1, 2. Munzila nzi molulibedelede lweendo ndobayanda kutalika ba Barnaba a Saulo, alimwi mbuti lugwalo lwa Milimo 1:8 mbolutiizuzikizyigwe akaambo kamulimo wabo?

 MBUZUBA bukkomanisya kumbungano yaku Antiokeya. Akati kabasinsimi abamayi boonse babungene, Barnaba alimwi a Saulo basalwa amuuya uusalala kutegwa batole makani mabotu kumasena aakulamfwu kapati. a (Mil. 13:1, 2) Masimpe, bakwesu bamwi beelela bakalitumidwe kale. Nokuba boobo, kaindi bamisyinali bakaunkide buyo kumasena kwalo Bunakristo nkobwakatambulwa kale. (Mil. 8:14; 11:22) Pele lino, Barnaba alimwi a Saulo—kubikkilizya a Johane ooyu utegwa Marko, walo unoobeleka mbuli sikugwasilizya—balatumwa kumasena kwalo bantu nkobatanaamvwide makani mabotu.

² Kakwiindide myaka iili 14, Jesu wakaambilide basikwiiya bakwe kuti: “Muyooba bakamboni bangu mu Jerusalemu, mu Judaya moonse amu Samariya, mane kusikila kumasena aakulamfwu kapati aanyika.” (Mil. 1:8) Eelo kaka kusalwa kwa Barnaba alimwi a Saulo kubeleka kabali bamisyinali kwakali kuyoogwasyilizya kapati kuzuzikizya businsimi bwa Jesu! b

3. Ncinzi cakali kupa kuti misinzo milamfwu yamumwaanda wamyaka wakusanguna kaikatazya kapati kweenda?

³ Mazuba aano, akaambo kamyootokala alimwi andeke izyakapangwa, bantu balakonzya kweenda misinzo milamfwu mukaindi buyo kasyoonto. Pele oobo tabusyi mbocakabede mumwaanda wamyaka wakusaanguna C.E. Eciya ciindi, bantu bakali kuvwula kweenda buya amaulu kanji-kanji kwiinda mukubelesya migwagwa iinyongene. Musinzo wabuzuba bomwe ambweni makkilomita aali buyo 30, wakali kulemya kapati. c Aboobo, nokuba kuti Barnaba a Saulo bakali kuulangila caluyandisisyo mulimo wabo ooyu, bakalizyi kuti kwakali kuyandika kubeleka canguzu alimwi akulyaaba ncobeni.—Mt. 16:24.

4. (a) Ino ncinzi cakasololela kukusalwa kwa Barnaba a Saulo, alimwi ino Banakristonyina bakacita buti kukusala ooku? (b) Mbuti mbomukonzya kubagwasyilizya aabo ibapegwa mikuli mumbungano?

 ⁴ Pele nkaambo nzi muuya uusalala cacigaminina ncowakalailila kuti Barnaba alimwi Saulo bazandulwe “kutegwa babeleke mulimo”? (Mil. 13:2) Bbaibbele talyaambi pe. Pele tulizyi kuti muuya uusalala ngowakalailila kuti baalumi aaba basalwe. Kunyina citondezya kuti basinsimi alimwi abamayi ku Antiokeya bakakukazya kusala ooku. Muciindi caboobo, bakakugwasyilizya kapati kusala ooku. Amuciyeeyele buyo mbobakalimvwa ba Barnaba a Saulo ciindi Banakristonyina, ‘nobakaliimya kulya, kupaila, akubikka maanza alimbabo akubatuma’ kakunyina kubafwida munyono. (Mil. 13:3) Andiswe mbubonya buyo tweelede kubagwasyilizya aabo ibapegwa mikuli mumbungano kubikkilizya abaabo ibasalwa kuba balangizi mumbungano. Muciindi cakubafwida munyono aabo ibatambula mikuli eeyi, tweelede ‘kubalemeka kapati muluyando akaambo kamulimo ngobacita.’—1 Tes. 5:13.

5. Amupandulule cakajatikizyidwe kukambaukila ansumbu ya Kupro.

⁵ Nobakeenda amaulu kusika ku Selukiya, acito icili afwaafwi a Antiokeya, Barnaba a Saulo bakatanta bwato kuunka kunsumbu ya Kupro imusinzo uulampa makkilomita aasika ku 200. d Mbwaanga Barnaba wakali kuzwa ku Kupro, tacidoonekwi kuti wakaliyandide kapati kubatolela makani mabotu bantu bakumunzi  ookwabo. Mbobakasikila buyo ku Salami, imunzi uuli afwaafwi ankomwe yalwizi kujwe aansumbu, aaba baalumi kunyina anobakawaya-waya pe. Mpoonya aawo, “bakatalika kukambauka jwi lya Leza muzikombelo zyaba Juda.” e (Mil. 13:5) Barnaba a Saulo bakeendeenda mumunzi woonse wa Kupro ambweni kabayaabukambauka mumadolopo mapati-pati. Kweelana anzila nzyobakabelesya, kweelede kuti aaba bamisyinali bakeenda amaulu musinzo uulampa makkilomita aasika ku 160.

6, 7. (a) Ino Sergio Paulu wakali ni, alimwi nkaambo nzi Bari-Jesu ncaakasola kumunyonganya kutegwa ataaswiilili makani mabotu? (b) Ino Saulo wakacita buti kukukazya kwa Bari-Jesu?

⁶ Kupro wamumwaanda wamyaka wakusaanguna wakali munzi wakazwide bukombi bwakubeja. Eeci cakalibonya antangalala ciindi Barnaba a Saulo nobakasika ku Pafo, kunkomwe nsumbu nkoili kumbo. Okuya bakayaanya “mwaalumi umwi mu Juda wiitwa kuti Bari-Jesu iwakali simabibo alimwi musinsimi mubeji, wakali amweendelezi wacooko Sergio Paulu, imwaalumi uucenjede.” f Mumwaanda wamyaka wakusaanguna, bunji bwabana Roma basumpukide kubikkilizya ‘amwaalumi uucenjede’ mbuli Sergio Paulu—kanji-kanji bakali kuunka kuli simabibo naa sikulingula nyenyeezi kutegwa abagwasye kusala zyakucita ziyandika kapati. Nokuba boobo, Sergio Paulu wakakkomana kapati akaambo kamulumbe wa Bwami cakuti “wakali kuyandisya kumvwa jwi lya Leza.” Iluyandisisyo ndwaakajisi Sergio Paulu kumulumbe wabwami, lwakamubijila kapati Bari-Jesu, iwakazyibidwe kapati azina lyakwe limwi lyakuti Elima, lipandulula kuti “simasalamuzi.”—Mil. 13:6-8.

⁷ Bari-Jesu wakaukazya mulumbe wa Bwami. Inzya, nzila ilikke njaakali kukonzya kukwabilila cuuno cakwe kali sikupa lulayo kuli Sergio Paulu, nkwiinda ‘mukupa kuti mweendelezi ooyu atamvwi majwi aalusyomo.’ (Mil. 13:8) Pele Saulo kunyina naakali kuyoozumizya kuti simabibo ooyu anyonganye luyandisisyo lwa Sergio Paulu. Aboobo, ino ncinzi Saulo ncaakacita? Cibalo caamba kuti: “Mpoonya  Saulo, ooyo alimwi uutegwa Paulo, naakazula muuya uusalala wakamulangisisya Bari-Jesu akwaamba kuti: ‘Omuntu uuzwide musyobo uuli woonse wabumpelenge amusyobo uuli woonse wabubi, yebo omwana wa Diabolosi, yebo sinkondonyina wazintu zyoonse ziluleme, sena tokooleka kunyonganya nzila zibotu zya Jehova? Bona! Janza lya Jehova lili alinduwe eelyo uloofwaala, kotaboni mumuni wazuba kwaciindi cili mbocibede.’ Ndilyonya eelyo wakawidwa sikunku amudima, mpoonya wakatalika kweendeenda kayandaula muntu wakumujatilila kujanza akumweenzya.” g Ncinzi cakacitika akaambo kamaleele aaya? “Mpoonya mweendelezi wacooko naakabona cakacitika, wakaba musyomi nkaambo zyakamugambya kapati njiisyo zya Jehova.”—Mil. 13:9-12.

8. Ino mbuti mbutukonzya kwiiya busicamba bwa Paulo mazuba aano?

⁸ Paulo kunyina naakamuyoowa Bari-Jesu pe. Mbubwenya buyo, andiswe tatweelede kuyoowa ciindi basikutukazya nobasola kunyonganya lusyomo lwabaabo batondezya luyandisisyo kumulumbe wa Bwami. Masimpe, majwi eesu ayelede kuti “kaakondelezya lyoonse, aalweezyedwe kabotu amunyo.” (Kol. 4:6) Nokuba boobo, tatweelede kulibilika kapati kujatikizya kukazyigwa cakuti twacilekela limwi kukambauka. Alimwi tatweelede kuyoowa kuyubununa bukombi bwakubeja, bwalo ibwazumanana “kunyonganya nzila zibotu zya Jehova” mbuli mbwaakacita Bari-Jesu. (Mil. 13:10) Mbubwenya mbuli Paulo, atukambauke kasimpe cabusicamba alimwi akubagwasyilizya babombemyoyo. Nokuba kuti lugwasyo lwa Leza talukonzyi kulibonya cacigaminina mbuli mbolwakalibonya kuli Paulo, tulakonzya kuba masimpe kuti Jehova uyoobelesya muuya wakwe uusalala kutegwa akwele baabo beelela kumvwa kukasimpe.—Joh. 6:44.

9. Ino mbuti Paulo alimwi a Barnaba mbobakasiya cikozyanyo cibotu kuli baabo basololela mumbungano mazuba aano?

⁹ Kweelede kuti, kucinca kwakacitika ciindi baalumi aaba nobakazwa ku Pafo  akutanta bwato kuunka ku Perge, dolopo lili kunkomwe aa Asia Minor, ikweendwa mulwizi makkilomita aasika ku 250. Ku Milimo 13:13, nkamu yabaalumi eeyi yiitwa kuti “Paulo abeenzinyina.” Majwi aaya atondezya kuti lino Paulo ngowakatalika kusololela mukabunga. Nokuba boobo, kunyina mpotubala kuti Barnaba wakatalika kumufwida munyono Paulo. Muciindi caboobo, baalumi aaba bobilo bakabelekela antoomwe kutegwa bazuzikizye kuyanda kwa Leza. Paulo alimwi a Barnaba bakasiya cikozyanyo cibotu kuli baabo basololela mumbungano mazuba aano. Muciindi cakuzundana akaambo kakuyanda kuba ampuwo, Banakristo beelede kuyeeya majwi aa Jesu aakuti: “Nyoonse muli babunyina.” Alimwi wakayungizya kuti: “Kufwumbwa uulisumpula uyoocesyegwa alimwi kufwumbwa uulicesya uyoosumpulwa.”—Mt. 23:8, 12.

10. Amupandulule mbolwakabede lweendo kuzwa ku Perge kusika ku Antiokeya yaku Pisidiya.

¹⁰ Nobakasika ku Perge, Johane ooyo utegwa Marko wakabasiya ba Paulo a Barnaba akupiluka ku Jerusalemu. Ikaambo kakapa kuti apiluke cakutayeeyela takaambidwe pe. Paulo alimwi a Barnaba bakazumanana alweendo lwabo, kabeenda kuzwa ku Perge kuunka ku Antiokeya mu Pisidiya, dolopo lili mu cooko ca Galatiya. Lweendo oolu tiilwakali luubauba pe, mbwaanga Antiokeya yaku Pisidiya yakali atala alwizi amamita aasika ku 1,100. Mumalundu mobakali kwiinda mwakali kuyoosya kayi kwakazyibidwe kuti kwakali kujanika kapati zigwebenga. Kuyungizya waawo, kweelede kuti aciindi eeci Paulo wakali kuciswa. h

11, 12. Ciindi naakali kubandika mucikombelo caku Antiokeya yaku Pisidiya, ino mbuti Paulo mbwaakabapa kuba aluyandisisyo baswiilizi bakwe?

¹¹ Ku Antiokeya yaku Pisidiya, Paulo a Barnaba bakanjila mucikombelo mu Sabata. Cibalo caamba kuti: “Nokwakamana kubalwa Mulawo alimwi a Basinsimi kubuleya, beendelezi bacikombelo bakabatumina mulomo, balaamba: ‘Nobaalumi, bakwesu, ikuti kakuli  majwi aali oonse aakuyumya bantu ngomujisi, amwaambe.’” (Mil. 13:15) Paulo wakanyamuka kutegwa aambaule.

¹² Paulo wakatalika kwiinda mukwaambila baswiilizi kuti: “Nobaalumi, nobana Israyeli anywebo nobamwi nomuyoowa Leza.” (Mil. 13:16) Baswiilizi ba Paulo bakali ba Juda alimwi aba Juda basandule. Ino mbuti Paulo mbwaakabapa kuba aluyandisisyo baswiilizi aaba ibakanyina luzyibo kujatikizya mulimo ngwajisi Jesu mumakanze aa Leza? Cakusaanguna, Paulo wakabapandulwida mubufwaafwi makani aajatikizya cisi caba Juda. Wakabapandulwida kujatikizya Jehova ‘mbwaakabasumpula bantu aaba ciindi nobakali kukkala kabali bamuzwakule mucisi ca Egepita’ alimwi ciindi naakabafwutula, wakaamba Leza ‘mbwaakabakkazikila moyo munkanda’ kwamyaka iili 40. Paulo wakabapandulwida mbuli mbobakakona Nyika Yakasyomezyedwe bana Israyeli alimwi a Jehova ‘mbwaakabapa nyika eeyo kuti ibe lukono lwabo.’ (Mil. 13:17-19) Kweelede kuti Paulo wakali kuzubulula zibalo zyamu Magwalo zimwi izyakazwa akubalwa cakupozya kacili cibeela cakubamba Sabata. Ikuti naa mbozyakabede oobo, nkokuti eeci alimwi ncitondezyo cibotu cakuti Paulo wakali kuba “zintu zyoonse kubantu bamisyobo yoonse.”—1 Kor. 9:22.

13. Mbuti mbotukonzya kubasika amoyo baswiilizi besu?

¹³ Andiswe tweelede kusolekesya kukambauka munzila iikonzya kupa kuti bantu mbotukambaukila babe aluyandisisyo. Mucikozyanyo, kuzyiba cikombelo nkwazulilwa muntu kulakonzya kutugwasya kusala kabotu makani aakonzya kumupa kuba aluyandisisyo. Alimwi buya tulakonzya kwaamba zibalo zyamu Bbaibbele zyazi muntu ooyo. Cilakonzya kugwasya kapati kumulomba kuti abale mu Bbaibbele lyakwe. Amujane nzila zikonzya kubasika kapati amoyo baswiilizi banu.

14. (a) Ino Paulo wakaatalika buti makani mabotu aajatikizya Jesu, alimwi nkucenjezya nzi nkwaakapa? (b) Ino nkamu yakautambula buti mulumbe wa Paulo?

¹⁴ Lino Paulo wakatalika kupandulula mazyalani aabami bamu Israyeli mbwaakasololela kukuzyalwa kwa “mufwutuli, Jesu,” walo iwakasololelwa a Johane Mubbapatizi. Mpoonya Paulo wakabapandulwida Jesu mbwaakajaigwa alimwi akubusyigwa kuzwa kubafwu. (Mil. 13:20-37) Paulo wakabaambila kuti, “Aboobo amuzyibe kuti, swebo tumwaambila zyakulekelelwa kwazibi kwiinda muli yooyu . . . kufwumbwa uusyoma ulalulamikwa kulinzizyo kwiinda muli Jesu.” Lino mwaapostolo wakacenjezya baswiilizi bakwe kuti: “Amucenjele kuti zitamucitikili eezyi zyakaambwa a Basinsimi kuti, ‘Amulange eeci, nywebo nobasikusampaula, amugambwe, amulobe, nkaambo kuli mulimo ngondicita mumazuba aanu, imulimo ooyo ngomutakonzyi kusyoma naaceya nokuba kuti muntu uumbi wamwaambila makani oonse aajatikizya nguwo.’” Cilagambya kubona bantu mbobakautambula mulumbe wa Paulo. Bbaibbele lyaamba kuti: “Bantu bakabakombelezya kuti bakabaambile makani aaya alimwi sabata iitobela.” Kuyungizya waawo, ciindi muswaangano wamucikombelo nowakamana, “ba Juda abasandule banji ibakali kukomba Leza bakamutobela Paulo a Barnaba.”—Mil. 13:38-43.

15. Ino ncinzi cakacitika mu Sabata yakatobela akaambo kamulumbe wa Paulo?

¹⁵ Sabata yakatobela, “munzi woonse wakatiimaninine” kuboola kutegwa bamuswiilile Paulo. Eeci tiicakabakkomanisya ba Juda bamwi, balo ‘ibakatalika kukazya  zintu nzyaakali kwaamba Paulo.’ Walo a Barnaba cabusicamba bakabaambila kuti: “Kwakaleelede kuti jwi lya Leza lisaangune kwaambwa kulindinywe. Lino mbwaanga mwalikaka alimwi mutondezya kuti tamweeleli buumi butamani, mbubo, tulamusiya tuunke kuli bamasi. Nkaambo Jehova watulailila amajwi aaya aakuti: ‘Ndakubikka kuti ube mumuni kumasi, kuti ube lufwutuko kusikila kumagolelo aanyika.’”—Mil. 13:44-47; Is. 49:6.

16. Ino ba Juda bakacita buti kumajwi alaanguzu ngobakaamba bamisyinali, alimwi ino Paulo a Barnaba bakacita buti nobakakazyigwa?

¹⁶ Bamasi ibakali kuswiilila bakakkomana, alimwi “boonse aabo ibakali amyoyo mibotu, ibakalibambilide kutambula buumi butamani bakaba basyomi.” (Mil. 13:48) Ijwi lya Jehova lyakamwaika mucisi coonse cakufwambaana. Pele ba Juda tiibakautambula kabotu mulumbe. Munzila imwi, bamisyinali aaba bakali kubaambila kuti balo bakasaanguna kumvwa jwi lya Leza, nokuba boobo bakasala kumukaka Mesiya calo cakapa kuti beelele kutambula lubeta lupati lwa Leza. Aboobo ba Juda bakayunga bamakaintu balaampuwo abaalumi balupati-pati, “eelyo bakatalika kupenzya Paulo a Barnaba akubatanda mucisi cabo.” Ino Paulo a Barnaba bakacita buti? “Bakabakunkumwida lusuko lwakali kumaulu aabo akuunka ku Ikoniyo.” Sena ooko nkokwakali kumana kwa Bunakristo mu Antiokeya yaku Pisidiya? Peepe! Basikwiiya ibakacaala “bakazumanana kuzula muuya uusalala akukondwa.”—Mil. 13:50-52.

17-19. Muunzila nzi motukonzya kwiiya kucikozyanyo cibotu ncobakatondezya ba Paulo a Barnaba, alimwi mbuti kucita boobo mbokukonzya kutuletela lukkomano?

¹⁷ Ncobakacita baalumi aaba basyomeka ciindi nobakakazyigwa nciiyo cibotu kulindiswe. Tatweelede kucileka kukambauka nokuba kuti bantu balaampuwo bamunyika eeyi basola kutulesya kukambauka. Amuyeeye kuti, bantu baku Antiokeya ciindi nobatakautambula mulumbe wabo, Paulo a Barnaba “bakabakunkumwida lusuko lwakali kumaulu aabo.” Kwiinda mukucita boobo, bakatondezya kuti tiibakababikkilila bantu bamumunzi, alimwi akuti bakanyina mulandu kuzintu zili zyoonse izyakali kukonzya kubacitikila bantu aabo. Bamisyinali aaba bakalizyi kuti tabakonzyi kusinikizya bantu kuti bautambule mulumbe. Pele ncobakali kukonzya kusala kucita, nkuzumanana kukambauka. Amana buya oobo mbobakacita, nkaambo bakazumanana kukambauka ciindi nobakali kuunka ku Ikoniyo!

¹⁸ Ino mbuti kujatikizya basikwiiya ibakacaala mu Antiokeya? Masimpe kuti bakali kukkala mubusena bukatazya kapati. Pele lukkomano lwabo tiilwakayeeme ambobakali kuutambula bamwi mulumbe wamakani mabotu. Jesu wakaamba kuti: “Ibakkomene mbaabo baswiilila jwi lya Leza akucita ncolyaamba!” (Lk. 11:28) Eeco ncobakakanzide kucita basikwiiya baku Antiokeya yaku Pisidiya.

¹⁹ Mbubwenya mbuli Paulo a Barnaba, lyoonse katuyeeya kuti mukuli wesu ngwakukambauka makani mabotu. Pele ciyeeme abaswiilizi kusala kuutambula naa kuukaka mulumbe. Ikuti aabo mbotukambaukila kabalibonya kuwaya-waya, tulakonzya kwiiya ciiyo cibotu kuli basikwiiya bamumwaanda wamyaka wakusaanguna. Kwiinda mukutondezya kuti tulalumba akaambo kakasimpe nkotujisi alimwi akuzumizya muuya uusalala kutweendelezya, andiswe tuyookkomana nociba ciindi notukazyigwa.—Gal. 5:18, 22.