Incwadi YeBhayibheli Yama-44—IzEnzo

Umlobi: ULuka

Yalotshelwa: ERoma

Ukuloba Kwaphela: Cishe ngo-61 C.E.

Isikhathi Esihlanganisiwe: 33–cishe ku-61 C.E.

 1, 2. (a) Iziphi izenzakalo ezingokomlando nezenzo ezichazwe encwadini yezEnzo? (b) Lencwadi ihlanganisa yiphi inkathi?

ENCWADINI yama-42 yemiBhalo ephefumlelwe, uLuka unikeza ukulandisa okuhlanganisa ukuphila, umsebenzi, kanye nenkonzo kaJesu nabalandeli bakhe kuze kuyofika esikhathini sokwenyuka kukaJesu. Ukulandisa okungokomlando kwencwadi yama-44 yemiBhalo, IzEnzo Zabaphostoli, kuqhuba umlando wobuKristu bokuqala ngokuchaza ukusungulwa kwebandla njengomphumela wokusebenza komoya ongcwele. Kuchaza futhi ukwanda kobufakazi, okokuqala phakathi kwamaJuda bese kuba kubantu bazo zonke izizwe. Ingxenye enkulu yokwaziswa okusezahlukweni zokuqala ezingu-12 ihlanganisa imisebenzi kaPetru, futhi izahluko ezisele ezingu-16, zihlanganisa imisebenzi kaPawulu. ULuka wayesondelene eduze noPawulu, ehambisana naye kweziningi zezinkambo zakhe.

² Lencwadi iya kuTheyofilu. Njengoba kubhekiselwa kuye ngokuthi “odumileyo,” kungenzeka ukuthi wayesesikhundleni esithile segunya, noma kungaba nje yizwi lokuhlonipha. (Luka 1:⁠3) Lokhu kulandisa kunikeza umlando onembile wokumiswa nokukhula kwebandla lobuKristu. Kuqala ngokubonakala kukaJesu kubafundi bakhe ngemva kokuvuka kwakhe bese kukhuluma ngezenzakalo ezibalulekile zenkathi esukela ku-33 kuya cishe ku-61 C.E., kuhlanganisa iminyaka engaba u-28 isiyonke.

 3. Ubani owaloba incwadi yezEnzo, futhi yaqedwa nini ukulotshwa?

³ Kusukela ezikhathini zasendulo bekulokhu kuthiwa izEnzo zalotshwa umlobi weVangeli likaLuka. Zombili lezincwadi ziya kuTheyofilu. Ngokuphinda izenzakalo zokugcina zeVangeli lakhe emavesini okuqala ezEnzo, uLuka uhlanganisa lokhu kulandisa okubili njengencwadi yomlobi oyedwa. Kubonakala sengathi uLuka waqeda incwadi yezEnzo cishe ngo-61 C.E., ngokunokwenzeka ngasekupheleni kweminyaka emibili yokuhlala eRoma ngesikhathi ekanye nomphostoli uPawulu. Njengoba ikhuluma ngezenzakalo ezenzeka kuze kufike kulowonyaka, akunakwenzeka ukuthi yaqedwa ngaphambi kwalokho, futhi ukusishiya kwayo singakhishiwe isinqumo secala uPawulu alidlulisela kuKesari kubonisa ukuthi yaqedwa ngalowonyaka.

 4. Yini efakazela ukuthi incwadi yezEnzo iyingxenye yohlu lwezincwadi zeBhayibheli futhi iyiqiniso?

⁴ Kusukela ezikhathini zasendulo impela, incwadi yezEnzo beyamukelwa izazi zeBhayibheli njengeyingxenye yohlu lwezincwadi zeBhayibheli. Izingxenye zalencwadi zitholakala phakathi kweminye yemibhalo yesandla emidala kakhulu yemiBhalo YesiGreki esekhona yepapyrus, ikakhulukazi iMichigan No. 1571 (P³⁸) yekhulu leminyaka lesithathu noma lesine C.E. neChester Beatty No. 1 (P⁴⁵) yekhulu leminyaka lesithathu. Yomibili lemibhalo ibonisa ukuthi incwadi yezEnzo yayitholakala kanye nezinye izincwadi zemiBhalo ephefumlelwe futhi ngalesosizathu yayiyingxenye yohlu kusukela kwasekuqaleni. Ukuloba kukaLuka encwadini yezEnzo kubonisa ukunemba okufanayo okuphawulekayo esesikubonile kakade okubonakalisa iVangeli lakhe. USir William M. Ramsay ubeka umlobi wencwadi yezEnzo ezingeni “labalobi bemilando abaseqophelweni eliphezulu,” futhi uchaza ukuthi lokhu kusho ukuthini ngokuthi: “Imfanelo yokuqala nebalulekile yomlobi-mlando ohloniphekayo yiqiniso. Lokho akushoyo kumelwe kube nokwethenjelwa.”a

 5. Bonisa ukunemba kokubika kukaLuka.

⁵ Ukuze sibonise ukubika okunembile okuphawula kangaka izincwadi zikaLuka, sicaphuna uEdwin Smith, owayengumlawuli weqembu lemikhumbi yempi yaseBrithani eMedithera phakathi neMpi Yezwe I, ebhala kumagazini iRudder, kaMarch 1947: “Imikhumbi yasendulo yayingashayelwa njengalena yezikhathi zanamuhla ngesiqondiso esisodwa esinanyathiselwe ensikeni esengxenyeni engemuva yomkhumbi, kodwa ngezigwedlo ezimbili ezinkulu noma amaphini, esisodwa ohlangothini ngalunye lwengxenye engemuva yomkhumbi; yingakho ziphawulwa zisebuningini uSt. Luke. [IzE. 27:​40] . . . Sibonile ekuhloleni kwethu ukuthi konke okushiwo ngokuqondene nokuhamba kwalomkhumbi, kusukela esikhathini lapho usuka eMatheku-mahle uze uyoma ogwini lwaseMelitha, njengoba kulandisa uSt. Luke kuye kwafakazelwa ubufakazi bangaphandle obuzimele obunembe nobanelisa kakhulu; nokuthi akushoyo ngokuqondene nesikhathi lomkhumbi owasichitha olwandle kuvumelana nebanga elahanjwa; futhi okokugcina incazelo yakhe yendawo okwafikwa kuyo iyavumelana nendawo njengoba injalo manje. Konke lokhu kubonisa ukuthi uLuka waluthatha ngempela loluhambo njengoba kuchaziwe, futhi ngaphezu kwalokho uye wazibonakalisa engumuntu ozinkulumo zakhe nalokho akubonile kungathathwa njengokuthembekile nokunokwethenjelwa ngezinga eliphakeme kakhulu.”b

 6. Iziphi izibonelo ezibonisa indlela imivubukulo eqinisekisa ngayo ukunemba kwencwadi yezEnzo?

⁶ Imivubukulo nayo iqinisekisa ukunemba kokulandisa kukaLuka. Ngokwesibonelo, ukumba e-Efesu kuye kwembula ithempeli likaDiyana (uAthemisi, NW) kanye neshashalazi lemidlalo lasendulo lapho abantu base-Efesu abasusa khona isiphithiphithi bemelana noPawulu. (IzE. 19:​27-41) Kuye kwatholakala imibhalo eqoshiwe eqinisekisa ukunemba kokusebenzisa kukaLuka isiqu esithi ‘abaphathimuzi’ njengesisebenza ezikhulwini zaseThesalonika. (17:​6, 8) Imibhalo emibili eqoshiwe yaseMelitha ibonisa ukuthi uLuka futhi wayeshaya emhloleni ngokubiza uPhubiliyu ngokuthi “isikhulu” saseMelitha.​—⁠28:⁠7.c

 7. Izinkulumo ezibikiwe zikubonisa kanjani ukulandisa kwencwadi yezEnzo kuyiqiniso?

⁷ Ngaphezu kwalokho, izinkulumo ezihlukahlukene ezanikezwa uPetru, uStefanu, uKorneliyu, uTertulu, uPawulu, nabanye, njengoba zalotshwa uLuka, zonke azifani ngesimo nangokuhlelwa. Ngisho nezinkulumo zikaPawulu, azikhuluma phambi kwezilaleli ezihlukahlukene, isimo sazo sasishintsha ukuze sifanelane nesimo. Lokhu kubonisa ukuthi uLuka waloba kuphela lokho akuzwa yena siqu noma lokho abanye ofakazi bokuzibonela abambikela khona. ULuka wayengeyena umlobi wezinganekwane.

 8. ImiBhalo isitshelani ngoLuka nobuhlobo bakhe noPawulu?

⁸ Kuncane kakhulu okwaziwayo ngokuphila kukaLuka kwangasese. ULuka ngokwakhe wayengeyena umphostoli kodwa wayesondelene nalabo ababeyibo. (Luka 1:​1-⁠4) Kathathu umphostoli uPawulu ugagula uLuka ngegama. (Kol. 4:​10, 14; 2 Thim. 4:​11; Filem. 24) Iminyaka eminingi wayehambisana njalo noPawulu, owambiza ngokuthi “inyanga ethandekayo.” Ekulandiseni kukhona ukuguquguquka phakathi kokuthi “ba-” nokuthi “sa-,” okubonisa ukuthi uLuka wayenoPawulu eTrowa phakathi nohambo lwesibili lukaPawulu lobuthunywa bevangeli, ukuthi kungenzeka wasala eFilipi kwaze kwaba yilapho uPawulu ebuya eminyakeni ethile kamuva, nokuthi wabe esejoyina uPawulu futhi wahambisana naye ohambweni lwakhe lokuya eRoma ukuyoquliswa.​—⁠IzE. 16:​8, 10; 17:1; 20:​4-6; 28:⁠16.

OKUQUKETHWE INCWADI YEZENZO

 9. Iziphi izinto abafundi abazitshelwayo ngesikhathi sokwenyuka kukaJesu?

⁹ Izenzakalo ezandulela iPentekoste (1:​1-26). Njengoba uLuka eqalisa lokhu kulandisa kwesibili, uJesu ovusiwe utshela abafundi bakhe abalangazelela ukwazi ukuthi bazobhapathizwa ngomoya ongcwele. Ingabe uMbuso usazobuyiselwa ngalesikhathi? Cha. Kodwa bazokwamukela amandla futhi babe ofakazi “kuze kube-sekugcineni komhlaba.” Njengoba uJesu ekhushulwa esithela emehlweni abo, amadoda amabili ambethe okumhlophe athi kubo: “UJesu lo, osuswé kini enyuselwa ezulwini, uyakuza kanjalo.”​—⁠1:​8, 11.

10. (a) Iziphi izinto ezingenakulibaleka ezenzeka ngosuku lwePentekoste? (b) Iyiphi incazelo uPetru ayinikezayo, futhi uba yini umphumela wayo?

¹⁰ Usuku lwePentekoste olungenakulibaleka (2:​1-42). Bonke abafundi babuthene eJerusalema. Kungazelelwe indlu igcwala umsindo onjengowesivunguvungu. Izilimi ezinjengomlilo zihlala phezu kwabakhona. Bagcwala umoya ongcwele futhi baqala ukukhuluma ngezilimi ezihlukahlukene “ngemisebenzi emikhulu kaNkulunkulu.” (2:​11) Ababukele badidekile. Manje uPetru uyasukuma futhi uyakhuluma. Uyachaza ukuthi lokhu kuthululwa komoya ongcwele kuwukugcwaliseka kwesiprofetho sikaJoweli (2:​28-32) nokuthi uJesu Kristu, manje ovusiwe futhi waphakanyiselwa ngakwesokunene sikaNkulunkulu, ‘uye wathulula lokhu abakubonayo nabakuzwayo.’ Behlabekile ezinhliziyweni, abangaba u-⁠3 000 bayalamukela izwi futhi bayabhapathizwa.​—⁠2:⁠33.

11. UJehova uwuchumisa kanjani umsebenzi wokushumayela?

¹¹ Ubufakazi buyanda (2:43–5:42). Nsuku zonke, uJehova uyaqhubeka enezela kubo abasindiswayo. Ngaphandle kwethempeli uPetru noJohane bafica indoda ekhubazekile engakaze ihambe ekuphileni kwayo. “Egameni likaJesu Kristu waseNazaretha, hamba,” kuyala uPetru. Ngaso lesosikhathi lendoda iqala ‘ukuhamba, igxuma, idumisa uNkulunkulu.’ Khona-ke uPetru unxusa abantu ukuba baphenduke futhi baguquke, “ukuze kufike izikhathi zokuhlunyelelwa ezivela ebusweni beNkosi.” Becasulwa ukuthi uPetru noJohane bafundisa ngokuvuka kukaJesu, abaholi benkolo bayababopha, kodwa inani labakholwayo liyanyuka lifinyelela emadodeni angaba u-⁠5 000.​—⁠3:⁠6, 8, 19.

12. (a) Abafundi baphendula bathini lapho beyalwa ukuba bayeke ukushumayela? (b) UAnaniya noSafira bajeziselwani?

¹² Ngosuku olulandelayo, uPetru noJohane bayiswa phambi kwababusi bamaJuda ukuze bayophenywa. UPetru ufakaza ngokucacile ukuthi insindiso itholakala kuphela ngoJesu Kristu, futhi lapho beyalwa ukuba bawuyeke umsebenzi wabo wokushumayela, bobabili oPetru noJohane bayaphendula: “Nqumani nina ukuba kulungile yini ebusweni bukaNkulunkulu ukulalela nina kunoNkulunkulu, ngokuba thina asinakuyeka ukukhuluma ngalokho esikubonileyo nesikuzwileyo.” (4:​19, 20) Bayakhululwa, futhi bonke abafundi bayaqhubeka bekhuluma izwi likaNkulunkulu ngesibindi. Ngenxa yezimo, bahlanganisa impahla yabo futhi bayayaba ngokwesidingo. Nokho, uAnaniya othile nomkakhe, uSafira, bathengisa impahla ethile futhi bagodla ingxenye yentengo yayo bebe beshaya sengathi bayilethe yonke imali. UPetru uyabadalula, futhi bashayeka phansi bayafa ngoba baqambe amanga kuNkulunkulu nakumoya ongcwele.

13. Abaphostoli bamangalelwa ngani, baphendula bathini, futhi baqhubeka benzani?

¹³ Abaholi benkolo abathukuthele bayaphinda futhi bafaka abaphostoli ejele, kodwa kulokhu ingelosi kaJehova iyabakhulula. Ngosuku olulandelayo bayaphinda futhi balethwa phambi komphakathi (iSanhedrin) futhi bamangalelwa ‘ngokugcwalisa iJerusalema ngesifundiso sabo.’ Bayaphendula: “Simelwe ukulalela uNkulunkulu kunabantu.” Nakuba bebhaxabulwa futhi besongelwa, bayenqaba ukuyeka, futhi ‘abayeki ukufundisa nokushumayela ivangeli ngoJesu Kristu imihla yonke ethempelini nasemakhaya.’​—⁠5:​28, 29, 42.

14. UStefanu ufa kanjani njengomfel’ ukholo?

¹⁴ Ukufel’ ukholo kukaStefanu (6:​1–8:1a). UStefanu ungomunye wabayisikhombisa abamiswe umoya ongcwele ukuba babe ukudla ematafuleni. Futhi ulifakazela ngokunamandla iqiniso, futhi ukusekela kwakhe ukholo kungokwentshiseko kangangokuthi abaphikisi bakhe abathukuthele benza ukuba alethwe phambi kweSanhedrin ngecala lokuhlambalaza. Lapho eziphendulela, uStefanu ukhuluma okokuqala ngokubekezelela kukaJehova uIsrayeli. Khona-ke, ngobugagu besibindi, uhlala ephuzwini: ‘Nina bantamo-zilukhuni, nimelana njalo noMoya oNgcwele, nina enamukela umthetho ngokuyala kwezingelosi, kepha aniwugcinanga.’ (7:​51-53) Lokhu abanakukubekezelela. Baphonseka kuye, bamjikijela ngaphandle komuzi, futhi bamkhanda ngamatshe aze afe. USawule uyabukela evumelana nakho.

15. Uba yini umphumela woshushiso, futhi uFiliphu uba nakuphi okuhlangenwe nakho ekushumayeleni?

¹⁵ Ushushiso, ukuphenduka kukaSawulu (8:1b–9:​30). Ushushiso oluqala ngalolosuku ngokumelene nebandla laseJerusalema lubahlakaza bonke ngaphandle kwabaphostoli. UFiliphu uya eSamariya, lapho abaningi bamukela khona izwi likaNkulunkulu. UPetru noJohane bathunyelwa khona besuka eJerusalema ukuze laba abakholwayo bamukele umoya ongcwele “ngokubekwa kwezandla zabaphostoli.” (8:​18) Ngemva kwalokho ingelosi iqondisa uFiliphu eningizimu emgwaqweni ophakathi kweJerusalema neGaza, lapho ethola khona umthenwa wasesigodlweni sase-Etiyopiya egibele inqola yakhe futhi efunda incwadi kaIsaya. UFiliphu uyamkhanyisela ngokushiwo yilesiprofetho abese embhapathiza.

16. Kwenzeka kanjani ukuguquka kukaSawulu?

¹⁶ Ngalesikhathi, uSawulu, “esafutha ngokusongela nokubulala abafundi beNkosi,” uphuma umkhankaso wokubopha abantu “baleyoNdlela” eDamaseku. Kungazelelwe ubanekelwa ukukhanya okuvela ezulwini, futhi uwela phansi eseyimpumputhe. Izwi elivela ezulwini lithi kuye: “Mina nginguJesu omzingela wena.” Ngemva kwezinsuku ezintathu eDamaseku, umfundi othiwa uAnaniya uyamkhonza. USawulu uphinde uvuleka amehlo, uyabhapathizwa, futhi ugcwala umoya ongcwele, kangangokuthi uba umshumayeli wezindaba ezinhle oshisekayo nonekhono. (9:​1, 2, 5) Kulokhu kuguquka okumangalisayo kwezenzakalo, umshushisi uba umshushiswa futhi kumelwe abaleke ukuze asindise ukuphila kwakhe, okokuqala eDamaseku futhi kamuva eJerusalema.

17. Izindaba ezinhle ziya kanjani kwabeZizwe abangasokile?

¹⁷ Izindaba ezinhle ziya kwabeZizwe abangasokile (9:​31–12:​25). Manje ibandla ‘liba-nokuthula, liyakheka, lihamba ekwesabeni iNkosi, liyanda ngenduduzo kaMoya oNgcwele.’ (9:​31) EJopha, uPetru uvusa uThabitha (uDorka) othandekayo kwabafileyo, futhi kulapha lapho ethola khona ubizo lokuya eKesariya, lapho elindelwe khona isikhulu sempi uKorneliyu. Ushumayeza uKorneliyu nabendlu yakhe futhi bayakholwa, futhi bathululelwa umoya ongcwele. Esebonile “ukuthi uNkulunkulu akabheki ubuso bamuntu, kodwa ezizweni zonke omesabayo nowenza ukulunga uyamukeleka kuye,” uPetru uyababhapathiza​—⁠abantu bokuqala abangabeZizwe abangasokiwe abaphendukayo. Kamuva uPetru uchazela abazalwane eJerusalema ngalesenzakalo esisha, abadumisa uNkulunkulu ngaso.​—⁠10:​34, 35.

18. (a) Yini eyenzeka ngokulandelayo eAntiyokiya? (b) Kuqubuka luphi ushushiso, kodwa ingabe luyayifeza injongo yalo?

¹⁸ Njengoba izindaba ezinhle ziqhubeka zanda ngokushesha, oBarnaba noSawulu bafundisa isixuku esikhulu impela eAntiyokiya, futhi ‘kuqala eAntiyokiya ukuba abafundi bathiwe amaKristu.’ (11:​26) Kuyaphinda futhi kuqubuka ushushiso. UHerode Agripha I ubulala uJakobe umfowabo kaJohane ngenkemba. Ufaka noPetru etilongweni, kodwa ingelosi kaJehova iyamkhulula futhi uPetru. Izinto zimhambela kabi uHerode omubi! Ngenxa yokuthi uyahluleka ukudumisa uNkulunkulu, udliwa izimpethu futhi uyafa. Ngakolunye uhlangothi, ‘izwi likaNkulunkulu liyakhula, liyanda.’​—⁠12:⁠24.

19. Lude kangakanani uhambo lukaPawulu lokuqala lobuthunywa bevangeli, futhi yini efezwayo?

¹⁹ Uhambo lukaPawulu lokuqala lobuthunywa bevangeli, ehamba noBarnaba (13:⁠1–14:​28).d UBarnaba kanye ‘noSawulu osethiwa uPawulu,’ bahlukaniselwa inkonzo ekhethekile futhi bathunywa umoya ongcwele besuka eAntiyokiya. (13:⁠9) Esiqhingini saseKhupro, abaningi baba amakholwa, kuhlanganise nombusi uSergiyu Pawulu. Ezwekazini laseAsia Minor, bahambela amadolobha ayisithupha noma ngaphezulu, futhi yonke indawo kwenzeka into efanayo: Kuvela umahluko ocacile phakathi kwalabo abazamukela ngenjabulo izindaba izinhle nabaphikisi abantamo-lukhuni abashoshozela izixuku ezijikijela izithunywa zikaJehova ngamatshe. Ngemva kokumisa amadoda amadala emabandleni asanda kwakhiwa, oPawulu noBarnaba babuyela eAntiyokiya yaseSiriya.

20. Inkinga yokusoka ixazululwa ngasiphi isinqumo?

²⁰ Ukuxazulula inkinga yokusoka (15:​1-35). Ngokungena kwabaningi abangemaJuda, kuphakama umbuzo wokuthi laba kufanele yini basoke. OPawulu noBarnaba bayisa lendaba kubaphostoli namadoda amadala eJerusalema, lapho umfundi uJakobe engamela khona futhi ahlele ukuba kuthunyelwe isinqumo abavumelene ngaso ngencwadi: “Kwaba-kuhle kuMoya oNgcwele nakithi ukuba singanithwesi umthwalo omkhulu ngaphandle kwalezizinto ezifunekayo zokuthi niyeke okuhlatshelwe izithombe, negazi, nokuqumbeleneyo, nobufebe.” (15:​28, 29) Isikhuthazo salencwadi sibangela ukuba abazalwane eAntiyokiya bajabule.

21. (a) Obani abakanye noPawulu ohambweni lwakhe lwesibili lobuthunywa bevangeli? (b) Kwenzeka ziphi izenzakalo lapho kuvakashelwe eMakedoniya?

²¹ Inkonzo iyanda ngohambo lukaPawulu lwesibili (15:​36–18:​22).e “Emva kwezinsuku ezithile” oBarnaba noMarku bahamba ngomkhumbi baya eKhupro, kuyilapho oPawulu noSila bedabula iSiriya neAsia Minor. (15:​36) Insizwa okuthiwa uThimothewu ijoyina uPawulu eListra, futhi baqhubekela eTrowa esogwini lolwandle iAegean. Lapha uPawulu ubona embonweni indoda imnxusa: “Welela eMakedoniya, usisize.” (16:⁠9) ULuka ujoyina uPawulu, futhi bathatha umkhumbi baya eFilipi, idolobha eliyinhloko laseMakedoniya, lapho oPawulu noSila befakwa khona etilongweni. Umphumela walokhu uba ukukholwa nokubhapathizwa komgciniziboshwa. Ngemva kokukhululwa kwabo, baqhubekela eThesalonika, futhi lapho amaJuda anomona ashoshozela isixuku ukuba sibavukele. Ngakho ebusuku abazalwane bathumela oPawulu noSila eBereya. Lapha amaJuda abonisa ukuba nengqondo enhle ngokwamukela izwi “ngenhliziyo yonke, bahlolisisa imibhalo imihla ngemihla” befuna ukuqiniseka ngezinto abazifundile. (17:​11) Eshiya oSila noThimothewu nalelibandla elisha, njengoba eshiye uLuka eFilipi, uPawulu uqhubekela eningizimu eAthene.

22. Uba yini umphumela wenkulumo kaPawulu yobuciko eAreyophagu?

²² Kulomuzi wezithombe, izihlakaniphi zamaEpikhuru nezazi zefilosofi zamaStoyiku ziklolodela uPawulu ngokuthi ‘uyiphoshophosho’ nokuthi “ungomemezela onkulunkulu abangaziwayo,” futhi zimyisa eAreyophagu, noma eMars’ Hill. Ngenkulumo yobuciko uPawulu uveza amaphuzu aphathelene nokufuna uNkulunkulu weqiniso, “iNkosi yezulu nomhlaba,” oqinisekisa ukwahlulela kokulunga ngaLowo amvuse kwabafileyo. Ukukhuluma ngovuko kuzihlukanisa phakathi izilaleli zakhe, kodwa abanye baba amakholwa.​—⁠17:​18, 24.

23. Yini efezwayo eKorinte?

²³ Ngokulandelayo, eKorinte, uPawulu uhlala noAkwila noPrisila, ehlanganyela nabo emsebenzini wokuthunga amatende. Ukuphikiswa kokushumayela kwakhe kumphoqelela ukuba aphume esinagogeni futhi aqhubele imihlangano yakhe endlini eseceleni kwalo, endlini kaThithiyu Justu. UKrispu, umphathi wesinagoge, uba yikholwa. Ngemva kokuhlala izinyanga ezingu-18 eKorinte, uPawulu uhamba noAkwila noPrisila baya e-Efesu, lapho ebashiya khona abese eqhubekela eAntiyokiya eSiriya, kanjalo ephetha uhambo lwakhe lwesibili lobuthunywa bevangeli.

24, 25. (a) Ngesikhathi sokuqala kukaPawulu uhambo lwakhe lwesithathu, kwenzekani e-Efesu? (b) Isiphi isiyaluyalu esiba khona ekupheleni kokuhlala kukaPawulu iminyaka emithathu?

²⁴ UPawulu uphinda uvakashela amabandla, uhambo lwesithathu (18:​23–21:​26).f UmJuda othiwa uApholo ufika e-Efesu evela eAleksandriya, eGibithe, ukhuluma ngesibindi esinagogeni ngoJesu, kodwa uAkwila noPrisila bakuthola kudingekile ukuba balungise imfundiso yakhe ngaphambi kokuba adlulele eKorinte. Manje uPawulu usohambweni lwakhe lwesithathu futhi ngemva kwesikhathi ufika e-Efesu. Lapho ezwa ukuthi abafundi lapha babhapathizwe ngobhapathizo lukaJohane, uPawulu uchaza ubhapathizo olwenziwa egameni likaJesu. Khona-ke ubhaphathiza amadoda angaba ngu-12; futhi lapho ewabeka izandla, amukela umoya ongcwele.

²⁵ Ngesikhathi sokuhlala kukaPawulu iminyaka emithathu e-Efesu, ‘izwi landa ngamandla eNkosi futhi liyanqoba,’ futhi abaningi bayakuyeka ukukhulekela kwabo unkulunkulukazi womuzi, uAthemisi. (19:​20) Bethukuthele ngoba bezolahlekelwa ibhizinisi, abenzi bamathempelana esiliva basusa uthuthuva emzini kangangokuthi kuthatha amahora amaningi ukuhlakaza isixuku. Ngokushesha ngemva kwalokho uPawulu ulibangisa eMakedoniya naseGrisi, endleleni evakashela wonke amakholwa.

26. (a) Isiphi isimangaliso uPawulu asenzayo eTrowa? (b) Isiphi iseluleko asinika ababonisi base-Efesu?

²⁶ UPawulu uhlala izinyanga ezintathu eGrisi ngaphambi kokuphindela emuva edlula ngaseMakedoniya, lapho ejoyinwa khona uLuka. Bawelela eTrowa, futhi lapha, njengoba uPawulu ekhuluma kuze kube sebusuku, insizwa ethile izunywa ubuthongo futhi iyawa isuka efasiteleni elisesitezi sesithathu. Ithathwa isifile, kodwa uPawulu uyayivusa. Ngosuku olulandelayo uPawulu neqembu lakhe baya eMilethu, lapho uPawulu ema khona endleni eya eJerusalema, ukuze abe nomhlangano nabadala base-Efesu. Ubazisa ukuthi ngeke baphinde bambone. Yeka-ke ukuthi kuphuthuma kanjani ngabo ukuba bahole futhi beluse umhlambi kaNkulunkulu, ‘umoya ongcwele obabeke kuwo ukuba babe ababonisi’! Ulandisa ngesibonelo asibeka ngenkathi ephakathi kwabo, futhi ubayala ukuba bahlale bephapheme, bangazigodli ekupheni ngenxa yabazalwane. (20:​28) Nakuba exwayisiwe ukuba angaphinde alubhade eJerusalema, uPawulu akahlehli. Abangane bakhe bayathula, bethi: “Mayenziwe intando yeNkosi.” (21:​14) Kuba nenjabulo enkulu lapho uPawulu ebika kuJakobe nasemadodeni amadala ngokuqondene nesibusiso sikaNkulunkulu enkonzweni yakhe phakathi kwabezizwe.

27. UPawulu wamukelwa kanjani ethempelini?

²⁷ UPawulu uyaboshwa futhi uyaquliswa (21:​27–26:​32). Lapho uPawulu efika ethempelini eJerusalema, akamukelwa neze kahle. AmaJuda avela eAsiya abangela ukuba wonke umuzi umvukele, futhi amasosha amaRoma amsindisa ngesikhathi esifanele.

28. (a) Imuphi umbuzo uPawulu awubuzayo phambi kweSanhedrin, futhi uba yini umphumela? (b) Uthunyelwaphi ngemva kwalokho?

²⁸ Esani lesiyaluyalu? Ungubani loPawulu? Liyini icala lakhe? Umphathi wamabutho odidekile ufuna ukwazi izimpendulo. Ngenxa yokuba kwakhe isakhamuzi saseRoma, uPawulu uyasinda ekubhaxabulweni futhi ulethwa phambi kweSanhedrin. Ah, inkantolo ehlukene phakathi yabaFarisi nabaSadusi! Ngakho uPawulu uveza indaba yovuko, ebaqhatha. Njengoba ukuhlukana phakathi kuya kushuba, sekudingeka amasosha amaRoma amhlwithe uPawulu amkhiphe phakathi kweSanhedrin ngaphambi kokuba enziwe isilo sengubo. Ebusuku uthunyelwa ngesinyenyela kuMbusi uFeliksi eKesariya ephelezelwa amasosha amaningi.

29. Njengoba emangalelwe ngokuvukela umbuso, iluphi uchungechunge lokuquliswa uPawulu aba nalo, futhi ulidluliselaphi icala lakhe?

²⁹ Njengoba emangalelwe ngecala lokuvukela umbuso, uPawulu uzivikela ngekhono phambi kukaFeliksi. Kodwa uFeliksi akayinqumi indaba ngethemba lokuthi uzofunjathiswa ukuze akhulule uPawulu. Kudlula iminyaka emibili. UPorkiyu Festu ulandela uFeliksi esikhundleni sokuba umbusi, futhi kuyalwa ukuba liqulwe kabusha icala. Kuyaphinda futhi, uPawulu umangalelwa ngamacala angathi sína, uPawulu uyaphinda uveza ubumsulwa bakhe. Kodwa uFestu, ukuze athandwe amaJuda, usikisela ukuba icala liphinde liqulwe phambi kwakhe eJerusalema. Ngakho uPawulu uthi: “Ngilidlulisela kuKesari.” (25:​11) Kudlula isikhathi esengeziwe. Ekugcineni, iNkosi uHerode Agripha II ivakashela uFestu, futhi uPawulu uyaphinda ulethwa endlini yokwahlulela. Ubufakazi bakhe bunamandla futhi banelisa kangangokuthi uAgripha ushukunyiselwa ukuba athi kuye: “Kusilele kancane ungivumise ngibe-ngumKristu.” (26:​28) Ngokufanayo uAgripha naye uyabuqaphela ubumsulwa bukaPawulu nokuthi ubengakhululwa ukuba akalidluliselanga kuKesari icala.

30. Ikuphi okuhlangenwe nakho uPawulu aba nakho ohambweni lwakhe aze ayofika eMelitha?

³⁰ UPawulu uya eRoma (27:⁠1–28:​31).g Isiboshwa esinguPawulu kanye nabanye bathathwa ngomkhumbi beqalisa ingxenye yokuqala yohambo oluya eRoma. Bahamba kancane, njengoba imimoya iphambana nabo. Ethekwini laseMira, bagibela omunye umkhumbi. Lapho befika eMatheku-mahle, eKrethe, uPawulu utusa ukuba kuchithwe ubusika lapho, kodwa iningi lisikisela ukuba kuqhutshekwe nohambo. Kwakungakapholi maseko bengenile olwandle lapho behlaselwa isiphepho esinamandla futhi sibaqhuba ngonya. Ngemva kwamasonto amabili umkhumbi wabo uphahlazeka uba izicucu esihlabathini ngasogwini lwaseMelitha. Njengokuqinisekisa kukaPawulu kwangaphambili, akekho ofayo kwabangu-276 abasemkhunjini! Izakhamuzi zaseMelitha zibonisa umusa ongavamile, futhi phakathi nalobobusika, uPawulu uphulukisa abaningi babo ngamandla amangalisayo omoya kaNkulunkulu.

31. UPawulu wamukelwa kanjani lapho efika eRoma, futhi yini aba matasa ngayo lapho?

³¹ Ngentwasahlobo elandelayo uPawulu ufika eRoma, futhi abazalwane beza emgwaqweni ukuzomhlangabeza. Ukubabona kubangela uPawulu ukuba ‘abonge uNkulunkulu, ame isibindi.’ Nakuba esalokhu eyisiboshwa, uPawulu uyavunyelwa ukuba ahlale endlini yakhe ayiqashile elindwe isosha. ULuka uphetha ukulandisa kwakhe, echaza ukwamukela kukaPawulu ngomusa bonke ababefika kuye futhi ‘eshumayela umbuso kaNkulunkulu, ezifundisa ngaso sonke isibindi izindaba zeNkosi uJesu Kristu, enganqatshelwa-muntu.’​—⁠28:​15, 31.

ISIZATHU SOKUBA IBE NENZUZO

32. NgePentekoste nangaphambi kwalo, uPetru wabufakazela kanjani ubuqiniso bemiBhalo YesiHeberu?

³² Incwadi yezEnzo inezela ebufakazini bokulandisa kwamaVangeli ekuqinisekiseni ubuqiniso nokuphefumlelwa kwemiBhalo YesiHeberu. Njengoba iPentekoste lalisondela, uPetru waphawula ukugcwaliseka kweziprofetho ezimbili ‘umoya ongcwele owazikhuluma ngaphambili ngomlomo kaDavide ngoJuda.’ (IzE. 1:​16, 20; IHu. 69:​25; 109:⁠8) UPetru futhi watshela izixuku ezimangele ezazizogubha iPentekoste ukuthi eqinisweni zazibona ukugcwaliseka kwesiprofetho: “Lokhu kuyikho okwakhulunywa ngomprofethi uJoweli.”​—⁠IzE. 2:​16-21; Joweli 2:​28-32; qhathanisa futhi izEnzo 2:​25-28, 34, 35 neHubo 16:​8-11 no-110:⁠1.

33. OPetru, uFiliphu, uJakobe, noPawulu bebonke babonisa kanjani ukuthi imiBhalo YesiHeberu iphefumlelwe?

³³ Ukuze aqinisekise esinye isixuku ngaphandle kwethempeli, uPetru waphinda wacaphuna imiBhalo YesiHeberu, okokuqala ecaphuna uMose abese ethi: “Yebo, nabaprofethi bonke, kusukela kuSamuweli nabalandelayo, bonke abakhulumileyo, bamemezela lezozinsuku.” Kamuva, phambi kweSanhedrin, uPetru wacaphuna iHubo 118:​22 ekuboniseni ukuthi uKristu, itshe abalenqabayo, laba “inhloko yegumbi.” (IzE. 3:​22-24; 4:​11) UFiliphu wachazela umthenwa wase-Etiyopiya indlela isiprofetho sikaIsaya 53:7, 8 esasigcwaliseke ngayo, futhi ngemva kokukhanyiselwa, ngokuthobeka lomthenwa wacela ukubhapathizwa. (IzE. 8:​28-35) Ngokufanayo, lapho ekhuluma noKorneliyu ngokuqondene noJesu, uPetru wafakaza: “Ngaye bonke abaprofethi ba[ya]fakaza.” (10:​43) Lapho kudingidwa indaba yokusoka, uJakobe wasekela isinqumo sakhe ngokuthi: “Namazwi abaprofethi ayavumelana nalokho, njengalokho kulotshiwe.” (15:​15-18) Umphostoli uPawulu wathembela egunyeni elifanayo. (26:22; 28:​23, 25-27) Ukwamukela okusheshayo okusobala kwabafundi nezilaleli zabo imiBhalo YesiHeberu njengengxenye yeZwi likaNkulunkulu kubeka kuleyomibhalo uphawu lokwamukeleka ngokwaphezulu.

34. Incwadi yezEnzo yembulani ngokuqondene nebandla lobuKristu, futhi ingabe lokhu kwehlukile namuhla?

³⁴ Incwadi yezEnzo inenzuzo enkulu ekuboniseni indlela ibandla lobuKristu elamiswa ngayo nendlela elakhula ngayo ngaphansi kwamandla omoya ongcwele. Kukho konke lokhu kulandisa okugcwele izenzakalo, siphawula izibusiso zikaNkulunkulu zokwanda, isibindi nenjabulo yamaKristu okuqala, ukuma kwawo okuqinile naphezu koshushiso, nokuzimisela kwawo ukukhonza, njengoba kuboniswe ekusabeleni kukaPawulu obizweni lokungenela inkonzo yakwamanye amazwe nokuya eMakedoniya. (4:​13, 31; 15:3; 5:​28, 29; 8:4; 13:​2-4; 16:​9, 10) Ibandla lobuKristu namuhla alihlukile, ngoba lihlanganiswe uthando, ubunye, nesithakazelo esifanayo njengoba likhuluma “ngemisebenzi emikhulu kaNkulunkulu” ngaphansi kokuqondisa komoya ongcwele.​—⁠2:​11, 17, 45; 4:​34, 35; 11:​27-30; 12:⁠25.

35. Incwadi yezEnzo iyibonisa kanjani indlela ubufakazi okwakumelwe bunikezwe ngayo, futhi iyiphi imfanelo enkonzweni egcizelelwayo?

³⁵ Incwadi yezEnzo iyibonisa kahle indlela umsebenzi wobuKristu wokumemezela ngoMbuso kaNkulunkulu okufanele wenziwe ngayo. UPawulu ngokwakhe wayeyisibonelo, ethi: “Angigwemanga ukunitshela okusizayo nokunifundisa phambi kwabantu nakuzo izindlu ngezindlu.” Khona-ke uqhubeka athi: “Ngifakaza [ngokuphelele, “NW”].” Lesihloko ‘sokufakaza ngokuphelele’ sigqamile kuyo yonke incwadi, futhi sivelela ngendlela ehlaba umxhwele ezigabeni zokugcina, lapho ukuzinikela kukaPawulu kwenhliziyo yonke ekushumayeleni nasekufundiseni kwakhe, ngisho nalapho eboshiwe etilongweni, kuvezwe emazwini athi: “Wabachasisela efakaza [ngokuphelele, NW] ngombuso kaNkulunkulu, wabaqondisa ngoJesu ethathela emthethweni kaMose nakubaprofethi, kusukela ekuseni kwaze kwahlwa.” Kwangathi nathi singazinikela ngokufanayo emsebenzini wethu woMbuso!​—⁠20:​20, 21; 28:23; 2:40; 5:42; 26:⁠22.

36. Isiphi iseluleko sikaPawulu esiwusizo esisebenza ngamandla kubabonisi namuhla?

³⁶ Inkulumo kaPawulu kubabonisi abavela e-Efesu iqukethe izeluleko eziningi eziwusizo kubabonisi namuhla. Njengoba laba bemiswe umoya ongcwele, kubaluleke kakhulu ukuba ‘baziqaphele bona nomhlambi wonke,’ baweluse ngothando futhi bawuvikele ezimpisini ezicindezelayo ezifuna ukuwubhubhisa. Lona akuwona umthwalo wemfanelo olula! Ababonisi banesidingo sokuhlala beqaphile futhi bazakhe ngezwi lomusa kaNkulunkulu ongasifanele. Njengoba bezikhandla ukuze basize ababuthaka, ‘kumelwe bakhumbule amazwi eNkosi uJesu, lapho ethi: Kubusisekile ukupha kunokwamukela.’​—⁠20:​17-⁠35.

37. Imaphi amaphuzu okuhlakanipha uPawulu acacisa ngawo iphuzu lakhe eAreyophagu?

³⁷ Ezinye izinkulumo zikaPawulu nazo ziyakhazimula ngokuchazwa okucacile kwezimiso zeBhayibheli. Ngokwesibonelo, kunamaphuzu avelele enkulumo yakhe kumaStoyiku namaEpikhuru eAreyophagu. Okokuqala ucaphuna umbhalo osealtare, othi “ELIKANKULUNKULU ONGAZIWAYO,” abese ewusebenzisa njengesizathu sakhe sokuchaza ukuthi uNkulunkulu oyedwa weqiniso, iNkosi yezulu nomhlaba, owenza izizwe zonke ngamuntu munye, “kakude kulowo nalowo kithi.” Ube esecaphuna amazwi ezimbongi zabo, “Ngokuba futhi siyinzalo yakhe,” ekuboniseni ukuthi kungokungenangqondo kanjani ukucabanga ukuthi bavela ezithombeni ezingaphili zegolide, isiliva, noma itshe. Kanjalo uPawulu ubuveza ngokuhlakanipha ubukhosi bukaNkulunkulu ophilayo. Kusemazwini akhe okuphetha kuphela lapho eveza khona indaba yovuko, futhi ngisho nangalesosikhathi akamphathi ngegama uKristu. Walenza lacaca iphuzu lakhe lobukhosi obuphakeme bukaNkulunkulu oyedwa weqiniso, futhi ngenxa yalokho abanye baba amakholwa.​—⁠17:​22-34.

38. Iziphi izibusiso eziyoba umphumela wohlobo lokutadisha olukhuthazwa encwadini yezEnzo?

³⁸ Incwadi yezEnzo ikhuthaza ukutadishwa kwayo “yonke imiBhalo” okuqhubekayo nokwenkuthalo. Lapho uPawulu eshumayela okokuqala eBereya, amaJuda lapho, ngenxa yokuthi ‘amukela izwi ngenhliziyo yonke, ahlolisisa imibhalo imihla ngemihla ukuba zinjalo yini lezozinto,’ atuswa ngokuthi ‘mahle.’ (17:​11) Namuhla, njengakulesosikhathi, lokhu kufuna emiBhalweni ngokulangazela kanye nebandla likaJehova eligcwele umoya kuyophumela ezibusisweni eziwukuqiniseka nokholo oluqinile. Kungokutadisha okunjalo lapho umuntu engaziqonda khona ngokucacile izimiso zaphezulu. Ezinye zalezimiso zishiwo kahle kuzEnzo 15:​29. Lapha indikimba ebusayo yabaphostoli nabazalwane abangabadala eJerusalema yakwenza kwaziwa ukuthi nakuba ukusoka kwakungeyona imfuneko kumaIsrayeli angokomoya, kwenqatshelwe ngokucacile ukukhonza izithombe, igazi, nobufebe.

39. (a) Abafundi baqiniswa kanjani ukuba babhekane noshushiso? (b) Banikeza buphi ubufakazi besibindi? Ingabe baphumelela?

³⁹ Labo bafundi bakuqala bayitadisha ngempela imiBhalo ephefumlelwe futhi babengayicaphuna futhi bayisebenzise ngokwesidingo. Baqiniswa ulwazi oluqondile nawumoya kaNkulunkulu ukuba babhekane noshushiso olunzima. OPetru noJohane bawabekela isibonelo wonke amaKristu athembekile lapho bebatshela ngesibindi ababusi abaphikisayo: “Nqumani nina ukuba kulungile yini ebusweni bukaNkulunkulu ukulalela nina kunoNkulunkulu, ngokuba thina asinakuyeka ukukhuluma ngalokho esikubonileyo nesikuzwileyo.” Futhi lapho bephinda belethwa phambi kweSanhedrin, ‘eyayibayalile’ ukuba bangaqhubeki befundisa ngegama likaJesu, basho ngokucacile: “Simelwe ukulalela uNkulunkulu kunabantu.” Lokhu kufakaza kwesibindi kwaphumela ebufakazini obuhle kubabusi, futhi kwaholela ekubeni umfundisi odumile woMthetho uGamaliyeli asho amazwi akhe aziwayo asekela inkululeko yokukhulekela, aholela ekukhululweni kwabaphostoli.​—⁠4:​19, 20; 5:​28, 29, 34, 35, 38, 39.

40. Incwadi yezEnzo isinikeza siphi isisusa sokufakaza ngokuphelele ngoMbuso?

⁴⁰ Injongo kaJehova ekhazimulayo ngokuqondene noMbuso wakhe, etholakala kulo lonke iBhayibheli, ivelela kakhulu encwadini yezEnzo. Ekuqaleni uJesu uvezwa phakathi nezinsuku ezingu-40 ngaphambi kokwenyuka kwakhe “ekhuluma ngezombuso kaNkulunkulu.” Kwakungesikhathi ephendula umbuzo wabafundi bakhe ngokubuyiselwa koMbuso lapho uJesu abatshela khona ukuthi kumelwe kuqala babe ofakazi bakhe ezingxenyeni ezikude zomhlaba. (1:​3, 6, 8) Beqala eJerusalema, abafundi bashumayela ngoMbuso ngesibindi esinganciphi. Ushushiso lwabangela ukukhandwa kukaStefanu ngamatshe futhi lwahlakazela abaningi babafundi emasimini amasha. (7:​59, 60) Kubikwa ukuthi uFiliphu wamemezela “ivangeli ngombuso kaNkulunkulu” ngempumelelo enkulu eSamariya nokuthi uPawulu nabangane bakhe bamemezela “umbuso” eAsiya, eKorinte, e-Efesu, naseRoma. Wonke lamaKristu okuqala abeka izibonelo zezinga eliphezulu zokuthembela okuqinile kuJehova nasemoyeni wakhe osekelayo. (8:​5, 12; 14:​5-7, 21, 22; 18:​1, 4; 19:​1, 8; 20:25; 28:​30, 31) Uma sibheka intshiseko nesibindi sabo okungenakudanjiswa futhi siphawula indlela uJehova ayibusisa kakhulu ngayo imizamo yabo, nathi sinesisusa esihle kakhulu sokwethembeka ‘ekufakazeni [ngokuphelele, NW] ngombuso kaNkulunkulu.’​—⁠28:⁠23.

[Imibhalo yaphansi]