Incwadi YeBhayibhile 44—IZenzo

Umbhali: NguLuka

Indawo Eyabhalelwa Kuyo: ERoma

Ukugqitywa Kokubhalwa Kwayo: Malunga nowama-61 C.E.

Ixesha Eligutyungelweyo: Ngowama-33 kuse malunga nowama-61 C.E.

 1, 2. (a) Ziziphi iziganeko nemisebenzi yembali echazwa kwiZenzo? (b) Le ncwadi igubungela liphi ixesha?

KWINCWADI yama-42 yeZibhalo eziphefumlelweyo, uLuka unikela ingxelo egubungela ubomi, umsebenzi nobulungiseleli bukaYesu nabalandeli bakhe ukusa kwixesha lokunyuka kukaYesu. Ingxelo engokwembali yencwadi yama-44 yeZibhalo, IZenzo Zabapostile, iqhubeka nembali yobuKristu bokuqala ngokuchaza ukusekwa kwebandla ngenxa yokusebenza komoya oyingcwele. Ikwachaza nokusasazwa kobungqina, okokuqala phakathi kwamaYuda kuze kwandule ke kuye kubantu bazo zonke iintlanga. Inxalenye enkulu ngakumbi yombandela okwizahluko ezili-12 zokuqala igubungela imisebenzi kaPetros, zize izahluko ezili-16 eziseleyo zigubungele imisebenzi kaPawulos. ULuka wayenxulumene ngokusondeleyo noPawulos, empheleka kukhenketho lwakhe izihlandlo ezininzi.

² Le ncwadi ibhalelwe uTiyofilo. Ekubeni kubhekiselwa kuye ‘njengodume kunene,’ kunokwenzeka ukuba wayenesikhundla esiphezulu emthethweni, okanye kusenokuba nje yindlela yokumhlonipha. (Luka 1:3) Le ngxelo inikela imbali echanileyo yokusekwa kwebandla lobuKristu nokukhula kwalo. Iqalisa ngokubonakala kukaYesu kubafundi bakhe emva kokuvuka kwakhe ize yandule ke ichaze iziganeko ezibalulekileyo ezenzeka ukususela kowama-33 kuse malunga nowama-61 C.E., kuqikelelwa ukuba igubungela iminyaka engama-28 iyonke.

 3. Ngubani owabhala incwadi yeZenzo, ibe yagqitywa nini ukubhalwa?

³ Kususela mandulo umbhali wencwadi yeVangeli kaLuka kuye kwathiwa nguye owabhala IZenzo. Zombini ezi ncwadi zibhalelwa uTiyofilo. Ngokuphinda akhankanye iziganeko equkumbela ngazo incwadi yakhe yeVangeli kwiindinyana zokuqala zencwadi yeZenzo, uLuka udibanisa ezi ngxelo zimbini njengomsebenzi wombhali omnye. Kubonakala ukuba uLuka wazigqiba IZenzo malunga nowama-61 C.E., mhlawumbi ngasekupheleni kweminyaka emibini awayihlala eRoma ngoxa wayekunye nompostile uPawulos. Ekubeni zikhankanya iziganeko ezenzeka ukuza kuthi ga kuloo nyaka, zazingenakuba zigqitywe ngaphambilana koko, kwaye ekubeni zingathethi nto ngokuchotshelwa kwesibheno sikaPawulos nguKesare oku kubonisa ukuba zagqitywa ngaloo nyaka.

 4. Yintoni engqinela ukuba IZenzo ziyinxalenye yemibhalo engcwele nokuba ziyinyaniso?

⁴ Kususela kwakude kudala, IZenzo bezisamkelwa ngabaphengululi beBhayibhile njengenxalenye yemibhalo engcwele. Iinxalenye zale ncwadi ziyafumaneka phakathi kweminye yeyona mibhalo-ngqangi midala nesekhoyo yeZibhalo zesiGrike eyenziwe ngemizi, ngokukodwa iMichigan No. 1571 (P³⁸) yenkulungwane yesithathu okanye yesine yeXesha Eliqhelekileyo neChester Beatty No. 1 (P⁴⁵) yenkulungwane yesithathu. Yomibini le ibonisa ukuba IZenzo zazisasazwa kunye nezinye iincwadi zeZibhalo eziphefumlelweyo ibe ngenxa yoko zaziyinxalenye yolo ludwe ukususela kwakude kudala. Isimbo sikaLuka sokubhala kwincwadi yeZenzo sibonisa ukuchana okufanayo nokuphawulekayo njengoko sele siphawulile kwincwadi yakhe yeVangeli. UMhlekazi uWilliam M. Ramsay umbhali weZenzo umbalela “phakathi kwababhali-mbali bodidi oluphambili,” yaye ucacisa okuthethwa koku ngokuthi: “Uphawu oluyintloko nolubalulekileyo lombhali-mbali ophambili lukukuba ingxelo yakhe isoloko iyinyaniso. Oko akuthethayo kumele kube nokuthenjwa.”a

 5. Bonisa ukuchana kwengxelo kaLuka.

⁵ Ekuboniseni indlela echane ngayo ingxelo kaLuka nto leyo ephawuleka ngayo imibhalo yakhe, sicaphula amazwi kaEdwin Smith, owayesakuba ngumphathi womkhosi weenqanawa zemfazwe zamaNgesi kwiMeditera ebudeni beMfazwe Yehlabathi I, owabhala kwiphephancwadi iThe Rudder, likaMatshi 1947 esithi: “Imikhombe yamandulo yayingaqhutywa njengaleyo yezi mini eqhutywa ngomatshini omnye obotshelelwe esinqeni somkhombe, kodwa ngezibophelelo zemithi yokujika okanye amaphini amabini amakhulu okubheqa, elinye lingakwelinye icala lesinqe somkhombe; kungako le nto iNgcwele uLuka iwakhankanya kwisininzi. [IZenzo 27:40] . . . Ngokuhlolisisa kwethu sibonile ukuba yonke ingxelo enxulumene nokuhamba kwale nqanawa, ukususela ekushiyeni kwayo Amachweba Amahle de ize kuma kunxweme lwaseMelita, njengoko ichazwe yiNgcwele uLuka ivumelana ngqo nendlela iinqanawa ezisebenza ngayo kule mihla yaye sibonile ukuba ingxelo yakhe echaza ixesha inqanawa eyalichitha elwandle iyavisisana nomgama owagutyungelwayo; yaye ekugqibeleni sibonile ukuba inkcazelo yakhe yendawo abafikela kuyo ivisisana ncamatshi naloo ndawo njengoko injalo. Konke oku kubonisa ukuba uLuka wayekho ngokwenene kolu hambo aluchazayo, yaye ngaphezu koko uzibonisa eyindoda leyo iinkcazelo neengxelo zayo kusenokukholoswa ngazo yaye zinokuthenjwa ngowona mlinganiselo uphakamileyo.”b

 6. Yiyiphi imizekelo ebonisa indlela izinto ezifunyenwe ngabembi bezinto zakudala ezikungqinela ngayo ukuchana kweZenzo?

⁶ Izinto ezifunyenwe ngabembi bezinto zakudala nazo zikwangqinela ukuchana kwengxelo kaLuka. Ngokomzekelo, ukuvunjululwa komhlaba wase-Efese kuye kwatyhila itempile ka-Artemis kwaneholo yamandulo yemiboniso apho abantu base-Efese benza isaqunge khona ngenxa kaPawulos. (IZe. 19:27-41) Kuye kwafunyanwa imibhalo ekroliweyo engqinela ukuchana kukaLuka ngokusebenzisa ibinzana elithi “abaphathi bomzi” njengelibhekisela kwabasemagunyeni baseTesalonika. (17:6, 8) Imibhalo emibini ekroliweyo yaseMelita ibonisa ukuba uLuka wayekwachanile ngokubhekisela kuPubliyo ‘njengomntu omkhulu’ waseMelita.—28:7.c

 7. Iintetho ezibhaliweyo zibonisa njani ukuba ingxelo yeZenzo iyinene?

⁷ Ngokubhekele phaya, iintetho ezahlukahlukeneyo ezanikelwa nguPetros, uStefano, uKorneli, uTertulo, uPawulos nabanye, njengoko zibhalwe nguLuka, zonke zahlukile ngesimbo nangendlela ezakhiwe ngayo. Kwaneentetho zikaPawulos, ezanikelwa phambi kwabaphulaphuli abahlukeneyo, zahlukile ngesimbo ukuze zifanelekele isihlandlo eso. Oku kubonisa ukuba uLuka wayebhala kuphela oko wakuvayo yena okanye oko wakuxelelwa ngamanye amangqina okuzibonela. ULuka wayengabhali zintsomi.

 8. IZibhalo zisixelela ntoni ngoLuka nokunxulumana kwakhe noPawulos?

⁸ Kuncinane gqitha okwaziwayo ngobomi bobuqu bukaLuka. ULuka wayengengompostile kodwa wayenxulumene nabo babengabo. (Luka 1:1-4) Kangangezihlandlo ezithathu umpostile uPawulos ukhankanya uLuka ngegama. (Kol. 4:10, 14, NW; 2 Tim. 4:11; Filem. 24) Kangangeminyaka ethile wayesoloko ehamba noPawulos, owayembiza ngokuthi “ugqirha oyintanda.” Kule ngxelo kusetyenziswa isivumelanisi esithi “ba-” kubuye kusetyenziswe esithi “sa-,” nto leyo ebonisa ukuba uLuka wayehamba noPawulos eTrowa ebudeni bokhenketho lwesibini lukaPawulos lobuvangeli basemazweni, ebonisa ukuba usenokuba washiyeka eFilipi de uPawulos wabuyela khona kwiminyaka ethile kamva, nebonisa ukuba wandula ke wathelela uPawulos waza wahamba naye kuhambo oluya eRoma enkundleni yamatyala.—IZe. 16:8, 10; 17:1; 20:4-6; 28:16.

OKUQULETHWE ZIZENZO

 9. Abafundi baxelelwa ziphi izinto ngexesha lokunyuka kukaYesu?

⁹ Iziganeko ezenzekayo de kwangePentekoste (1:1-26). Njengoko uLuka eqalisa le ngxelo yesibini, uYesu ovusiweyo uxelela abafundi bakhe abafun’ ukwazi ukuba baza kubhaptizwa ngomoya oyingcwele. Ngaba uBukumkani buza kubuyiselwa ngeli xesha? Hayi. Kodwa baya kwamkela amandla baze babe ngamangqina “kude kuse nasekupheleni komhlaba.” Njengokuba uYesu efukulwa ukuze bangamboni, amadoda amabini ambethe ezimhlophe abaxelela oku: “Lo Yesu unyusiweyo kuni, wasiwa emazulwini, uya kuza ngolu hlobo.”—1:8, 11.

10. (a) Ziziphi izinto ezingalibalekiyo ezenzeka ngomhla wePentekoste? (b) UPetros ucacisa ngelithini, kwaye oku kuba nawuphi umphumo?

¹⁰ Usuku olungalibalekiyo lwePentekoste (2:1-42). Bonke abafundi bahlanganisene eYerusalem. Ngequbuliso indlu izaliswa yingxolo engathi yeyomoya ovuthuzayo. Ilwimi ezingathi zezomlilo zihlala phezu kwabo bakhoyo. Bazaliswa ngumoya oyingcwele baze baqalise ukuthetha ngeelwimi ezahlukahlukeneyo “izinto ezinkulu zikaThixo.” (2:11) Ababukeli badidekile. Ngoku uPetros uyasukuma aze athethe. Ucacisa ukuba oku kuthululwa komoya kukuzaliseka kwesiprofeto sikaYoweli (2:28-32) nokuba uYesu Kristu, ngoku ovusiweyo nophakanyiselwe kwesokunene sikaThixo, ‘uthulule oku bakubonayo nabakuvayo.’ Bechukumisekile ezintliziyweni, abantu abamalunga nama-3 000 bamkela ilizwi baze babhaptizwe.—2:33.

11. UYehova ulubangela njani ulwando kumsebenzi wokushumayela?

¹¹ Ubungqina buyanda (2:43–5:42). Mihla le, uYehova uyaqhubeka esongeza abo basindiswayo. Ngaphandle kwetempile uPetros noYohane bafika kwindoda esisiqhwala engazange ihambe okoko yazalwa. UPetros uyalela oku, “Egameni likaYesu Kristu umNazarete, vuka uhambe.” Ngoko nangoko le ndoda iqalisa ‘ukuhambahamba, itsibatsiba yaye imdumisa uThixo.’ Wandula ke uPetros abongoze abantu ukuba baguquke baze babuye, “ngokokuze afike amathuba okuphumza, evela ebusweni [bukaYehova, NW].” Zicatshukiswe kukuba uPetros noYohane befundisa ngokuvuka kukaYesu, iinkokeli zonqulo ziyababamba, kodwa inani labantu abakholwayo liyanda lize lifikelele kubantu abamalunga nama-5 000.—3:6, 8, 19.

12. (a) Abafundi baphendula ngelithini xa beyalelwa ukuba bayeke ukushumayela? (b) UHananiya noSafira bohlwayelwa ntoni?

¹² Ngosuku olulandelayo, uPetros noYohane basiwa phambi kwabaphathi abangamaYuda ukuze bancinwe. UPetros ungqina ngokuphandle ukuba usindiso lukho kuphela ngoYesu Kristu, yaye xa beyalelwa ukuba bayeke umsebenzi wabo wokushumayela, uPetros noYohane baphendula ngelithi: “Yahlulani nina, ukuba bubulungisa na emehlweni kaThixo ukuva nina, kunokuva uThixo; kuba singenako thina ukuthi singazithethi izinto esazibonayo, esazivayo.” (4:19, 20) Bayakhululwa, kwaye bonke abafundi bayaqhubeka belithetha ilizwi likaThixo ngokungafihlisiyo. Ngenxa yeemeko ezithile, bayazidibanisa izinto zabo eziphathekayo baze babelane ngazo ngokokuswela kwabo. Phofu ke, indoda ethile egama linguHananiya nomfazi wayo, uSafira, bathengisa ezinye zezinto zabo baza bengabonwa mntu bayigcina inxalenye yemali ngoxa besenza ngokungathi bayizise yonke imali. UPetros uyabadiza, kwaye ngenxa yokuba bexokise uThixo nomoya oyingcwele bangquleka phantsi baze bafe.

13. Abapostile bamangalelwa ngantoni, baphendula njani, yaye bahlabela mgama besenza ntoni?

¹³ Kwakhona iinkokeli zonqulo ezinomsindo zibaphosa entolongweni abapostile, kodwa ngesi sihlandlo isithunywa sezulu sikaYehova siyabakhulula. Ngosuku olulandelayo kwakhona baziswa phambi kweNtlanganiso Yamatyala baze bamangalelwe ‘ngokuzalisa iYerusalem ngemfundiso yabo.’ Baphendula ngelithi: “Simelwe kukuthi sive uThixo kunokuba sive abantu.” Nangona betywatyushwa yaye besongelwe, sekunjalo abavumi kuyeka, yaye ‘imihla yonke etempileni nasemakhaya, bayaqhubeka befundisa yaye beshumayela iindaba ezilungileyo ezingoKristu, uYesu.’—5:28, 29, 42.

14. UStefano ulufela njani ukholo?

¹⁴ Ukufel’ ukholo kukaStefano (6:1–8:1a). UStefano ungomnye wabasixhenxe abamiselwe ngomoya oyingcwele ukuba balungiselele ukudla ezithebeni. Kwakhona ungqinela inyaniso ngentshiseko yaye ngenxa yenzondelelo yakhe elukholweni abachasi bakhe abanomsindo bamzisa phambi kweNtlanganiso Yamatyala bemmangalela ngokunyelisa. Xa eziphendulela, uStefano uqala ngokuchaza ukunyamezela kukaYehova amaSirayeli. Wandula ke, ngobuciko obungenadyudyu, aphuhlise le ngongoma: ‘Nina bantamo zilukhuni, nisoloko nibambana nomoya oyingcwele, nina nawamkelayo uMthetho, niwumiselwe zizithunywa zezulu, anawugcina.’ (7:51-53) Akunyamezeleki oku kubo. Basuka indulumbane phezu kwakhe, bamphosele ngaphandle kwesixeko, baze bamxulube ngamatye afe. USawule ubukele ngothakazelo.

15. Uba yintoni umphumo wentshutshiso, yaye ngawaphi amava okushumayela uFilipu aba nawo?

¹⁵ Iintshutshiso, ukuguquka kukaSawule (8:1b– 9:30). Ukutshutshiwa kwebandla eliseYerusalem okwaqalisa ngolo suku kubachithachitha bonke babe ziintsali elizweni ngaphandle kwabapostile. UFilipu uya kwelaseSamariya, apho abaninzi bamkela ilizwi likaThixo. UPetros noYohane bathunyelwa apho besuka eYerusalem khon’ ukuze la makholwa abe nokwamkela umoya oyingcwele “ngokubekwa kwezandla zabapostile.” (8:18) Sandula ke isithunywa sezulu salathise uFilipu ezantsi kwindlela evela eYerusalem isiya eGaza, apho afumana ithenwa elikwisikhundla esiphakamileyo ebukhosini kwelamaTiyopiya likhwele inqwelo yalo yaye lifunda incwadi kaIsaya. UFilipu ulikhanyisela ngentsingiselo yesiprofeto aze alibhaptize.

16. USawule uguqulwa njani?

¹⁶ Ngelo xesha, uSawule, “esabafuthela ngeentsongelo neembulalo abafundi beNkosi,” uphum’ iphulo esiya kubamba bonke ‘abangabale Ndlela’ abaseDamasko. Ngequbuliso ubanekelwa ngenxa zonke lukhanyiso oluvela ezulwini, kwaye uwa emhlabeni engaboni. Ilizwi elivela ezulwini limxelela oku: “Mna ndinguye uYesu omtshutshisayo wena.” Emva kweentsuku ezintathu eseDamasko, umfundi ogama linguHananiya uyamlungiselela. USawule uyabona kwakhona, aze abhaptizwe, yaye uzaliswa ngumoya oyingcwele, khon’ ukuze akwazi ukuba ngumshumayeli weendaba ezilungileyo onenzondelelo. (9:1, 2, 5) Ngenxa yoku kuguquka kweziganeko okumangalisayo, obengumtshutshisi, kutshutshiswa yena yaye umele asabe ukuze asindise ubomi bakhe, okokuqala eDamasko yaye kamva naseYerusalem.

17. Iindaba ezilungileyo zifikelela njani kwiiNtlanga ezingalukileyo?

¹⁷ Iindaba ezilungileyo ziya kwiiNtlanga ezingalukileyo (9:31–12:25). Ngoku ibandla ‘liba noxolo, lisakheka, lihamba limoyika [uYehova, NW]; yaye lisanda ngentuthuzelo yomoya oyingcwele.’ (9:31) EYopa, uPetros uvusa uTabhita (uDorkas) othandekayo ekufeni, yaye eselapha ufumana ubizo lokuya eKesareya, apho umthetheli-khulu ogama linguKorneli amlindele khona. Ushumayela kuKorneli nakwabendlu yakhe baze bakholwe, yaye umoya oyingcwele uthululwa phezu kwabo. Eqiqa “ukuba uThixo akamkhethi wabuso bamntu; kwiintlanga zonke, lowo umoyikayo, asebenze ubulungisa, wamkelekile kuye,” uPetros uyababhaptiza—amaguquka okuqala angalukileyo eeNtlanga. Kamva uPetros uyabacacisela abazalwana baseYerusalem ngesi siganeko sitsha, abathi bona ngenxa yaso bamzukise uThixo.—10:34, 35.

18. (a) Ngokulandelayo kwenzeka ntoni kwa-Antiyokwe? (b) Kuqhambuka yiphi intshutshiso, kodwa ngaba iyayifikelela injongo yayo?

¹⁸ Njengokuba iindaba ezilungileyo zihambela phambili, uBharnabhas noSawule bafundisa abantu abaninzi gqitha kwa-Antiyokwe, ‘yaye kulapha kwa-Antiyokwe abathi abafundi ngokolwalathiso lukaThixo baqale ukubizwa ngokuba bangamaKristu.’ (11:26, NW) Kwakhona intshutshiso iba qatha. UHerode Agripa I uyalela ukuba uYakobi umntakobo Yohane abulawe ngekrele. Ukwaphosa noPetros entolongweni, kodwa kwakhona isithunywa sezulu sikaYehova siyamkhulula uPetros. Iimeko ziyamjikela uHerode ongendawo! Ngenxa yokuba engamzukisi uThixo, udliwa ziimpethu aze afe. Kwelinye icala, ‘ilizwi likaYehova liyakhula kwaye liyanda.’—12:24.

19. Lubanzi kangakanani uhambo lokuqala lukaPawulos lobuvangeli basemazweni, yaye yintoni ephunyezwayo?

¹⁹ Uhambo lokuqala lukaPawulos lobuvangeli basemazweni, enoBharnabhas (13:1–14:28).d UBharnabhas ‘noSawule, okwanguPawulos,’ bayahlulwa baze bathunywe ukusuka kwa-Antiyokwe ngumoya oyingcwele. (13:9) Kwisiqithi saseSipro, abaninzi baba ngamakholwa, kuquka ibamba elinguSergiyo Pawulos. Kumhlaba waseAsiya Mayina, batyelela izixeko ezithandathu okanye ezingaphezulu, yaye kuyo yonke indawo kwenzeka into efanayo: Kubakho umahluko ocacileyo phakathi kwabo bazamkela ngentumekelelo iindaba ezilungileyo nabachasi abaneentamo ezilukhuni abaxhokonxa izihlwele ezibagibisela ngamatye abathunywa bakaYehova. Emva kokumisela amadoda amakhulu kumabandla asandul’ ukusekwa, uPawulos noBharnabhas babuyela kwa-Antiyokwe eSiriya.

20. Imbambano yolwaluko izinziswa ngasiphi isigqibo?

²⁰ Ukuzinzisa imbambano yolwaluko (15:1-35). Njengoko besanda kakhulu abangemaYuda, kuphakama umbuzo wokuba aba bafanele baluswe kusini na. UPawulos noBharnabhas bathabatha le mbambano bayise kubapostile namadoda amakhulu eYerusalem, apho kongamela umfundi uYakobi aze alungiselele ukuba kuthunyelwe ngencwadi ebhaliweyo esi sigqibo abasenze ngamxhelo-mnye: “Kwabonakala kulungile kuye uMoya oyiNgcwele, nakuthi, ukuba kungabekwa phezu kwenu mthwalo ungaphezu kwezi ndawo zifunekayo: zokuba nizile izinto ezibingelelwe kwizithixo, negazi, nento ekrwitshiweyo, nombulo.” (15:28, 29) Ukhuthazo olwanikelwa yile ncwadi lwabangela ukuba abazalwana bakwa-Antiyokwe bavuye.

21. (a) Ngoobani abathelela uPawulos kuhambo lwakhe lwesibini lobuvangeli basemazweni? (b) Ziziphi iziganeko eziphawula utyelelo lwaseMakedoni?

²¹ Ubulungiseleli buyanda ngohambo lwesibini lukaPawulos (15:36–18:22).e “Emva kwemihla ethile” uBharnabhas noMarko bahamba ngomkhombe besinge eSipro, ngoxa uPawulos noSilas belityhutyha elaseSiriya nelaseAsiya Mayina. (15:36) EListra umfana onguTimoti uthelela uPawulos, yaye bathabatha uhambo oluya eTrowa ekunxweme lolwandle iAegean. Apha embonweni uPawulos ubona indoda imbongoza isithi: “Wela uze kwelaseMakedoni usisize.” (16:9) ULuka uthelela uPawulos, yaye basinga eFilipi ngomkhombe, isixeko esikhulu saseMakedoni, apho uPawulos noSilas bathi baphoswe entolongweni. Oku kubangela ukuba umgcini mabanjwa abe likholwa aze abhaptizwe. Emva kokukhululwa kwabo, baya eTesalonika, kwaye apho amaYuda anomona axhokonxa amahlokondiba ukuba abahlasele. Ngoko ebusuku abazalwana babalekisela uPawulos noSilas eBhereya. Apha amaYuda akhona abonisa ubuntu ngokulamkela ilizwi “ngentumekelelo yonke, ezincina iZibhalo imihla ngemihla” ukuze aqinisekise ukuba zinjalo na ezi zinto ayezifunda. (17:11) Eshiya uSilas noTimoti kweli bandla litsha, njengokuba wayeshiye uLuka eFilipi, uPawulos ukekelela ngasemazantsi eAtene.

22. Uba yintoni umphumo ngenxa yentetho kaPawulos yobuchule eAriyopago?

²² Kwesi sixeko sizaliswe lunqulo lwezithixo, izithandi-bulumko ezihloniphekileyo zamaEpikure nezamaStoyike ziyamhleka uPawulos zisithi “lipholopholo” nokuthi “ngumazisi wezithixo zasemzini,” kwaye ziyamthabatha zimse eAriyopago, okanye kwiNduli kaMars. Ethetha ngobuciko uPawulos uxoxa ngokufaneleka kokufuna uThixo oyinyaniso, ‘iNkosi yezulu nomhlaba,’ oqinisekisa ukugweba ngobulungisa esebenzisa lowo awamvusa kwabafileyo. Ukukhankanya uvuko kubahlula kubini abaphulaphuli bakhe, kodwa bambi baba ngamakholwa.—17:18, 24.

23. Yintoni ephunyezwayo eKorinte?

²³ Ngokulandelayo, eKorinte, uPawulos uhlala noAkwila noPrisila, ebathelela kwishishini labo lokwenza iintente. Ukuchaswa kokushumayela kwakhe kumnyanzelela ukuba aphume kwindlu yesikhungu aze aqhube iintlanganiso zakhe kwigumbi elikufuphi, kwikhaya likaTito Yusto. UKrispo, umphathi wendlu yesikhungu, uba likholwa. Emva kokuhlala iinyanga ezili-18 eKorinte, uPawulos uhamba noAkwila noPrisila besiya e-Efese, apho abashiya khona aze ahlabele mgama esinge kwa-Antiyokwe eSiriya, ngaloo ndlela equkumbela ukhenketho lwakhe lwesibini lobuvangeli basemazweni.

24, 25. (a) Ngexesha lokuqalisa kukaPawulos uhambo lwakhe lwesithathu, kwenzeka ntoni e-Efese? (b) Sisiphi isaqunge esiphawula ukuphela kweminyaka emithathu yokuhlala kukaPawulos apho?

²⁴ UPawulos utyelela kwakhona amabandla, kukhenketho lwesithathu (18:23–21:26).f E-Efese kufika mYuda uthile ogama linguApolo ovela kwa-Alesandire, eYiputa, ethetha ngokungafihlisi kwindlu yesikhungu ngoYesu, kodwa uAkwila noPrisila bakubona kuyimfuneko ukulungisa imfundiso yakhe ngaphambi kokuba aye eKorinte. UPawulos ngoku ukuhambo lwakhe lwesithathu kwaye ngexesha elililo ufika e-Efese. Ekuveni kwakhe ukuba amakholwa alapha ayebhaptizwe ngobhaptizo lukaYohane, uPawulos uwacacisela ngobhaptizo egameni likaYesu. Wandula ke abhaptize abantu abamalunga ne-12; yaye xa ebeka izandla zakhe phezu kwabo, bamkela umoya oyingcwele.

²⁵ Ebudeni bokuhlala kukaPawulos iminyaka emithathu e-Efese, ‘ilizwi likaYehova lenjenjalo ukwanda ngamandla nokweyisa,’ kwaye abaninzi bayayeka ukunqula uthixokazi ongumlindi wesi sixeko, uArtemis. (19:20) Becatshukiswe kukubona ukuba baza kulahlekelwa yingeniso, abenzi beetempile zesilivere babangela isaqunge esikhulu esixekweni kangangokuba kuthabatha iiyure ukuba kuchithachithwe ihlokondiba. Kungekudala emva koko uPawulos uyanduluka asinge eMakedoni nakwelamaGrike, ehamba etyelela amakholwa endleleni.

26. (a) Nguwuphi ummangaliso uPawulos awenzayo eTrowa? (b) Sisiphi isiluleko asinika abaveleli base-Efese?

²⁶ UPawulos uhlala iinyanga ezintathu kwelamaGrike ngaphambi kokubuya ngendlela yaseMakedoni, apho athelelwa nguLuka kwakhona. Bawelela eTrowa, kwaye apha, njengokuba uPawulos enikela intetho kude kube sebusuku, umfana othile ulala yoyi aze awe kwifestile yegumbi elikumgangatho wesithathu. Ufunqulwa apho efile, kodwa uPawulos umbuyisela ebomini. Ngosuku olulandelayo uPawulos neqela lakhe bayanduluka besinge eMileto, apho uPawulos emisa khona endleleni eya eYerusalem, ukuze abe nentlanganiso namadoda amakhulu ase-Efese. Uyawazisa ukuba akasayi kuphinda abubone ubuso bakhe. Ngoko, hayi indlela ekungxamiseke ngayo ukuba awukhokele aze awaluse umhlambi kaThixo, ‘athe umoya oyingcwele wawamisa ukuba ngabaveleli bawo’! Uwakhumbuza ngomzekelo awamisele wona, yaye uyawakhuthaza ukuba ahlale ephaphile, angazibandezi ukusebenzela abazalwana. (20:28) Nangona elunyukiswa ngelokuba angawubeki owakhe umcondo eYerusalem, uPawulos akabuyeli mva. Amaqabane akhe ayanikezela, esithi: “Makwenzeke ukuthanda [kukaYehova, NW].” (21:14) Kubakho uvuyo olukhulu xa uPawulos exelela uYakobi namadoda amakhulu ngokusikelela kukaThixo ubulungiseleli bakhe phakathi kweentlanga.

27. UPawulos wamkelwa njani etempileni?

²⁷ UPawulos uyabanjwa aze asiwe enkundleni (21:27–26:32). Xa uPawulos engena etempileni eYerusalem, wamkelwa ngobutshaba. AmaYuda avela kwelaseAsiya axhokonxa sonke isixeko ukuba simjikele, kwaye usinda cebetshu ngokuhlangulwa ngamasoldati aseRoma.

28. (a) UPawulos uphakamisa wuphi umbuzo phambi kweNtlanganiso Yamatyala, yaye uba yintoni umphumo woko? (b) Wandula ke athunyelwe phi?

²⁸ Sibangelwa yintoni sonke esi siphithiphithi? Ungubani lo Pawulos? Liyintoni ityala lakhe? Umthetheli-waka odidekileyo ufuna ukuzazi ezi mpendulo. Ngenxa yokuba engummi waseRoma, uPawulos uyasinda ekutyakatyweni kwaye uziswa phambi kweNtlanganiso Yamatyala. Ewe, kuthe kanti yinkundla eyahluleleneyo yabaFarisi nabaSadusi! Ngoko ke uPawulos uphakamisa imbambano yovuko, ebabangela ukuba bangavisisani. Njengokuba ukungavisisani kwabo kusiya kukhula, kufuneka ukuba umkhosi wamaRoma umxwile uPawulos phakathi kweNtlanganiso Yamatyala ngaphambi kokuba aqwengwe. Ngasese uthunyelwa ngobusuku kwiRhuluneli uFelikis eKesareya elindwe ngumkhosi omkhulu.

29. Etyholwa ngelithi udal’ uqhushululu, luluphi ungcelele lokuchotshelwa kwamatyala uPawulos aya kulo, yaye sisiphi isibheno asenzayo?

²⁹ Etyholwa ngabamangaleli bakhe ngelithi udal’ uqhushululu, uPawulos uziphendulela ngobuchule phambi koFelikis. Kodwa uFelikis uyalixhoma eli tyala kuba enethemba lokuba uPawulos uza kumnyoba ukuze amkhulule. Kudlula iminyaka emibini. UPorkiyo Festo ungena esikhundleni sikaFelikis njengerhuluneli, yaye kuyalelwa ukuba eli tyala lichotshelwe ngokutsha. Kwakhona, kubekwa izimangalo ezinzima, yaye kwakhona uPawulos uvakalisa ukungabi natyala kwakhe. Kodwa uFesto, kuba efuna ukuthandwa ngamaYuda, uthi eli tyala maliye kuxoxwa kakuhle phambi kwakhe eYerusalem. Ngoko ke uPawulos uvakalisa oku: “Ndibhenele kuKesare.” (25:11) Kudlula imihla ethile. Ekugqibeleni, uKumkani uHerode Agripa II utyelela uFesto ngobuhlobo, yaye kwakhona uPawulos ungeniswa kwiholo yamatyala. Unikela ubungqina obunamandla nobeyisayo ngokokude uAgripa ashukunyiselwe ukuba athi kuye: “Kwixesha nje elincinane ubuya kundeyisela ekubeni ndibe ngumKristu.” (26:28, NW) Ngokukwanjalo uAgripa uyaqonda ukuba uPawulos umsulwa nokuba ebenokukhululwa ukuba ebengabhenelanga kuKesare.

30. Ngawaphi amava aba nawo uPawulos kuhambo lwakhe ukuza kufika eMelita?

³⁰ UPawulos uya eRoma (27:1–28:31).g Umbanjwa onguPawulos nabanye bathatyathwa ngomkhombe okwesihlandlo sokuqala sohambo oluya eRoma. Ekubeni umoya ungabavumeli, bahamba kancinane. Kwichweba laseMira, bakhwela kwenye inqanawa. Bakufika kuMachweba Amahle, eKrete, uPawulos uncomela ukuba bahlale apho de kudlule ubusika, kodwa abaninzi bacebisa ukuba banduluke ngomkhombe. Bengekangeni kuyaphi elwandle babhudlwa sisaqhwithi somoya size sibandlandlathekise kalusizi. Emva kweeveki ezimbini umkhombe wabo ekugqibeleni uqhekeka ube ziingceba kunxweme lwaseMelita. Ngokuvisisana nesiqinisekiso sikaPawulos sangaphambilana, akukho namnye kubantu abangama-276 ababekhwele kulo mkhombe ophulukana nobomi bakhe! Abemi baseMelita bababonisa ububele obugqithiseleyo, yaye ebudeni bobo busika, uPawulos uphilisa abaninzi babo ngamandla amangalisayo omoya kaThixo.

31. UPawulos wamkelwa njani ekufikeni kwakhe eRoma, yaye uzixakekisa ngantoni apho?

³¹ Ngentwasahlobo elandelayo uPawulos ufika eRoma, yaye abazalwana bame endleleni beze kumkhawulela. Uthe akubabona uPawulos ‘wambulela uThixo waza womelezeka.’ Nangona esengumbanjwa, uPawulos uvunyelwe ukuba ahlale kwindlu yakhe eqashiweyo elindwe lisoldati. ULuka uqukumbela ingxelo yakhe, echaza ukubamkela kukaPawulos ngobubele bonke ababesiza kuye kwaye “ebuvakalisa uBukumkani bukaThixo, efundisa iindawo ezingeNkosi uYesu Kristu ngako konke ukungafihlisi, engalelwa bani.”—28:15, 31.

ISIZATHU SOKUBA IBE YINGENELO

32. Ngaphambi nangomhla wePentekoste, uPetros wabungqinela njani ubunyaniso beZibhalo zesiHebhere?

³² Incwadi yeZenzo yongezelela ubungqina kobo beengxelo zeVangeli ekungqineleni ubunyaniso nokuphefumlelwa kweZibhalo zesiHebhere. Njengokuba kusondela iPentekoste, uPetros wacaphula ukuzaliseka kweziprofeto ezibini zokuba ‘umoya oyingcwele wathetha ngaphambili ngomlomo kaDavide ngaye uYuda.’ (IZe. 1:16, 20; INdu. 69:25; 109:8) Kwakhona uPetros waxelela isihlwele esikhwankqisiweyo ngePentekoste ukuba eneneni sasizibonela ngawaso amehlo inzaliseko yesiprofeto: “Oku kona koku kuthethiweyo ngumprofeti uYoweli.”—IZe. 2:16-21; Yoweli 2:28-32; thelekisa kwaneZenzo 2:25-28, 34, 35 neNdumiso 16:8-11 nese-110:1.

33. UPetros, uFilipu, uYakobi noPawulos babonisa njani ukuba iZibhalo zesiHebhere ziphefumlelwe?

³³ Ukuze eyisele esinye isihlwele esingaphandle kwetempile, kwakhona uPetros wabhekisela kwiZibhalo zesiHebhere, eqala ngokucaphula uMoses aze ke athi: “Nabo ke bonke abaprofeti, bethabathela kuSamuweli nakwabalandelayo, bonke abathethileyo, bayixela loo mihla ngenxa engaphambili.” Kamva, ngaphambi kweNtlanganiso Yamatyala, uPetros wacaphula INdumiso 118:22 ukuze abonise ukuba uKristu, ilitye abalicekisileyo, laba “yintloko yembombo.” (IZe. 3:22-24; 4:11) UFilipu wacacisela ithenwa elingumTiyopiya indlela isiprofeto sikaIsaya 53:7, 8 esazaliseka ngayo, kwaye lakuba licacelwe, ngokuthobekileyo eli thenwa lacela ukubhaptizwa. (IZe. 8:28-35) Ngokukwanjalo, ethetha noKorneli ngoYesu, uPetros wangqina esithi: “Bonke abaprofeti bayamngqinela yena lo.” (10:43) Xa kwakusingathwe umbandela wolwaluko, uYakobi wasixhasa isigqibo sakhe ngokuthi: “Ayavumelana nako oko amazwi abaprofeti, njengokuba kubhaliwe.” (15:15-18) Umpostile uPawulos wakholosa ngamandla afanayo. (26:22; 28:23, 25-27) Isibakala esizicaceleyo sokuzamkela ngokulula kwabafundi nabaphulaphuli babo iZibhalo zesiHebhere njengeziyinxalenye yeLizwi likaThixo kuqinisekisa ukuthi loo mibhalo iphefumlelwe.

34. IZenzo zityhila ntoni ngebandla lamaKristu, ibe ngaba oku kwahlukile nangayiphi na indlela namhlanje?

³⁴ IZenzo ziyingenelo gqitha ekuboniseni indlela ibandla lamaKristu elasekwa ngayo nendlela elanda ngayo ngenxa yamandla omoya oyingcwele. Kuyo yonke le ngxelo ichukumisayo, siphawula iintsikelelo zikaThixo zolwando, ukungafihlisi novuyo lwamaKristu okuqala, isimo sengqondo sokungalalanisi xa ejamelene nentshutshiso, nokukulungela kwawo ukukhonza, njengoko kuzekeliswa kukuphendula kukaPawulos isicelo sokungena kwinkonzo yasemzini nokuya eMakedoni. (4:13, 31; 15:3; 5:28, 29; 8:4; 13:2-4; 16:9, 10) Ibandla lamaKristu namhlanje alahlukanga, kuba limanyaniswe luthando, umanyano nezilangazelelo ezifanayo njengoko lithetha “izinto ezinkulu zikaThixo” likhokelwa ngumoya oyingcwele.—2:11, 17, 45; 4:34, 35; 11:27-30; 12:25.

35. IZenzo ziyibonisa njani indlela ubungqina obabumelwe bunikelwe ngayo, yaye nguwuphi umgangatho wobulungiseleli ogxininiswayo?

³⁵ Incwadi yeZenzo ibonisa kanye indlela umsebenzi wamaKristu wokushumayela ngoBukumkani bukaThixo ofanele uphunyezwe ngayo. UPawulos wayengumzekelo woku, esithi: “Andinifihlelanga nto, ndanityela onke amalungelo; ndanifundisa ekuhleni nakwizindlu ngezindlu.” Wandula ke ahlabele mgama esithi: “Ndiqononondisa.” Lo mxholo ‘wokuqononondisa’ uchukumisa ingqalelo yethu kuyo yonke le ncwadi, kwaye ubalaseliswa gqitha kwiindinyana zokugqibela, apho ukuzinikela kukaPawulos ngentliziyo epheleleyo ekushumayeleni nasekufundiseni kwakhe, kwanaxa wayekhonkxiwe entolongweni, kungqinelwa ngala mazwi: “Wabatyhilela, ebaqononondisa kunene, ubukumkani bukaThixo; kananjalo ebeyisela kokungoYesu, ethabatha emthethweni kaMoses kwanakubaprofeti, eqala kusasa ahlwise.” Ngamana singasoloko siwenza ngentliziyo epheleleyo umsebenzi wethu woBukumkani!—20:20, 21; 28:23; 2:40; 5:42; 26:22.

36. Sisiphi isiluleko sikaPawulos esiluncedo esisebenza ngamandla kubaveleli namhlanje?

³⁶ Intetho kaPawulos kubaveleli base-Efese iqulethe isiluleko esisebenza gqitha kubaveleli banamhlanje. Ekubeni aba bemiselwe ngomoya oyingcwele, kubaluleke gqitha ukuba ‘bazilumkele bona nawo wonke umhlambi,’ bewalusa ngothantamiso kwaye bewulinda kwiingcuka ezibawayo ezifuna ukuwutshabalalisa. Le asiyombopheleleko ilula! Abaveleli kufuneka bahlale bephaphile yaye bazakhe ngelizwi lobubele obunothando bukaThixo. Njengoko bezabalazela ukunceda abo babuthathaka, bamele ‘bawakhumbule amazwi eNkosi uYesu; kuba yena wathi, Ukupha kunoyolo ngaphezu kokuphiwa.’—20:17-35.

37. Kungokusebenzisa yiphi ingxoxo yobuciko awathi uPawulos wayiphuhlisa ingongoma yakhe eAriyopago?

³⁷ Nakwezinye iintetho zakhe uPawulos wayeyicacisa kakuhle imigaqo yeBhayibhile. Ngokomzekelo, kukho ingxoxo ephilileyo yentetho yakhe kumaStoyike namaEpikure eAriyopago. Okokuqala ucaphula umbhalo okrolwe esibingelelweni othi, “Kongaziwayo UThixo,” aze awusebenzise njengesizathu sokucacisa kwakhe ukuba uThixo omnye noyinyaniso, iNkosi yezulu nomhlaba, owazenza ngagazi-nye zonke iintlanga zabantu, ‘akakude kuthi sonke ngabanye.’ Wandula ke acaphule amazwi eembongi zabo athi, “Kuba nathi siyinzala yakhe,” ukuze abonise indlela ekububudenge ngayo ukucinga ukuba akho ngenxa yezithixo ezingaphiliyo zegolide, zesilivere okanye zelitye. Ngaloo ndlela ngobuchule uPawulos ugxininisa ulongamo lukaThixo ophilileyo. Imbambano yovuko uyivusa kuphela kumazwi akhe okuqukumbela, ibe nangoko akamthi khankqu ngegama uKristu. Ufikelela kwingongoma yakhe yokuba uThixo omnye noyinyaniso ungumongami ophakamileyo, yaye ngenxa yoko bambi baba ngamakholwa.—17:22-34.

38. Ziziphi iintsikelelo eziya kubangelwa luhlobo lokufundisisa olukhuthazwa kwiZenzo?

³⁸ Incwadi yeZenzo ikhuthaza ukufundisisa rhoqo nangenkuthalo “sonke iSibhalo.” Xa uPawulos washumayela okwesihlandlo sokuqala eBhereya, amaYuda alapho, ngenxa yokuba “alamkela ilizwi ngentumekelelo yonke, ezincina izibhalo imihla ngemihla, ukuba zingaba zinjalo na ezi zinto,” ayenconywa ngokuthi ‘ayeneengqondo eziphangaleleyo.’ (17:11) Namhlanje, njengangoko, oku kuziphengulula ngolangazelelo iZibhalo ngokumanyene nebandla elizaliswe ngumoya kaYehova kuya kubangela iintsikelelo eziziswa kukweyiseka nokuba nokholo olomeleleyo. Kungofundisiso olunjalo anokuthi umntu ayiqonde ngokucacileyo imigaqo kaThixo. Eminye yale migaqo ibhalwe ngokucacileyo kwiZenzo 15:29. Apha iqumrhu elilawulayo labapostile namadoda amakhulu aseYerusalem lavakalisa ukuba ngoxa ulwaluko lwalungeyomfuneko kuSirayeli wokomoya, unqulo-zithixo, igazi nombulo zazalelwe ngokupheleleyo.

39. (a) Abafundi bomelezwa njani ukuze bahlangabezane neentshutshiso? (b) Bubuphi ubungqina bokungafihlisi ababunikelayo? Ngaba baba yimpumelelo?

³⁹ Abo bafundi bokuqala babezifundisisa ngenene iZibhalo eziphefumlelweyo kwaye babenokuzicaphula baze bazisebenzise nanini na oko kusiba yimfuneko. Bomelezwa ngolwazi oluchanileyo nangomoya kaThixo ukuze bahlangabezane neentshutshiso ezikrakra. UPetros noYohane bawamisela umzekelo wokulandelwa onke amaKristu athembekileyo xa bazixelela ngokungafihlisiyo iinkokeli ezichasayo besithi: “Yahlulani nina, ukuba bubulungisa na emehlweni kaThixo ukuva nina, kunokuva uThixo; kuba singenako thina ukuthi singazithethi izinto esazibonayo, esazivayo.” Kwaye xa beziswa kwakhona phambi kweNtlanganiso Yamatyala, ‘eyayibathethele’ ngelithi mabangafundisi ngegama likaYesu, bengathandabuzi bathi: “Simelwe kukuthi sive uThixo kunokuba sive abantu.” Obo bungqina benkalipho baphumela ekubeni kunikelwe ubungqina obuhle kubaphathi, yaye bakhokelela umfundisi woMthetho oyinkunkqele uGamaliyeli ukuba athethe amazwi akhe awaziwayo okuvumela inkululeko yonqulo, okwakhokelela ekukhululweni kwabapostile.—4:19, 20; 5:28, 29, 34, 35, 38, 39.

40. IZenzo zisinika luphi ukhuthazo ekunikeleni ubungqina obucokisekileyo ngoBukumkani?

⁴⁰ Injongo kaYehova ezukileyo ngoBukumkani bakhe, enjengomsonto wegolide kuyo yonke iBhayibhile, iphuhliswa ngokubalasele gqitha kwincwadi yeZenzo. Ekuqaleni kuboniswa uYesu ebudeni beentsuku ezingama-40 ngaphambi kokunyuka kwakhe “ethetha izinto ezingabo ubukumkani bukaThixo.” UYesu wayephendula umbuzo wabafundi bakhe ongokubuyiselwa koBukumkani xa wabaxelela ukuba babemele kuqala babe ngamangqina akhe kude kuse naseziphelweni zomhlaba. (1:3, 6, 8) Beqala eYerusalem, abafundi bashumayela uBukumkani ngenkalipho enganciphiyo. Iintshutshiso zabangela ukuxulutywa kukaStefano ngamatye nokuba abafundi abaninzi babe ziintsali kwimimandla emitsha. (7:59, 60) Kubhaliwe ukuba uFilipu wazivakalisa ngempumelelo enkulu kwelaseSamariya “iindaba ezilungileyo zezinto zobukumkani bukaThixo” nokuba uPawulos namaqabane akhe babuvakalisa “ubukumkani” eAsiya, eKorinte, e-Efese naseRoma. Onke la maKristu okuqala aba yimizekelo ebalaseleyo yokukholosa ngokungaxengaxengiyo ngoYehova nangomoya wakhe ozimasayo. (8:5, 12; 14:5-7, 21, 22; 18:1, 4; 19:1, 8; 20:25; 28:30, 31) Ngokuhlolisisa inzondelelo nenkalipho yawo engoyiswa nto nokuphawula indlela uYehova awayisikelela ngokutyebe ngayo imigudu yawo, nathi sikwanesikhuthazo esimangalisayo sokuthembeka ‘sokuqononondisa ekunikeleni ubungqina ngobukumkani bukaThixo.’—28:23.

[Imibhalo esemazantsi]