1. Ziziphi izinto afana ngazo amaKristu enkulungwane yokuqala namaNgqina kaYehova namhlanje?

 ANIKELA ubungqina ngenkalipho. Iintliziyo zawo zawanyanzela ukuba amkele uncedo nokhokelo lomoya oyingcwele. Intshutshiso ayizange iwavale umlomo. Neentsikelelo zikaThixo zazithululwa nje phezu kwawo. Konke oku kwakusenzeka kumaKristu okwenyaniso enkulungwane yokuqala, kanye njengokuba kunjalo kumaNgqina kaYehova namhlanje.

2, 3. Yiyiphi eyona nto ibaluleke ngayo incwadi yeZenzo?

² Umele ukuba uye wakhuthazwa yingxelo eyomeleza ukholo efumaneka eBhayibhileni kwincwadi yeZenzo Zabapostile. Yiyo kuphela imbali yamaKristu enkulungwane yokuqala ephefumlelwe nguThixo.

³ Incwadi yeZenzo ichaza abantu abayi-95 ngamagama bephuma kumazwe ayi-32, kwizixeko eziyi-54 nakwiziqithi eziyi-9. Ilibali eliphathelele abantu nelibangel’ imincili​—abantu abaqhelekileyo, abanquli abanekratshi, iinkokeli zezopolitiko ezizingcayo noophuma-silwe babatshutshisi. Eyona nto ibaluleke ngayo, ithetha ngabazalwana noodadewethu benkulungwane yokuqala abangazange banele nje ukunyamezela izilingo kodwa bashumayela iindaba ezilungileyo ngenzondelelo.

4. Kutheni sinolwalamano olusenyongweni nabantu abafana nompostile uPawulos, uDorkas namanye amangqina athembekileyo amandulo?

⁴ Sekudlule phantse iminyaka eyi-2 000 yenzekayo loo misebenzi yompostile uPetros noPawulos abanenzondelelo, uLuka ugqirha oyintanda, uBharnabhas onesisa, uStefano onenkalipho, uDorkas onobubele, uLidiya obuka iindwendwe namanye amangqina athembekileyo. Nakuba babephila kwiminyaka eyadlulayo, basesenyongweni kuthi. Ngoba? Kaloku sinikwe uthumo olufanayo nolwabo, ukwenza abafundi. (Mat. 28:19, 20) Kuyintsikelelo gqitha ukuba nenxaxheba kulo.

5. Abalandeli bakaYesu benkulungwane yokuqala baqalisa phi ukuphumeza uthumo lwabo lokushumayela?

⁵ Khawucinge nje ngothumo uYesu awalunika abalandeli bakhe. Wathi: “Niza kuba namandla xa nifumana umoya oyingcwele, ibe niza kuba ngamangqina am eYerusalem, kulo lonke elakwaYuda naseSamariya, de niyokufika nakwezona  ndawo zikude emhlabeni.” (IZe. 1:8) Okokuqala, umoya oyingcwele wabanika amandla abafundi ukuze babe ngamangqina “eYerusalem.” (IZe. 1:1–8:3) Emva koko, besalathiswa ngumoya oyingcwele, bashumayela “kulo lonke elakwaYuda naseSamariya.” (IZe. 8:4–13:3) Balandelisa ngokusa iindaba ezilungileyo “nakwezona ndawo zikude emhlabeni.”​—IZe. 13:4–28:31.

6, 7. Xa siphumeza ubulungiseleli bethu, liliphi ilungelo esinalo ababengenalo bona abazalwana bethu benkulungwane yokuqala?

⁶ Abazalwana bakho benkulungwane yokuqala babengenayo iBhayibhile epheleleyo ababeza kuyisebenzisa ekunikeleni ubungqina. IVangeli kaMateyu yayingekabikho ubuncinane de kwango-41 C.E. Ezinye zeencwadi zikaPawulos zabhalwa ngaphambi kokuba incwadi yeZenzo igqitywe, malunga no-61 C.E. AmaKristu enkulungwane yokuqala ayengenayo imibhalo yobuqu yeZibhalo Ezingcwele, engenazo neempapasho ezahlukahlukeneyo aza kuzishiyela abantu abanomdla. Ngaphambi kokuba abe ngabafundi bakaYesu, amaKristu angamaYuda ayezivile iZibhalo zesiHebhere zifundwa kwindlu yesikhungu. (2 Kor. 3:14-16) Nalapho ayemele akukhuthalele ukufunda, kuba kaloku ayemele azazi ngentloko izibhalo aza kuzicaphula.

⁷ Namhlanje, abaninzi kuthi baneeBhayibhile zabo nentaphane yoncwadi olusekelwe eBhayibhileni. Senza abafundi ngokuvakalisa iindaba ezilungileyo kumazwe angaphezu kwayi-230 ngeelwimi ezininzi.

8, 9. (a) Umoya oyingcwele wanceda abafundi bakaYesu benza ntoni? (b) Yintoni eveliswa ludidi lwekhoboka elithembekileyo ngenxa yoncedo lomoya kaThixo?

⁸ Xa uYesu wathuma abafundi bakhe ukuba babe ngamangqina, wathi kubo: “Niza kuba namandla xa nifumana umoya oyingcwele.” Besalathiswa ngumoya kaThixo, okanye amandla akhe asebenzayo, abalandeli bakaYesu babeza kuba ngamangqina kuwo wonke umhlaba. Bencedwa ngumoya oyingcwele, uPetros noPawulos baphilisa abagulayo, bakhupha iidemon de bavusa nabafileyo. Noko ke, amandla awawafumana kumoya oyingcwele wayewanikelwe injongo ebaluleke ngakumbi. Anceda abapostile nabanye abafundi bakwazi ukungenisa ulwazi oluchanileyo oluthetha ubomi obungunaphakade.​—Yoh. 17:3.

⁹ Ngomhla wePentekoste ka-33 C.E., abafundi bakaYesu bathetha “iilwimi ezahlukahlukeneyo, kanye njengokuba umoya wawubanceda bazithethe.” Banikela ubungqina ‘ngezinto ezinkulu zikaThixo.’ (IZe. 2:1-4, 11) Namhlanje asithethi lwimi ezahlukahlukeneyo ngokungummangaliso. Kodwa ngoncedo lomoya kaThixo, ikhoboka elithembekileyo livelisa uncwadi lweBhayibhile ngeelwimi ezininzi. Ngokomzekelo, nyanga nganye kushicilelwa izigidi zamaphephancwadi IMboniselo noVukani!, futhi iwebhsayithi yethu ethi-jw.org, inencwadi ezisekelwe eBhayibhileni neevidiyo ezineelwimi ezingaphezu kweziyi-1 000. Konke oku kusinceda sikwazi ukuvakalisa “izinto ezinkulu zikaThixo” kubantu bazo zonke iintlanga, izizwe neelwimi.​—ISityhi. 7:9.

10. Ukususela ngo-1989, yintoni eye yenziwa ngokuphathelele ukuguqulelwa kweBhayibhile?

¹⁰ Ukususela ngo-1989 udidi lwekhoboka luye lwanikela ingqalelo  ekhethekileyo ekuguqulelweni kweNguqulelo Yehlabathi Elitsha YeZibhalo Ezingcwele ngeelwimi ezininzi. Le Bhayibhile sele iguqulelwe ngeelwimi ezingaphezu kweziyi-200, ibe sele kushicilelwe amashumi ezigidi zayo ngoxa kusashicilelwa ezingakumbi. NguThixo nomoya wakhe kuphela obangele ukuba le migudu iphumelele.

11. Yintoni eye yenziwa kumsebenzi wokuguqulelwa kweempapasho zamaNgqina?

¹¹ Umsebenzi wokuguqulela wenziwa ngamawaka amatsha-ntliziyo angamaKristu akumazwe angaphezu kwayi-150. Oku akumele kusimangalise, kuba ayikho enye intlangano emhlabeni ekhokelwa ngumoya oyingcwele ‘eshumayela ngokucokisekileyo’ ehlabathini lonke ngokuphathelele uYehova uThixo, ngoKumkani wakhe onguMesiya nangoBukumkani obumiselwe ezulwini.​—IZe. 28:23.

12. Yintoni eyanceda uPawulos namanye amaKristu bakwazi ukwenza umsebenzi wokunikela ubungqina?

¹² Xa uPawulos wayenikela ubungqina kumaYuda nakubantu beeNtlanga kwa-Antiyokwe yasePisidiya, “bonke abo babezimisele ukufumana ubomi obungunaphakade baba ngamakholwa.” (IZe. 13:48) Njengoko uLuka egqibezela ukubhala incwadi yeZenzo, yena uPawulos ‘ushumayela ngoBukumkani BukaThixo, enenkululeko enkulu yokuthetha.’ (IZe. 28:31) Ubunikela phi obu bungqina? Kanye apho eRoma​—ikomkhulu legunya lehlabathi! Enoba babesenjenjalo ngokunikela iintetho okanye ezinye iindlela, abalandeli bakaYesu benkulungwane yokuqala benza wonke umsebenzi wabo wokunikela ubungqina ngoncedo nolwalathiso lomoya oyingcwele.

13. Kutheni simele sithandaze xa sitshutshiswa?

¹³ Xa abafundi bakaYesu benkulungwane yokuqala babetshutshiswa, bacela uYehova ukuba abaphe inkalipho. Waba yintoni umphumo? Bazaliswa ngumoya oyingcwele batsho banamandla okuthetha ilizwi likaThixo ngenkalipho. (IZe. 4:18-31) Nathi sithandazela ubulumko namandla okuhlala sinikela ubungqina phezu kwayo nje intshutshiso. (Yak. 1:2-8) Ekubeni sisikelelwe nguThixo yaye sincedwa ngumoya wakhe, sityhalela phambili nokushumayela ngoBukumkani. Akukho nto inokuba ngumqobo kumsebenzi wokunikela ubungqina​—nkqu nentshutshiso ekrakra. Xa sitshutshiswa, simele sithandazele umoya oyingcwele nobulumko, kuquka inkalipho yokuvakalisa iindaba ezilungileyo.​—Luka 11:13.

14, 15. (a) Yintoni eyenzekayo “emva kokubulawa kukaStefano”? (b) Namhlanje, yenzeka njani into yokuba abantu abaninzi eSiberia bafumane inyaniso?

¹⁴ UStefano wanikela ubungqina ngenkalipho ngaphambi kokuba abulawe ziintshaba zakhe. (IZe. 6:5; 7:54-60) Xa “batshutshiswa kakhulu” ngelo xesha, bonke abafundi ngaphandle kwabapostile bachithachitheka kulo lonke elakwaYuda naseSamariya. Kodwa oko akuzange kube ngumqobo kumsebenzi wokunikela ubungqina. UFilipu waya eSamariya “washumayela ngoKristu” ibe oko kwaba nemiphumo emihle gqitha. (IZe. 8:1-8, 14, 15, 25) Ukongezelela koko sixelelwa oku: “Emva kokubulawa kukaStefano amanye amakholwa athi saa ayokutsho eFenike, eSipro nakwa-Antiyokwe, kodwa ayeshumayela kumaYuda kuphela. Kodwa ke amanye amakholwa awayesuka eSipro naseKirene eza kwa-Antiyokwe aza athetha nabantu abathetha isiGrike, eshumayela iindaba ezilungileyo ezingeNkosi  uYesu.” (IZe. 11:19, 20) Ngelo xesha, intshutshiso yabangela ukusasazeka kwesigidimi soBukumkani.

¹⁵ Namhlanje, kwenzeka okufanayo kwelo lalisakuba yiSoviet Union. Ngakumbi kwiminyaka yee-1950, kwaqweqwediswa amawaka amaNgqina kaYehova aya kulahlwa eSiberia. Ekubeni ayechithachithiwe ahlaliswa kwiindawo ezahlukeneyo, iindaba ezilungileyo zaqhubeka zisasazeka kwelo lizwekazi. Yayingenakwenzeka into yokuba loo maNgqina angako akwazi ukufumana imali eyayifuneka yokuhamba ukuze agqibe loo mmandla weekhilomitha eziyi-10 000 evakalisa iindaba ezilungileyo. Kodwa, yaba ngurhulumente ngokwakhe owawathumela ukuba agqibe lonke elo lizwe. Omnye umzalwana wathi: “Oko kwenza ukuba ibe ngabasemagunyeni ngokwabo abanceda amawaka abantu abanyanisekileyo baseSiberia bafumane inyaniso.”

16, 17. Incwadi yeZenzo isinika buphi ubungqina bokuba uYehova uyawusikelela umsebenzi wokunikela ubungqina?

¹⁶ UYehova wayewasikelela ngokwenene amaKristu enkulungwane yokuqala. UPawulos nabanye batyala baza bankcenkceshela, “kodwa nguThixo owakhulisayo.” (1 Kor. 3:5, 6) Iingxelo zencwadi yeZenzo zisinika ubungqina boko kukhula ngenxa yentsikelelo kaYehova kumsebenzi wokunikela ubungqina. Ngokomzekelo, ‘ilizwi likaThixo laqhubeka likhula, laya lisanda kakhulu nenani labafundi eYerusalem.’ (IZe. 6:7) Njengokuba umsebenzi wokunikela ubungqina wawusanda, “amabandla akwaYuda, eGalili naseSamariya aba seluxolweni aza akhuthazeka, yaye njengokuba ayesoyika uYehova, ethuthuzelwa nangumoya oyingcwele, aqhubeka esanda.”​—IZe. 9:31.

¹⁷ KwiSiriya yakwa-Antiyokwe, amaYuda nabantu abathetha isiGrike bayiva inyaniso kumangqina anenkalipho. Le ngxelo ithi: “UYehova wayewaxhasa yaye baninzi ababa ngamakholwa baza balandela iNkosi.” (IZe. 11:21) Ngokuphathelele inkqubela engakumbi kweso sixeko, sifunda oku: “Baya besanda abantu abeva ilizwi likaYehova nabakholwayo.” (IZe. 12:24) Ngenxa yomsebenzi wokunikela ubungqina ngokucokisekileyo kukaPawulos nabanye kubantu beeNtlanga, “ilizwi likaYehova laqhubeka likhula yaye lisiba namandla.”​—IZe. 19:20.

18, 19. (a) Sazi njani ukuba ‘uYehova uyasixhasaʼ? (b) Chaza umzekelo obonisa ukuba uYehova uyabaxhasa abantu bakhe.

¹⁸ Akuthandabuzeki ukuba ‘uYehova uyasixhasa’ nathi nanamhlanje. Yiloo nto bebaninzi kangaka abantu ababa ngamakholwa baze bafuzisele ukuzahlulela kwabo kuThixo ngokubhaptizwa. Ukongezelela koko, kungenxa yoncedo lomoya kaThixo nentsikelelo yakhe kuphela okwenza sikwazi ukunyamezela inkcaso​—maxa wambi intshutshiso eqatha—​sitsho siphumelele kumsebenzi wethu wokushumayela kanye njengoPawulos namanye amaKristu enkulungwane yokuqala. (IZe. 14:19-21) UYehova uThixo uhlala ekulungele ukusinceda. “Iingalo zakhe zikanaphakade” azisileli ukusixhasa kuzo zonke izilingo esijamelana nazo. (Dut. 33:27) Simele sikhumbule nokuba ngenxa yegama lakhe elikhulu, uYehova akanakuze abashiye abantu bakhe.​—1 Sam. 12:22; INdu. 94:14.

¹⁹ Ukwenza umzekelo woku: Ngenxa yokuba uMzalwan’ uHarald Abt  wayeqhubeka enikela ubungqina, amaNazi amthumela kwinkampu yoxinaniso yaseSachsenhausen ebudeni beMfazwe Yehlabathi II. NgoMeyi 1942 amaGestapo aya kwikhaya lomfazi wakhe, uElsa, aza athabatha intombazana yabo eselula aza amvalela uElsa. UElsa wathunyelwa kwiinkampu ezahlukahlukeneyo. UDade Abt uthi: “Iminyaka endayichitha kwiinkampu zoxinaniso zaseJamani yandifundisa isifundo esibalaseleyo. Ndafunda indlela onokukomeleza ngayo umoya kaYehova xa ujamelene nezilingo ezingathethekiyo! Ngaphambi kokuba ndibanjwe, ndandifunde incwadi yomnye udade eyayisithi xa ufumana uvavanyo olugqithiseleyo, umoya kaYehova uyakunceda uzole. Ndandicinga ukuba uyazibaxa izinto. Kodwa ndathi ndakuba kwezo mvavanyo, ndatsho ndaqonda ukuba wayenyanisile. Wandinceda ndazola nam. Kunzima gqitha ukukuqonda oko ukuba akukenzeki kuwe. Kwenzeka kum.”

20. Yintoni awayenzayo uPawulos ngoxa wayeseluvalelweni, ibe kunokubakhuthaza njani oku abanye abazalwana noodade?

²⁰ Incwadi yeZenzo iqukumbela ngoPawulos ‘eshumayela ngoBukumkani BukaThixo.’ (IZe. 28:31) Ngenxa yokuba wayeseluvalelweni, wayengakwazi ukuya kushumayela kwindlu ngendlu eRoma. Sekunjalo, waqhubeka enikela ubungqina kubo bonke abo babesiza kumbona. Namhlanje, abanye kubazalwana noodadewethu abakwazi kuphuma endlwini, mhlawumbi kuba belele ngandletyananye, okanye behlala kwikhaya labalupheleyo, ukugula, okanye iziphene ezithile. Ukanti, ngenxa yokumthanda kwabo uThixo basakulangazelela gqitha ukunikela ubungqina. Siyabathandazela ibe sicela ukuba uBawo wethu wasezulwini abancede badibane nabantu abalangazelela ukufunda inyaniso nangeenjongo zakhe ezimangalisayo.

21. Kutheni simele sinikele ubungqina ngemvo yokungxamiseka?

²¹ Inkoliso yethu yenza umsebenzi wokwenza abafundi ngokushumayela kwindlu ngendlu nangezinye iindlela. Ngamnye kuthi umele enze konke okusemandleni akhe ukuze afeze indima yakhe njengomvakalisi woBukumkani, abe nenxaxheba ekunikeleni ubungqina “nakwezona ndawo zikude emhlabeni.” Lo msebenzi umele wenziwe ngokungxamisekileyo, kuba ‘izinto esibubona ngazo ubukho’ bukaKristu zibonakala ngokucacileyo. (Mat. 24:3-14) Alisekho ixesha lokudlala. Kanye ngoku, ‘sinokuninzi kokwenza emsebenzini weNkosi.’​—1 Kor. 15:58.

22. Yintoni esimele sizimisele ukuyenza njengoko silindele imini kaYehova?

²² Njengoko silindele ‘ukufika kwemini enkulu neyoyikekayo kaYehova,’ masizimisele ukuqhubeka sinikela ubungqina ngenkalipho nokuthembeka. (Yow. 2:31) Siseza kufumana abantu abaninzi abafana nabantu baseBhereya ‘abamkela ilizwi likaThixo ngomdla omkhulu.’ (IZe. 17:10, 11) Ngamana singanikela ubungqina de sive amazwi athi: “Usebenzile khoboka lam elilungileyo nelithembekileyo!” (Mat. 25:23) Ukuba sidlala indima yethu ngenzondelelo kumsebenzi wokwenza abafundi namhlanje yaye sihlala sithembekile kuYehova, siya kuvuya ngonaphakade nakanjani na ngenxa yokuba siye sasikelelwa ngokuba nenxaxheba ‘yokushumayela ngokucokisekileyo’ ngoBukumkani bukaThixo!