1. Sinokuthuthuzelwa yintoni xa sibona ngathi sisodwa okanye iingxaki esinazo zingaphezu kwamandla ethu? (INdumiso 118:5-7)

NGABA wakha wathi unengxaki, wabona ngathi akukho mntu unokukunceda? Baninzi abantu abakhe baziva njalo, nkqu nabakhonzi bakaYehova. (1 Kum. 19:14) Ukuba kwakhe kwanjalo nakuwe, khumbula into esayithenjiswa nguYehova esithi: “Soze ndinishiye, ndingasoze ndinilahle.” Unokuwatsho uqinisekile amazwi athi: “UYehova ungumncedi wam; andizukoyika.” (Heb. 13:5, 6) La ngamazwi umpostile uPawulos awawabhalela amaKristu akwaYuda ngo-61 C.E. Asikhumbuza into eyathethwa ngumdumisi kwiNdumiso 118:5-7.​—Yifunde.

2. Ziintoni esiza kuthetha ngazo kweli nqaku, ibe kuza kusinceda njani ukuthetha ngazo?

² Njengomdumisi, uPawulos wayesazi ukuba uncedwa nguYehova, kuba wayesele emncede ezintweni ezininzi. Ngokomzekelo, kwiminyaka emibini ngaphambi kokuba abhale ileta eya kumaHebhere, uPawulos wasinda kwisaqhwithi saselwandle. (IZe. 27:4, 15, 20) Kolo hambo, nangaphambi kwalo, uYehova wamnceda ngeendlela ezininzi. Makhe sithethe ngeendlela ezintathu awamnceda ngazo. Wasebenzisa uYesu neengelosi, abantu abakwizikhundla eziphezulu kunye namanye amaKristu. Xa sifunda ngezinto ezehlela uPawulos, siza kutsho simthembe uThixo xa esithi uza kuyiphendula imithandazo yethu xa sicela asincede.

3. Inoba wayezibuza ntoni uPawulos, ibe yintoni eyayimenza azibuze loo nto?

³ UPawulos wayeludinga uncedo. Malunga no-56 C.E.,  igquba labantu elalifuna ukumbulala lamrhuqela ngaphandle kwetempile. Ngosuku olulandelayo, uPawulos wasiwa kwiNkundla Ephakamileyo YamaYuda onzakele enjalo. (IZe. 21:30-32; 22:30; 23:6-10) Ngelo xesha, kusenokwenzeka ukuba wayezibuza esithi, ‘Ndiza kuyinyamezela kude kube nini le mpatho?’

4. UYehova wamsebenzisa njani uYesu xa wayenceda uPawulos?

⁴ UYesu wamnceda njani uPawulos? Ngobusuku uPawulos awabanjwa ngabo, kwafika “iNkosi” uYesu yathi: “Yiba nesibindi! Kuba njengokuba uye washumayela ngokucokisekileyo ngam eYerusalem, kusafuneka ushumayele naseRoma.” (IZe. 23:11) Ngaloo mazwi uYesu wamkhuthaza kakhulu uPawulos! Kaloku wayemncoma ngokuba eshumayele eYerusalem. Wamthembisa ukuba uza kufika eRoma ekhuselekile aze ashumayele. Emva kweso sithembiso, inoba uPawulos waziva ekhuseleke nyhani, njengomntwana efunqulwe ngutata wakhe.

5. UYehova wayisebenzisa njani ingelosi xa wayenceda uPawulos? (Jonga umfanekiso ongaphandle.)

⁵ Zeziphi ezinye iingxaki awayenazo uPawulos? Malunga neminyaka emibini emva kwezinto ezamehlela eYerusalem, uPawulos wakhwela inqanawa esiya eItali. Ekuloo nqanawa, kwabakho isaqhwithi esikhulu elwandle kangangokuba wonke umntu owayekhwele apho wayecinga ukuba uza kufa. Kodwa uPawulos wayengoyiki. Wayeqiniswe yintoni? Waxelela wonke umntu owayekuloo nqanawa wathi: “Ebusuku ingelosi kaThixo endimkhonzayo iye yafika kum, yathi, ‘Ungoyiki Pawulos. Uza kuma phambi kukaKesare, ibe jonga! uThixo uza kubasindisa bonke abo bahamba nawe.’” UYehova wasebenzisa ingelosi ukuze iphinde imthembise ngento eyathethwa nguYesu. Nangoku, uPawulos wafika eRoma.​—IZe. 27:20-25; 28:16.

6. Yintoni esayithenjiswa nguYesu esenza somelele, ibe kutheni isomeleza nje?

⁶ UYesu usinceda njani thina? UYesu uza kusinceda ngendlela awamnceda ngayo uPawulos. Ngokomzekelo, bonke abantu abamlandelayo wabathembisa wathi: “Ndikunye nani yonke imihla de kube sekuphelisweni kweli hlabathi.” (Mat. 28:20) Ayasomeleza la mazwi. Ngoba? Ngezinye iimini kukhe kube nzima ukunyamezela. Ngokomzekelo, intlungu yokuswelekelwa ngumntu esimthandayo ayibikho iintsukwana nje ezimbalwa, kusenokuqengqeleka iminyaka ikho. Kwabanye kukhe kubekho iimini ezikhe zibe nzima ngenxa yokwaluphala. Kanti  abanye bakhe babe neemini abakhathazeka kakhulu (depression) ngazo. Sekunjalo, somelezwa kukwazi ukuba uYesu ukunye nathi “yonke imihla,” nakwezona ntsuku zinzima kubomi bethu.​—Mat. 11:28-30.

7. ISityhilelo 14:6 sithi uYehova usinceda njani namhlanje?

⁷ ILizwi LikaThixo lisenza siqiniseke ukuba uYehova uyazisebenzisa neengelosi xa esinceda. (Heb. 1:7, 14) Ngokomzekelo, ziyasincedisa kumsebenzi wokushumayela ‘iindaba ezilungileyo ezingoBukumkani’ kubantu bazo ‘zonke iintlanga nezizwe neelwimi.’​—Mat. 24:13, 14; funda iSityhilelo 14:6.

8. UYehova wayisebenzisa njani inkumanda yomkhosi xa wayenceda uPawulos?

⁸ Abantu abakwizikhundla eziphezulu bamnceda njani uPawulos? Ngo-56 C.E., uYesu wamenza waqiniseka uPawulos ukuba uza kufika eRoma. Kodwa kwakukho amaYuda aseYerusalem awayefuna ukumhlasela aze ambulale. Yathi yakuyiva loo nto inkumanda yomkhosi wamaRoma uKlawudiyo Lisiyo, yeza kumnceda. Yakhawuleza yayalela umkhosi wamajoni ukuba uhambe naye baye eKesareya, emalunga neekhilomitha eziyi-105 ukusuka eYerusalem. Bakufika eKesareya, uMlawuli uFeliksi wayalela ukuba ‘agcinwe ngoonogada kwindlu elikomkhulu eyakhiwa nguHerode.’ Ayengasoze akwazi ukuya kumbulalela apho naloo maYuda ayefuna ukumbulala.​—IZe. 23:12-35.

9. UMlawuli uFesto wamnceda njani uPawulos?

⁹ Kwadlula iminyaka emibini uPawulos eselibanjwa eKesareya. Ngoku kwakusele kulawula uFesto. AmaYuda acenga uFesto ukuba athumele uPawulos aye kulixoxa eYerusalem ityala lakhe, kodwa zange avume. Kusenokwenzeka ukuba wayesazi ukuba ‘amaYuda ayecebe ukumlalela endleleni uPawulos, ambulale.’​—IZe. 24:27–25:5.

10. Wathini uMlawuli uFesto xa uPawulos wayebhenela kuKesare?

¹⁰ Ekuhambeni kwexesha ityala likaPawulos laxoxwa eKesareya. Kuba uFesto wayefuna “ukuzithandisa kumaYuda,” wabuza uPawulos wathi: “Awufuni na ukunyuka uye eYerusalem uyokugwetyelwa khona?” UPawulos wayesazi ukuba amaYuda asenokumbulala eYerusalem. Wayeyazi nendlela aza kuzisindisa ngayo, ukuze akwazi ukuya kushumayela eRoma. Wathi: “Ndibhenela kuKesare!” UFesto waya kuthetha nabacebisi bakhe. Akubuya wathi kuPawulos: “Ubhenele kuKesare; uza kuya kuKesare ke.” Eso sigqibo sikaFesto, samsindisa uPawulos kwiintshaba ezazifuna ukumbulala. Kungabanga xesha lide emva koko, wayeza kuba seRoma, kude nezo ntshaba zakhe.​—IZe. 25:6-12.

11. Inoba ngawaphi amazwi kaIsaya uPawulos awayecinga ngawo?

¹¹ Ngoxa uPawulos wayelinde inqanawa eya eItali, inoba wayecinga ngamazwi awathethwa ngumprofeti uIsaya xa wayelumkisa abantu abalwa noYehova, esithi: “Cingani iqhinga, kodwa alizukuphumelela! Thethani into eniyithandayo, kodwa ayizukunceda nganto, Kuba uThixo unathi!” (Isa. 8:10) Wayesazi ukuba uThixo wayeza kumnceda, ibe inoba yamqinisa nyhani loo nto, watsho wakwazi ukunyamezela iingxaki awaba nazo emva koko.

12. UYuliyo wamphatha njani uPawulos, ibe indlela awamphatha ngayo yamenza waqonda ntoni?

¹² Ngo-58 C.E., uPawulos wakhwela inqanawa eya eItali. Ngenxa yokuba wayelibanjwa,  wayegadwe ligosa lomkhosi wamaRoma, uYuliyo. Ngenxa yesikhundla awayenaso, ethanda uYuliyo wayenokumphatha kakubi uPawulos, kodwa akazange ayenze loo nto. Ngemini elandelayo, xa inqanawa yayimisa kwenye indawo, “uYuliyo wamenzela ububele ngokumvumela ukuba aye kubona abahlobo bakhe.” Kanti emva koko wade wasindisa nobomi bakhe. Njani? Amajoni ayefuna ukubulala onke amabanjwa awayekuloo nqanawa, kodwa uYuliyo wawanqanda. Wayewanqandela ntoni? ‘Wayefuna ukusindisa uPawulos.’ Inoba uPawulos wabona ukuba eli gosa linobubele nelalimkhusela, lalisetyenziswa nguYehova.​—IZe. 27:1-3, 42-44.

13. UYehova ubasebenzisa njani abantu abakwizikhundla eziphezulu ngoku?

¹³ Abantu abakwizikhundla eziphezulu basinceda njani? UYehova usenokusebenzisa umoya wakhe oyingcwele ukuze wenze abantu abakwizikhundla eziphezulu benze into afuna yenzeke. NoKumkani uSolomon wakha wathi: “Intliziyo kakumkani injengomsinga wamanzi esandleni sikaYehova. Uyisa apho athanda ukuyisa khona.” (IMize. 21:1) Athetha ukuthini la mazwi? Abantu bayakwazi ukomba umjelo wamanzi ukuze amanzi ajike aye kwicala abafuna aye kulo. NoYehova uyakwazi ukusebenzisa umoya wakhe ukuze ujike iingqondo zabantu abaphetheyo bacinge ngendlela ayifunayo. Loo nto yenza ukuba bazimisele ukwenza izigqibo eziza kunceda abantu bakaThixo.​—Thelekisa uEzra 7:21, 25, 26.

14. IZenzo 12:5 zibonisa ukuba ngoobani esinokubathandazela?

¹⁴ Yintoni esimele siyenze? Sinokuthandazela “ookumkani nabo bonke abo bakwizikhundla eziphezulu” xa kufuneka benze izigqibo ngomsebenzi wethu wokushumayela nokuya kwiintlanganiso. (1 Tim. 2:1, 2; Neh. 1:11) NjengamaKristu exesha labapostile, abanye abantu esimele sibathandazele kakhulu ngabazalwana noodadewethu abasetrongweni. (Funda IZenzo 12:5; Heb. 13:3) Sinokude sithandazele noonogada ababajongileyo. Sinokumcela uYehova atshintshe iingqondo zabo bantu, benze njengoYuliyo, ‘babenzele ububele’ abazalwana noodadewethu abasetrongweni.​—IZe. 27:3.

15-16. UYehova wamsebenzisa njani uAristarko noLuka xa wayenceda uPawulos?

¹⁵ Wancedwa njani uPawulos? Xa uPawulos wayesiya eRoma, uYehova wayemane emnceda esebenzisa abazalwana  noodade. Makhe sibone ukuba bamnceda njani.

¹⁶ Abahlobo bakaPawulos ababini, uAristarko noLuka, bazixelela ukuba baza kuya naye eRoma. * IBhayibhile ayitsho ukuba uYesu wathembisa uAristarko noLuka ukuba baza kufika eRoma bekhuselekile. Ngoko babebeka ubomi babo engozini. Sekunjalo, babezimisele ukunceda uPawulos. Beva sebesendleleni ukuba baza kukhuselwa. Mhlawumbi, xa babekhwela inqanawa eKesareya, uPawulos wambulela uYehova ngokumthumelela aba bazalwana babini banesibindi.​—IZe. 27:1, 2, 20-25.

17. UYehova wabasebenzisa njani abazalwana noodade xa wayenceda uPawulos?

¹⁷ Kaninzi uPawulos wayencedwa ngabazalwana noodade kuhambo lwakhe. Ngokomzekelo, xa inqanawa awayehamba ngayo yamisa eSidon, uYuliyo wamvumela ukuba “aye kubona abahlobo bakhe baze bamhoye.” Emva koko baya ePuteyoli, apho ‘badibana nabazalwana baza babacenga ukuba bahlale nabo iintsuku ezisixhenxe.’ AmaKristu awayehlala kwezi ndawo abenzela zonke izinto uPawulos nabahlobo bakhe ababezidinga. Ngokuqinisekileyo uPawulos wayewabalisela izinto ezininzi ezaziwakhuthaza nezaziwavuyisa. (Thelekisa iZenzo 15:2, 3.) Emva koko uPawulos nabahlobo bakhe baqhubeka nohambo lwabo.​—IZe. 27:3; 28:13, 14.

18. Yintoni eyenza uPawulos wambulela uThixo waza wakhuthazeka?

¹⁸ Xa uPawulos wayesiya eRoma, inoba wayecinga ngeleta awayeyibhalele ibandla lalapho kwiminyaka emithathu edlulileyo, enamazwi athi: “Sekuyiminyaka ndifuna ukuza kuni.” (Rom. 15:23) Kodwa ke noko wayengacingi ukuba uza kuza elibanjwa. Inoba kwamkhuthaza nyhani ukubona abazalwana baseRoma bemi ecaleni kwendlela beze kumbulisa. “Wathi akubabona uPawulos wambulela uThixo waza waziva ekhuthazekile.” (IZe. 28:15) Uqaphele  ukuba uPawulos wathi akubabona abazalwana bakhe wabulela uThixo? Kwakutheni? Wayesazi ukuba uncedwa nguYehova esebenzisa aba bazalwana noodade.

19. U-1 Petros 4:10 uthi uYehova unokusisebenzisa njani xa enceda abantu abasengxakini?

¹⁹ Yintoni esimele siyenze? Ngaba ebandleni lakho ukhona umzalwana okanye udade onestres ngenxa yokuba egula okanye enezinye iingxaki ezinjengokuswelekelwa ngumntu amthandayo? Ukuba ukhona, masicele uYehova asincede sikwazi ukumthuthuzela ngamazwi nangezenzo. Izinto esizithethayo nesizenzayo zisenokuba yile ndlela kanye umzalwana okanye udade ebefuna ukukhuthazwa ngayo. (Funda u-1 Petros 4:10.) * Abo bantu sibancedileyo banokuphinda baqiniseke ukuba xa uYehova esithi, “Soze ndinishiye, ndingasoze ndinilahle,” utsho nakubo. Awanakukuvuyisa wena loo mazwi?

20. Yintoni esenza siwatsho singathandabuzi amazwi athi: “UYehova ungumncedi wam”?

²⁰ NjengoPawulos nabahlobo bakhe, nathi sidibana neengxaki ezininzi ebomini. Kodwa simele sibe nesibindi kuba siyazi ukuba uYehova unathi. Uyasinceda esebenzisa uYesu neengelosi. Unokubasebenzisa nabasemagunyeni xa efuna kwenzeke into ayithandayo. Mhlawumbi abanye sebekhe bawubona umoya oyingcwele kaYehova usebenza xa babencedwa ngabazalwana noodade. NjengoPawulos, sinesizathu sokuwatsho singathandabuzi amazwi athi: “UYehova ungumncedi wam; andizukoyika. Angandenza ntoni umntu?”​—Heb. 13:6.