ISAHLUKO 26
“Akukho Noyedwa Kini Ozofa”
UPawulu ubonisa ukholo olukhulu nothando ngabanye abantu lapho bephukelwa umkhumbi
Isekelwe encwadini yezEnzo 27:1–28:10
1, 2. Luzoba njani uhambo lukaPawulu, futhi yiziphi izinto okungenzeka ziyamkhathaza?
UPAWULU uphenduphendula amazwi kaFestu engqondweni yakhe ngoba azolithinta kakhulu ikusasa lakhe. UMbusi uFestu uthe: “Uzoya kuKhesari.” UPawulu usehlale iminyaka emibili ejele, ngakho uhambo olude oluya eRoma luzomqabula. (IzE. 25:12) Nokho, ezintweni eziningi azikhumbulayo ezenzeka ohambweni lwakhe lwasolwandle, kukhona nezingemnandi neze. Kungenzeka nokuthi lolu hambo lokuyovela kuKhesari lumenza azibuze imibuzo eminingi ebalulekile.
2 Sekukaningi uPawulu eba ‘sezingozini olwandle,’ ingani waphukelwa umkhumbi kathathu, waze wachitha ubusuku obubodwa nemini eyodwa ekujuleni kolwandle. (2 Kor. 11:25, 26) Ngaphezu kwalokho, lolu hambo ngeke neze lufane nalolo aluthatha eyisithunywa sevangeli engaboshiwe. UPawulu uzothatha lolu hambo eyisiboshwa futhi ibanga lizobe lilide impela—amakhilomitha angaphezu kuka-3 000 esuka eKhesariya eya eRoma. Ingabe uyofika ephephile? Uma kunjalo, izinto ziyomhambela kahle yini? Khumbula, uyokwahlulelwa umbusi onamandla kunabo bonke ezweni likaSathane langaleso sikhathi.
3. Yini uPawulu ayezimisele ukuyenza, futhi sizoxoxa ngani kulesi sahluko?
3 Njengoba usufunde okuningi kangaka ngoPawulu, ucabanga ukuthi waphelelwa yithemba futhi wadangala uma ecabanga ngokwakungase kumehlele? Lutho neze! Wayazi ukuthi ulindelwe ubunzima, kodwa wayengazi ukuthi buyoba njani. Wayengaziphucelani nje injabulo yenkonzo yakhe ngokulokhu ecabanga ngezinto ayengeke enze lutho ngazo? (Math. 6:27, 34) UPawulu wayazi ukuthi intando kaJehova ngaye yayiwukuba asebenzise wonke amathuba ukuze ashumayele izindaba ezinhle zoMbuso kaNkulunkulu, ngisho nakubabusi bezwe imbala. (IzE. 9:15) UPawulu wayezimisele ukufeza umsebenzi ayewunikiwe, kungakhathaliseki ukuthi kwenzekani. Ingabe akukhona lokho nathi esizimisele ukukwenza? Ngakho, masihambe noPawulu kulolu hambo oluyingqopha-mlando sibone indlela esiwusizo ngayo isibonelo sakhe.
‘Imimoya Yayiphambana Nathi’ (IzEnzo 27:1-7a)
4. Lapho uPawulu eqala uhambo, uhlobo olunjani lomkhumbi awugibela, futhi obani abangane bakhe ababili ayehamba nabo?
4 UPawulu nezinye iziboshwa babegadwe isikhulu sebutho esingumRoma, uJuliyu, owanquma ukuba kugitshelwe umkhumbi wabahwebi owawufike eKhesariya. Lo mkhumbi wawuqhamuke e-Adramitiyu, ichweba elisogwini olusentshonalanga ye-Asia Minor, ngaphesheya kwedolobha laseMithilene elisesiqhingini saseLesbos. Wawuzoya enyakatho bese uya ngasentshonalanga, udamane uma wehlise izimpahla uthathe nezinye. Imikhumbi enjalo yayingenzelwanga ukuthwala abantu, ingasaphathwa eyeziboshwa. (Bheka ibhokisi elithi “ Uhambo Lwasolwandle Nezohwebo.”) Okuhle ukuthi uPawulu wayezoba namanye amaKristu kunokuba abe nezigelekeqe zodwa. Okungenani babili abazalwane ababenaye—u-Aristarku noLuka. NguLuka owabhala lokhu kulandisa. Asazi ukuthi laba bangane bakaPawulu ababili bazikhokhela yini izindleko zalolu hambo noma babeyizinceku zakhe.—IzE. 27:1, 2.
5. Ibuphi ubudlelwano uPawulu abujabulela eSidoni, futhi yini esingayifunda kulokhu?
5 Ngemva kokuchitha usuku olwandle nokuhamba ibanga elingamakhilomitha angaba ngu-110 belibhekise enyakatho, umkhumbi wama eSidoni, ogwini lwaseSiriya. Kubonakala sengathi uJuliyu akamphathanga njengesigelekeqe uPawulu, mhlawumbe ngenxa yokuthi wayeyisakhamuzi saseRoma esasingakatholakali sinecala. (IzE. 22:27, 28; 26:31, 32) UJuliyu wamvumela ukuba ehle ayobona abazalwane. Yeka indlela okumelwe ukuba bakujabulela ngayo ukumnakekela ngemva kokuhlala ejele isikhathi eside! Zikhona yini izimo ocabanga ukuthi ungakwazi ukubonisa kuzo umusa ofanayo bese nawe uyakheka?—IzE. 27:3.
6-8. Lwalunjani uhambo lukaPawulu esuka eSidoni eya eKinidu, futhi yimaphi amathuba okushumayela okungenzeka uPawulu wawasebenzisa?
6 Umkhumbi wabe ususuka eSidoni wagudla ugu wadlula eKhilikhiya, eduze kwalapho uPawulu akhulela khona, eTarsu. ULuka akasho ukuthi umkhumbi wabuye wama kuphi, nakuba esitshela ukuthi babezoba sengozini ngoba ‘imimoya yayiphambana nabo.’ (IzE. 27:4, 5) Noma kunjalo, singambona uPawulu ngeso lengqondo ebamba wonke amathuba ukuze ashumayele izindaba ezinhle. Siyaqiniseka ukuthi wazishumayeza ezinye iziboshwa nabanye ababesemkhunjini, amatilosi, amasosha kanye nabanye abantu emathekwini ababema kuwo. Ingabe nathi namuhla siwasebenzisa kahle amathuba okushumayela asivulekelayo?
7 Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi, umkhumbi wafika eMira, itheku elisogwini oluseningizimu ye-Asia Minor. Lapho, uPawulu nabanye kwadingeka bangene komunye umkhumbi owawuzobayisa eRoma, lapho babeya khona. (IzE. 27:6) Ngalezo zinsuku, iRoma yayithola okusanhlamvu okuningi eGibhithe futhi imikhumbi yaseGibhithe ethwala okusanhlamvu yayifika ime eMira. UJuliyu wawubona lowo mkhumbi, wayesethi amasosha neziboshwa mabagibele kuwo. Kumelwe ukuba lona wawumkhulu kunowokuqala. Wawuthwele okusanhlamvu okubalulekile nabantu abangu-276—amatilosi, amasosha, iziboshwa, mhlawumbe nabanye ababeya eRoma. Ngokusobala, njengoba kwase kungomunye umkhumbi, base bebaningi abantu uPawulu ayengabashumayeza futhi akungabazeki ukuthi wakwenza lokho.
8 Umkhumbi waphinde wama eKinidu, eningizimu-ntshonalanga ye-Asia Minor. Uma umoya ukahle, umkhumbi wawungaluhamba ngosuku lelo banga. Kodwa uLuka uthi ‘bahamba kancane ngomkhumbi izinsuku eziningana impela, bafika kanzima eKinidu.’ (IzE. 27:7a) Isimo sezulu sase sisibi. (Bheka ibhokisi elithi “ Imimoya Ephambana Nemikhumbi EMedithera,” ekhasini 208.) Cabanga ngabantu ababesemkhunjini njengoba wawulwa nemimoya enamandla namanzi anolaka.
“Isiphepho Sasisiphephula Ngamandla” (IzEnzo 27:7b-26)
9, 10. Yiziphi izinkinga ezaphakama ngaseKrethe?
9 Ukaputeni womkhumbi wanquma ukusuka eKinidu abheke entshonalanga, kodwa ufakazi wokuzibonela uLuka uthi “umoya awusivumelanga.” (IzE. 27:7b) Njengoba umkhumbi wawuqhela ezweni, awubange usayithola imisinga yasogwini, ngakho umoya onamandla ovela enyakatho-ntshonalanga wawududulela ngaseningizimu, cishe ngejubane elikhulu. Njengoba nje ngaphambili umkhumbi owawupheshulwe imimoya waphephela esiqhingini saseKhupro, kulokhu waphephela esiqhingini saseKrethe. Lapho umkhumbi usudlule eSalimone empumalanga yeKrethe, isimo sathi ukuba ngcono. Ngani? Umkhumbi wawungale kwesiqhingi, noma eningizimu yaso, ngakho sawuvikela umkhumbi emimoyeni enamandla. Cabanga indlela okumelwe ukuba labo ababesemkhunjini babejabule ngayo—okwesikhashana nokho! Uma nje umkhumbi wawusahamba olwandle, amatilosi ayengeke angaqapheli ukuthi ubusika buyasondela. Ayenesizathu sokukhathazeka.
10 ULuka usicacisa kahle isimo: “Sahamba kanzima ngomkhumbi sigudla ugu [iKrethe], safika endaweni okuthiwa amaTheku Amahle.” Ngisho noma umkhumbi wawusithekile emimoyeni ngale kwesiqhingi, kwakunzima ukuwuqondisa. Nokho, ekugcineni, bama echwebeni elincane okucatshangwa ukuthi lisendaweni engaphambi nje kwalapho ugu lujikela khona ngasenyakatho. Bahlala isikhathi esingakanani lapho? ULuka uthi “isikhathi eside,” kodwa njengoba babelokhu behlezi lapho babezoba sengozini enkulu. NgoSepthemba/Okthoba, kwakuyingozi ukuhamba ngomkhumbi.—IzE. 27:8, 9.
11. Yisiphi iseluleko uPawulu asinika ayehamba nabo, kodwa kwathathwa siphi isinqumo?
11 Kungenzeka ukuthi abanye abagibeli bacela iseluleko kuPawulu ngenxa yokuthi wayelwazi uhambo lwaseMedithera. Wasikisela ukuba umkhumbi ungahambi. Uma wawungaqhubeka uhamba, kwakuzoba ‘yingozi futhi balahlekelwe kakhulu,’ mhlawumbe kufe nabantu. Nokho, umshayeli nomnini-mkhumbi babefuna ukuqhubeka nohambo, mhlawumbe benomuzwa wokuthi kufanele baphuthume bathole indawo ephephile. Babonisana noJuliyu futhi iningi lathi kufanele kuzanywe ukuba kufikwe eFeniksi, itheku elingaphambidlana. Kungenzeka leli theku lalilikhulu futhi kungcono ukuhlala kulo ebusika. Kwathi lapho kuqala ukuheleza umoya ovela eningizimu, umkhumbi wahamba.—IzE. 27:10-13.
12. Ngemva kokusuka eKrethe, umkhumbi wabhekana naziphi izingozi, futhi yini amatilosi ayenza ukuze azame ukugwema inhlekelele?
12 Kwabe sekuqhamuka enkulu inkinga: “isiphepho” esivela enyakatho-mpumalanga. Bathola indawo yokuphephela isikhashana ‘esiqhingini esincane okuthiwa iKhawuda,’ esiqhele ngamakhilomitha angaba ngu-65 emaThekwini Amahle. Noma kunjalo, umkhumbi wawusengozini yokupheshulwa umoya uye eningizimu uze uyophahlazeka ezindundumeni zesihlabathi sogu lwase-Afrika. Esetatazela ezama ukugwema leyo ngozi, amatilosi aphakamisa isikebhe esasidonswa umkhumbi asingenisa kuwo. Kwaba umzukuzuku ngoba cishe leso sikebhe sasigcwele amanzi. Ngemva kwalokho, ajuluka aba manzi esezama ukubopha lo mkhumbi omkhulu, awuzongolozela ngezintambo noma amaketanga ukuze amapulangwe awo angahlukani. Ehlisa izinto zokubamba useyili omkhulu futhi azabalaza ukuze agcine umkhumbi uhamba naphezu kwaleso siphepho. Cabanga nje indlela okumelwe ukuba kwakwethusa ngayo! Yonke le mizamo ayisizanga kangako ngoba “isiphepho” saqhubeka ‘siwuphephula ngamandla’ umkhumbi. Ngosuku lwesithathu, amatilosi alahla izintambo zomkhumbi, mhlawumbe ukuze awugcine untanta.—IzE. 27:14-19.
13. Cishe sasinjani isimo emkhunjini uPawulu ayekuwo ngesikhathi kunesiphepho?
13 Kumelwe ukuba bonke babesaba, kodwa uPawulu nayehamba nabo babenesibindi. Ngaphambidlana, iNkosi yayiqinisekise uPawulu ukuthi wayeyonikeza ubufakazi eRoma, kamuva nengelosi yasigcizelela leso sithembiso. (IzE. 19:21; 23:11) Noma kunjalo, isiphepho sasingazibekile phansi, sahlasela ubusuku nemini amasonto amabili. Ngenxa yokuthi lalilokhu lina futhi kunenkungu ekhasa phansi eyase ivimbe ukukhanya kwelanga nezinkanyezi, umshayeli akakwazanga ukubona ukuthi umkhumbi ukuphi noma uqondephi. Sasingekho ngisho nesikhathi sokudla. Ubani nje owayengacabangana nokudla kube kubhoke amakhaza, imvula, ukucanuzelelwa inhliziyo kanye nokwesaba?
14, 15. (a) Kungani uPawulu akhumbuza ababenaye emkhunjini ngesixwayiso sakhe sangaphambili? (b) Singafundani esigijimini sethemba uPawulu asinikeza?
14 UPawulu wasukuma. Wabe esephinda isixwayiso ayesikhiphe ngaphambili, kodwa hhayi njengokungathi wayethi ‘Nginitshelile.’ Kunalokho, okwakusanda kwenzeka kwakuwubufakazi bokuthi ayekushilo kwakufanele kulalelwe. Wayesethi: “Ngicela nibe nesibindi, ngoba akukho noyedwa kini ozofa, kuzophahlazeka umkhumbi kuphela.” (IzE. 27:21, 22) Yeka indlela okumelwe ukuba lawo mazwi aziduduza ngayo izilaleli zakhe! UPawulu naye kumelwe ukuba wayejabule kakhulu ngokuthi uJehova wayemnike lesi sigijimi sethemba ukuba asihlanganyele nabanye. Kubalulekile ukuba sikhumbule ukuthi uJehova ukhathalela wonk’ umuntu. Umuntu ngamunye ubalulekile kuye. Umphostoli uPetru wabhala: “UJehova . . . akafisi ukuba kubhubhe ngisho noyedwa, kodwa ufisa ukuba bonke baphenduke.” (2 Pet. 3:9) Ave kuphuthuma ukuba sitshele abaningi ngangokunokwenzeka ngesigijimi sikaJehova sethemba! Ukuphila kwabantu okuyigugu kusengozini.
15 Cishe uPawulu wayefakaze kwabaningi emkhunjini ‘ngethemba lesithembiso esenziwa uNkulunkulu.’ (IzE. 26:6; Kol. 1:5) Manje, njengoba base besengozini yokuphahlazekelwa umkhumbi, uPawulu wayesengakwazi ukubanika isisekelo esiqinile sethemba. Wathi: “Kulobu busuku, eduze kwami kume ingelosi kaNkulunkulu engingowakhe . . . , yathi: ‘Ungesabi Pawulu. Kumelwe ume phambi kukaKhesari, futhi bheka! uNkulunkulu ukunike bonke labo abahamba nawe.’” UPawulu wabanxusa: “Ngakho yibani nesibindi madoda, ngoba ngikholelwa ukuthi uNkulunkulu uzozenza njengoba zinjalo izinto engitshelwe zona. Nokho, kumelwe siphonseke ogwini esiqhingini esithile.”—IzE. 27:23-26.
“Bonke Bafika Ezweni Ngokuphepha” (IzEnzo 27:27-44)
“Wabonga kuNkulunkulu phambi kwabo bonke.”—IzEnzo 27:35
16, 17. (a) Kwakwenzenjani lapho uPawulu ethandaza, futhi kwaba namuphi umphumela? (b) Isixwayiso sikaPawulu saba kanjani yiqiniso?
16 Ngemva kokuhlalela ovalweni amasonto amabili, ngesikhathi umkhumbi upheshulwa umoya amakhilomitha angaba ngu-870, kwathi gidi ematilosini, mhlawumbe ngoba ezwa umsindo wamagagasi olwandle eshayeka ogwini oluseduze. Aphonsa amahange ukuze abambe umkhumbi ungapheshulwa umoya futhi ukuze aqondise ikhala lomkhumbi libheke ezweni uma engase akwazi ukuwuyisa ogwini. Ngaleso sikhathi, azama ukuwushiya umkhumbi kodwa amasosha awavimba. UPawulu wathi esikhulwini sebutho nasemasosheni: “Ngaphandle kokuba la madoda ahlale emkhunjini, aninakusinda.” Njengoba umkhumbi wawusuhamba kangconywana, uPawulu wakhuthaza bonke ukuba badle, waphinde wabaqinisekisa ngokuthi bazosinda. Wabe ‘esebonga uNkulunkulu phambi kwabo bonke.’ (IzE. 27:31, 35) Ngokwenza lowo mthandazo wokubonga, wabekela uLuka, u-Aristarku namaKristu anamuhla isibonelo. Ingabe imithandazo yakho yasobala iyabakhuthaza futhi ibaduduze abanye?
17 Ngemva komthandazo kaPawulu, “bonke baba nesibindi nabo badla.” (IzE. 27:36) Baphinde bawenza lula umkhumbi ngokuphonsa amasaka kakolweni olwandle ukuze ukwazi ukuntanta kahle njengoba wawusondela ogwini. Lapho sekusile, amatilosi anqamula amahange, aqaqa izintambo zezigwedlo, akhuphulela useyili wangaphambili emoyeni ukuze akwazi ukuwushayela kalula umkhumbi lapho ewuyisa ogwini. Ingaphambili lomkhumbi labhajwa, mhlawumbe endundumeni yesihlabathi noma odakeni, ingemuva laphuka ngenxa yokushaywa amagagasi. Amanye amasosha ayesefuna ukubulala iziboshwa ukuze kungabibikho eseqayo, kodwa uJuliyu wangenela wakuvimba lokho. Wathi bonke mababhukude baye ogwini. Lokho uPawulu ayekubikezele kwaba yiqiniso—bonke abangu-276 basinda. Yebo, “bonke bafika ezweni ngokuphepha.” Kodwa babekuphi?—IzE. 27:44.
“Umusa Ongavamile” (IzEnzo 28:1-10)
18-20. Abantu baseMelitha bawubonisa kanjani “umusa ongavamile,” futhi yisiphi isimangaliso uNkulunkulu asenza ngoPawulu?
18 Abasinda bazithola sebesesiqhingini saseMelitha, eningizimu yaseSisili. (Bheka ibhokisi elithi “ Ikuphi IMelitha?” ekhasini 209.) Abantu bakulesi siqhingi abakhuluma olunye ulimi bababonisa “umusa ongavamile.” (IzE. 28:2) Bababasela umlilo laba bantu abangabazi ababefikele ogwini lwabo bemanzi te futhi beqhaqhazela. Umlilo wabasiza bafudumala. Kwabe sekwenzeka isimangaliso.
19 UPawulu wayefuna ukusiza. Ngakho waqoqa izinswazi wazifaka emlilweni. Njengoba ezifaka, kwathushuka inyoka enesihlungu yamluma isandla, yasibamba ngqi. Abantu baseMelitha bacabanga ukuthi lokhu kwakuwuhlobo oluthile lwesijeziso esivela konkulunkulu. a
20 Izakhamuzi ezabona ukuthi uPawulu ulunywe inyoka zacabanga ukuthi ‘uzovuvukala.’ Enye incwadi ithi igama lolimi lokuqala elisetshenziswe lapha “yigama lezokwelapha.” Akumangalisi ukuthi “uLuka udokotela othandekayo” wayengalikhumbula kalula igama elinjalo. (IzE. 28:6; Kol. 4:14) UPawulu wayithintitha leyo nyoka enesihlungu futhi akazange alimale.
21. (a) Yiziphi ezinye zezibonelo zokunemba esizithola kulokhu kulandisa kukaLuka? (b) Yisiphi isimangaliso uPawulu asenza, futhi saba namuphi umphumela kubantu baseMelitha?
21 Kule ndawo kwakuhlala uPhubhiliyu, isicebi esasinezindawo. Kungenzeka ukuthi wayeyisikhulu esingumRoma esiqavile eMelitha. ULuka wamchaza ngokuthi ‘indoda evelele yalesi siqhingi,’ esebenzisa isiqu esifana nesiye satholwa emibhalweni emibili eqoshiwe yaseMelitha. Wababungaza ngomusa izinsuku ezintathu oPawulu nayehamba nabo. Nokho, uyise kaPhubhiliyu wayegula. Nalapha futhi uLuka usichaza ngokunembile isifo sakhe. Wathi le ndoda ‘yayilele embhedeni iphethwe umkhuhlane nohudo,’ ekuchaza ngokuthe ngqo okwakuyigulisa. UPawulu wathandaza futhi wayibeka izandla, yelapheka. Zithintwe ngokujulile yilesi simangaliso, izakhamuzi zaletha abanye abantu abagulayo ukuze bazolashwa, zaletha nezipho ukuze zinakekele izidingo zikaPawulu nayehamba nabo.—IzE. 28:7-10.
22. (a) Omunye uprofesa ukuncoma kanjani ukulandisa kukaLuka kohambo lwaseRoma? (b) Sizofunda ngani esahlukweni esilandelayo?
22 Le ngxenye yohambo lukaPawulu ngomkhumbi esiye sayicabangela kuze kube manje inembe kakhulu. Omunye uprofesa wathi: “Ukulandisa kukaLuka . . . kungumbhalo ocacile nochaza kahle kunayo yonke eBhayibhelini. Imininingwane yako ephathelene nohambo lwasolwandle inembe kakhulu, nendlela achaza ngayo izimo zasempumalanga yeMedithera ishaya emhloleni” kangangokuthi kumelwe ukuba yabhalwa isuselwa encwadini yomuntu yezenzakalo zansuku zonke. Kungenzeka ukuthi uLuka wayezibhala lezo zenzakalo njengoba ayehamba nomphostoli. Uma kunjalo, umlenze olandelayo walolu hambo wamnika okuningi ayengabhala ngakho. Kwakuzokwenzekani kuPawulu uma ekugcineni befika eRoma? Asibone.
a Ukuthi abantu babezazi izinyoka ezinjalo kubonisa ukuthi zake zaba khona kulesi siqhingi. Namhlanje azisekho izinyoka eMelitha. Kungenzeka ukuthi lokho kwabangelwa ushintsho olwenzeka endaweni phakathi namakhulu eminyaka. Noma kungenzeka ukuthi ukwanda kwabantu kulesi siqhingi kwazixosha izinyoka.
