1, 2. Yintoni uSawule awayezimisele ukuyenza eDamasko?

 IQELA lamadoda sele likufuphi eDamasko. Ayikhw’ enye into eliyiyele apho ngaphandle kwenkohlakalo. Liza kukhupha ngenkani abafundi bakaYesu kwimizi yabo, libabophe, libahlaze lize libarhuqele eYerusalem ukuze baye kohlwaywa yiSanhedrin.

² Inkokheli yeli qela nguSawule. Ebekho xa bekukhe kwabulawa umntu. a Bekungekho kudala xa abantu abazidla ngokugqithisileyo ngokuba ngamaYuda bebebulala uStefano ngamatye, umfundi kaYesu ozinikeleyo, uSawule ebukele futhi evuyiswa yiloo nto. (IZe. 7:57–8:1) Akaneli kukutshutshisa abalandeli bakaYesu abaseYerusalem nje kuphela, ugqogqa nabanye abakwezinye izixeko. Ufuna ukuyivuthulula ayigqibe le nkonzo ebizwa ngokuthi ‘yiNdlela YeNkosi.’​—IZe. 9:1, 2; jonga ibhokisi enomxholo othi “ Igunya Awayenalo USawule EDamasko.”

3, 4. (a) Kwenzeka ntoni kuSawule? (b) Yeyiphi imibuzo esiza kuthetha ngayo?

³ Ngequbuliso, uSawule wafikelwa kukukhanya okuqaqambileyo. Amadoda ahamba naye akazi nokuba makathini, ndlela le othuke ngayo. Ukukhanya kumbetha angakwazi nokubona uSawule, aze aye kuthi bhu phantsi. Engaboni enjalo, uva ilizwi livela ezulwini lisithi: “Sawule, Sawule, kutheni unditshutshisa nje?” USawule ubuza emangalisiwe, athi: “Ungubani na, Nkosi?” Wothuka akhamise xa esiva impendulo ethi: “NdinguYesu, lo umtshutshisayo.”​—IZe. 9:3-5; 22:9.

⁴ Yintoni esinokuyifunda kumazwi okuqala awathethwa nguYesu kuSawule? Kungasinceda njani ukuhlola izinto ezenzekayo xa uSawule waba ngumfundi kaYesu? Ziintoni esinokuzifunda kwindlela ibandla elalisebenzisa ngayo ixesha loxolo elalifumanayo emva kokuguquka kukaSawule?

5, 6. Yintoni esinokuyifunda kumazwi awathethwa nguYesu kuSawule?

⁵ Xa uYesu wamisa uSawule kwindlela eya eDamasko, akazange athi: “Kutheni utshutshisa abafundi bam nje?” Endaweni yaloo nto, wathi: “Kutheni unditshutshisa nje?” (IZe. 9:4) Kucacile ukuba, xa abafundi bakaYesu bephethwe kabuhlungu, naye uva kabuhlungu.​—Mat. 25:34-40, 45.

 ⁶ Ukuba uyatshutshiswa ngenxa yokholo onalo kuKristu, qiniseka ukuba uYehova noYesu bayiqonda kakuhle imeko okuyo. (Mat. 10:22, 28-31) UYehova usenokungasiphelisi kwangoku isilingo okuso. Khumbula ukuba, uYesu wayembukele uSawule xa wayencedisa ekubulaweni kukaStefano naxa wayerhuqa abafundi abathembekileyo ebakhupha emakhayeni abo eYerusalem. (IZe. 8:3) Kodwa ke, akazange angenelele kwangelo xesha. Nangona kunjalo, uYehova wasebenzisa uKristu wanika uStefano nabanye abafundi amandla ababewadinga ukuze bahlale bethembekile.

7. Umele wenze ntoni ukuze ukwazi ukunyamezela intshutshiso?

⁷ Nawe ungakwazi ukunyamezela intshutshiso ukuba wenza ezi zinto zilandelayo: (1) Uzimisela ukuhlala uthembekile, noba kwenzeka ntoni na. (2) Ucela uncedo kuYehova. (Fil. 4:6, 7) (3) Uyekela uYehova ibe nguye ophindisayo. (Roma 12:17-21) (4) Uyamthemba uYehova ukuba uza kukunika amandla okunyamezela de abone kufanelekile ukuba asisuse isilingo okuso.​—Fil. 4:12, 13.

8, 9. Umele ukuba wayeziva njani uAnaniyas ngomsebenzi awawunikwayo?

⁸ Emva kokuphendula umbuzo kaSawule othi, “Ungubani na, Nkosi?” uYesu wathi kuSawule: “Phakama . . . ungene esixekweni, yaye uza kuyixelelwa into omawuyenze.” (IZe. 9:6) USawule wayengaboni, ngoko amadoda awayekunye naye amsa eDamasko, apho wafika wazila khona ukutya futhi wathandaza kangangeentsuku ezintathu. Kwangelo xesha, uYesu wathetha nomfundi owayekweso sixeko, indoda enguAnaniyas, “[Ekwakuthethwa] kakuhle ngayo ngawo onke amaYuda” eDamasko, emchazela ngoSawule.​—IZe. 22:12.

⁹ Cinga indlela amele ukuba wayebhideke ngayo uAnaniyas! INtloko yebandla, uYesu Kristu ovusiweyo, wayethetha naye, emkhetha ukuba enze umsebenzi okhethekileyo. Kwakuyinyhweba enkulu kakhulu leyo, kodwa yayikwangumsebenzi owoyikisayo. Xa waxelelwa ukuba aye kuthetha noSawule, uAnaniyas wathi: “Nkosi, ndivile kwabaninzi ngale ndoda, ngazo zonke izinto ezimbi ezenzileyo kubantu bakho abangcwele  eYerusalem. Nalapha inegunya elivela kubabingeleli abaziintloko lokubamba bonke abalandeli bakho.”​—IZe. 9:13, 14.

10. Yintoni esiyifundayo ngoYesu kwindlela awamphatha ngayo uAnaniyas?

¹⁰ UYesu akazange amgxeke uAnaniyas ngokuchaza ixhala awayenalo. Kodwa, wayenza yacaca into awayefanele ayenze. UYesu wamphatha ngesidima ngokumchazela isizathu sokuba efuna enze loo msebenzi ungaqhelekanga. UYesu wathi ngoSawule: “Le ndoda yiyo endiyikhethileyo ukuba yazise igama lam kwiintlanga, kookumkani nakoonyana bakaSirayeli. Kuba ndiza kuyibonisa kakuhle zonke izinto ezibuhlungu emele izinyamezele ngenxa yegama lam.” (IZe. 9:15, 16) UAnaniyas akazange alibazise ukuthobela uYesu. Waya kule ndoda inguSawule eyayitshutshisa abafundi  bakaYesu waza wathi kuyo: “Sawule, mzalwana wam, iNkosi uYesu eye yabonakala kuwe endleleni obusiza ngayo, indithume kuwe ukuze uphinde ubone uze ube nomoya oyingcwele.”​—IZe. 9:17.

11, 12. Sifunda ntoni kweli bali elingoYesu, uAnaniyas noSawule?

¹¹ Zininzi izinto esizifundayo kweli bali elimalunga noYesu, uAnaniyas noSawule. Ngokomzekelo, sifunda ukuba uYesu uyawukhokela umsebenzi wokushumayela, kanye njengokuba wayethembisile. (Mat. 28:20) Nakuba engathethi ngokungqalileyo nabantu namhlanje, uyawukhokela umsebenzi wokushumayela esebenzisa ikhoboka elithembekileyo, aye walimisela phezu kwabo basebenza endlini yakhe. (Mat. 24:45-47) Belandela imiyalelo yeQumrhu Elilawulayo, abavakalisi noovulindlela bakhangela abo bafuna ukufunda ngakumbi ngoKristu. Njengokuba kuchaziwe kwisahluko esidlulileyo, abaninzi kwaba bantu baye bathandazela ukukhokelwa nguThixo baza ngokukhawuleza bafikelwa ngamaNgqina kaYehova.​—IZe. 9:11.

¹² UAnaniyas wamthobela uYesu, wawamkela umsebenzi awawunikwayo waza wasikelelwa. Ngaba nawe uyawuthobela umyalelo wokushumayela ngokucokisekileyo, nokuba ukwenzela ixhala kangakanani loo msebenzi? Abanye kubenzela ixhala kakhulu ukuya kwindlu ngendlu nokudibana nabantu abangabaziyo. Kwabanye kunzima kakhulu ukuya kushumayela ebantwini kwiindawo abaphangela kuzo, esitratweni, ngefowuni okanye ngeeleta. UAnaniyas waloyisa uloyiko lwakhe waza wafumana inyhweba yokunceda uSawule afumane umoya oyingcwele. b Into eyamenza waphumelela uAnaniyas kukuba wathembela kuYesu waza wajonga uSawule njengomzalwana wakhe. Nathi singakwazi ukoyisa ukoyika, ukuba njengoAnaniyas, siyamthemba uYesu ukuba uyawukhokela umsebenzi wokushumayela, sinovelwano ngabantu, futhi nabona bantu boyikekayo sibajonga njengabanokuba ngabazalwana bethu.​—Mat. 9:36.

13, 14. Ukuba ufunda iBhayibhile kodwa awukabhaptizwa, yintoni onokuyifunda kumzekelo kaSawule?

¹³ USawule wakhawuleza watshintsha ngenxa yento awayifundayo. Emva kokuba ephinde wabona, wabhaptizwa waza wazihlanganisa nabafundi eDamasko. Kodwa akazange aphelele apho. “Ngoko nangoko waqalisa ukushumayela ngoYesu kwizindlu ekukhonzwa kuzo, esithi lo nguNyana kaThixo.”​—IZe. 9:20.

¹⁴ Ukuba ufunda iBhayibhile kodwa awukabhaptizwa, ngaba nawe uza  kuyisebenzisa into oyifundileyo njengoSawule owakhawuleza wenza utshintsho? Yinyani kona ukuba uSawule wabona ummangaliso owenziwa nguKristu kuye, futhi ngokuqinisekileyo loo nto yamkhuthaza ukuba abhaptizwe. Kodwa ke, bakho nabanye abayibonayo imimangaliso eyayisenziwa nguYesu. Ngokomzekelo, elinye iqela labaFarisi lalibukele xa uYesu wayephilisa indoda eyayome isandla, futhi kukho amaYuda amaninzi awayesazi ukuba uYesu uvuse uLazaro ekufeni. Kodwa abaninzi kubo zange bakhuthazeke ukuba balandele uYesu, futhi abanye bade bamchasa. (Marko 3:1-6; Yoh. 12:9, 10) Kodwa yena uSawule waguquka. Yintoni eyabangela ukuba uSawule abe ngumfundi kaKristu ekubeni abanye bengazange baguquke? Kungenxa yokuba wayesoyika uThixo ngaphezu kwabantu futhi wayeyixabisa kakhulu inceba awayenzelwa nguKristu. (Fil. 3:8) Ukuba nawe ufunda ukwenza loo nto, akukho kwanto eza kukunqanda ungashumayeli neza kukwenza ungakufanelekeli ukubhaptizwa.

15, 16. Yintoni awayenzayo uSawule kwizindlu akhonzela kuzo amaYuda, futhi enza ntoni amaYuda aseDamasko?

¹⁵ Yiba nombono wendlela abothuka nabacaphuka ngayo abantu xa uSawule waqalisa ukushumayela ngoYesu kwizindlu akhonzela kuzo amaYuda. Babezibuza besithi: “Hayibo, asiyiyo na le ndoda ebibatshutshisa abantu baseYerusalem abalandela uYesu?” (IZe. 9:21) Xa ecacisa ukuba itshintshwe yintoni indlela awayekade ecinga ngayo ngoYesu, uSawule ‘wayebonisa ngokucacileyo ukuba lo nguKristu.’ (IZe. 9:22) Kodwa ke, ukucacisa kakuhle akusoloko kuwaphelisa amathandabuzo kubo bonke abantu. Akuyitshintshi indlela abacinga ngayo abantu abangafuniyo ukohlukana namasiko abo okanye abanempakamo. Kuyo yonke loo meko, uSawule zange ayeke ukushumayela.

¹⁶ Kwiminyaka emithathu kamva, amaYuda aseDamasko ayesalwa noSawule. Ekugqibeleni, azama ukumbulala. (IZe. 9:23; 2 Kor. 11:32, 33; Gal. 1:13-18) Lathi lisokwaziwa elo yelenqe lawo, uSawule wenza ngobulumko wasishiya eso sixeko ngokuvuma ukwehliswa ngebhaskithi kwindawo eyayivulekile kudonga lwesixeko. Abo banceda uSawule wabaleka ngobo busuku uLuka ubabiza ngokuthi “abafundi bakhe [uSawule].” (IZe. 9:25) Kubonakala ngathi la mazwi abonisa ukuba kukho abamvayo uSawule eshumayela eDamasko baza batshintsha indlela abacinga ngayo baba ngabalandeli bakaKristu.

17. (a) Baye benze ntoni abantu ngenyaniso yeBhayibhile? (b) Yintoni esifanele siqhubeke siyenza, futhi kutheni sifanele siqhubeke siyenza?

¹⁷ Xa wawuqala ukuxelela intsapho yakho, abahlobo nabanye ngezinto ezilungileyo owawuzifunda, mhlawumbi wawulindele ukuba wonk’ umntu uza kuyamkela inyaniso yeBhayibhile ecace gca. Mhlawumbi bakhona abayamkelayo ngoxa abaninzi bengazange. Phofu, kusenokwenzeka ukuba intsapho yakho yakuphatha njengotshaba. (Mat. 10:32-38) Kodwa ke, ukuba uyaqhubeka uyiphucula indlela ocacisa kakuhle ngayo iZibhalo futhi uqhubeka uziphatha njengomKristu, nabo bakuchasayo bangagqibela betshintsha.​—IZe. 17:2; 1 Pet. 2:12; 3:1, 2, 7.

18, 19. (a) Yintoni eyenzakayo xa uBharnabhas wathethelela uSawule? (b) Singamlinganisa njani uBharnabhas noSawule?

 ¹⁸ Ukufika kukaSawule eYerusalem, kwaba nzima kubafundi ukukholelwa into yokuba ngoku wayengumfundi kaYesu. Iyaqondakala ke phofu loo nto. Kodwa xa uBharnabhas wangqinayo ukuba ngokwenene uSawule wayengumfundi, abapostile bamamkela baza bahlala naye kangangethuba elithile. (IZe. 9:26-28) USawule wayelumkile, kodwa engenazintloni ngeendaba ezilungileyo. (Roma 1:16) Washumayela ngesibindi eYerusalem, kanye loo ndawo wayebatshutshisa ngenkohlakalo kuyo abafundi bakaYesu Kristu. AmaYuda aseYerusalem avutha ngumsindo akubona ukuba iqhawe lawo liguquke laba ngumKristu, aza azama ukulibulala. Le ngxelo ithi: “Xa abazalwana bayivayo loo nto, bamsa eKesareya baza bamthumela eTarso.” (IZe. 9:30) USawule waluthobela ukhokelo lukaYesu olweza ngabazalwana. Loo nto yanceda ibandla kunye noSawule.

¹⁹ Phawula ukuba uBharnabhas waphakama kuqala ukuze ancede uSawule. Ngokuqinisekileyo, obu bubele banceda aba bakhonzi bakaYehova bakhutheleyo babini baba ngabahlobo abasondeleleneyo. Ngaba nawe njengoBharnabhas uyabanceda abasebatsha ebandleni, ngokusebenza nabo entsimini nangokubanceda basondele kuYehova? Uza kufumana iintsikelelo ezininzi ukuba uyayenza loo nto. Ukuba ungumvakalisi osemtsha weendaba ezilungileyo, ngaba nawe njengoSawule uyalwamkela uncedo olunikwayo? Ngokusebenza nabavakalisi abanamava, uza kuphucula ubuchule bakho bokushumayela, uvuye kakhulu uze ube nabahlobo abasondeleyo abazohlala bekho.

20, 21. Abakhonzi bakaThixo bangaphambili nabangoku baye bawasebenzisa njani amaxesha oxolo?

²⁰ Emva kokuguquka kukaSawule nokuhamba kwakhe ngokukhuselekileyo, “onke amabandla akwaYuda, eGalili naseSamariya aba seluxolweni.” (IZe. 9:31) Abafundi balisebenzisa njani eli xesha loxolo? (2 Tim. 4:2) Ingxelo ithi ‘bakhuthazeka.’ Abapostile nabanye abazalwana baqinisa ukholo lwabafundi baza banceda ibandla ‘loyika uYehova, lathuthuzelwa nangumoya oyingcwele.’ Ngokomzekelo, uPetros wasebenzisa elo xesha ukuze aqinise abafundi kwidolophu yaseLida ekwiThafa laseSharon. Ngenxa yemizamo yakhe, abantu abaninzi ababehlala kuloo ndawo bakholwa “eNkosini.” (IZe. 9:32-35) Abafundi abazange baphazanyiswe kukuleqana nezinto zabo, kodwa bakhathalelana ngamandla futhi bashumayela kakhulu iindaba ezilungileyo. Ngenxa yoko ibandla “laqhubeka lisanda.”

²¹ Pha koo-1990, amaNgqina kaYehova kumazwe amaninzi nawo “aba seluxolweni.” Oorhulumente ababetshutshisa abantu bakaThixo iminyaka emininzi bavele baphelelwa ngamandla. Ngoko kwaba lula ukushumayela kumazwe owawuvalwe kuwo umsebenzi wokushumayela, futhi kwamanye amazwe waphinda wavulwa ngokusemthethweni. AmaNgqina amaninzi  alisebenzisa elo thuba ukuze ashumayele ngokukhululekileyo, futhi abantu abaninzi bazimamela iindaba ezilungileyo.

22. Unokuyisebenzisa kakuhle njani inkululeko onayo?

²² Ngaba uyisebenzisa kakuhle inkululeko onayo? Ukuba uhlala kwilizwe okhonza ngokukhululekileyo kulo, uSathana ufuna ukukulinga ukuba uchithe ixesha lakho uleqana nezinto ezixabisa kakhulu ezininzi, kunokuba ukhonze uYehova. (Mat. 13:22) Ungamvumeli akuphazamise. Lisebenzise kakuhle ixesha loxolo. Lijonge njengethuba lokushumayela ngokucokisekileyo nelokuqinisa ibandla. Khumbula ukuba, iimeko zinokutshintsha ngokukhawuleza.

23, 24. (a) Ziintoni esizifundayo kwinto eyenzeka kuTabhitha? (b) Yintoni esifanele sizimisele ukuyenza?

²³ Cinga ngento eyenzekayo kumfundi onguTabhitha, okanye uDorkas. Wayehlala eYopa, idolophu ekufutshane neLida. Lo dade uthembekileyo wasebenzisa ixesha nezinto zakhe ngobulumko, esenza “izinto ezintle ezininzi, enceda namahlwempu.” Kodwa, ngequbuliso wagula waza wafa. c Ukusweleka kwakhe kwabakhathaza kakhulu abafundi baseYopa, ingakumbi abahlolokazi awayedla ngokubenzela ububele. Xa uPetros wafikayo kuloo ndlu wawulele kuyo umzimba wakhe ulungiselelwa ukungcwatywa, wenza ummangaliso ongazange wenziwe ngabapostile bakaYesu Kristu. Wathandaza waza emva koko wamvusa uTabhitha! Yiba nombono wendlela abo bahlolokazi nabanye abafundi abavuya ngayo xa uPetros wababizela egumbini waza wababonisa uTabhitha ephila! Zonke ezi zinto zimele ukuba zabomeleza ukuze bakwazi ukunyamezela izilingo ababeza kuzifumana kungekudala. Loo mmangaliso ‘wasasazeka kuyo yonke iYopa, baza abantu abaninzi bakholwa eNkosini.’ Phofu ke, siyaqondakala isizathu saloo nto​—IZe. 9:36-42.

²⁴ Sifunda izinto ezimbini ezibalulekileyo kwinto eyenzeka kuTabhitha. (1) Ubomi bethu bunokutshintsha ngesiquphe. Kubaluleke kakhulu ke ukuba sizenzele igama elihle kuThixo ngoku sisenokukwazi ukwenza njalo! (INtshu. 7:1) (2) Uvuko lwabantu abaswelekileyo luza kubakho nakanjani. UYehova wabubona ububele obuninzi awabenzayo uTabhitha, waza wamvuza. UYehova uza kukukhumbula ukusebenza kwethu nzima aze asivuse ukuba siye safa ngaphambi  kweArmagedon. (Heb. 6:10) Ngoko noba okwangoku “iimeko . . . zinzima” okanye ‘siseluxolweni,’ masiqhubeke sishumayela ngokucokisekileyo ngoKristu.​—2 Tim. 4:2.