1, 2. USawulu wayehlose ukwenzani eDamaseku?

LABA bantu abathukuthele sebezofika eDamaseku, lapho behlose ukwenza khona ububi. Bazokhipha abafundi bakaJesu abazondwayo ngendlov’ iyangena emizini yabo, bababophe, babukise ngabo bese bebahudulela eJerusalema bayobhekana nolaka lweSanhedrini.

² Ubhongoza waleli viyo, okunguSawulu igama lakhe, uselichithile kakade igazi.a Usanda kubukela lapho izishoshovu zenkolo zikhanda ngamatshe uStefanu, umfundi ozinikele kaJesu. (IzE. 7:57–8:1) Enganelisiwe ukuhlukumeza abalandeli bakaJesu abahlala eJerusalema, uSawulu uba njengesikhuni esivuthayo esithungela amalangabi oshushiso. Ufuna ukuliqeda nyá leli hlelo eliwuhlupho elaziwa ngokuthi ile “Ndlela.”—IzE. 9:1, 2; bheka ibhokisi elithi “Igunya USawulu Ayenalo EDamaseku,” ekhasini 61.

3, 4. (a) Kwenzekani kuSawulu? (b) Yimiphi imibuzo esizoyicabangela?

³ Kungazelelwe, uSawulu ugutshuzelwa ukukhanya okuxhophayo. Ahamba nabo bayakubona ukukhanya kodwa bayama bankeme. USawulu ushaywa ubumpumputhe awe bhú phansi. Njengoba engasaboni, uzwa izwi livela ezulwini lithi: “Sawulu, Sawulu, ungishushiselani?” Ethukile, uyabuza: “Ungubani wena Nkosi?” Impendulo ayithola kumelwe ukuba yenza kwabanda kwamancane kuye: “NginguJesu, lowo omshushisayo.”—IzE. 9:3-5; 22:9.

⁴ Yini esiyifunda emazwini okuqala uJesu awasho kuSawulu? Singazuza kanjani ngokubukeza lokho okwenzeka ngesikhathi uSawulu eguquka? Yiziphi izifundo esizithola endleleni ibandla elasebenzisa ngayo inkathi yokuthula eyaba khona ngemva kokuguquka kukaSawulu?

5, 6. Sifundani emazwini uJesu awasho kuSawulu?

⁵ Lapho uJesu emisa uSawulu emgwaqweni oya eDamaseku, akazange athi: “Ubashushiselani abafundi bami?” Njengoba sekushiwo ngenhla, wathi: “Ungishushiselani?” (IzE. 9:4) Yebo, uJesu uyaluzwa uvivinyo olutholwa abalandeli bakhe.—Math. 25:34-40, 45.

⁶ Uma uhlushwa ngenxa yokholo lwakho kuKristu, qiniseka ukuthi bobabili uJehova noJesu bayasazi isimo okuso. (Math. 10:22, 28-31) Lolo vivinyo lungase lungasuswa manje. Khumbula, uJesu wayebukele lapho uSawulu efaka isandla ekubulaweni kukaStefanu, wambona uSawulu lapho ehudula abafundi abathembekile emizini yabo eJerusalema. (IzE. 8:3) Yize kunjalo, uJesu akazange angenele ngaleso sikhathi. Kepha uJehova, esebenzisa uKristu, wanika uStefanu nabanye abafundi amandla ababewadinga ukuze bahlale bethembekile.

 7. Yini okumelwe uyenze ukuze ukhuthazelele uvivinyo?

⁷ Nawe ungalukhuthazelela ushushiso uma wenza lokhu okulandelayo: (1) Zimisele ukuhlala uqotho, kumnyama kubomvu. (2) Cela usizo lukaJehova. (Fil. 4:6, 7) (3) Shiyela impindiselo kuJehova. (Roma 12:17-21) (4) Methembe uJehova ukuthi uyokunikeza amandla okukhuthazela kuze kube yilapho ebona kufanele ukuqeda lolo vivinyo.—Fil. 4:12, 13.

8, 9. Kumelwe ukuba u-Ananiya wazizwa kanjani ngesabelo sakhe?

⁸ Ngemva kokuphendula umbuzo kaSawulu othi, “Ungubani wena Nkosi?” uJesu wathi kuye: “Vuka uye edolobheni, uzotshelwa okumelwe ukwenze.” (IzE. 9:6) USawulu ongasaboni wayiswa endlini ayezohlala kuyo eDamaseku, lapho azila khona ukudla futhi wathandaza izinsuku ezintathu. Phakathi naleso sikhathi, uJesu wakhuluma ngoSawulu kumfundi wakulelo dolobha, indoda okuthiwa u-Ananiya, ‘eyayikhulunyelwa kahle yiwo wonke amaJuda’ ahlala eDamaseku.—IzE. 22:12.

⁹ Cabanga ngendlela okumelwe ukuba wakhungatheka ngayo u-Ananiya! Nansi iNhloko yebandla, uJesu Kristu ovusiwe, ikhuluma naye mathupha, imqokela isabelo esikhethekile. Laze lalihle ilungelo, kodwa maye isabelo! Lapho etshelwa ukuthi kumelwe ayokhuluma noSawulu, u-Ananiya wathi: “Nkosi, ngizwe abantu abaningi bekhuluma ngalo muntu, bekhuluma ngazo zonke izinto ezimbi azenza kwabangcwele bakho eJerusalema. Njengoba elapha, unegunya elivela kubapristi abakhulu lokubopha bonke ababiza igama lakho.”—IzE. 9:13, 14.

10. Sifundani ngoJesu endleleni asebenzelana ngayo no-Ananiya?

¹⁰ UJesu akazange amsole u-Ananiya ngokuveza ukukhathazeka kwakhe. Kepha wamnika isiqondiso esicacile. UJesu wabonisa ukumcabangela ngokumtshela isizathu sokuthi kungani ayefuna enze lo msebenzi oyingqayizivele. UJesu wathi ku-Ananiya: “Lo muntu uyisitsha sami engisikhethile ukuba aphathe igama lami ezizweni nasemakhosini nakubantwana bakwa-Israyeli. Ngoba ngizombonisa ngokucacile ukuthi ziningi kangakanani izinto okumelwe ahlupheke ngazo ngenxa yegama lami.” (IzE. 9:15, 16) U-Ananiya walalela, wakwenza ngaso leso sikhathi ayekuthunywe uJesu. Wacinga umshushisi uSawulu wathi kuye: “Sawulu mfowethu, iNkosi uJesu ebonakale kuwe endleleni obuza ngayo, ingithumile ukuze uphinde ubone futhi ugcwale umoya ongcwele.”—IzE. 9:17.

11, 12. Sifundani ezenzakalweni ezihilela uJesu, u-Ananiya noSawulu?

¹¹ Maningi amaphuzu acacayo ezenzakalweni ezihilela uJesu, u-Ananiya noSawulu. Ngokwesibonelo, uJesu uwuqondisa ngenkuthalo umsebenzi wokushumayela, njengoba nje ayethembisile. (Math. 28:20) Nakuba uJesu engakhulumi ngokuqondile nabantu namuhla, uqondisa umsebenzi wokushumayela ngesigaba senceku ethembekile, ayimise phezu kwabendlu yayo. (Math. 24:45-47) Ngaphansi kwesiqondiso seNdikimba Ebusayo, kuthunywa abamemezeli namaphayona ukuba bayocinga abantu abafuna ukwazi okwengeziwe ngoKristu. Njengoba kuvezwe esihlokweni esandulele, abaningi babanjalo basuke bethandazele isiqondiso, bese kufika oFakazi BakaJehova.—IzE. 9:11.

¹² U-Ananiya walalela, wasamukela isabelo futhi wabusiswa. Ingabe wena uyawulalela umyalo wokunikeza ubufakazi obuphelele, nakuba lesi sabelo sikwenza wesabe? Abanye abakhululeki uma behamba indlu ngendlu futhi bekhuluma nabantu abangabazi. Abanye bakuthola kuyinselele ukushumayeza abantu abasezindaweni zamabhizinisi, abasemigwaqweni, ukubashumayeza ngocingo noma ngokubhala izincwadi. U-Ananiya wakunqoba ukwesaba futhi wathola ilungelo lokusiza uSawulu athole umoya ongcwele.b U-Ananiya waphumelela ngoba wayemethemba uJesu futhi ebheka uSawulu njengomfowabo. Nathi singakunqoba ukwesaba uma, njengo-Ananiya, sethemba ukuthi nguJesu oqondisa umsebenzi wokushumayela, uma sinozwela ngabantu, futhi sibabheka njengabangaba abafowethu, ngisho nabesabeka kangakanani.—Math. 9:36.

13, 14. Uma ufundelwa iBhayibheli kodwa ungakabhapathizwa, yini ongayifunda esibonelweni sikaSawulu?

¹³ USawulu akapholisanga maseko, wakwenza ayekufundile. Ngemva kokuphulukiswa, wabhapathizwa wayeseqala ukuzihlanganisa nabafundi eDamaseku. Kodwa wenza nokunye. “Masinyane waqala ukushumayela emasinagogeni ngoJesu, ukuthi lo uyiNdodana kaNkulunkulu.”—IzE. 9:20.

¹⁴ Uma ufundelwa iBhayibheli kodwa ungakabhapathizwa, ingabe nawe njengoSawulu uzokwenza isenzo esiwujuqu esihambisana nokufundayo? Yiqiniso, uSawulu wazibonela ngawakhe isimangaliso sikaKristu, futhi ngokungangabazeki lokhu kwamsiza kwamshukumisela esenzweni. Kodwa bakhona nabanye abazibonela ngawabo izimangaliso zikaJesu. Ngokwesibonelo, iqembu elithile labaFarisi lalimbukele lapho elapha isandla somuntu, futhi amaJuda amaningi ayazi ukuthi uJesu wavusa uLazaru kwabafileyo. Yize kunjalo, akuzange kuthi diki kwamaningi, futhi amanye amphikisa nokumphikisa. (Marku 3:1-6; Joh. 12:9, 10) Ngokuphambene, uSawulu waguquka. Kungani uSawulu aguquka abanye bebe bengaguqukanga? Yingoba wayesaba uNkulunkulu ngaphezu kwabantu futhi esazisa ngokujulile isihe uKristu ayembonise sona. (Fil. 3:8) Uma nawe usabela ngendlela efanayo, ngeke uvumele lutho lukuyekise ukuhlanganyela emsebenzini wokushumayela nasekufanelekeleni ukubhapathizwa.

15, 16. Wénzani uSawulu emasinagogeni, futhi asabela kanjani amaJuda aseDamaseku?

¹⁵ Ungakubona ngeso lengqondo ukumangala, ukushaqeka nentukuthelo okumelwe ukuba yafikela izixuku lapho uSawulu eqala ukushumayela ngoJesu emasinagogeni? Zabuza: “Lo muntu akuyena yini lona owayeshushisa ngonya abaseJerusalema ababiza igama likaJesu?” (IzE. 9:21) Lapho echaza ukuthi kungani sashintsha isimo sakhe ngoJesu, uSawulu ‘wabonisa ngokunengqondo ukuthi lo nguKristu.’ (IzE. 9:22) Kodwa ukuba nengqondo akugculisi bonke abantu. Akuvuli zonke izingqondo eziboshwe amasiko noma izinhliziyo ezibanjwe ukuzazisa. Noma kunjalo, uSawulu akadikibalanga.

¹⁶ AmaJuda aseDamaseku ayesamphikisa uSawulu ngisho nangemva kweminyaka emithathu. Ekugcineni, afuna ukumbulala. (IzE. 9:23; 2 Kor. 11:32, 33; Gal. 1:13-18) Lapho selidalulekile itulo lawo, uSawulu wahamba ngesinyenyela kuleli dolobha ngokucela abantu ukuba bamehlise ngobhasikidi bamkhiphe ngembobo eyayisodongeni lwedolobha. ULuka uchaza labo abasiza uSawulu ukuba abaleke ngokuthi “abafundi bakhe [uSawulu].” (IzE. 9:25) Lokhu kubonisa ukuthi okungenani abanye abezwa uSawulu ekhuluma eDamaseku basabela ekushumayeleni kwakhe, baba abalandeli bakaKristu.

17. (a) Abantu basabela ngaziphi izindlela eqinisweni leBhayibheli? (b) Yini okufanele siqhubeke siyenza, futhi kungani?

¹⁷ Ngesikhathi uqala ukuxoxela abakini, abangane nabanye izindaba ezinhle owawuzifunda, kungenzeka wawulindele ukuba bonke balamukele iqiniso leBhayibheli elinengqondo. Kungenzeka ukuthi abanye balamukela kanti abaningi abalamukelanga. Empeleni kungenzeka nokuthi abantu ohlala nabo ekhaya bakuphatha njengesitha. (Math. 10:32-38) Kepha uma uqhubeka uthuthukisa ikhono lakho lokubonisana nabo ngemiBhalo futhi ulondoloza ukuziphatha kobuKristu, ngisho nalabo abakuphikisayo bangagcina sebezishintshile izinhliziyo.—IzE. 17:2; 1 Pet. 2:12; 3:1, 2, 7.

18, 19. (a) Lapho uBarnaba eqinisekisa ukuthi uSawulu usengumfundi, waba yini umphumela? (b) Singamlingisa kanjani uBarnaba noSawulu?

¹⁸ Lapho uSawulu efika eJerusalema, abafundi abakholwanga ukuthi manje wayesengumfundi, futhi kube kufanele. Lapho uBarnaba ekuqinisekisa lokho, abaphostoli bamamukela uSawulu bahlala naye isikhashana. (IzE. 9:26-28) USawulu wayeqaphile, nokho engenamahloni ngezindaba ezinhle. (Roma 1:16) Washumayela ngesibindi eJerusalema, yona kanye indawo ayeqale kuyo ukushushisa ngesihluku abafundi bakaJesu Kristu. AmaJuda eJerusalema ashaqeka lapho ebona ukuthi iqhawe lawo lase lingasekho ohlangothini lwawo, ayesefuna ulibulala. Ukulandisa kuthi: “Lapho abafowethu bezwa ngalokhu, bamehlisela eKhesariya [uSawulu] bamthumela eTarsu.” (IzE. 9:30) USawulu wasithobela isiqondiso sikaJesu ayesiletha ngebandla. USawulu nebandla bazuza.

¹⁹ Phawula ukuthi uBarnaba wathatha isinyathelo sokusiza uSawulu. Akungabazeki ukuthi lesi senzo somusa saba nesandla ekwakhekeni kobungane obufudumele balezi zinceku zikaJehova ezishisekayo. Ingabe nawe, njengoBarnaba, ubasiza ngomusa abasanda kuhlanganyela ebandleni, usebenze nabo ensimini futhi ubasize bakhule ngokomoya? Uyovuzwa ngokucebile uma wenzenjalo. Uma usanda kuba ummemezeli wezindaba ezinhle, ingabe nawe, njengoSawulu, uyalwamukela usizo olunikezwayo? Uma usebenza nabamemezeli abanolwazi, liyololeka ikhono lakho enkonzweni, intokozo yakho iyokwanda futhi uyokwakha izibopho zobungane eziyohlala phakade.

20, 21. Izinceku zikaNkulunkulu zasendulo nezamanje zizisebenzise kanjani ‘izinkathi zokuthula’?

²⁰ Ngemva kokuguquka kukaSawulu nokuhamba kwakhe ephephile, “ibandla kulo lonke elaseJudiya naseGalile naseSamariya langena enkathini yokuthula.” (IzE. 9:31) Abafundi bayisebenzisa kanjani le nkathi evumayo? (2 Thim. 4:2) Ukulandisa kuthi ‘babakhiwa.’ Abaphostoli nabanye abazalwane abathembekile baqinisa ukholo lwabafundi futhi bahola njengoba ibandla “lalibonisa ukwesaba uJehova futhi liphila ngokuvumelana nenduduzo yomoya ongcwele.” Ngokwesibonelo, uPetru wasebenzisa lesi sikhathi ukuze aqinise abafundi edolobhaneni laseLida emaThafeni aseSharoni. Imizamo yakhe yabangela ukuba abaningi ababehlala kule ndawo baphendukele “eNkosini.” (IzE. 9:32-35) Abafundi abazange baphazanyiswe ezinye izinto kodwa bazikhandla benakekelana futhi beshumayela izindaba ezinhle. Umphumela waba ukuthi ibandla ‘laqhubeka landa.’

²¹ Ngasekupheleni kwekhulu lama-20, oFakazi BakaJehova emazweni amaningi bangena “enkathini yokuthula” efanayo. Imibuso eyayikade icindezele abantu bakaNkulunkulu amashumi eminyaka yawa kungalindelekile, nokuvinjelwa komsebenzi wokushumayela kwaphela noma kwancipha. OFakazi abangamashumi ezinkulungwane babamba ithuba lokushumayela obala, kwaba nemiphumela emangalisayo.

22. Ungayisebenzisa kanjani inkululeko onayo?

²² Ingabe wena uyisebenzisa kahle inkululeko onayo? Uma uhlala ezweni elinenkululeko yenkolo, uSathane angathanda ukukuyenga ukuba uphishekele ingcebo yezinto ezibonakalayo, hhayi izithakazelo zoMbuso. (Math. 13:22) Ungavumi akuchezukise. Zisebenzise kahle izinkathi zokuthula okungenzeka unazo manje. Zibheke njengamathuba okunikeza ubufakazi obuphelele nokwakha ibandla. Khumbula, izimo zakho zingashintsha ngokuzumayo.

23, 24. (a) Yimaphi amaphuzu esiwathola endabeni kaThabitha? (b) Yini okufanele sizimisele ukuyenza?

²³ Cabanga ngokwenzeka kumfundi ogama lakhe nguThabitha, noma uDorka. Wayehlala eJopha, idolobhana elingekude neLida. Lo dadewethu othembekile wayesisebenzisa ngokuhlakanipha isikhathi nempahla yakhe, enza “izinto eziningi ezinhle” enikela ‘nangezipho eziningi zesihe.’ Kodwa kungazelwe, wagula washona.c Ukufa kwakhe kwababangela olukhulu usizi abafundi eJopha, ikakhulukazi abafelokazi ayebenzele izenzo zomusa. Ngenkathi uPetru efika emzini okwakulungiswa kuwo isidumbu sakhe ukuze singcwatshwe, wenza isimangaliso esasingakaze senziwe abaphostoli bakaJesu Kristu. UPetru wathandaza, wayesevusa uThabitha kwabafile! Ungayibona ngeso lengqondo intokozo yabafelokazi nabanye abafundi lapho uPetru ebabizela endlini futhi ethula uThabitha kubo esephila? Yeka indlela okumelwe ukuba lokhu kwabaqinisa ngayo ukuze bakwazi ukubhekana novivinyo olwaluseza! Njengokulindelekile, lesi simangaliso ‘saziwa kulo lonke elaseJopha, abaningi bakholwa eNkosini.’—IzE. 9:36-42.

²⁴ Sithola amaphuzu amabili abalulekile kule ndaba kaThabitha ethinta inhliziyo. (1) Ukuphila kufushane. Ngakho kusemqoka ukuba sizenzele igama elihle noNkulunkulu sisenesikhathi! (UmSh. 7:1) (2) Uvuko luzokwenzeka nakanjani. UJehova wazibona izenzo eziningi zomusa ezazenziwe uThabitha, futhi wamvuza. Uyowukhumbula nomsebenzi wethu onzima futhi uyosivusa uma sifa ngaphambi kwe-Armagedoni. (Heb. 6:10) Ngakho kungakhathaliseki ukuthi okwamanje sikhuthazelela ‘inkathi enzima’ noma sijabulela ‘inkathi yokuthula,’ masikhuthazele ekunikezeni ubufakazi obuphelele ngoKristu.—2 Thim. 4:2.

1, 2. USawulu wayehlose ukwenzani eDamaseku?

LABA bantu abathukuthele sebezofika eDamaseku, lapho behlose ukwenza khona ububi. Bazokhipha abafundi bakaJesu abazondwayo ngendlov’ iyangena emizini yabo, bababophe, babukise ngabo bese bebahudulela eJerusalema bayobhekana nolaka lweSanhedrini.

² Ubhongoza waleli viyo, okunguSawulu igama lakhe, uselichithile kakade igazi.a Usanda kubukela lapho izishoshovu zenkolo zikhanda ngamatshe uStefanu, umfundi ozinikele kaJesu. (IzE. 7:57–8:1) Enganelisiwe ukuhlukumeza abalandeli bakaJesu abahlala eJerusalema, uSawulu uba njengesikhuni esivuthayo esithungela amalangabi oshushiso. Ufuna ukuliqeda nyá leli hlelo eliwuhlupho elaziwa ngokuthi ile “Ndlela.”—IzE. 9:1, 2; bheka ibhokisi elithi “Igunya USawulu Ayenalo EDamaseku,” ekhasini 61.

3, 4. (a) Kwenzekani kuSawulu? (b) Yimiphi imibuzo esizoyicabangela?

³ Kungazelelwe, uSawulu ugutshuzelwa ukukhanya okuxhophayo. Ahamba nabo bayakubona ukukhanya kodwa bayama bankeme. USawulu ushaywa ubumpumputhe awe bhú phansi. Njengoba engasaboni, uzwa izwi livela ezulwini lithi: “Sawulu, Sawulu, ungishushiselani?” Ethukile, uyabuza: “Ungubani wena Nkosi?” Impendulo ayithola kumelwe ukuba yenza kwabanda kwamancane kuye: “NginguJesu, lowo omshushisayo.”—IzE. 9:3-5; 22:9.

⁴ Yini esiyifunda emazwini okuqala uJesu awasho kuSawulu? Singazuza kanjani ngokubukeza lokho okwenzeka ngesikhathi uSawulu eguquka? Yiziphi izifundo esizithola endleleni ibandla elasebenzisa ngayo inkathi yokuthula eyaba khona ngemva kokuguquka kukaSawulu?

5, 6. Sifundani emazwini uJesu awasho kuSawulu?

⁵ Lapho uJesu emisa uSawulu emgwaqweni oya eDamaseku, akazange athi: “Ubashushiselani abafundi bami?” Njengoba sekushiwo ngenhla, wathi: “Ungishushiselani?” (IzE. 9:4) Yebo, uJesu uyaluzwa uvivinyo olutholwa abalandeli bakhe.—Math. 25:34-40, 45.

⁶ Uma uhlushwa ngenxa yokholo lwakho kuKristu, qiniseka ukuthi bobabili uJehova noJesu bayasazi isimo okuso. (Math. 10:22, 28-31) Lolo vivinyo lungase lungasuswa manje. Khumbula, uJesu wayebukele lapho uSawulu efaka isandla ekubulaweni kukaStefanu, wambona uSawulu lapho ehudula abafundi abathembekile emizini yabo eJerusalema. (IzE. 8:3) Yize kunjalo, uJesu akazange angenele ngaleso sikhathi. Kepha uJehova, esebenzisa uKristu, wanika uStefanu nabanye abafundi amandla ababewadinga ukuze bahlale bethembekile.

 7. Yini okumelwe uyenze ukuze ukhuthazelele uvivinyo?

⁷ Nawe ungalukhuthazelela ushushiso uma wenza lokhu okulandelayo: (1) Zimisele ukuhlala uqotho, kumnyama kubomvu. (2) Cela usizo lukaJehova. (Fil. 4:6, 7) (3) Shiyela impindiselo kuJehova. (Roma 12:17-21) (4) Methembe uJehova ukuthi uyokunikeza amandla okukhuthazela kuze kube yilapho ebona kufanele ukuqeda lolo vivinyo.—Fil. 4:12, 13.

8, 9. Kumelwe ukuba u-Ananiya wazizwa kanjani ngesabelo sakhe?

⁸ Ngemva kokuphendula umbuzo kaSawulu othi, “Ungubani wena Nkosi?” uJesu wathi kuye: “Vuka uye edolobheni, uzotshelwa okumelwe ukwenze.” (IzE. 9:6) USawulu ongasaboni wayiswa endlini ayezohlala kuyo eDamaseku, lapho azila khona ukudla futhi wathandaza izinsuku ezintathu. Phakathi naleso sikhathi, uJesu wakhuluma ngoSawulu kumfundi wakulelo dolobha, indoda okuthiwa u-Ananiya, ‘eyayikhulunyelwa kahle yiwo wonke amaJuda’ ahlala eDamaseku.—IzE. 22:12.

⁹ Cabanga ngendlela okumelwe ukuba wakhungatheka ngayo u-Ananiya! Nansi iNhloko yebandla, uJesu Kristu ovusiwe, ikhuluma naye mathupha, imqokela isabelo esikhethekile. Laze lalihle ilungelo, kodwa maye isabelo! Lapho etshelwa ukuthi kumelwe ayokhuluma noSawulu, u-Ananiya wathi: “Nkosi, ngizwe abantu abaningi bekhuluma ngalo muntu, bekhuluma ngazo zonke izinto ezimbi azenza kwabangcwele bakho eJerusalema. Njengoba elapha, unegunya elivela kubapristi abakhulu lokubopha bonke ababiza igama lakho.”—IzE. 9:13, 14.

10. Sifundani ngoJesu endleleni asebenzelana ngayo no-Ananiya?

¹⁰ UJesu akazange amsole u-Ananiya ngokuveza ukukhathazeka kwakhe. Kepha wamnika isiqondiso esicacile. UJesu wabonisa ukumcabangela ngokumtshela isizathu sokuthi kungani ayefuna enze lo msebenzi oyingqayizivele. UJesu wathi ku-Ananiya: “Lo muntu uyisitsha sami engisikhethile ukuba aphathe igama lami ezizweni nasemakhosini nakubantwana bakwa-Israyeli. Ngoba ngizombonisa ngokucacile ukuthi ziningi kangakanani izinto okumelwe ahlupheke ngazo ngenxa yegama lami.” (IzE. 9:15, 16) U-Ananiya walalela, wakwenza ngaso leso sikhathi ayekuthunywe uJesu. Wacinga umshushisi uSawulu wathi kuye: “Sawulu mfowethu, iNkosi uJesu ebonakale kuwe endleleni obuza ngayo, ingithumile ukuze uphinde ubone futhi ugcwale umoya ongcwele.”—IzE. 9:17.

11, 12. Sifundani ezenzakalweni ezihilela uJesu, u-Ananiya noSawulu?

¹¹ Maningi amaphuzu acacayo ezenzakalweni ezihilela uJesu, u-Ananiya noSawulu. Ngokwesibonelo, uJesu uwuqondisa ngenkuthalo umsebenzi wokushumayela, njengoba nje ayethembisile. (Math. 28:20) Nakuba uJesu engakhulumi ngokuqondile nabantu namuhla, uqondisa umsebenzi wokushumayela ngesigaba senceku ethembekile, ayimise phezu kwabendlu yayo. (Math. 24:45-47) Ngaphansi kwesiqondiso seNdikimba Ebusayo, kuthunywa abamemezeli namaphayona ukuba bayocinga abantu abafuna ukwazi okwengeziwe ngoKristu. Njengoba kuvezwe esihlokweni esandulele, abaningi babanjalo basuke bethandazele isiqondiso, bese kufika oFakazi BakaJehova.—IzE. 9:11.

¹² U-Ananiya walalela, wasamukela isabelo futhi wabusiswa. Ingabe wena uyawulalela umyalo wokunikeza ubufakazi obuphelele, nakuba lesi sabelo sikwenza wesabe? Abanye abakhululeki uma behamba indlu ngendlu futhi bekhuluma nabantu abangabazi. Abanye bakuthola kuyinselele ukushumayeza abantu abasezindaweni zamabhizinisi, abasemigwaqweni, ukubashumayeza ngocingo noma ngokubhala izincwadi. U-Ananiya wakunqoba ukwesaba futhi wathola ilungelo lokusiza uSawulu athole umoya ongcwele.b U-Ananiya waphumelela ngoba wayemethemba uJesu futhi ebheka uSawulu njengomfowabo. Nathi singakunqoba ukwesaba uma, njengo-Ananiya, sethemba ukuthi nguJesu oqondisa umsebenzi wokushumayela, uma sinozwela ngabantu, futhi sibabheka njengabangaba abafowethu, ngisho nabesabeka kangakanani.—Math. 9:36.

13, 14. Uma ufundelwa iBhayibheli kodwa ungakabhapathizwa, yini ongayifunda esibonelweni sikaSawulu?

¹³ USawulu akapholisanga maseko, wakwenza ayekufundile. Ngemva kokuphulukiswa, wabhapathizwa wayeseqala ukuzihlanganisa nabafundi eDamaseku. Kodwa wenza nokunye. “Masinyane waqala ukushumayela emasinagogeni ngoJesu, ukuthi lo uyiNdodana kaNkulunkulu.”—IzE. 9:20.

¹⁴ Uma ufundelwa iBhayibheli kodwa ungakabhapathizwa, ingabe nawe njengoSawulu uzokwenza isenzo esiwujuqu esihambisana nokufundayo? Yiqiniso, uSawulu wazibonela ngawakhe isimangaliso sikaKristu, futhi ngokungangabazeki lokhu kwamsiza kwamshukumisela esenzweni. Kodwa bakhona nabanye abazibonela ngawabo izimangaliso zikaJesu. Ngokwesibonelo, iqembu elithile labaFarisi lalimbukele lapho elapha isandla somuntu, futhi amaJuda amaningi ayazi ukuthi uJesu wavusa uLazaru kwabafileyo. Yize kunjalo, akuzange kuthi diki kwamaningi, futhi amanye amphikisa nokumphikisa. (Marku 3:1-6; Joh. 12:9, 10) Ngokuphambene, uSawulu waguquka. Kungani uSawulu aguquka abanye bebe bengaguqukanga? Yingoba wayesaba uNkulunkulu ngaphezu kwabantu futhi esazisa ngokujulile isihe uKristu ayembonise sona. (Fil. 3:8) Uma nawe usabela ngendlela efanayo, ngeke uvumele lutho lukuyekise ukuhlanganyela emsebenzini wokushumayela nasekufanelekeleni ukubhapathizwa.

15, 16. Wénzani uSawulu emasinagogeni, futhi asabela kanjani amaJuda aseDamaseku?

¹⁵ Ungakubona ngeso lengqondo ukumangala, ukushaqeka nentukuthelo okumelwe ukuba yafikela izixuku lapho uSawulu eqala ukushumayela ngoJesu emasinagogeni? Zabuza: “Lo muntu akuyena yini lona owayeshushisa ngonya abaseJerusalema ababiza igama likaJesu?” (IzE. 9:21) Lapho echaza ukuthi kungani sashintsha isimo sakhe ngoJesu, uSawulu ‘wabonisa ngokunengqondo ukuthi lo nguKristu.’ (IzE. 9:22) Kodwa ukuba nengqondo akugculisi bonke abantu. Akuvuli zonke izingqondo eziboshwe amasiko noma izinhliziyo ezibanjwe ukuzazisa. Noma kunjalo, uSawulu akadikibalanga.

¹⁶ AmaJuda aseDamaseku ayesamphikisa uSawulu ngisho nangemva kweminyaka emithathu. Ekugcineni, afuna ukumbulala. (IzE. 9:23; 2 Kor. 11:32, 33; Gal. 1:13-18) Lapho selidalulekile itulo lawo, uSawulu wahamba ngesinyenyela kuleli dolobha ngokucela abantu ukuba bamehlise ngobhasikidi bamkhiphe ngembobo eyayisodongeni lwedolobha. ULuka uchaza labo abasiza uSawulu ukuba abaleke ngokuthi “abafundi bakhe [uSawulu].” (IzE. 9:25) Lokhu kubonisa ukuthi okungenani abanye abezwa uSawulu ekhuluma eDamaseku basabela ekushumayeleni kwakhe, baba abalandeli bakaKristu.

17. (a) Abantu basabela ngaziphi izindlela eqinisweni leBhayibheli? (b) Yini okufanele siqhubeke siyenza, futhi kungani?

¹⁷ Ngesikhathi uqala ukuxoxela abakini, abangane nabanye izindaba ezinhle owawuzifunda, kungenzeka wawulindele ukuba bonke balamukele iqiniso leBhayibheli elinengqondo. Kungenzeka ukuthi abanye balamukela kanti abaningi abalamukelanga. Empeleni kungenzeka nokuthi abantu ohlala nabo ekhaya bakuphatha njengesitha. (Math. 10:32-38) Kepha uma uqhubeka uthuthukisa ikhono lakho lokubonisana nabo ngemiBhalo futhi ulondoloza ukuziphatha kobuKristu, ngisho nalabo abakuphikisayo bangagcina sebezishintshile izinhliziyo.—IzE. 17:2; 1 Pet. 2:12; 3:1, 2, 7.

18, 19. (a) Lapho uBarnaba eqinisekisa ukuthi uSawulu usengumfundi, waba yini umphumela? (b) Singamlingisa kanjani uBarnaba noSawulu?

¹⁸ Lapho uSawulu efika eJerusalema, abafundi abakholwanga ukuthi manje wayesengumfundi, futhi kube kufanele. Lapho uBarnaba ekuqinisekisa lokho, abaphostoli bamamukela uSawulu bahlala naye isikhashana. (IzE. 9:26-28) USawulu wayeqaphile, nokho engenamahloni ngezindaba ezinhle. (Roma 1:16) Washumayela ngesibindi eJerusalema, yona kanye indawo ayeqale kuyo ukushushisa ngesihluku abafundi bakaJesu Kristu. AmaJuda eJerusalema ashaqeka lapho ebona ukuthi iqhawe lawo lase lingasekho ohlangothini lwawo, ayesefuna ulibulala. Ukulandisa kuthi: “Lapho abafowethu bezwa ngalokhu, bamehlisela eKhesariya [uSawulu] bamthumela eTarsu.” (IzE. 9:30) USawulu wasithobela isiqondiso sikaJesu ayesiletha ngebandla. USawulu nebandla bazuza.

¹⁹ Phawula ukuthi uBarnaba wathatha isinyathelo sokusiza uSawulu. Akungabazeki ukuthi lesi senzo somusa saba nesandla ekwakhekeni kobungane obufudumele balezi zinceku zikaJehova ezishisekayo. Ingabe nawe, njengoBarnaba, ubasiza ngomusa abasanda kuhlanganyela ebandleni, usebenze nabo ensimini futhi ubasize bakhule ngokomoya? Uyovuzwa ngokucebile uma wenzenjalo. Uma usanda kuba ummemezeli wezindaba ezinhle, ingabe nawe, njengoSawulu, uyalwamukela usizo olunikezwayo? Uma usebenza nabamemezeli abanolwazi, liyololeka ikhono lakho enkonzweni, intokozo yakho iyokwanda futhi uyokwakha izibopho zobungane eziyohlala phakade.

20, 21. Izinceku zikaNkulunkulu zasendulo nezamanje zizisebenzise kanjani ‘izinkathi zokuthula’?

²⁰ Ngemva kokuguquka kukaSawulu nokuhamba kwakhe ephephile, “ibandla kulo lonke elaseJudiya naseGalile naseSamariya langena enkathini yokuthula.” (IzE. 9:31) Abafundi bayisebenzisa kanjani le nkathi evumayo? (2 Thim. 4:2) Ukulandisa kuthi ‘babakhiwa.’ Abaphostoli nabanye abazalwane abathembekile baqinisa ukholo lwabafundi futhi bahola njengoba ibandla “lalibonisa ukwesaba uJehova futhi liphila ngokuvumelana nenduduzo yomoya ongcwele.” Ngokwesibonelo, uPetru wasebenzisa lesi sikhathi ukuze aqinise abafundi edolobhaneni laseLida emaThafeni aseSharoni. Imizamo yakhe yabangela ukuba abaningi ababehlala kule ndawo baphendukele “eNkosini.” (IzE. 9:32-35) Abafundi abazange baphazanyiswe ezinye izinto kodwa bazikhandla benakekelana futhi beshumayela izindaba ezinhle. Umphumela waba ukuthi ibandla ‘laqhubeka landa.’

²¹ Ngasekupheleni kwekhulu lama-20, oFakazi BakaJehova emazweni amaningi bangena “enkathini yokuthula” efanayo. Imibuso eyayikade icindezele abantu bakaNkulunkulu amashumi eminyaka yawa kungalindelekile, nokuvinjelwa komsebenzi wokushumayela kwaphela noma kwancipha. OFakazi abangamashumi ezinkulungwane babamba ithuba lokushumayela obala, kwaba nemiphumela emangalisayo.

22. Ungayisebenzisa kanjani inkululeko onayo?

²² Ingabe wena uyisebenzisa kahle inkululeko onayo? Uma uhlala ezweni elinenkululeko yenkolo, uSathane angathanda ukukuyenga ukuba uphishekele ingcebo yezinto ezibonakalayo, hhayi izithakazelo zoMbuso. (Math. 13:22) Ungavumi akuchezukise. Zisebenzise kahle izinkathi zokuthula okungenzeka unazo manje. Zibheke njengamathuba okunikeza ubufakazi obuphelele nokwakha ibandla. Khumbula, izimo zakho zingashintsha ngokuzumayo.

23, 24. (a) Yimaphi amaphuzu esiwathola endabeni kaThabitha? (b) Yini okufanele sizimisele ukuyenza?

²³ Cabanga ngokwenzeka kumfundi ogama lakhe nguThabitha, noma uDorka. Wayehlala eJopha, idolobhana elingekude neLida. Lo dadewethu othembekile wayesisebenzisa ngokuhlakanipha isikhathi nempahla yakhe, enza “izinto eziningi ezinhle” enikela ‘nangezipho eziningi zesihe.’ Kodwa kungazelwe, wagula washona.c Ukufa kwakhe kwababangela olukhulu usizi abafundi eJopha, ikakhulukazi abafelokazi ayebenzele izenzo zomusa. Ngenkathi uPetru efika emzini okwakulungiswa kuwo isidumbu sakhe ukuze singcwatshwe, wenza isimangaliso esasingakaze senziwe abaphostoli bakaJesu Kristu. UPetru wathandaza, wayesevusa uThabitha kwabafile! Ungayibona ngeso lengqondo intokozo yabafelokazi nabanye abafundi lapho uPetru ebabizela endlini futhi ethula uThabitha kubo esephila? Yeka indlela okumelwe ukuba lokhu kwabaqinisa ngayo ukuze bakwazi ukubhekana novivinyo olwaluseza! Njengokulindelekile, lesi simangaliso ‘saziwa kulo lonke elaseJopha, abaningi bakholwa eNkosini.’—IzE. 9:36-42.

²⁴ Sithola amaphuzu amabili abalulekile kule ndaba kaThabitha ethinta inhliziyo. (1) Ukuphila kufushane. Ngakho kusemqoka ukuba sizenzele igama elihle noNkulunkulu sisenesikhathi! (UmSh. 7:1) (2) Uvuko luzokwenzeka nakanjani. UJehova wazibona izenzo eziningi zomusa ezazenziwe uThabitha, futhi wamvuza. Uyowukhumbula nomsebenzi wethu onzima futhi uyosivusa uma sifa ngaphambi kwe-Armagedoni. (Heb. 6:10) Ngakho kungakhathaliseki ukuthi okwamanje sikhuthazelela ‘inkathi enzima’ noma sijabulela ‘inkathi yokuthula,’ masikhuthazele ekunikezeni ubufakazi obuphelele ngoKristu.—2 Thim. 4:2.