibbele, mbuli twaambo tujatikizya lwiiyo lwa Musa mu Egepita, myaka njaakajisi ciindi cakusaanguna naakatija mu Egepita alimwi abulamfwu bwaciindi ncaakakkala mu Midiyani.
c Ciladoonekwa kuti naa Nkuta Mpati Yaba Juda eeyi yakalijisi nguzu mumulawo wabana Roma wakulailila kuti muntu ajaigwe. (Joh. 18:31) Pele ncotuzyi ncakuti, muciindi cakubetekwa mumulawo, kweelede kuti Sitefano wakajaigwa ankamu yabantu iinyemede.
