MUTU 8

Mpingo “Unayamba Kukhala Pamtendere”

Saulo, amene ankazunza kwambiri Akhristu, anakhala mtumiki wa Mulungu wakhama kwambiri

Nkhaniyi yachokera pa Machitidwe 9:1-43

1, 2. Kodi Saulo ankapita ku Damasiko kukatani?

ANTHU okwiya anali pa ulendo wopita kumzinda wa Damasiko kuti akachite zinthu zankhanza. Iwo ankafuna kuti akagwire, kumanga ndi kuzunza ophunzira a Yesu amene ankadana nawo kwambiri, kenako n’kupita nawo ku Khoti Lalikulu la Ayuda ku Yerusalemu kuti akawapatse chilango.

² Saulo yemwe anali mtsogoleri wa anthuwo, anali kale ndi mlandu wamagazi.a Masiku angapo m’mbuyomu, pamene Ayuda ena ankhanza ankapha wophunzira wokhulupirika wa Yesu, Sitefano pomuponya miyala, Saulo ankaonerera ndipo anavomereza zimenezo. (Mac. 7:57–8:1) Kenako Saulo anayamba kuzunza Akhristu omwe ankakhala ku Yerusalemu. Koma sanasiyire pomwepa, anayamba kusakasaka ndiponso kuzunza Akhristu amene ankakhala m’madera enanso. Iye ankafuna kuthetseratu gulu la anthu limene ankaliona ngati losokoneza kwambiri, lomwe linkadziwika kuti “Njirayo.”—Mac. 9:1, 2; onani bokosi lakuti “Saulo Anali ndi Mphamvu Zomanga Akhristu ku Damasiko.”

3, 4. (a) Kodi n’chiyani chinachitikira Saulo? (b) Kodi tikambirana mafunso ati?

³ Mwadzidzidzi, Saulo anangoona ngwee! kuwala kochokera kumwamba kutamuzungulira. Anzake amene ankayenda nawo pa ulendowo anaona kuwalako koma anangoti kakasi kusowa chonena. Saulo anachita khungu n’kugwa pansi kenako anamva mawu ochokera kumwamba akuti: “Saulo, Saulo n’chifukwa chiyani ukundizunza?” Mwamantha, Saulo anafunsa kuti: “Mbuyanga, ndinu ndani kodi?” Iye ayenera kuti anadabwa kwambiri atayankhidwa kuti: “Ndine Yesu, amene ukumuzunza.”—Mac. 9:3-5; 22:9.

⁴ Kodi tikuphunzira chiyani pa mawu oyamba amene Yesu anauza Saulo? Kodi kuphunzira zimene zinachitika kuti Saulo asinthe n’kukhala wophunzira wa Yesu kungatithandize bwanji? Kodi tingaphunzire chiyani poona mmene mpingo unagwiritsira ntchito nthawi imene unali pamtendere, Saulo atasintha?

SAULO ANALI NDI MPHAMVU ZOMANGA AKHRISTU KU DAMASIKO

Kodi mphamvu zomanga Akhristu mumzinda wina zimene Saulo anali nazo anazitenga kuti? Khoti Lalikulu la Ayuda komanso mkulu wa ansembe anali ndi mphamvu zouza Ayuda kwina kulikonse zinthu zoyenera ndi zosayenera kuchita. Ndipo zikuoneka kuti mkulu wa ansembe analinso ndi mphamvu zoitanitsa Ayuda olakwa kuchokera m’madera osiyanasiyana kuti akawazenge mlandu ku Yerusalemu. Choncho mkulu wa ansembe ankatha kulembera makalata akulu a m’masunagoge a ku Damasiko n’kuwauza zoyenera kuchita.—Mac. 9:1, 2.

Kuwonjezera pamenepo, Aroma anapatsa Ayuda ufulu woweruza okha milandu ina. N’chifukwa chake Ayuda ‘anakwapula mtumwi Paulo zikwapu 40 kuchotsera chimodzi’ kwa maulendo 5. (2 Akor. 11:24) Buku la 1 Amakabeo linatchulanso kalata imene kazembe wa Chiroma analembera Tolemi VIII wa dziko la Iguputo m’chaka cha 138 B.C.E. ndipo muli mawu akuti: ‘Ngati anthu oipa anathawa dziko lawo [la Yudeya], nalowa kwanu, muwapereke kwa mkulu wa ansembe Simoni kuti awalange potsatira malamulo awo.’ (1 Amak. 15:21, Malembo Oyera) M’chaka cha 47 B.C.E., Julius Caesar anatsimikizira kuti mkulu wa ansembe anali adakali ndi mphamvu zimene Aroma anam’patsa, kuwonjezera pa udindo umene anali nawo woweruza milandu iliyonse yokhudza miyambo yawo ya Chiyuda.

“N’chifukwa Chiyani Ukundizunza?” (Machitidwe 9:1-5)

5, 6. Kodi tingaphunzirepo chiyani pa zimene Yesu anauza Saulo?

⁵ Pamene Yesu anaimitsa Saulo panjira yopita ku Damasiko, sanamufunse kuti: “N’chifukwa chiyani ukuzunza ophunzira anga?” Koma monga taonera kale, anamufunsa kuti: “N’chifukwa chiyani ukundizunza?” (Mac. 9:4) Zoonadi, otsatira a Yesu akamazunzidwa, Yesu amaona kuti akuzunzidwa ndi iyeyo.—Mat. 25:34-40, 45.

⁶ Ngati mukuzunzidwa chifukwa chakuti mumakhulupirira Khristu, dziwani kuti Yehova ndi Yesu akudziwa zimenezo. (Mat. 10:22, 28-31) Mwina panopa Yehova sangachotseretu mayeserowo. Koma kumbukirani kuti Yesu ankaona Saulo akutenga mbali pa kuphedwa kwa Sitefano komanso pamene ankapita kunyumba za ophunzira okhulupirika ku Yerusalemu kuti akawagwire n’kuwapititsa kundende. (Mac. 8:3) Komabe Yesu sanalowerere pa nthawiyo. Ngakhale zinali choncho, Yehova, kudzera mwa Khristu, anapatsa mphamvu Sitefano ndi ophunzira enawo kuti akhalebe okhulupirika.

7. Kodi muyenera kuchita chiyani kuti mupirire mukamazunzidwa?

⁷ Inunso mungathe kupirira mukamazunzidwa ngati mungachite zinthu zotsatirazi: (1) Kutsimikiza ndi mtima wonse kuti mudzakhala wokhulupirika zivute zitani. (2) Kupempha Yehova kuti akuthandizeni. (Afil. 4:6, 7) (3) Kusiya udindo wobwezera adani anu m’manja mwa Yehova. (Aroma 12:17-21) (4) Kukhulupirira kuti Yehova adzakupatsani mphamvu kuti muthe kupirira kufikira nthawi imene iyeyo adzaone kuti ndi yoyenera kuchotsa mayeserowo.—Afil. 4:12, 13.

“M’bale Wanga Saulo, Ambuye . . . Wandituma” (Machitidwe 9:6-17)

8, 9. Kodi Hananiya ayenera kuti anamva bwanji atapatsidwa ntchito yapadera?

⁸ Yesu atayankha funso la Saulo lakuti, “Mbuyanga, ndinu ndani kodi?,” anauza Sauloyo kuti: “Nyamuka, ulowe mumzindawo, ndipo ukauzidwa zoyenera kuchita.” (Mac. 9:6) Saulo atachita khungu, anam’tengera kunyumba ya munthu wina ku Damasiko komwe kwa masiku atatu iye ankapemphera komanso kusala kudya. Pa nthawiyi, Yesu anauza Hananiya za Saulo. Hananiya anali wophunzira amene ankakhala mumzinda wa Damasiko ndipo “anali ndi mbiri yabwino pakati pa Ayuda onse okhala kumeneko.”—Mac. 22:12.

⁹ Hananiya ayenera kuti anasokonezeka maganizo kwambiri. Yesu Khristu yemwe anali ataukitsidwa, amene ndi Mutu wa mpingo, analankhula naye n’kumusankha kuti agwire ntchito yapadera. Umenewu unali mwayi waukulu, komabe ntchitoyi inali yovuta kwambiri. Hananiya atauzidwa kuti akalankhule ndi Saulo, anayankha kuti: “Ambuye, ndamva kwa anthu ambiri za munthu ameneyu. Ndamva zoipa zonse zimene anachitira oyera anu ku Yerusalemu. Ndipo panopa ansembe aakulu amupatsa mphamvu kuti amange onse oitana pa dzina lanu.”—Mac. 9:13, 14.

10. Kodi tikuphunzira chiyani kwa Yesu tikaona mmene anachitira zinthu ndi Hananiya?

¹⁰ Yesu sanadzudzule Hananiya chifukwa chofotokoza maganizo ake, koma anamuuza momveka bwino zoyenera kuchita. Ndipo anamulemekeza pomuuza chifukwa chimene anamutumira kukagwira ntchito yapadera imeneyi. Ponena za Saulo, Yesu anati: “Munthu ameneyu ndi chiwiya changa chosankhidwa chotengera dzina langa kupita nalo kwa anthu a mitundu ina komanso kwa mafumu ndi Aisiraeli. Popeza ndidzamuonetsa bwinobwino mavuto onse amene adzakumane nawo chifukwa cha dzina langa.” (Mac. 9:15, 16) Nthawi yomweyo Hananiya anamvera Yesu. Anafufuza Saulo amene ankazunza ophunzira a Khristu ndipo atam’peza anamuuza kuti: “M’bale wanga Saulo, Ambuye Yesu amene anaonekera kwa iwe pamsewu umene unadzera, wandituma. Wandituma kwa iwe kuti uyambenso kuona komanso udzazidwe ndi mzimu woyera.”—Mac. 9:17.

11, 12. Kodi tikuphunzira chiyani pa nkhani yokhudza Yesu, Hananiya ndi Saulo?

¹¹ Tikuphunzira zinthu zingapo pa nkhani yokhudza Yesu, Hananiya ndi Saulo. Mwachitsanzo, tikuphunzira kuti Yesu akutsogolera ntchito yolalikira monga mmene analonjezera. (Mat. 28:20) Ngakhale kuti Yesu salankhula mwachindunji ndi anthu masiku ano, iye akutsogolerabe ntchito yolalikira kudzera mwa kapolo wokhulupirika komanso wanzeru, amene anam’patsa udindo woyang’anira zinthu zake zonse. (Mat. 24:45-47) Motsogoleredwa ndi Bungwe Lolamulira, ofalitsa komanso apainiya amatumizidwa m’madera osiyanasiyana kuti akafufuze anthu amene akufuna kudziwa za Khristu. Monga tinaonera m’mutu wapitawu, ambiri mwa anthu amene amafuna kudziwa za Khristu, amapemphera kuti Mulungu awatsogolere ndipo amakumana ndi a Mboni za Yehova.—Mac. 9:11.

¹² Hananiya anavomera kugwira ntchito imene anapatsidwa ndipo anadalitsidwa. Kodi inuyo mumamvera lamulo lakuti tichitire umboni mokwanira, ngakhale kuti ntchito imeneyi imakudetsani nkhawa? Ena amada nkhawa kwambiri akaganiza zopita kunyumba ndi nyumba kukakumana ndi anthu amene sakuwadziwa. Enanso zimawavuta kulalikira anthu pamalo ochitira malonda, mumsewu komanso kuchita ulaliki wa patelefoni kapena wolemba makalata. Hananiya anayesetsa kuthetsa mantha ndipo anathandiza Saulo kuti alandire mzimu woyera.b Iye anakwanitsa kugwira ntchitoyi chifukwa chakuti ankadalira kwambiri Yesu ndipo ankaona Saulo ngati m’bale wake. Mofanana ndi Hananiya, ifenso tingathetse mantha ngati timakhulupirira kuti Yesu akutsogolera ntchito yolalikira, ngati timamvera chisoni anthu komanso ngati timakhulupirira kuti ngakhale anthu amene amaoneka mochititsa mantha akhoza kusintha n’kukhala abale athu.—Mat. 9:36.

“Anayamba Kulalikira za Yesu” (Machitidwe 9:18-30)

13, 14. Ngati mukuphunzira Baibulo koma simunabatizidwe, kodi mungaphunzire chiyani pa chitsanzo cha Saulo?

¹³ Saulo anatsatira mwamsanga zimene anaphunzira. Atachiritsidwa, anabatizidwa ndipo anayamba kuchita zinthu limodzi ndi ophunzira a Yesu a ku Damasiko. Koma anachitanso zinthu zina zambiri. “Nthawi yomweyo anayamba kulalikira za Yesu m’masunagoge, kuti ameneyu ndi Mwana wa Mulungu.”—Mac. 9:20.

¹⁴ Ngati mukuphunzira Baibulo koma simunabatizidwe, kodi mudzachita zinthu ngati Saulo pogwiritsa ntchito mwamsanga zinthu zimene mukuphunzira kenako n’kubatizidwa? N’zoona kuti Saulo anaona chozizwitsa chimene Khristu anachita, ndipo mosakayikira zimenezi zinamuthandiza kuti abatizidwe. Komabe anthu enanso anaona zozizwitsa zimene Yesu anachita koma sanasinthe n’kuyamba kuchita zinthu zabwino. Mwachitsanzo, gulu lina la Afarisi linaona pamene Yesu ankachiritsa munthu wolumala dzanja komanso Ayuda ena ambiri ankadziwa kuti Yesu anaukitsa Lazaro. Komabe, ambiri a iwo sanalabadire ndipo ena ankatsutsa kwambiri Yesu. (Maliko 3:1-6; Yoh. 12:9, 10) Koma Saulo anasintha. N’chifukwa chiyani Saulo anasintha pamene ena sanasinthe? Chifukwa chakuti iye ankaopa kwambiri Mulungu kuposa anthu ndipo ankayamikira kwambiri Khristu kuti anamusonyeza chifundo. (Afil. 3:8) Inunso mukachita zimenezi simudzalola kuti chilichonse chikulepheretseni kugwira nawo ntchito yolalikira komanso kuti muyenerere kubatizidwa.

15, 16. Kodi Saulo ankachita chiyani m’masunagoge, ndipo Ayuda a ku Damasiko anachita chiyani ataona zimenezo?

¹⁵ Tangoganizani mmene anthuwo anamvera ataona Saulo akuyamba kulalikira za Yesu m’masunagoge. Ena anadabwa, ena sanakhulupirire komanso ena anakwiya kwambiri. Anthuwo anafunsa kuti: “Kodi munthu uyu si uja ankazunza anthu a ku Yerusalemu oitana pa dzina limeneli?” (Mac. 9:21) Pofotokoza zimene zinam’pangitsa kuti asinthe n’kuyamba kulalikira za Yesu, Saulo anawauza “mfundo zomveka zotsimikizira kuti Yesu ndi Khristu.” (Mac. 9:22) Komabe sikuti mfundo zogwira mtima zingasinthe anthu onse. Sizingasinthe anthu amene amaumirira kutsatira miyambo yawo kapena amene safuna kusintha chifukwa chonyada. Komabe, Saulo sanagwe ulesi.

¹⁶ Patapita zaka zitatu, Ayuda a ku Damasiko ankatsutsabe Saulo, ndipo kenako anapangana kuti amuphe. (Mac. 9:23; 2 Akor. 11:32, 33; Agal. 1:13-18) Chiwembu chawocho chitadziwika, Saulo anachoka mumzindawo mozemba ndipo anthu ena anachita kumuika m’dengu n’kumutulutsira pawindo la mpanda wa mzindawo. Luka anafotokoza kuti anthu amene anathandiza Saulo kuti athawe usiku umenewo anali “ophunzira ake.” (Mac. 9:25) Mawu amenewa akusonyeza kuti anthu ena amene anamvetsera ulaliki wa Saulo ku Damasiko anasintha n’kukhala otsatira a Khristu.

17. (a) Kodi anthu amatani akamva choonadi cha m’Baibulo? (b) Kodi tiyenera kupitiriza kuchita chiyani, ndipo n’chifukwa chiyani?

¹⁷ Mwina mutangoyamba kuuza anthu a m’banja lanu, anzanu kapena anthu ena zinthu zabwino zimene munaphunzira, munkayembekezera kuti aliyense amvetsera mfundo zomveka bwino za choonadi cha m’Baibulo. N’kutheka kuti ena anamvetsera pamene ena ambiri sanamvetsere. Mwinanso anthu a m’banja lanu anayamba kudana nanu. (Mat. 10:32-38) Komabe, mukapitiriza kuwonjezera luso lanu lofotokoza Malemba momveka bwino komanso mukapitiriza kusonyeza makhalidwe a Chikhristu, ngakhale anthu amene amakutsutsani, m’kupita kwa nthawi angasinthe maganizo awo.—Mac. 17:2; 1 Pet. 2:12; 3:1, 2, 7.

18, 19. (a) Kodi chinachitika n’chiyani Baranaba atatsimikizira atumwi kuti Saulo anasintha n’kukhala wophunzira wa Yesu? (b) Kodi tingatsanzire bwanji Baranaba ndi Saulo?

¹⁸ Saulo atalowa mumzinda wa Yerusalemu, ophunzira kumeneko anakayikira zoti wasinthadi n’kukhala wophunzira wa Yesu, ndipo izi n’zomveka. Koma Baranaba atatsimikizira atumwi kuti Saulo wakhaladi wophunzira wa Yesu, iwo anamulandira ndipo iye anakhala nawobe kwa kanthawi. (Mac. 9:26-28) Saulo ankachita zinthu mosamala, koma zimenezi sizikutanthauza kuti ankachita manyazi ndi uthenga wabwino. (Aroma 1:16) Molimba mtima, analalikira ku Yerusalemu, kumene iye poyamba ankazunza koopsa ophunzira a Yesu Khristu. Ayuda a ku Yerusalemu anadabwa kwambiri ataona kuti munthu amene ankamudalira anasintha n’kukhala wophunzira wa Yesu, ndipo tsopano anapangana zoti amuphe. Nkhaniyi imati: “Abale atazindikira zimenezi, anapita naye ku Kaisareya n’kumutumiza ku Tariso.” (Mac. 9:30) Saulo anamvera malangizo amene Yesu anapereka kudzera mumpingo ndipo zimenezi zinathandiza iyeyo ndiponso mpingo.

¹⁹ Onani kuti Baranaba ndi amene anayamba kuchitapo kanthu kuti athandize Saulo. N’zosakayikitsa kuti chifundo chimene Baranaba anasonyezachi chinathandiza kuti atumiki a Yehova amenewa azikondana kwambiri. Mofanana ndi Baranaba, kodi inuyo mumathandiza mofunitsitsa ofalitsa atsopano mumpingo poyenda nawo mu utumiki ndi kuwathandiza kuti akule mwauzimu? Mukamachita zimenezi Mulungu adzakudalitsani kwambiri. Ngati ndinu wofalitsa watsopano wa uthenga wabwino, kodi mumavomera ena akamakuthandizani ngati mmene Saulo anachitira? Mukamagwira ntchito limodzi ndi ofalitsa aluso, inunso mudzaphunzira kukhala aluso mu utumiki, mudzakhala osangalala komanso mudzayamba kugwirizana nawo kwambiri.

“Ambiri Anakhulupirira Ambuye” (Machitidwe 9:31-43)

20, 21. Kodi atumiki a Mulungu akale komanso amasiku ano agwiritsa ntchito bwanji nthawi imene ‘akhala pamtendere’?

²⁰ Saulo atasintha n’kukhala wophunzira wa Yesu ndiponso atapulumuka chiwembu chofuna kumupha, “mpingo ku Yudeya konse, ku Galileya ndi ku Samariya unayamba kukhala pamtendere.” (Mac. 9:31) Kodi ophunzira anagwiritsa ntchito bwanji ‘nthawi yabwinoyi’? (2 Tim. 4:2) Nkhaniyi imanena kuti mpingo ‘unakhala wolimba.’ Atumwi komanso abale ena amene anali ndi maudindo, analimbitsa chikhulupiriro cha ophunzirawo ndipo anatsogolera mpingo kuti ‘uziopa Yehova komanso unkalimbikitsidwa ndi mzimu woyera.’ Mwachitsanzo, pa nthawi imeneyi Petulo analimbikitsa ophunzira a m’tauni ya Luda, yomwe inali m’chigwa cha Sharoni. Chifukwa cha khama lakeli anthu ambiri a m’tauniyo anakhulupirira “Ambuye.” (Mac. 9:32-35) Ophunzira sanalole kuti zinthu zina ziwasokoneze koma ankathandizana ndiponso kulalikira uthenga wabwino ndi mtima wonse ndipo “mpingowo unkakulirakulira.”

²¹ Chakumapeto kwa zaka za m’ma 1900, a Mboni za Yehova m’mayiko ambiri anayambanso “kukhala pamtendere.” Maulamuliro amene ankazunza anthu a Mulungu kwa zaka zambiri anatha mwadzidzidzi, ndipo anthu a Mulungu anayamba kulalikira mosavuta m’mayiko amene kale ankaletsedwa kugwira ntchitoyi. M’mayiko enanso boma linachotseratu malamulo oletsa ntchito ya a Mboni za Yehova. A Mboni ambiri anagwiritsa ntchito mwayi umenewu polalikira mwaufulu ndipo anthu ambiri anamvetsera uthenga wabwino.

22. Kodi mungatani kuti muzigwiritsa ntchito bwino ufulu umene muli nawo panopa?

²² Kodi ufulu umene muli nawo mukuugwiritsa ntchito bwino? Ngati mukukhala m’dziko limene muli ufulu wolambira, Satana angakunyengerereni kuti muzifunafuna chuma, osati Ufumu. (Mat. 13:22) Koma musalole kuti akusokonezeni. Gwiritsani ntchito moyenera nthawi yamtendere imene muli nayo panopa. Nthawi imeneyi muziiona ngati mwayi wochitira umboni mokwanira ndi kulimbitsa mpingo. Kumbukirani kuti zinthu zingasinthe mwadzidzidzi pa moyo wanu.

23, 24. (a) Kodi tikuphunzira mfundo ziti pa nkhani ya Tabita? (b) Kodi tiyenera kutsimikiza mtima kuchita chiyani?

²³ Taganizirani zimene zinachitikira wophunzira wina dzina lake Tabita kapena kuti Dorika. Mayiyu ankakhala m’tauni ya Yopa imene inali pafupi ndi tauni ya Luda. Mlongo wokhulupirikayu anagwiritsa ntchito nthawi komanso chuma chake mwanzeru, chifukwa “ankachita zinthu zambiri zabwino ndiponso ankapatsa ena mphatso zambiri zachifundo.” Koma mwadzidzidzi anadwala n’kumwalira.c Ophunzira a ku Yopa anamva chisoni kwambiri ndi imfa yake, makamaka akazi amasiye amene ankawachitira zinthu zachifundo. Petulo atafika kunyumba kumene kunali malirowo, anachita chozizwitsa chimene atumwi a Yesu Khristu ena onse anali asanachitepo. Petulo anapemphera ndipo kenako anaukitsa Tabita. Tangoganizani mmene akazi amasiye ndiponso ophunzira ena anasangalalira pamene Petulo anawaitana kuti alowenso m’chipindamo n’kuona Tabita ali moyo. Zimenezi ziyenera kuti zinalimbikitsa kwambiri ophunzirawo ndipo zinawathandiza kukonzekera mayesero a m’tsogolo. Mpake kuti chozizwitsachi ‘chinadziwika ku Yopa konse, ndipo anthu ambiri anakhulupirira Ambuye.’—Mac. 9:36-42.

Mlongo akupereka maluwa kwa mlongo wina wachikulire amene akudwala. — Kodi tingatsanzire bwanji Tabita?

²⁴ Tikuphunzira mfundo ziwiri zofunika kwambiri pa nkhani imeneyi yokhudza Tabita. (1) Moyo ndi waufupi. Choncho ndi bwino kuti tipange dzina labwino ndi Mulungu pamene tili ndi moyo. (Mlal. 7:1) (2) Mfundo yakuti akufa adzauka ndi yotsimikizirika. Yehova anaona ntchito zambiri zachifundo zimene Tabita ankachita ndipo anamudalitsa. Mulungu adzakumbukiranso ntchito yathu imene tikugwira mwakhama ndipo adzatiukitsa ngati titafa Aramagedo isanafike. (Aheb. 6:10) Choncho kaya panopa tili “pa nthawi yovuta” kapena ‘tikukhala pamtendere,’ tiyeni tipitirizebe kuchitira umboni mokwanira za Khristu.—2 Tim. 4:2.

SAULO ANALI MFARISI

“Mnyamata wina dzina lake Saulo,” amene akutchulidwa m’buku la Machitidwe pa nkhani yokhudza kuphedwa kwa Sitefano, anali wochokera ku Tariso. Mzindawu unali likulu la chigawo cha Kilikiya, chomwe chinkalamuliridwa ndi Aroma ndipo unali kum’mwera kwa dziko limene masiku ano limadziwika kuti Turkey. (Mac. 7:58) Ayuda ambiri ankakhala mumzinda umenewo. Saulo analemba yekha kuti: “Ndinadulidwa pa tsiku la 8, ndine wa mtundu wa Isiraeli, wa fuko la Benjamini, ndine Mheberi wobadwa kwa Aheberi. Kunena za chilamulo, ndine Mfarisi.” Pa chifukwa chimenechi, n’kutheka kuti iye anali Myuda wolemekezeka kwambiri.—Afil. 3:5.

Saulo ankachokera mumzinda waukulu komanso wotchuka umene unali chimake cha chikhalidwe cha Agiriki. Iye ankadziwa Chigiriki chifukwa anakulira ku Tariso. Zikuoneka kuti iye anaphunzira maphunziro ake a pulayimale pasukulu inayake ya Ayuda. Saulo anaphunzira ntchito yopanga matenti, chifukwa anthu ambiri m’dera lakwawo ankagwira ntchito imeneyi. Mwina iye anaphunzira ntchito imeneyi ali mwana, kuchokera kwa bambo ake.—Mac. 18:2, 3.

Nkhani ya m’buku la Machitidwe imanenanso kuti Saulo anabadwa ali nzika ya Roma. (Mac. 22:25-28) Zimenezi zikutanthauza kuti mmodzi mwa agogo ake anali atakhala kale nzika ya Roma. Koma sizidziwika mmene anthu a m’banja la Saulo anakhalira nzika za Roma. Ngakhale kuti sitikudziwa mmene anakhalira nzika, zimenezi zinawathandiza kuti akhale m’gulu la anthu apamwamba m’dera limene ankakhala. Choncho Saulo ankamvetsa bwino chikhalidwe cha Ayuda, cha Agiriki komanso cha Aroma, chifukwa cha banja limene anachokera komanso maphunziro ake.

N’kutheka kuti Saulo ali ndi zaka pafupifupi 13, anayenda mtunda wa makilomita 840 kupita ku Yerusalemu kukapitiriza maphunziro ake. Kumeneko Saulo anaphunzitsidwa ndi Gamaliyeli, mphunzitsi amene anthu ankamulemekeza kwambiri chifukwa anali katswiri pophunzitsa miyambo ya Afarisi.—Mac. 22:3.

Kusukulu yophunzitsa maphunziro owonjezerawa, yomwe masiku ano ingafanane ndi maphunziro a kuyunivesite, n’kutheka kuti ophunzira ankaphunzitsidwa Malemba komanso chilamulo chapakamwa cha Ayuda ndipo ankafunikira kuloweza zinthu zimenezi pamtima. Wophunzira wa Gamaliyeli amene akuchita bwino pa maphunziro akewo ankapeza ntchito yabwino, ndipo zikuoneka kuti ndi mmene zinalili ndi Saulo. Patapita nthawi, iye analemba kuti: “Ndinkachita bwino kwambiri m’chipembedzo cha Chiyuda kuposa anzanga ambiri a fuko langa, omwe anali amsinkhu wanga, chifukwa ndinali wodzipereka kwambiri pa miyambo ya makolo anga.” (Agal. 1:14) Khama limene Saulo anali nalo potsatira miyambo ya Chiyuda, ndi limene linam’chititsa kuti azizunza mwankhanza mpingo wa Chikhristu umene unali utangoyamba kumene.

TABITA “ANKACHITA ZINTHU ZAMBIRI ZABWINO”

Tabita anali mumpingo wa Chikhristu umene unali m’tauni ya Yopa yomwe inali m’mphepete mwa nyanja. Okhulupirira anzake ankamukonda kwambiri chifukwa “ankachita zinthu zambiri zabwino ndiponso ankapatsa ena mphatso zambiri zachifundo.” (Mac. 9:36) Mofanana ndi Ayuda ambiri amene ankakhala m’madera omwe munalinso anthu a mitundu ina, Tabita anali ndi mayina awiri. Dzina limodzi linali la Chiheberi kapena Chiaramu ndipo lina linali la Chigiriki kapena Chilatini. Dzina lake la Chigiriki lakuti Dorika, m’Chiaramu linali “Tabita.” Mayina onsewa amatanthauza kuti “Mbawala.”

Zikuoneka kuti Tabita anadwala mwadzidzidzi n’kumwalira. Potsatira mwambo wawo, anthu anasambitsa mtembo wake pokonzekera kukamuika m’manda. Kenako anaika mtembowo m’chipinda cham’mwamba, chomwe mwina chinali m’nyumba yake. Popeza kuti ku Yopa komanso madera ena ozungulira n’kotentha kwambiri, munthu akamwalira ankamuika m’manda tsiku lomwelo kapena tsiku lotsatira. Akhristu a ku Yopa anamva kuti mtumwi Petulo anali m’tauni ya Luda, pafupi ndi Yopa. Panali nthawi yokwanira kuti Petulo ayende kupita ku Yopa, n’kukapeza Tabita asanaikidwe m’manda chifukwa kuchokera ku Luda kukafika ku Yopa unali mtunda wa makilomita 18 okha ndipo akanatha kuyenda pafupifupi maola 4. Choncho mpingo unatumiza amuna awiri kuti akapemphe Petulo kuti apite kumeneko mwamsanga. (Mac. 9:37, 38) Katswiri wina anati: “Ayuda akale ankakonda kutumiza anthu awiriawiri kuti akapereke uthenga. Chimodzi mwa zifukwa zake chinali chakuti munthu mmodzi akamanena uthengawo, mnzakeyo azikatsimikizira.”

Kodi chinachitika n’chiyani Petulo atafika ku Yopa? Nkhaniyi imati: “Anamutenga n’kupita naye m’chipinda cham’mwamba chija. Akazi onse amasiye anabwera kwa iye akulira ndipo ankamuonetsa zovala zambiri ndiponso mikanjo imene Dorika ankasoka pamene anali nawo.” (Mac. 9:39) Chimodzi mwa zinthu zimene zinachititsa anthu mumpingo kuti azikonda Tabita chinali chakuti ankawasokera zovala. Baibulo silinena ngati Tabita ankagula yekha zinthu zimene ankagwiritsa ntchito posoka zovalazo kapena ngati anthuwo ankamubweretsera zinthuzo kuti iye angowasokera. Mulimonse mmene zinalili, anthu ankamukonda kwambiri chifukwa cha kukoma mtima kwake komanso “mphatso . . . zachifundo” zimene ankapereka.

Petulo ayenera kuti anamva chisoni kwambiri ndi zimene anaona m’chipinda cham’mwambacho. Katswiri wina wodziwa nkhani za m’Baibulo, dzina lake Richard Lenski anati: “Zimene zinachitika polira maliro amenewa, zinali zosiyana kwambiri ndi zimene zinachitika m’nyumba ya Yairo, mmene munali phokoso lalikulu chifukwa chakuti panali gulu la azimayi aganyu olira mofuula kwambiri komanso oimba zitoliro. Pa maliro a Tabita anthu ankalira mochokera pansi pa mtima osati mongoyerekezera.” (Mat. 9:23) Anthu ankalira zenizeni. Chifukwa choti Baibulo silinena chilichonse chokhudza mwamuna wa Tabita, anthu ambiri amakhulupirira kuti sanali pabanja.

Yesu atapatsa atumwi ake ntchito yolalikira, anawapatsanso mphamvu kuti azitha “kuukitsa anthu akufa.” (Mat. 10:8) Petulo anaona Yesu pamene ankachita zozizwitsa ngati zimenezi kuphatikizapo pamene ankaukitsa mwana wamkazi wa Yairo, koma Baibulo silinena ngati mtumwi aliyense anaukitsapo munthu Petulo asanaukitse Tabita. (Maliko 5:21-24, 35-43) Pa nthawiyi, Petulo anatulutsa anthu onse m’chipindamo ndipo anapemphera mochokera pansi pa mtima, kenako Tabita anatsegula maso ake n’kukhala tsonga. Akhristu a ku Yopa anasangalala kwambiri Petulo ataukitsa Tabita n’kumupereka kwa anthu oyera mtima ndiponso akazi amasiye, amene ankamukonda kwambiri.—Mac. 9:40-42.

a Onani bokosi lakuti “Saulo Anali Mfarisi,” patsamba 62.

b Nthawi zambiri atumwi ndi amene anali ndi udindo wopereka mphatso ya mzimu woyera kwa anthu ena. Koma pa nthawiyi, zikuoneka kuti Yesu anapatsa Hananiya mphamvu zopereka mphatso ya mzimu kwa Saulo. Saulo atakhala wokhulupirira, panapita nthawi yaitali ndithu asanakumane ndi atumwi 12 aja. Komabe, n’kutheka kuti pa nthawi yonseyi iye ankalalikira mwakhama. Choncho Yesu anaonetsetsa kuti Saulo ali ndi mphamvu zimene zingamuthandize kugwira ntchito yolalikira imene anam’patsa.

c Onani bokosi lakuti “Tabita ‘Ankachita Zinthu Zambiri Zabwino’”