“ʻE ʻIkai Mole ha Taha ʻo Kimoutolu”

1, 2. Ko e faʻahinga folau fēfē ʻoku fehangahangai mo Paulá, pea ko e hā nai ʻa e niʻihi ʻo e ngaahi meʻa ʻokú ne hohaʻa ki aí?

ʻOKU hanganaki fakakaukau ʻa Paula ki he ngaahi lea ʻa Fesitó, he ʻe ʻi ai ʻene kaunga lahi ki hono kahaʻú. “Ko Sisa te ke ʻalu ki aí,” ko e lea ia ʻa Kōvana Fesitó. Kuo haʻisia ʻa Paula ki he nofo pilīsoné ʻi he taʻu ē ʻe ua, ko ia ko e folau lōloa ki Lomá, ʻe kiʻi kehe ia. (Ngā. 25:12) Kae kehe, ʻoku manatuʻi lelei ʻe Paula ko e ngaahi folau tahi lahi naʻá ne hokosiá ʻoku kau ki ai ʻa e meʻa lahi mamaʻo ange ia ʻi he ngaahi havilivili fakaivifoʻoú mo e hā lelei mai ʻa e tafatafaʻakilangí. Ko e taumuʻa ʻo e folau ko eni ke hā ʻi he ʻao ʻo Sisá ʻokú ne langaʻi foki nai mo ha ngaahi fehuʻi mafatukituki ʻi he ʻatamai ʻo Paulá.

² Kuo tuʻo lahi ʻa e hokosia ʻe Paula ʻa e fakatuʻutāmaki “ʻi tahi,” hao moʻui ʻi ha vaka tūkia ʻe tolu, ʻo aʻu ki heʻene ʻi he vahá ʻi ha pō mo ha ʻaho. (2 Kol. 11:25, 26) ʻIkai ngata aí, ko e folau ko ení ko e moʻoni ʻe ʻikai ke hangē ia ko e ngaahi fononga fakamisinale kuó ne fai ʻi he tuʻunga ko ha tangata tauʻatāiná. ʻE fononga ʻa Paula ia ʻi he tuʻunga ko ha pōpula pea ko ha folau mamaʻo fakaʻulia ia​—ko e kilomita nai ʻe 3,000 mei Sesalia ki Loma. ʻE lava nai ke ne hao taʻeʻiai ha matuʻutāmaki ʻi ha folau pehē? Neongo kapau ʻe lava ia, ʻe fakatau atu nai ki mala ʻene folaú? Manatuʻi, ko ʻene fehangahangai eni mo e fakamaau ʻa e mafai fakaemāmani mālohi taha ʻi he māmani ʻo Sētané ʻi he taimi ko iá.

 3. Ko e hā naʻe fakapapauʻi ʻe Paula ke faí, pea ko e hā te tau lāulea ki ai ʻi he vahe ko ení?

³ ʻI he hili ʻa e meʻa kotoa kuó ke lau ʻo kau kia Paulá, ʻokú ke pehē nai naʻá ne ongoʻi ʻoku ʻikai ha toe ʻamanaki mo ʻikai toe felave ha meʻa koeʻuhí ko e meʻa ʻe ala hoko kiate iá? Mole ke mamaʻo! Naʻá ne ʻiloʻi ʻoku toka mei muʻa ʻa e ngaahi faingataʻa, ka naʻe ʻikai te ne ʻilo pe ko e faʻahinga fakatamaki fēfē ʻe hoko mai kiate iá. Ko e hā ka ne tanu ai ʻa e fiefia ʻo ʻene ngāue fakafaifekaú ʻaki ha fokotuʻunga loto-moʻua ʻo fekauʻaki mo e ngaahi meʻa ʻe ʻikai lava ke ne puleʻí? (Māt. 6:27, 34) Naʻe ʻiloʻi ʻe Paula ko e finangalo ʻo Sihova kiate iá ke ne ngāueʻaki ʻa e faingamālie kotoa pē ke malangaʻi ʻa e ongoongo lelei ʻo e Puleʻanga ʻo e ʻOtuá, ʻo aʻu ki he kau pule fakaemāmaní. (Ngā. 9:15) Naʻe fakapapauʻi ʻe Paula ke moʻui ʻo fakatatau ki he fekau naʻe tuku ange kiate iá, ʻo tatau ai pē pe ko e hā e meʻa ʻe hokó. ʻIkai nai ʻoku pehē pē mo ʻetau fakapapaú? Ko ia tau muimui angé ʻia Paula ʻi he folau fakahisitōlia ko ení lolotonga ia ʻetau fuatautau ʻa e mahuʻinga ʻo ʻene faʻifaʻitakiʻangá.

 4. Ko e vaka fēfē naʻe kamata ai ʻa e folau ʻa Paulá, pea ko hai ʻa hono ongo kaungāfonongá?

⁴ Ko Paula mo ha kau pōpula kehe naʻe tuku atu kinautolu ke tokangaʻi ʻe ha ʻōfisa Loma ko hono hingoá ko Suliasi, ʻa ia naʻá ne fili ke nau heka ʻi ha vaka uta koloa naʻe tau hifo ki Sesalia. Ko e haʻu ʻa e vaká mei ʻAtalamaito, ko ha taulanga ʻi he matāfanga fakahihifo ʻo ʻĒsia Mainá, ʻi he tafaʻaki ʻe taha ʻo e kolo ko Meteliné ʻi he motu ko Lesiposí. Ko e vaká ni ʻe folau fakatokelau pea hili iá ʻe folau fakahihifo, mo fai ha ngaahi afe ke fakahifo mo fakaheka uta. Ko e ngaahi vaka peheé naʻe ʻikai faʻu ia ke heka fiemālie ai ha kau pāsese, tautautefito ki he kau pōpulá. (Sio ki he puha “Folau Tahí mo e Halanga Fefakatauʻakí.”) Ko e meʻa pē naʻe sai aí, naʻe ʻikai ko Paula pē ʻa e tokotaha Kalisitiane ʻi he haʻohaʻonga ʻo ha kulupu ko e kau faihia. Naʻe folau fakataha mo ia ha ongo kaungātui ʻe toko ua​—ko ʻAlisitako mo Luke. Ko hono moʻoní, ko Luke naʻá ne hiki ʻa e fakamatala ko ení. ʻOku ʻikai ke tau ʻiloʻi pe naʻe totongi pē ʻe he ongo kaungāfononga mateaki ko ení ʻa ʻena folaú pe naʻá na ʻi he tuʻunga pē ko e ongo sevāniti ʻa Paula.​—Ngā. 27:1, 2.

 5. Ko e hā ʻa e feohi naʻe malava ke maʻu ʻe Paula ʻi Saitoní, pea ko e hā ʻe lava ke tau ako mei he meʻá ni?

⁵ ʻI he hili ha ʻaho ʻe taha ʻi tahi pea mo e folau fakatokelau ʻi he kilomita nai ʻe 110, naʻe afe ʻa e vaká ʻi Saitoni, ʻi he matāfonua ʻo Sīliá. ʻOku ngalingali pē naʻe ʻikai ke fakafeangai ʻa Suliasi kia Paula ʻo hangē ha tokotaha faihia anga-mahení, mahalo nai koeʻuhí ko Paulá ko ha tangataʻifonua Loma ia ʻa ia naʻe teʻeki ai ke fakamoʻoniʻi ʻokú ne halaia. (Ngā. 22:27, 28; 26:31, 32) Naʻe fakaʻatā ʻe Suliasi ʻa Paula ke hifo ki ʻuta ʻo ʻalu ʻo sio ki hono ngaahi kaungā-Kalisitiané. He fiefia moʻoni ē kuo pau ne maʻu ʻe he fanga tokouá mo e fanga tuofāfiné ʻi heʻenau tokangaekina ʻa e ʻapositoló ʻi he hili ko ia hono tuku pilīsone fuoloá! ʻE lava ke ke fakakaukau atu ki ha ngaahi taimi ʻa ia ʻe malava nai ke ke fai ai ha anga-talitali kakai anga-ʻofa meimei tatau pea hoko ʻo langa hake ai koe?​—Ngā. 27:3.

6-8. Naʻe anga-fēfē ʻa e ʻalu ʻa e folau ʻa Paulá mei Saitoni ki Naitusí, pea ko e hā ʻa e ngaahi faingamālie ʻoku ngalingali naʻe puke ʻe Paula ʻi he fekauʻaki mo e malangá?

⁶ ʻI he tukufolau atu mei Saitoní, naʻe hoko atu leva ʻa e vaká ʻo folau hake ʻi he matāfonuá ʻo fakalaka ʻi Silisia, ofi ki he kolo tupuʻanga ʻo Paulá, ʻa Tāsusi. ʻOku ʻikai lave ʻa Luke ia ki ha toe ngaahi afe kehe ne fai, neongo ʻokú ne fakakau mai ha fakaikiiki fakatupu manavasiʻi ʻi heʻene pehē “naʻe tui tonu mai ʻa e matangí kiate kimautolu.” (Ngā. 27:4, 5) Neongo ia, ʻe lava ke tau sioloto atu ki hono hanga ʻe Paula ʻo puke ʻa e faingamālie kotoa pē ke vahevahe atu ai ʻa e ongoongo leleí. ʻOku pau pē naʻá ne faifakamoʻoni ki hono ngaahi kaungāpōpulá mo e niʻihi kehe ʻi he vaká, ʻo kau ai ʻa e kau kauvaká mo e kau sōtiá, pea pehē foki ki he kakai ʻi ha taulanga pē naʻe afe ai ʻa e vaká. ʻOku tau fai pehē he ʻahó ni ʻo ngāue lelei ʻaki ʻa e ngaahi faingamālie ke malangá ʻa ia ʻoku ʻatā mai kiate kitautolú?

⁷ ʻI he faai atu ʻa e taimí, naʻe aʻu ʻa e vaká ki Maila, ko ha taulanga ʻi he matāfanga fakatonga ʻo ʻĒsia Mainá. ʻI hení naʻe pau ai kia Paula mo e niʻihi kehé ke nau fetongi ki ha vaka ʻe taha, ʻa ia ʻe ʻave ai kinautolu ki Loma, ʻa e feituʻu fakaʻosi ʻoku nau taumuʻa ki aí. (Ngā. 27:6) ʻI he ngaahi ʻaho ko iá, naʻe maʻu ʻe Loma ʻa e konga lahi ʻo ʻenau uité mei ʻIsipite, pea naʻe afe ha ngaahi vaka ʻIsipite uta uite ʻi Maila. Naʻe ʻilo ʻe Suliasi ha vaka pehē peá ne fakaheka ki ai ʻa e kau sōtiá mo e kau pōpulá. Ko e vaká ni kuo pau pē naʻe lahi mamaʻo ange ia ʻi he ʻuluaki vaká. Naʻá ne uta ha uta mahuʻinga ko e uite pea pehē ki he kakai ʻe toko 276​—ʻa ia ko e kau kauvaká, kau sōtiá, kau pōpulá, pea ʻoku ngalingali ne kau ai mo ha niʻihi kehe naʻe folau ki Loma. ʻOku hā mahino, ʻi he fetongi vaka ko ení, naʻe fakaʻaʻau ke lahi ai pē ʻa e feituʻu ke faifakamoʻoni ai ʻa Paulá, pea ʻoku ʻikai ha veiveiua naʻá ne ngāue ʻaonga ʻaki ʻa e tuʻunga ko iá.

⁸ Ko ʻenau afe hono hokó ko Naitusi, ʻi he tuliki fakatongahihifo ʻo ʻĒsia Mainá. ʻI haʻane matangi lelei, naʻe lava ke folau ai ha vaka ʻi he mamaʻo ko iá ʻi he ʻaho pē nai ʻe taha. Ka neongo ia, ʻoku fakamatala ʻa Luke ʻo pehē “ʻi he hili ʻemau folau māmālie atu ʻi ha ngaahi ʻaho naʻe mālō pē ʻemau aʻu ki Naitusi.” (Ngā. 27:7a) Ko e ngaahi tuʻunga ʻo e folaú ne fakaʻaʻau ke toe kovi ange. (Sio ki he puha “Ko e Ngaahi Matangi Tui Tonu Mai ʻo e Metiteleniané.”) Fakakaukau atu ki he kakai ʻi he vaká ʻi he fetaulaki tuʻu ko ia ʻa e vaká mo e mālohi ʻa e matangí pea mo e hou ʻa e tahí.

9, 10. Ko e hā ʻa e ngaahi faingataʻa naʻe mapuna hake ʻi he potutahi ʻo Kēlití?

⁹ Naʻe palani ʻa e kapiteni ʻo e vaká ke hokohoko fakahihifo atu mei Naitusi, ka ʻoku pehē ʻe he fakamoʻoni sio tonu ko Luké “ko e angi mālohi ʻa e matangí naʻe ʻikai ai ke mau kei hoko atu ʻi heʻemau taumuʻá.” (Ngā. 27:7e) ʻI he mavahe atu ʻa e vaká mei he fonua lahí, naʻe ʻikai ai ke ne toe maʻu ʻa e tokoni ʻa e ʻau ʻo e matāfangá, pea naʻe hanga ʻe ha fuʻu matangi mālohi mei he tokelau-hihifó ʻo tafia fakatonga ia, ngalingali ʻi ha tuʻunga vave ʻaupito. Hangē tofu pē ko hono hanga ki muʻa atu ʻe he motu ko Saipaló ʻo fakaūū ʻa e vaká mei he ngaahi matangi tui tonu maí ʻi heʻene lele he matafonuá, ʻi he taimi ko ení, naʻe fai ʻe he motu ko Kēlití ʻa e meʻa tatau. ʻI he fakalaka atu pē ʻa e vaká ʻi he muitolotolo lilifa ʻo Salamoné ʻi he ngataʻanga fakahahake ʻo Kēlití, ne kiʻi tokamālie ʻa e ngaahi meʻá. Ko e hā hono ʻuhingá? Naʻe aʻu mai ʻa e vaká ʻo ʻi he tafaʻaki ūū, pe fakatonga ʻo e motú, ko ia naʻe kiʻi malu ai ʻa e vaká mei he ngaahi matangi mālohí. Sioloto atu ki he nonga kuo pau ne ʻuluaki ongoʻi ʻe he faʻahinga naʻe heka ʻi he vaká! Ka ʻi he kei ʻi tahi ʻa e vaká, ʻe ʻikai lava ke tukunoaʻi ʻe he kau kauvaká ʻa e fakaofi mai ʻa e taimi momokó. Naʻe ʻi ai ʻa e ʻuhinga ke nau hoko ai ʻo hohaʻa.

¹⁰ ʻOku fakahaaʻi fakapatonu mai ʻe Luke: “ʻI heʻemau folau atu ʻi he matafonuá [ʻo Kēlití] neongo ʻene faingataʻá, naʻa mau aʻu ai ki ha feituʻu naʻe ui ko Taulanga Lelei.” Naʻa mo e ūū ʻi he fonuá, naʻe faingataʻa ke mapuleʻi ʻa e vaká. Ka neongo ia, naʻe faifai atu pē ʻo nau ʻilo ha feituʻu ke nau lī taula ai ʻi ha kiʻi foʻi fanga ʻa ia ʻoku fai ʻa e fakakaukau naʻe tuʻu ʻi he foʻi feituʻu ki muʻa siʻi pē pea afe fakatokelau ʻa e matāfangá. Ko e hā hono fuoloa ʻo ʻenau nofo aí? ʻOku pehē ʻe Luke ko ha “ngaahi ʻaho lahi,” ka naʻe ʻikai ko ha taimi lelei ia kiate kinautolu. ʻI Sepitema/ʻOkatopa, naʻe toe fakatuʻutāmaki ange ai ʻa e folau tahí.​—Ngā. 27:8, 9.

11. Naʻe ʻoange ʻe Paula ki hono ngaahi kaungāfolaú ʻa e faleʻi ko e hā, ka ko e hā ʻa e fili ia naʻe faí?

¹¹ ʻOku pau pē naʻe kumi ʻa e kau pāsese ʻe niʻihi ki he faleʻi ʻa Paulá koeʻuhí ko ʻene taukei ʻi he fefolauʻaki ʻi he Metiteleniané. Naʻá ne fokotuʻu ange ke ʻoua ʻe toe hoko atu ʻa e folau ʻa e vaká. Kapau ʻe kei hoko atu pē, ʻe hoko ai ʻa e “maumau mo e mole lahi,” pea naʻa mo ha mole nai ai ha moʻui. Kae kehe, naʻe loto ʻa e ʻeikivaká ia mo e tokotaha naʻe ʻoʻona ʻa e vaká ke nau hoko atu pē, ʻo mahalo pē naʻá na ongoʻi ʻe kinaua naʻe fiemaʻu fakavavevave ke nau kumi ki ha feituʻu malu ange. Naʻá na fakalotoʻi ʻa Suliasi, pea naʻe ongoʻi ʻe he tokolahi taha ʻo kinautolú ʻoku totonu ke nau feinga ke aʻu ki Fīnisi, ko ha taulanga naʻe tuʻu ʻo kiʻi mamaʻo atu ʻi he matāfangá. Mahalo pē naʻe ʻi ai ha taulanga lahi ange mo lelei ange ai ke nau nofo ai ʻi he taimi momokó. Ko ia ʻi he taimi naʻe angiangiiki mai ai ʻa e matangí mei he tongá ʻo hā ngali matangi leleí, naʻe mavahe leva ʻa e vaká.​—Ngā. 27:10-13.

12. Hili ʻa e mavahe mei Kēlití, naʻe fehangahangai ʻa e vaká mo e ngaahi fakatuʻutāmaki ko e hā, pea naʻe anga-fēfē ʻa e feinga ʻa e kau kauvaká ke hao mei he fakatamakí?

¹² Naʻe hoko mai leva ʻa e fakatamaki lahi ange: ko ha “fuʻu matangi mālohi” mei he tokelau-hahaké. ʻI ha kiʻi taimi, naʻa nau fakaūū ai ʻi ha “kiʻi motu naʻe ui ko Kauta” ʻa ia ko e kilomita nai ia ʻe 65 mei Taulanga Lelei. Ka naʻe kei ʻi he tuʻunga fakatuʻutāmaki pē ʻa e vaká ʻi haʻane hoko ʻo ʻauhia fakatonga pea aʻu ai ʻo tūkia ʻi he ngaahi foʻi tafunga ʻoneʻone ofi ki he matāfanga ʻo ʻAfiliká. ʻI he hahaka holo ke hao mei he ikuʻanga ko iá, naʻe fusi mai ʻe he kau kauvaká ʻa e kiʻi vaka naʻe taulani mai ʻi he vaká. Naʻa nau fāinga ke fakahoko ʻa e meʻa ko iá, he ʻoku ngalingali naʻe fonu tahi ʻa e kiʻi vaka fokotuʻú. Hili iá naʻa nau feinga mālohi ke haʻi takai ʻa e vaka lahí ke fefeka, ʻo nau lalava hake ia mei lalo ʻaki ʻa e ngaahi maea pe ngaahi sēini ke ne pukeʻi fakataha ʻa hono ngaahi fonó. Pea naʻa nau tuku hifo ʻa e naunau laá, ʻa e lā lahí pe ngaahi maea haʻi ʻo e laá, pea nau fāinga ke tauhi ʻa e vaká ke kei hanga atu ki he matangí ke nau tui tonu atu ʻo fakalaka ʻi he fuʻu matangi mālohí. Sioloto atu ki he pau pē naʻe fakailifia ʻa e meʻa ko eni ne nau hokosiá! Naʻa mo e ngaahi fakatamaki ko ení naʻe ʻikai ke ngata pē ai, ʻi he hokohoko atu ʻa e vaká ʻo “mātuʻaki fepaleʻekina holo . . . ʻe he matangí.” ʻI he ʻaho hono tolú, naʻa nau laku ʻa e ngaahi maeá, mahalo ke kei maʻanu pē ʻa e vaká.​—Ngā. 27:14-19.

13. Kuo pau pē naʻe fēfē ʻa e tuʻunga ʻo e moʻuí ʻi he vaka ne heka ai ʻa Paulá ʻi he lolotonga ʻa e fuʻu matangi mālohí?

¹³ Kuo pau pē ne nau manavahētuʻu. Ka naʻe loto-toʻa pē ʻa Paula mo hono ongo kaungāfonongá. Naʻe fakapapauʻi ange ki muʻa ʻe he ʻEikí kia Paula ʻo pehē ko e ʻapositoló ni te ne faifakamoʻoni ʻi Loma, pea ki mui ai naʻe fakapapauʻi ange ʻe ha ʻāngelo ʻa e talaʻofá ni. (Ngā. 19:21; 23:11) Ka neongo ia, ʻi he pō mo e ʻaho ʻi he uike ʻe ua, naʻe kei hokohoko atu pē ʻa e fuʻu matangi mālohí. Koeʻuhí ko e ʻikai ke toe tuʻu ʻa e ʻuhá pea mo hono fakapuliki ʻe ha konga ʻao matolu ʻa e laʻaá mo e ngaahi fetuʻú, naʻe ʻikai lava ai ke sio ʻa e ʻeikivaká ke fakapapauʻi ʻa e feituʻu ʻoku ʻi ai ʻa e vaká pe ko e feituʻu ʻoku nau huʻu atu ki aí. Naʻa mo ha maʻu meʻatokoni anga-maheni naʻe ʻikai ke kei lava ia. ʻE lava fēfē ke fakakaukau atu ha taha ki he kaí, lolotonga ia ʻa e momokó, ʻuhá, loloá, pea mo e manavaheé?

14, 15. (a) ʻI he lea ki hono ngaahi kaungāfolaú, ko e hā naʻe lave ai ʻa Paula ki heʻene fakatokanga naʻe fai ange ki muʻá? (e) Ko e hā ʻe lava ke tau ako mei he pōpoaki ʻo e ʻamanakí ʻa ia naʻe fakahoko atu ʻe Paulá?

¹⁴ Naʻe tuʻu hake ʻa Paula. Naʻá ne lave ki heʻene fakatokanga ne fai ange ki muʻá ka naʻe ʻikai ke hangē ia ko haʻane pehē, ‘Naʻá ku ʻosi tala atu.’ ʻI hono kehé, ko e ngaahi meʻa naʻe toki hokó ko ha fakamoʻoni ia ko ʻene ngaahi leá naʻe tuha moʻoni ke fai ha tokanga ki ai. Naʻá ne tala ange leva: “Ko eni, ʻoku ou enginaki atu kiate kimoutolu ke mou loto-toʻa, koeʻuhi ʻe ʻikai mole ha taha ʻo kimoutolu, ka ko e vaká pē.” (Ngā. 27:21, 22) He pau moʻoni ē naʻe fakalotomāfanaʻi ʻe he ngaahi lea ko iá ʻa e loto ʻo ʻene kau fanongó! ʻOku pau pē naʻe fiefia lahi mo Paula foki, he ne ʻoange ʻe Sihova kiate ia ha pōpoaki ʻo e ʻamanakí ke ne vahevahe atu. ʻOku mātuʻaki mahuʻinga ke tau manatuʻi ʻoku tokanga mai ʻa Sihova ki he moʻui ʻa e tangata kotoa pē. ʻOku mahuʻinga kiate ia ʻa e tokotaha taki taha. Naʻe tohi ʻe he ʻapositolo ko Pitá: “[Ko] Sihova . . . ʻoku ʻikai te ne finangalo ke fakaʻauha ha taha ka ʻokú ne finangalo ke aʻusia ʻe he tokotaha kotoa ʻa e fakatomalá.” (2 Pita 3:9) He fiemaʻu fakavavevave leva ē ke tau feinga mālohi ke vahevahe atu ʻa e pōpoaki ʻo e ʻamanakí ʻoku ʻa Sihová ki he kakai tokolahi taha ʻe ala lavá! Ko e ngaahi moʻui ʻa ia ʻoku mahuʻingá ʻoku ʻi he tuʻunga fakatuʻutāmaki.

¹⁵ ʻOku ngalingali pē naʻe faifakamoʻoni ʻa Paula ki he tokolahi ʻi he vaká ʻo fekauʻaki mo e “ʻamanaki ki he talaʻofa naʻe fai ʻe he ʻOtuá.” (Ngā. 26:6; Kol. 1:5) ʻI he taimi ko ʻení, ʻa ia ʻoku hangehangē ka nau hokosia ai ha vaka tūkiá, naʻe lava ke ʻoatu ai ʻe Paula ha makatuʻunga mālohi ki ha ʻamanaki ne vavé ni ke fakahoko. Naʻá ne pehē: “ʻI he poó ni naʻe tuʻu mai ai kiate au ha ʻāngelo ʻa e ʻOtuá ʻa ia ʻoku ʻaʻana aú . . . , ʻo ne pehē mai: ‘ʻOua ʻe ilifia, Paula. Kuo pau ke ke tuʻu ʻi he ʻao ʻo Sisá, pea vakai, ko e meʻa ʻiate koé, ʻe ʻaloʻofa ai ʻa e ʻOtuá ʻo fakahaofi ʻa e faʻahinga kotoa ʻoku folau mo koé.’” Naʻe ekinaki ange ʻa Paula kiate kinautolu: “Ko ia mou loto-toʻa, kau tangata, he ʻoku ou tui ki he ʻOtuá, ʻe hoko ʻo hangē tofu pē ko ia naʻe tala mai kiate aú. Kae kehe, kuo pau ke tau hake kitautolu ʻi ha motu.”​—Ngā. 27:23-26.

16, 17. (a) Ko e hā ʻa e foʻi taimi naʻe fai ai ʻe Paula ha lotú, pea ko e hā hono olá? (e) Naʻe anga-fēfē ʻa e hoko ʻo fakahoko ʻa e fakatokanga ʻa Paulá?

¹⁶ Hili ha uike fakailifia ʻe ua, ʻi he lolotonga ko ia ʻa e ʻauhia ʻa e vaká ʻi he kilomita nai ʻe 870, naʻe ongoʻi ʻe he kau kauvaká ʻoku ʻi ai ʻa e liliu, mahalo nai ne nau fanongo ki he faʻafaʻaki ʻa e ngaahi peaú ʻi ha fonua ofi mai. Naʻa nau lī ʻa e ngaahi taula ʻi he taumulí ke taʻofiʻaki haʻanau tafia pea ke fakahanga ʻa e taumuʻá ki ʻuta koeʻuhí naʻa lava ke nau fakahake ai ʻa e vaká. ʻI he foʻi taimi ko iá, naʻa nau feinga ke nau mavahe mei he vaká ka naʻe taʻofi kinautolu ʻe he kau sōtiá. Naʻe tala ange ʻe Paula ki he ʻōfisa fakakautaú mo e kau sōtiá: “Ka ʻikai nofo maʻu ʻa e kau tangatá ni ʻi he vaká, ʻe ʻikai lava ke mou hao.” ʻI he kiʻi tuʻu maʻu ange ʻa e vaká ʻi he taimi ko ení, naʻe fakaʻaiʻai ʻe Paula ʻa e tokotaha kotoa ke nau maʻu ha meʻatokoni, ʻo ne toe fakapapauʻi ange kiate kinautolu te nau hao. Naʻe hanga leva ʻe Paula ʻo “fai ha fakafetaʻi ki he ʻOtuá ʻi honau haʻohaʻongá kotoa.” (Ngā. 27:31, 35) ʻI hono fai ʻa e lotu loto-houngaʻia ko ʻení, naʻá ne fokotuʻu ai ha faʻifaʻitakiʻanga kia Luke, ʻAlisitako, pea mo e kau Kalisitiane he ʻaho ní. ʻOku hoko ʻa hoʻo ngaahi lotu ʻi he ʻao ʻo e kakaí ko ha matavai ia ʻo e fakalototoʻa mo e fakafiemālie ki he niʻihi kehé?

¹⁷ ʻI he hili ʻa e lotu ʻa Paulá, “naʻa nau hoko kotoa ai ʻo loto-toʻa pea nau kamata maʻu ha meʻatokoni.” (Ngā. 27:36) Naʻa nau toe fakamaʻamaʻa ʻa e vaká ʻaki hono laku ʻa e uta uité, ʻo ʻai ai ʻa e vaká ke toe maʻanu ange ʻi he teu ko ia ke fakaofiofi atu ki ʻutá. ʻI heʻene ʻaho haké, naʻe tuʻusi atu ai ʻe he kau kauvaká ʻa e ngaahi taulá, vete ʻa e ngaahi haʻi ʻo e ongo foheʻuli ʻi he taumulí, pea nau fusi hake ha kiʻi lā muʻa siʻisiʻi koeʻuhí ke nau kiʻi lava pē ʻo fetūkuaki ʻa e vaká ʻi heʻenau feinga ke fakahake iá. Naʻe hoko leva ai ʻa e konga ki muʻa ʻo e vaká ʻo toka maʻu, mahalo nai ʻi ha foʻi tafunga ʻoneʻone pe ʻi ha kele, pea naʻe kamata ke movete ʻa e taumulí ʻi he faʻafaʻaki ai ʻa e ngaahi peaú. Naʻe loto ʻa e kau sōtia ʻe niʻihi ke tāmateʻi ʻa e kau pōpulá koeʻuhí ke ʻoua naʻa ʻi ai ha taha ʻe hola, ka naʻe tuʻu-ʻi-vahaʻa heni ʻa Suliasi ke taʻofi ʻa e meʻá ni. Naʻá ne fakaʻaiʻai ʻa e tokotaha kotoa ke nau kakau pe tētē ki ʻuta. Naʻe hoko ʻo moʻoni ʻa e meʻa naʻe tomuʻa tala ʻe Paulá​—naʻe hao moʻui kotoa ʻa e toko 276. ʻIo, “naʻe hao moʻui ʻa e tokotaha kotoa ki ʻuta.” Ka naʻa nau ʻi fē?​—Ngā. 27:44.

18-20. Naʻe anga-fēfē hono fakahāhā ʻe he kakai ʻo Mēlitá ha “manavaʻofa makehe atu,” pea ko e hā ʻa e mana naʻe fakahoko ʻe he ʻOtuá fakafou ʻia Paulá?

¹⁸ Naʻe iku ʻo ʻi he motu ko Mēlitá ʻa e kau hao moʻuí, ʻi he fakatonga ʻo Sisilií. (Sio ki he puha “Mēlita​—ʻI Fē?”) Naʻe fakahāhā ange ʻe he kakai lea muli ʻo e motú kiate kinautolu ha “manavaʻofa makehe atu.” (Ngā. 28:2) Naʻa nau tafu ha afi maʻá e kau solá ni ʻa ia naʻa nau aʻu atu ki honau fangá ʻoku nau pīponu mo nininini. Naʻe tokoni ʻa e afí kiate kinautolu ke nau māfana neongo ʻa e momokó mo e ʻuhá. Pehē foki ʻi hono tafu ʻo e afí naʻe hoko ai ha mana.

¹⁹ Naʻe fai ʻe Paula ha tokoni ki he lelei fakalūkufuá. Naʻá ne okooko mai ha ngaahi vaʻakau, ʻa ia naʻá ne hanga ʻo ʻai ki he afí. ʻI heʻene fai iá, ne hū ki tuʻa mei ai ha ngata huhu kona ʻo ne uʻu ia, ʻo piki maʻu ʻi hono nimá. Naʻe fakakaukau ai ʻa e kakai Mēlitá ko ha faʻahinga tautea fakaʻotua eni.a

²⁰ Ko e kakai ko ia ʻo e motú naʻa nau sio ki hono uʻu ʻo Paulá naʻa nau fakakaukau te ne “fefulofulai.” Ko e foʻi lea ʻi he muʻaki leá ʻoku lave ki ai hení “ko ha foʻi lea fakafaitoʻo,” fakatatau ki ha maʻuʻanga fakamatala ʻe taha. ʻOku ʻikai fai ha ʻohovale ʻi he lava ke haʻu vave ha kupuʻi lea pehē ki he ʻatamai ʻo “Luke, ko e toketā ʻofeiná.” (Ngā. 28:6; Kol. 4:14) Kae kehe, naʻe tupeʻi ʻe Paula ʻa e ngata huhu koná pea naʻe ʻikai hoko ha meʻa kiate ia.

21. (a) Ko e hā ha ngaahi fakatātā ʻe niʻihi ʻo e tonu matemateé, pe fakamatala tonu mātē, ʻoku tau maʻu ʻi he konga ko eni ʻo e fakamatala ʻa Luké? (e) Ko e hā ʻa e ngaahi mana naʻe fakahoko ʻe Paulá, pea ko e hā hono ola ʻi he kakai Mēlitá?

²¹ Naʻe nofo ʻi he feituʻú ni ʻa e tokotaha tuʻumālie ko Pōpiliō naʻe ʻi ai hono ngaahi konga kelekele. Naʻá ne hoko nai ko e ʻōfisa Loma takimuʻa ʻi Mēlita. Naʻe fakamatalaʻi ia ʻe Luke ʻo pehē ko e “tangata tuʻu-ki-muʻa ʻo e motú,” ʻo ngāueʻaki ʻa e hingoa fakalakanga tonu matematē naʻe hā ʻi ha ongo tohi tongi faka-Mēlita. Naʻá ne talitali anga-talitali kakai ʻa Paula mo hono ongo kaungāfonongá ʻi he ʻaho ʻe tolu. Kae kehe, naʻe puke ʻa e tamai ʻa Pōpilioó. Ko ha tuʻunga naʻe toe fakamatalaʻi tonu matematē ʻe Luke. Naʻá ne tohi ʻo pehē ko e tangatá ni “naʻe tokoto ko e puke ʻi he mofí mo e tuʻu-totó,” ʻo lave ai ki he natula fakafaitoʻo tonu matematē ʻo e mahakí. Naʻe lotu ʻa Paula peá ne hilifaki hono ongo nimá ʻi he tangatá, pea naʻe fakamoʻui ai ia. ʻI he maongo loloto ʻa e mana ko ʻení, naʻe ʻomai ai ʻe he kakai ʻo e motú mo ha kau puke kehe ke fakamoʻui kinautolu, pea naʻa nau ʻomai mo e ngaahi meʻaʻofa ke feau ʻaki ʻa e ngaahi fiemaʻu ʻa Paula mo hono ongo kaungāfonongá.​—Ngā. 28:7-10.

22. (a) Kuo anga-fēfē hono fakahīkihikiʻi ʻe ha palōfesa ʻe taha ʻa e fakamatala ʻa Luke ki he folau ki Lomá? (e) Ko e hā te tau lāulea ki ai ʻi he vahe hono hokó?

²² Ko e konga ʻo e folau ʻa Paula kuo tau lāulea mai aí ʻoku mātuʻaki tonu mo moʻoni ʻaupito. Naʻe pehē ʻe ha palōfesa ʻe taha: “Ko e fakamatala ʻa Luké . . . ʻoku hā mahino mai ko e taha ia ʻo e ngaahi konga fakamatala hiki-tohi maeʻeeʻa lelei taha ʻi he Tohi Tapú fakakātoa. Ko ʻene ngaahi fakaikiiki fekauʻaki mo e pōtoʻi taukei folau vaka ʻi he ʻuluaki senitulí ʻoku mātuʻaki tonu mātē pea ko ʻene fakamatala fekauʻaki mo e ngaahi tuʻunga ʻi he tafaʻaki fakahahake ʻo e Metiteleniané ʻoku mātuʻaki tonu matematē” ʻo pau pē naʻe fakatuʻunga ia ʻi ha tohinoa naʻe hiki. Mahalo naʻe hiki ʻe Luke ha ngaahi nouti pehē ʻi heʻene fononga fakataha mo e ʻapositoló. Kapau ko ia, ko e konga hono hoko ʻo e fonongá naʻe toe lahi ai mo e ngaahi meʻa ke ne tohi ʻo kau ki ai. Ko e hā ʻe hoko kia Paula ʻi he faifai pea nau aʻu ki Lomá? Tau sio angé ki aí.