ISAHLUKO 4
‘Abantu Abangafundile Nabavamile’
Abaphostoli bathatha isinyathelo esibonisa isibindi futhi uJehova uyababusisa
Isekelwe encwadini yezEnzo 3:1–5:11
1, 2. Yisiphi isimangaliso esenziwa uPetru noJohane eduze kwesango lethempeli?
ILANGA lantambama lihlaba esixukwini esiphithizelayo. AmaJuda azinikele nabafundi bakaKristu bangena egcekeni lethempeli. Sekuzoba ‘ihora lokuthandaza.’ a (IzE. 2:46; 3:1) Kulezi zindimbane zabantu, uPetru noJohane baya ngasesangweni lethempeli elibizwa ngokuthi eLihle. Njengoba kuxokozela futhi kuzwakala nomsindo wezinyawo, isinxibi esesikhulile, esikhubazeke kwasekuzalweni, sicela izipho.—IzE. 3:2; 4:22.
2 Njengoba uPetru noJohane besondela, lesi sinxibi siphinda amazwi okucela imali esihlale siwasho. Abaphostoli bayama, basigqolozele. UPetru uthi: “Anginalo isiliva negolide, kodwa lokho enginakho yilokho engikunika kona. Egameni likaJesu Kristu umNazaretha, hamba!” Cabanga ngokushaqeka kwesixuku njengoba uPetru ebamba le ndoda ekhubazekile ngesandla futhi ima iqonde—ngokokuqala ngqá ekuphileni kwayo! (IzE. 3:6, 7) Uyayibona yini ngeso lengqondo izibuka imilenze esiphulukisiwe futhi iqala ukuhamba ngokungaqiniseki? Shono nje isiqala ukugxumagxuma nokudumisa uNkulunkulu ngokuzwakalayo!
3. Yisiphi isipho esiyingqayizivele esasingatholwa indoda eyayikhubazekile nesixuku?
3 Isixuku esichichima injabulo sigijimela kuPetru noJohane emphemeni kaSolomoni. Lapha, khona kanye lapho uJesu ake wama khona wafundisa, uPetru usitshela ngokubaluleka kwangempela kwalokho okusanda kwenzeka. (Joh. 10:23) Unikeza isixuku nale ndoda ebikhubazekile isipho esibaluleke ngaphezu kwesiliva negolide. Lesi sipho sihilela okungaphezu kokuba nempilo enhle. Siyithuba lokuphenduka, lokuba kusulwe izono zaso, futhi sibe abalandeli ‘boMmeli Oyinhloko wokuphila’ omiswe uJehova, uJesu Kristu.—IzE. 3:15.
4. (a) Ukuphulukisa ngokuyisimangaliso kwasusa luphi udweshu? (b) Yimiphi imibuzo emibili esizoyiphendula?
4 Yeka usuku oluphawulekayo! Kuphulukiswe umuntu, manje useyakwazi ukuhamba. Izinkulungwane zithole ithuba lokuphulukiswa ngokomoya ukuze zikwazi ukuhamba ngokufanele uNkulunkulu. (Kol. 1:9, 10) Ngaphezu kwalokho, izenzakalo zangalolo suku zasusa udweshu phakathi kwabalandeli bakaKristu abathembekile neziphathimandla ezazizozama ukubavimbela ukuba bafeze umyalo kaJesu wokushumayela isigijimi soMbuso. (IzE. 1:8) Singafundani ezindleleni ezasetshenziswa uPetru noJohane—‘abantu abangafundile nabavamile’—nasesimweni sabo sengqondo njengoba befakaza esixukwini? b (IzE. 4:13) Futhi singayilingisa kanjani indlela bona nabanye abafundi ababhekana ngayo nokuphikiswa?
Hhayi “Ngamandla Ethu” (IzEnzo 3:11-26)
5. Sifundani endleleni uPetru akhuluma ngayo nesixuku?
5 UPetru noJohane bama phambi kwesixuku, bazi ukuthi abanye kuso kungenzeka babesanda kuthi uJesu makabethelwe esigxotsheni. (Marku 15:8-15; IzE. 3:13-15) Cabanga ngesibindi uPetru asibonisa ngokulibeka ngembaba elokuthi indoda eyayikhubazekile yayiphulukiswe ngegama likaJesu. UPetru akazange alithambise iqiniso. Wasitshela emehlweni isixuku ukuthi sinecala ngokufa kukaKristu. Kepha uPetru wayengabazondi laba bantu ngoba ‘babenze ngokungazi.’ (IzE. 3:17) Wakhuluma nabo njengabafowabo futhi wagxila ezicini ezinhle zesigijimi soMbuso. Uma babephenduka futhi bebonisa ukholo kuKristu, babeyothola “izinkathi zokuqabuleka” zivela kuJehova. (IzE. 3:19) Nathi kudingeka sibe nesibindi futhi singajikelezi lapho simemezela izahlulelo zikaNkulunkulu ezizayo. Ngesikhathi esifanayo, akufanele neze sibe lukhuni, sibe nokhahlo noma sahlulele. Kunalokho, abantu esibashumayezayo sibabheka njengabangaba abafowethu, futhi njengoPetru, sigxila kakhulukazi ezicini ezinhle zesigijimi soMbuso.
6. UPetru noJohane bakubonisa kanjani ukuthobeka nesizotha?
6 Abaphostoli babengabantu abanesizotha. Abazange bazifunele udumo ngesimangaliso abasenza. UPetru wathi esixukwini: “Kungani nisigqolozele njengokungathi siyenze yahamba ngamandla ethu noma ngokuzinikela kwethu kuNkulunkulu?” (IzE. 3:12) UPetru nabanye abaphostoli babazi ukuthi noma yikuphi okuhle abakufeza enkonzweni yabo kwakungenxa yamandla kaNkulunkulu, hhayi awabo. Ngakho ngokuthobeka, udumo baluyisa kuJehova noJesu ngalokho ababekufezile.
7, 8. (a) Yisiphi isipho esingasinika abantu? (b) Sigcwaliseka kanjani namuhla isithembiso ‘sokwenza zonke izinto zibe zintsha’?
7 Kudingeka sibonise isizotha esifanayo lapho senza umsebenzi wokushumayela ngoMbuso. Kuyavunywa, umoya kaNkulunkulu awuwanikezi amaKristu anamuhla amandla okuphulukisa ngokuyisimangaliso. Noma kunjalo, singabasiza abantu ukuba bakhe ukholo kuNkulunkulu nakuKristu futhi bamukele isipho esifanayo naleso uPetru asinikeza—ithuba lokuba bathethelelwe izono futhi bathole ukuqabuleka okuvela kuJehova. Unyaka ngamunye, amakhulu ezinkulungwane ayasamukela lesi sipho futhi abe abafundi bakaKristu ababhaphathiziwe.
8 Yebo, siphila esikhathini “lapho zonke izinto sezenziwe zaba zintsha” uPetru abhekisela kuso. Ekugcwalisekeni kwezwi ‘uNkulunkulu alikhuluma ngomlomo wabaprofethi bakhe abangcwele basendulo,’ uMbuso wamiswa ezulwini ngonyaka ka-1914. (IzE. 3:21; IHu. 110:1-3; Dan. 4:16, 17) Ngokushesha ngemva kwalokho, uKristu waqala ukuqondisa umsebenzi wokubuyisela ongokomoya emhlabeni. Ngenxa yalokho, izigidi ziye zalethwa epharadesi elingokomoya, zaba izikhonzi zoMbuso kaNkulunkulu. Ziye zakhumula ubuntu obudala obonakele, ‘zagqoka ubuntu obusha obadalwa ngokwentando kaNkulunkulu.’ (Efe. 4:22-24) Njengokuphulukiswa kwesinxibi esikhubazekile, lo msebenzi obabazekayo uye wafezwa ngomoya kaNkulunkulu, hhayi ngemizamo yomuntu. NjengoPetru, kumelwe silisebenzise ngesibindi nangempumelelo iZwi likaNkulunkulu ukuze sifundise abanye. Noma yimiphi imiphumela emihle esingase siyithole lapho sisiza abanye ukuba babe abafundi bakaKristu ibangelwa amandla kaNkulunkulu, hhayi awethu.
“Ngeke Siyeke Ukukhuluma” (IzEnzo 4:1-22)
9-11. (a) Basabela kanjani abaholi abangamaJuda esigijimini sikaPetru noJohane? (b) Abaphostoli banquma ukwenzani?
9 Inkulumo kaPetru nendoda eyayikade ikhubazekile eyayisingqabashiya imemeza, yasusa isiyaluyalu. Induna yethempeli—eyayimiselwe ukubheka ukulondeka kwendawo yasethempelini—nabapristi abakhulu baphuthuma beyohlola. Cishe laba bantu babengabaSadusi, ihlelo elicebile nelingubhongoza kwezombusazwe elalisebenzela ubuhlobo obunokuthula namaRoma, benqaba umthetho owawudluliselwa ngomlomo owawuthandwa kakhulu ngabaFarisi, futhi behlekisa ngenkolelo yovuko. c Abeve badinwa lapho bethola uPetru noJohane ethempelini befundisa ngesibindi ukuthi uJesu wayevusiwe!
10 Abaphikisi ababethukuthele bavalela uPetru noJohane ejele, ngakusasa babahudulela enkantolo ephakeme yamaJuda. Ngokombono walaba babusi abayizicukuthwane, uPetru noJohane ‘babengabantu abangafundile nabavamile’ ababengenagunya lokufundisa ethempelini. Babengafundanga ezikoleni zenkolo ezaziwayo. Noma kunjalo, ukungagunci kwabo nokuqiniseka ababenakho kwabangela ukuba inkantolo izibuze ngabo. Yini eyayenza uPetru noJohane baphumelele kangaka? Esinye isizathu sasiwukuthi “babenoJesu.” (IzE. 4:13) INkosi yabo yayibafundise ngegunya langempela, kungenjengababhali.—Math. 7:28, 29.
11 Inkantolo yayala abaphostoli ukuba bayeke ukushumayela. Kulowo mphakathi, izwi lenkantolo lalingaweli phansi. Emasontweni ambalwa ngaphambili, lapho uJesu evela phambi kwayo le nkantolo, amalungu ayo athi: “Ufanelwe ukufa.” (Math. 26:59-66) Yize kunjalo, uPetru noJohane abazange bangenwe amanzi emadolweni. Bemi phambi kwalaba bantu abayizigwili, abayizifundiswa nabanegama, ngesibindi nangenhlonipho uPetru noJohane bathi: “Ukuthi kulungile yini emehlweni kaNkulunkulu ukulalela nina kunoNkulunkulu, yahlulelani nina. Kodwa thina, ngeke siyeke ukukhuluma ngezinto esizibonile nesizizwile.”—IzE. 4:19, 20.
12. Yini engasisiza sihlakulele isibindi nokuqiniseka?
12 Ingabe nawe uyakwazi ukubonisa isibindi esifanayo? Uzizwa kanjani uma uthola ithuba lokushumayeza izinjinga, izifundiswa, noma izilomo emphakathini wakini? Kuthiwani uma amalungu omkhaya, ofunda nabo, noma osebenza nabo behlekisa ngezinkolelo zakho? Ingabe uyesaba? Uma kunjalo, ungayinqoba leyo mizwa. Lapho esemhlabeni, uJesu wafundisa abaphostoli indlela yokuvikela izinkolelo zabo ngokuqiniseka nangenhlonipho. (Math. 10:11-18) Ngemva kokuvuswa kwakhe, wathembisa abafundi bakhe ukuthi wayeyoqhubeka enabo “zonke izinsuku kuze kube isiphelo sesimiso sezinto.” (Math. 28:20) Iqondiswa uJesu, ‘inceku ethembekile neqondayo’ isifundisa indlela yokuvikela izinkolelo zethu. (Math. 24:45-47; 1 Pet. 3:15) Lokhu ikwenza ngokusifundisa emihlanganweni yebandla, njengoMhlangano Wokuphila KobuKristu Nenkonzo Yethu, nangezincwadi ezisekelwe eBhayibhelini, nezihloko ezitholakala ku-jw.org njengesithi, “Izimpendulo Zemibuzo YeBhayibheli.” Ingabe uwasebenzisa ngokunenzuzo la malungiselelo? Uma wenza kanjalo, isibindi nokuqiniseka kwakho kuyokhula. Njengabaphostoli, ngeke uvumele lutho lukuyekise ukukhuluma ngamaqiniso amahle angokomoya owabonile nowazwile.
Ungavumeli lutho lukuyekise ukukhuluma ngamaqiniso amahle angokomoya owafundile
“Bathandaza KuNkulunkulu” (IzEnzo 4:23-31)
13, 14. Uma siphikiswa, yini okufanele siyenze, futhi kungani?
13 Bathi bangadedelwa etilongweni, uPetru noJohane bahlangana nalo lonke ibandla. Bendawonye, “bathandaza kuNkulunkulu” bathandazela isibindi sokuqhubeka beshumayela. (IzE. 4:24) UPetru wayebazi kahle ubuwula bokuzethemba lapho uzama ukwenza intando kaNkulunkulu. Emasontweni ambalwa ngaphambili, wayetshele uJesu ngokuzethemba: “Nakuba bonke abanye bekhubeka ngawe, mina angisoze ngakhubeka!” Kodwa njengoba uJesu ayebikezele, ngokushesha uPetru wanqotshwa ukwesaba abantu waphika umngane nomfundisi wakhe. Nokho, uPetru wafunda ephutheni lakhe.—Math. 26:33, 34, 69-75.
14 Ukuzimisela nje kukodwa ngeke kukusize ukuba ufeze umyalo wokuba ufakazi kaKristu. Lapho abaphikisi bezama ukwephula ukholo lwakho noma ukukuyekisa ukushumayela, landela isibonelo sikaPetru noJohane. Thandazela amandla kuJehova. Funa ukusekela kwebandla. Xoxela abadala nabanye abavuthiwe ngobunzima obhekene nabo. Imithandazo yabanye ingakunikeza amandla okuqhubekela phambili.—Efe. 6:18; Jak. 5:16.
15. Kungani labo abake bayeka ukushumayela okwesikhashana kungadingeki badangale?
15 Uma wake wanqotshwa ukucindezela wawusuyeka ukushumayela isikhashana, ungadangali. Khumbula, bonke abaphostoli bayeka ukushumayela okwesikhashana ngemva kokufa kukaJesu, kodwa ngokushesha babuye baqala futhi. (Math. 26:56; 28:10, 16-20) Kunokuvumela amaphutha esikhathi esidlule akudikibalise, ungafunda yini kuwo futhi usebenzise izifundo ozitholile ukuze uqinise abanye?
16, 17. Sifundani emthandazweni wabalandeli bakaKristu eJerusalema?
16 Yini okufanele siyithandazele lapho iziphathimandla zisicindezela? Siza uphawule ukuthi abafundi abazange bacele ukuba bangalingwa. Babewakhumbula kahle amazwi kaJesu athi: “Uma mina bengishushisile, bayonishushisa nani.” (Joh. 15:20) Kunalokho, laba bafundi abaqotho bacela uJehova ukuba ‘anake’ izinsongo zabaphikisi. (IzE. 4:29) Abafundi babekwazi konke okwakuhilelekile, beqonda ukuthi ukushushiswa kwabo empeleni kwakuwukugcwaliseka kwesiprofetho. Babazi ukuthi, njengoba uJesu ayebafundise ukuba bathandaze, intando kaNkulunkulu ‘yayiyokwenziwa emhlabeni,’ kungakhathaliseki ukuthi ababusi abangabantu bathini.—Math. 6:9, 10.
17 Ukuze benze intando kaNkulunkulu, abafundi bathandaza kuJehova: ‘Yenza izinceku zakho ziqhubeke zikhuluma izwi lakho ngaso sonke isibindi.’ UJehova wasabela kanjani? “Indawo ababebuthene kuyo yanyakaza, bonke ngothi lwabo bagcwala umoya ongcwele, bakhuluma izwi likaNkulunkulu ngesibindi.” (IzE. 4:29-31) Akukho lutho olungavimba intando kaNkulunkulu. (Isaya 55:11) Kungakhathaliseki ukuthi zinkulu kangakanani izingqinamba, kungakhathaliseki ukuthi banamandla kangakanani abaphikisi, uma siphakamisela amazwi ethu kuNkulunkulu ngomthandazo, singaqiniseka ukuthi uzosinika amandla okuqhubeka sikhuluma izwi lakhe ngesibindi.
Siyolandisa ‘KuNkulunkulu, Hhayi Kubantu’ (IzEnzo 4:32–5:11)
18. Enzelanani amalungu ebandla laseJerusalema?
18 Ibandla elalisafufusa eJerusalema lakhula ngokushesha laba namalungu angaphezu kuka-5 000. d Naphezu kwezizinda zabo ezingafani, abafundi ‘babenhliziyonye futhi bemphefumulo munye.’ Babemunye endleleni yokucabanga. (IzE. 4:32; 1 Kor. 1:10) Benza okungaphezu kokuthandazela ukuba uJehova abusise imizamo yabo. Basekelana ngokomoya, futhi uma kudingeka, nangokwenyama. (1 Joh. 3:16-18) Ngokwesibonelo, umfundi uJosefa, owanikezwa ngabaphostoli isibongo esithi Barnaba, wathengisa indawo yakhe futhi wanikela ngokungenabugovu ngayo yonke imali ekusizeni labo ababevela emazweni akude ukuba bahlale eJerusalema isikhathi esijana, ukuze bafunde okwengeziwe ngokholo lwabo olusha.
19. Kungani uJehova abulala u-Ananiya noSafira?
19 U-Ananiya noSafira nabo bathengisa indawo yabo futhi benza umnikelo. Bashaya sengathi banikele ngayo yonke imali; kodwa ‘bayifihla enye imali.’ (IzE. 5:2) UJehova wababulala, hhayi ngoba imali ababenikele ngayo yayincane, kodwa ngoba isisusa sabo sokupha sasisibi futhi babekhohlisa. ‘Abakhohlisanga abantu, bakhohlisa uNkulunkulu.’ (IzE. 5:4) Njengabazenzisi uJesu abalahla, u-Ananiya noSafira babekhathalela kakhulu ukuzifunela udumo kubantu kunokwamukelwa uNkulunkulu.—Math. 6:1-3.
20. Yiziphi izifundo esizifundayo ngokupha uJehova?
20 Zinomoya wokupha ofana nowabafundi abathembekile bekhulu lokuqala eJerusalema, izigidi zoFakazi banamuhla zisekela umsebenzi wokushumayela womhlaba wonke ngokwenza iminikelo yokuzithandela. Akekho ophoqwa ukuba aphe ngesikhathi noma ngemali yakhe ukuze asekele lo msebenzi. Yebo, uJehova akafuni ukuba simkhonze ngokububula noma ngokucindezelwa. (2 Kor. 9:7) Lapho sipha, uJehova akanaki ubungako besipho, kodwa isisusa sokupha. (Marku 12:41-44) Asifuni nanini ukufana no-Ananiya noSafira, sivumele inkonzo yethu kuNkulunkulu ilawulwe isifiso sobugovu noma sokuvelela. Kunalokho, njengoPetru, uJohane noBarnaba, kwangathi inkonzo yethu kuJehova njalo ingashukunyiswa uthando lwangempela ngoNkulunkulu nomakhelwane.—Math. 22:37-40.
a Imithandazo yayenziwa ethempelini ngesikhathi esifanayo neminikelo yasekuseni neyantambama. Umnikelo wantambama wawenziwa ‘ngehora lika-9,’ noma cishe ngo-3:00 ntambama.
b Bheka ibhokisi elithi “ UPetru—Wayekade Engumdobi, Wayeseba Umphostoli Ovuthayo,” ekhasini 30, nelithi “ UJohane—Umfundi UJesu Ayemthanda,” ekhasini 33.
c Bheka ibhokisi elithi “ UmPristi Ophakeme Nabapristi Abakhulu,” ekhasini 34.
d Kungenzeka ukuthi kwakunabaFarisi abangaba ngu-6 000 kuphela nedlanzana labaSadusi eJerusalema ngo-33 C.E. Lokhu kungase kube esinye isizathu sokuthi kungani womabili la maqembu ayelokhu ezizwa esongelwa izimfundiso zikaJesu.
