ISAHLUKO 3

“Bafumana Umoya Oyingcwele”

Imiphumo yokuthululwa komoya oyingcwele ngePentekoste

1. Yithi gqaba-gqaba ngendlela ekuba yiyo ngePentekoste.

KWIZITRATO zaseYerusalem abantu bachulumancile.a Kwisibingelelo setempile kuphuma umsi njengoko abaLevi bevuma iiNdumiso (ezisusela kwiNdumiso 113 ukuya ku-118). Izitrato ziyanyakazela ziindwendwe ezityeleleyo. Zivela kwiindawo ezikude njengaseElam, eMesopotamiya, eKapadokiya, ePonto, eYiputa naseRoma.b Kwenzeka ntoni? Lixesha lePentekoste, ekwabizwa ngokuba ‘yimini yesivuno sokuqala.’ (Num. 28:26) Lo ngumsitho waminyaka le, ophawula ukuphela kwexesha lokuvunwa kwerhasi nelokuqala kokuvunwa kwengqolowa. Lixesha elimnandi gqitha eli.

Imaphu ebonisa iindawo ababevela kuzo abo beva iindaba ezilungileyo ngePentekoste ka-33 C.E. 1. Iingingqi: ILibhiya, IYiputa, ITiyopiya, IBhithiniya, IPonto, IKapadokiya, KwelakwaYuda, IMesopotamiya, IBhabhiloni, IElam, IMedi, neParti. 2. Izixeko: IRoma, IAleksandriya, IMemfis, Kwa-Antiyokwe (yaseSiriya), IYerusalem, neBhabhiloni. 3. Amanzi: ULwandle LweMeditera, ULwandle Olumnyama, ULwandle Olubomvu, ULwandle lweCaspian, nePersian Gulf.

IYERUSALEM—INDAWO EYINTLOKO YONQULO LOBUYUDA

Izinto ezininzi ekuthethwa ngazo kwizahluko zokuqala zencwadi yeZenzo zenzeka eYerusalem. Esi sixeko sisesiphakathini selakwaYuda, malunga neekhilomitha eziyi-55 kwimpuma yoLwandle lweMeditera. Sijikelezwe ziinduli zeentaba. Ngo-1070 B.C.E., uKumkani uDavide woyisa inqaba eyayakhiwe phezu kweNtaba iZiyon, ekwalapha kulo mmandla, ibe isixeko esakhiwa ngakuyo saba likomkhulu lesizwe sakwaSirayeli.

Kufutshane neNtaba iZiyon, yiNtaba iMoriya apho kuthiwa ngokwembali yamaYuda uAbraham wazama khona ukunikela ngoIsake, kwiminyaka emalunga neyi-1 900 ngaphambi kwezinto ekuthethwa ngazo kwincwadi yeZenzo. INtaba iMoriya yaba yinxalenye yesixeko xa uSolomon wakha itempile yokuqala kaYehova phezu kwayo. Le tempile yaba yindawo eyintloko ekwakunqulelwa nezazisenzelwa kuyo izinto ezininzi zamaYuda.

Kwakukule tempile kaYehova apho onke amaYuda azinikeleyo, asuka mbombo zone zomhlaba ayehlanganisana khona ukuze anyuse imibingelelo, anqule aze abhiyozele imisitho eyayisenziwa ngamaxesha athile onyaka. Loo nto ayeyenza kuba ethobela umyalelo kaThixo othi: “Kathathu ngonyaka onke amadoda amele aye kwindawo uYehova uThixo wenu aza kuyikhetha.” (Dut. 16:16) Kwakhona, eYerusalem kulapho yayidibana khona iSanhedrin Enkulu, inkundla ephakamileyo yamaYuda nabaphathi borhulumente welizwe.

2. Zeziphi iziganeko ezimangalisayo ezenzeka ngePentekoste ka-33 C.E.?

² Kungo-33 C.E. malunga nentsimbi yesithoba kwintsasa yentwasahlobo ezolileyo, kwenzeka isiganeko esiza kushiya abantu bebamb’ ongezantsi kangangeminyaka emininzi. Ngequbuliso kubakho “ingxolo evela ezulwini efana neyomoya obhudla ngamandla.” (IZe. 2:2) Le ngxolo ivakala kwindlu yonke abahlanganisene kuyo abafundi bakaYesu abayi-120. Kuthi kusenjalo, kwenzeke ummangaliso. Kubonakala iilwimi ezingathi zezomlilo, ngalunye luhlala kumfundi ngamnye.c Abafundi “bafumana umoya oyingcwele,” baze baqalise ukuthetha ngeelwimi zasemzini! Ukuphuma kwabo endlwini, iindwendwe abadibana nazo kwizitrato zaseYerusalem ziyamangaliswa ngenxa yokuba abafundi bekwazi ukuthetha iilwimi zazo! Ngamnye kuzo uva abafundi “bethetha ulwimi lwakhe.”—IZe. 2:1-6.

3. (a) Kutheni kunokuthiwa iPentekoste ka-33 C.E yaba sisiganeko esibalulekileyo kunqulo lwenene? (b) Intetho kaPetros yadibana njani nokusetyenziswa ‘kwezitshixo zoBukumkani’?

³ Esi siganeko esibangel’ umdla sasibaluleke kakhulu kwimbali yonqulo lukaYehova kuba sasisisiqalo sohlanga lukaSirayeli kaThixo, ibandla lamaKristu athanjisiweyo. (Gal. 6:16) Kodwa zikho nezinye izinto ezibalulekileyo ezazisenzeka. Xa uPetros wayethetha nezihlwele ngalo mini wasebenzisa ‘isitshixo sokuqala kwezithathu zoBukumkani,’ ngasinye sazo esasiza kuvulela iqela labantu elahlukileyo ithuba lokufumana iintsikelelo ezikhethekileyo. (Mat. 16:18, 19) Isitshixo sokuqala savulela amaYuda nabantu abaguqukele kubuYuda ithuba lokwamkela iindaba ezilungileyo nokuze bathanjiswe ngomoya oyingcwele kaThixo.d Babeza kutsho babe nguSirayeli kaThixo, baze ngenxa yoko babenethemba lokulawula njengookumkani nababingeleli kuBukumkani obulawulwa nguMesiya. (ISityhi. 5:9, 10) Ethubeni, le nyhweba yadluliselwa nakumaSamariya ibe kamva nakubantu beeNtlanga. Yintoni enokufundwa ngamaKristu namhlanje kwiziganeko ezenzeka ngePentekoste ka-33 C.E.?

“Babehleli Bonke Endlini” (IZenzo 2:1-4)

4. Ibandla lamaKristu lanamhlanje liqhubeka njani nomsebenzi owawusenziwa libandla elasekwa ngo-33 C.E.?

⁴ Ibandla lamaKristu laqala ngabafundi abayi-120, ‘ababehleli bonke endlini’ enye, kwigumbi eliphezulu, nababethanjiswe ngomoya oyingcwele. (IZe. 2:1) Lwathi luphela olo suku, kwabe sekubhaptizwe amawaka abantu. Eso yaba sisiqalo sokwanda kwentlangano esaqhubeka ikhula nanamhlanje! Ibandla lamaKristu lanamhlanje elibunjwa ngamadoda namabhinqa ahloniph’ uThixo, liyeyona ndlela zishunyayelwa ngayo ‘iindaba ezilungileyo ezingoBukumkani emhlabeni wonke, ukuze ziviwe zizo zonke iintlanga’ ngaphambi kokupheliswa kweli hlabathi.—Mat. 24:14.

5. Kwakunceda njani ukuhlobana nebandla lamaKristu ngexesha labapostile, kunceda njani namhlanje?

⁵ Ibandla lamaKristu laliza kunceda lize likhuthaze amalungu alo, lawo athanjisiweyo, kanti ethubeni, nalawo “ezinye izimvu.” (Yoh. 10:16) UPawulos wabonisa indlela akuxabisa ngayo ukuncedana kwamalungu ebandla xa wabhalela amaKristu aseRoma esithi: “Ndinqwenela ukunibona, ndinikhuthaze ukuze buqine ubuhlobo benu noThixo; okanye sikhuthazane ukuze ukholo lwenu nolwam luqine.”—Roma 1:11, 12.

IROMA—IKOMKHULU LOBUKHOSI

Ngexesha lokwenzeka kwezinto ekuthethwa ngazo kwincwadi yeZenzo, iRoma yayisesona sixeko sikhulu nesinamandla ngaloo mihla. Esi sixeko sasilikomkhulu lohlanga olunamandla olwalulawula ukususela eBritani ukuya kuMntla Afrika nokususela kuLwandle lweAtlantiki ukuya kwiPersian Gulf.

IRoma yayigcwele ngabantu ababenamasiko angafaniyo, abantu beentlanga ngeentlanga, ababethetha iilwimi ezahlukahlukeneyo nababeneenkolo ezininzi ezingafaniyo. Ngenxa yeendlela zayo ezintle, abahambi nabathengisi babequqa bebuyelela eRoma bephuma kuloo mazwe ayephantsi kwayo. Kwizibuko elikufuphi laseOstia, kwakufika iinqanawa ezininzi zizise ukutya nezinto eziduru kweso sixeko.

Ngexesha labapostile babengaphezu kwemiliyoni abantu ababehlala eRoma. Mhlawumbi ihafu yabantu ababehlala apho babengamakhoboka—izaphuli-mthetho ezigwetyiweyo, abantwana abathengisiweyo okanye abalahlwe ngabazali babo namabanjwa athinjwe emfazweni. Kwakukho amaYuda aseYerusalem kuloo makhoboka asiwa eRoma, awathinjwa emva kokoyiswa kweso sixeko yiNjengele yaseRoma uPompey ngo-63 B.C.E.

Abantu abaninzi ababengengomakhoboka babengamahlwempu. Babehlala kwizindlu ezinemigangatho emininzi futhi babexhomekeke kwisibonelelo sikarhulumente. Kodwa obu bukhosi babunezakhiwo ezintle ezinkulu kakhulu ezazisetyenziswa ngabantu. Phakathi kwezo zakhiwo yayiziindawo zemiboniso, namabala angayiwayo ekwakubukelwa kuwo imidlalo ephambili yeqonga, imilo ekwakusetyenziswa kuyo amakrele nemidyarho yamahashe arhuqa iinqwelo—zonke ezo zinto zisenzelwa ukonwabisa abantu baseRoma.

6, 7. Namhlanje ibandla lamaKristu liwufeza njani umsebenzi eliwuthunywe nguYesu wokushumayela kwiintlanga zonke?

⁶ Nanamhlanje, ibandla lamaKristu lisenza laa msebenzi laliwunikwe ukuba liwenze. UYesu wanika abafundi bakhe umsebenzi owawuza kuba nzima kodwa ube uvuyisa. Wathi kubo: “Niyokubenza abafundi abantu beentlanga zonke, nibabhaptize egameni likaTata neloNyana nelomoya oyingcwele, nibafundise ukuba benze yonke into endiniyalele yona.”—Mat. 28:19, 20.

⁷ UYehova usebenzisa ibandla lamaKristu lamaNgqina kaYehova ukufeza lo msebenzi namhlanje. Kakade ke, akuyondlwan’ iyanetha ukufikelela kubantu beentlanga ezahlukahlukeneyo ngeendaba ezilungileyo. Kodwa amaNgqina kaYehova avelise izinto ezithetha ngeBhayibhile ngeelwimi ezingaphezu kweziyi-1 000. Kufanele kukuvuyise ukuya qho kwiintlanganiso nokwenza umsebenzi wokushumayela ngoBukumkani nokwenza abafundi. Uphakathi kwabantu abambalwa namhlanje abanenyhweba yokushumayela ngokucokisekileyo ngegama likaYehova!

8. Loluphi uncedo esilufumanayo ngenxa yokuba sebandleni lamaKristu?

⁸ Ukuze asincede sikwazi ukunyamezela sivuya kula maxesha anzima, uYehova uThixo usenze sakwazi ukuhlobana nabazalwana abasemhlabeni wonke. UPawulos wawabhalela wathi amaKristu angamaHebhere: “Masicingelane ukuze sikhuthazane ukuba sithandane size senze izinto ezilungileyo, singaziphosanisi nokudibana kunye, njengokuba abanye benesiko lokwenjenjalo, kodwa masikhuthazane, ingakumbi njengoko nibona ukuba imini iyasondela.” (Heb. 10:24, 25) Ibandla lamaKristu sisipho sikaYehova sokuba ukhuthaze abanye nokuba nawe ukhuthazwe. Hlala ukunye noodade nabazalwana bakho. Ungaze uziphosanise nokudibana nabo kwiintlanganiso zamaKristu!

‘Ngamnye Weva Ulwimi Lwakhe’ (IZenzo 2:5-13)

Abafundi bakaYesu bashumayela kumaYuda nakubantu abaguqukele kubuYuda kwisitrato esiphithizelayo. — “Siva izinto ezinkulu zikaThixo zithethwa ngeelwimi zethu.”—IZenzo 2:11

9, 10. Benze ntoni abanye ukuze bakwazi ukushumayela kubantu abathetha ulwimi lwasemzini?

⁹ Cinga indlela awayevuya ngayo loo maYuda nabantu ababeguqukele kubuYuda ngePentekoste ka-33 C.E. Kusenokwenzeka ukuba abantu abaninzi apho babesebenzisa iilwimi ezaziqhelekile, isiGrike okanye isiHebhere. Kodwa ngoku “ngamnye wabeva [abafundi] bethetha ulwimi lwakhe.” (IZe. 2:6) Abo bantu bamele ukuba bachukumiseka bakuva iindaba ezilungileyo zishunyayelwa ngolwimi lwabo lwenkobe. Kakade ke, namhlanje amaKristu akanaso isiphiwo sokuthetha iilwimi zasemzini ngokungummangaliso. Kodwa amaninzi ashumayela umyalezo woBukumkani kubantu bazo zonke iintlanga. Njani? Amanye aye afunda olunye ulwimi ukuze akhonze kwibandla elikufuphi elithetha olo lwimi okanye ukuze afudukele kwelinye ilizwe. Amaxesha amaninzi, adla ngokufumanisa ukuba abantu abathetha olo lwimi bachukumiseka gqitha yimizamo abayenzileyo.

¹⁰ Khawucinge ngoChristine, owafunda isiGujarati ekunye namanye amaNgqina asixhenxe. Xa wadibana nosisi osemtsha asebenza naye nothetha isiGujarati, wambulisa ngaso. Lo sisi wachukumiseka kangangokuba wafuna ukwazi isizathu sokuba uChristine enze umzamo wokufunda ulwimi olunzima njengesiGujarati. Loo nto yamnceda uChristine wakwazi ukushumayela. Lo sisi wathi kuChristine: “Imele ukuba ibaluleke gqitha into enishumayela ngayo.”

11. Singenza njani ukuze sishumayele ngoBukumkani kubantu abathetha ezinye iilwimi?

¹¹ Kakade ke, asinakukwazi sonke ukufunda olunye ulwimi. Kodwa ke, singakwazi ukuzilungiselela ukushumayela umyalezo woBukumkani kubantu abathetha ezinye iilwimi. Njani? Enye indlela kukusebenzisa i-JW Language^® app ukuze sifunde indlela elula yokubulisa yolwimi oluthethwayo kwindawo esikuyo. Unokufunda namagama ambalwa olo lwimi anokwenza abantu abaluthethayo babe nomdla. Xa sisebenzisa izixhobo ezinjalo entsimini, sinokuvuya ngendlela awavuya ngayo amaKristu okuqala xa abantu ababevela kwamanye amazwe babemangaliswe kukuva iindaba ezilungileyo ‘ngamnye ngolwimi lwakhe.’

AMAYUDA AHLALA EMESOPOTAMIYA NASEYIPUTA

IThe History of the Jewish People in the Age of Jesus Christ (175 B.C.–A.D. 135) ithi: “EMesopotamiya, eMedi naseBhabhiloni kwakukho inzala yabantu ababephuma kubukumkani bezizwe ezilishumi [zakwaSirayeli] nakobo bakwaYuda eyaphoswa apho ngama-Asiriya nangamaBhabhiloni.” Ngokutsho kwencwadi kaEzra 2:64, ngamaSirayeli ayi-42 360 kuphela awabuyela eYerusalem emva kokuthinjelwa eBhabhiloni. Le nto yenzeka ngo-537 B.C.E. UFlavius Josephus wabhala ukuba kwiminyaka eyi-100 yokuqala ku-C.E., amaYuda “awayehlala kummandla waseBhabhiloni” ayefikelela kumashumi amawaka. Kwiminyaka yoo-300 ukuya koo-500 C.E., la maYuda ahlala kwezi ndawo abhala iTalmud yaseBhabhiloni.

Kwafunyanwa ubungqina bokuba kwakukho amaYuda awayehlala eYiputa kwiminyaka yoo-600 B.C.E. ibe kusenokwenzeka ukuba ayehlala apho kwangaphambi kwelo xesha. Kwelo xesha, uYeremiya wadlulisa umyalezo kaYehova kumaYuda awayehlala kwiindawo ezahlukahlukeneyo zaseYiputa, kuquka eMemfis. (Yer. 44:1, umbhalo osemazantsi) Kunokwenzeka ukuba abantu abaninzi bafudukela eYiputa ngeminyaka yoo-323-30 B.C.E. UJosephus uthi amaYuda aba phakathi kwabantu bokuqala ukufudukela eAleksandriya. Ekuhambeni kwexesha, avunyelwa ukuba aphathe wonke umhlaba weso sixeko awayehlala kuyo. Kwiminyaka eyi-100 yokuqala ku-C.E., umbhali ongumYuda uPhilo wathi ayeyimiliyoni amaYuda awayehlala eYiputa, ukususela “kwicala elisekupheleni kweLibhiya ukuya kwimida yaseTiyopiya.”

“UPetros Waphakama” (IZenzo 2:14-37)

12. (a) Yintoni awayithethayo uYoweli eyenzeka kwisiganeko esingummangaliso sangePentekoste ka-33 C.E.? (b) Kwakutheni ukuze abafundi bakaYesu balindele ukuzaliseka kwesiprofeto sikaYoweli?

¹² “UPetros waphakama” ukuze athethe nabantu abaninzi beentlanga ezahlukahlukeneyo. (IZe. 2:14) Wabacacisela bonke ababemamele ukuba ummangaliso wokuthetha ngeelwimi ezahlukahlukeneyo wawuvela kuThixo ukuze kuzaliseke isiprofeto sikaYoweli esithi: “Ndiza kuthulula umoya wam phezu kwalo lonke uhlobo lwabantu.” (Yow. 2:28) Ngaphambi kokuba anyukele ezulwini, uYesu wathi kubafundi bakhe: “Ndiza kumcela uTata ukuba aninike omnye umncedi,” uYesu awamchaza ngokuthi “ngumoya.”—Yoh. 14:16, 17.

13, 14. UPetros wazama njani ukufikelela iintliziyo zabo babemmamele, futhi sinokuyilinganisa njani indlela awenza ngayo?

¹³ Kumazwi akhe okuqukumbela, uPetros wathi kwizihlwele: “Yonke indlu kaSirayeli mayazi ukuba uThixo umenze iNkosi noKristu, lo Yesu nambethelela esibondeni.” (IZe. 2:36) Abantu abaninzi kwabo babemamele uPetros babengekho xa uYesu wayebulawa kwisibonda sokungcungcutheka. Kodwa, kuba nabo babekolu hlanga lwambulalayo, babenetyala. Phawula ukuba uPetros wathetha ngembeko futhi ewacenga loo maYuda. Injongo yakhe yayikukuwenza aguquke, hayi ukuwagxeka. Ngaba abo bantu bacatshukiswa ngamazwi kaPetros? Nakanye. Kunoko, “zaba buhlungu gqitha iintliziyo zabo.” Babuza: “Yintoni emasiyenze?” Ukuthetha ngembeko kukaPetros kwamnceda wafikelela iintliziyo zabaninzi, kangangokuba bafuna ukuguquka.—IZe. 2:37.

¹⁴ Nathi sinokuyilinganisa indlela kaPetros yokucenga. Xa sishumayela kwabanye akuyomfuneko ukuba siphikisane nabo ngento yonke engachananga abayitshoyo. Kubhetele sithethe ngezinto esivumelana ngazo. Xa kukho into esivumelana ngayo nomntu sinokusebenzisa ubuchule simncede aqonde iLizwi likaThixo. Le ndlela yenza kube lula ukuba abantu abaneentliziyo ezintle bayamkele inyaniso yeBhayibhile.

UBUKRISTU EPONTO

Phakathi kwabo beva intshumayelo kaPetros ngePentekoste ka-33 C.E. kwakukho amaYuda asePonto, isithili esikumntla weAsia Minor. (IZe. 2:9) Kuyacaca ukuba abanye bagoduka nazo ezo ndaba zilungileyo, kuba kwabo uPetros wayebabhalele incwadi yakhe yokuqala kwakukho namakholwa ‘athe saa’ kwiindawo ezifana nePonto.g (1 Pet. 1:1) Ileta yakhe yenza kucace ukuba la maKristu ‘ayesehlelwa zizinto ezininzi ezibuhlungu’ ngenxa yokholo lwawo. (1 Pet. 1:6) Kusenokwenzeka ukuba ayechaswa futhi etshutshiswa.

Ezinye iimvavanyo ezafunyanwa ngamaKristu asePonto kuthethwa ngazo kwiileta ababhalelana zona uMlawuli uTrajan noPliny the Younger, irhuluneli yephondo laseRoma iBhithiniya nePonto. Malunga no-112 C.E., uPliny wabhala esePonto esithi ubuKristu babufana “nesifo” esasisosulela amadoda namabhinqa, omdala nomncinci, isityebi nehlwempu. UPliny wavula ithuba lokuba abo babetyholwa ngokuba ngamaKristu bakhethe phakathi kokubuphika okanye babulawe. Nabani na owayeqalekisa uKristu okanye acengceleze umthandazo wezithixo okanye wesitatyu sikaTrajan wayekhululwa. UPliny wavuma ukuba ezi zizinto “abo bangamaKristu nyhani bangeke bazenze noba sebenyanzelwa.”

g Amagama athi “nithe saa” aguqulela igama lesiGrike elisetyenziswa xa kuthethwa ngeendawo ezazihlala amaYuda. Le nto ithetha ukuba kubantu bokuqala ababa ngamaKristu kwakukho namaYuda.

“Ngamnye Kuni Abhaptizwe” (IZenzo 2:38-47)

15. (a) Ngawaphi amazwi awathethwa nguPetros, ibe bathini abantu? (b) Kwenzeka njani ukuze abantu abaninzi abamkela iindaba ezilungileyo ngePentekoste babe sele bekulungele ukubhaptizwa kwangolo suku?

¹⁵ Ngolo suku lumnandi lwePentekoste ka-33 C.E., uPetros wathi kuloo maYuda nabantu abaguqukele kubuYuda: “Guqukani, aze ngamnye kuni abhaptizwe.” (IZe. 2:38) Ngenxa yoko, kwabhaptizwa abantu abamalunga ne-3 000, mhlawumbi bebhaptizwa kumaqula okanye kufuphi naseYerusalem.e Ngaba bakungxamela ukubhaptizwa? Ngaba le nto itheth’ ukuba abafundi beBhayibhile nabantwana bamaKristu bamele babhaptizwe noba abakakulungeli? Akunjalo. Khumbula ukuba amaYuda nabantu abaguqukele kubuYuda ababhaptizwa ngaloo mhla wePentekoste ka-33 C.E. yayingabantu ababehleli bekukhuthalele ukufunda iLizwi likaThixo, futhi bengabantu bohlanga lukaYehova. Ngaphezu koko, babesele bebonakala ukuba bazimisele. Abanye babo babehambe imigama emide besiza kulo msitho waminyaka le. Emva kokwamkela inyaniso ebalulekileyo yokuba uYesu Kristu waba phambili ekufezekeni kwenjongo kaThixo, babekulungele ukuqhubeka bekhonza uThixo, kodwa ngoku bengabalandeli bakaKristu ababhaptiziweyo.

BABENGOOBANI ABANTU ABABEGUQUKELE KUBUYUDA?

“AmaYuda nabantu abaguqukele kubuYuda,” bamva uPetros xa wayeshumayela ngePentekoste ka-33 C.E.—IZe. 2:10.

Phakathi kwamadoda afanelekayo awamiselwayo ukuba ahoye ‘umcimbi obalulekileyo’ wokwabiwa kokutya kwemihla ngemihla kwakukho uNikolawo, ochazwa ‘njengoguqukele kunqulo lwamaYuda.’ (IZe. 6:3-5) Abantu ababeguqukele kubuYuda yayingabantu beeNtlanga ababamkele ukholo lwamaYuda. Babethathwa ngokungathi ngamaYuda, kuba babemamkele uThixo noMthetho wakaSirayeli, babalahla bonke abanye oothixo, baluswa (abo bangamadoda) baza bazidibanisa nesizwe sakwaSirayeli.

Emva kokuba amaYuda ebuyile ekuthinjweni eBhabhiloni ngo-537 B.C.E., amaninzi aya kuhlala kude nelizwe lakwaSirayeli kodwa aqhubeka ephila isiYuda. Ngenxa yaloo nto, abantu ngelo xesha ababehlala kumazwe akufutshane nakwaSirayeli nababehlala kude baye baqhelana nonqulo lwamaYuda. Ababhali bakudala, abafana noHorace noSeneca, bayangqina ukuba abantu abaninzi beendawo ngeendawo ababewathanda amaYuda nezinto akholelwa kuzo baqalisa ukuphila njengawo baza baguqukela kubuYuda.

16. AmaKristu exesha labapostile awubonisa njani umoya wokuzincama?

¹⁶ Akuthandabuzeki ukuba eli qela lalisikelelwa nguYehova. Le ngxelo ithi: “Bonke abantu ababa ngamakholwa babehleli kunye, besabelana ngento yonke, bethengisa izinto zabo nempahla yabo, baze banike mntu ngamnye loo mali ayidingayo.”f (IZe. 2:44, 45) Onke amaKristu okwenyaniso afuna ukulinganisa loo moya wothando nokuzincama.

17. Ziintoni ekufuneka aqale azenze umntu ukuze akufanelekele ukubhaptizwa?

¹⁷ IZibhalo zibonisa ukuba kukho izinto ekufuneka ezenzile umntu ngaphambi kokuba azinikele kuYehova aze abhaptizwe. Umele alazi iLizwi likaThixo. (Yoh. 17:3) Kufuneka abonise ukuba unokholo futhi kufuneka aguquke kwiindlela zakhe zangaphambili, azisole ngazo. (IZe. 3:19) Emva koko umele atshintshe, okanye ajike, aqalise ukwenza imisebenzi elungileyo evumelana nokuthanda kukaThixo. (Roma 12:2; Efe. 4:23, 24) Emva kokwenza ezi zinto umele azinikele kuThixo ngomthandazo aze abhaptizwe.—Mat. 16:24; 1 Pet. 3:21.

18. Yeyiphi inyhweba abanayo abafundi bakaKristu ababhaptiziweyo?

¹⁸ Ngaba ungumfundi kaYesu Kristu ozinikeleyo nobhaptiziweyo? Ukuba kunjalo, umele ulixabise gqitha eli thuba ulinikiweyo. Njengabafundi bexesha labapostile ababenomoya oyingcwele, nawe unokusetyenziswa ngeyona ndlela enkulu ukuze ushumayele ngokucokisekileyo uze wenze ukuthanda kukaYehova!

a Funda ibhokisi enomxholo othi “IYerusalem—Indawo Eyintloko Yonqulo LobuYuda.”

b Funda ibhokisi enomxholo othi “IRoma—Isixeko Esilikomkhulu,” “AmaYuda Ahlala EMesopotamiya NaseYiputa,” nenomxholo othi “UbuKristu EPonto.”

c Ezi “lwimi” zazingengomlilo wokoqobo, kodwa ‘zazingathi ngumlilo,’ nto leyo ebonisa ukuba kumfundi ngamnye kwakubonakala into efana nedangatye lomlilo.

d Funda ibhokisi enomxholo othi “Babengoobani Abantu Ababeguqukele KubuYuda?”

e Olu bhaptizo yayingelulo olona lwakha lwaba lukhulu. NgoAgasti 7, 1993 kwindibano yezizwe ngezizwe yamaNgqina kaYehova eyayiseKiev, eUkraine, kwabhaptizwa abantu abayi-7 402 kumaqula amathandathu. Olo bhaptizo lwathatha iiyure ezimbini nemizuzu elishumi elinesihlanu.

f Le nto yanceda ezo ndwendwe zazivela kude ngezinto ezazizidinga ukuze zikwazi ukuhlala eYerusalem ixesha elidana ukuze zifunde ngakumbi ngolu kholo lwazo lutsha. Oku kwabelana kwakusenziwa ngokuzithandela, akumele kubhidaniswe nobukomanisi, njengokuba abanye babesitsho.—IZe. 5:1-4.