1-4. Kungani uPawulu eya eJerusalema, futhi ulindelwe yini lapho?

KUBUHLUNGU kakhulu njengoba uPawulu noLuka sebehamba eMilethu. Kunzima ukuhlukana nabadala base-Efesu asebebathanda kangaka! Lezi zithunywa zevangeli ezimbili zimi phakathi emkhunjini. Izikhwama zazo zigcwele izinto ezizozidinga endleleni. Ziphethe neminikelo enikelelwe amaKristu aseJudiya aswele, futhi zifuna ukuqiniseka ukuthi ayasithola lesi sipho.

² Oseyili bapheshulwa umoya ohelezayo bese umkhumbi uqhela ezixukwini. La madoda amabili nabanye abayisikhombisa abahamba nawo babuka abafowabo abadangele abami ogwini. (IzE. 20:4, 14, 15) Abasemkhunjini balokhu bevayiza bevalelisa abangane babo njengoba beqhela baze bayosithela.

³ UPawulu usesebenzelane eduze nabadala base-Efesu iminyaka ethi ayibe mithathu. Kodwa manje umoya ongcwele umqondisa ukuba aye eJerusalema. Ngokwezinga elithile, uyazi ukuthi yini emlindele. Ngaphambidlana, wayetshele labo badala: “Ngiya eJerusalema ngiholwa umoya, nakuba ngingazi ukuthi kuzokwenzekani kimi khona, ngaphandle kokuthi umoya ongcwele ufakaza kimi ngokuphindaphindiwe edolobheni nedolobha, uthi ngilindelwe ukuboshwa nezinsizi.” (IzE. 20:22, 23) Naphezu kwengozi engase imehlele, uPawulu uzizwa ‘eholwa umoya’—enesibopho futhi ezimisele ukulandela isiqondiso somoya sokuya eJerusalema. Uyakwazisa ukuphila kwakhe, kodwa into ebaluleke kakhulu kuye ukwenza intando kaNkulunkulu.

⁴ Ingabe nawe uzizwa kanjalo? Lapho sizinikezela kuJehova, sisuke sithembisa ngobuqotho ukwenza intando yakhe ibe iyona nto esemqoka ekuphileni kwethu. Singazuza ngokucabangela isibonelo sokwethembeka sikamphostoli uPawulu.

 5. UPawulu nayehamba nabo bahamba ngayiphi indlela beya eThire?

⁵ Isikebhe esagitshelwa uPawulu nayehamba nabo sahamba ‘ngendlela eqondile.’ Ngamanye amazwi, sasiqhutshwa umoya kwaze kwaba yilapho befika eKhose ntambama ngalolo suku. (IzE. 21:1) Kubonakala sengathi isikebhe sama lapho ubusuku bonke ngaphambi kokudlulela eRodu nasePathara. SebesePathara, esogwini oluseningizimu ye-Asia Minor, abazalwane bagibela umkhumbi omkhulu wezimpahla owabayisa ngqo eThire, eFenike. Endleleni badlula ‘isiqhingi saseKhupro ngakwesobunxele’ sogu. (IzE. 21:3) Kungani uLuka, umlobi wencwadi yezEnzo, esitshela lokhu?

 6. (a) Kungani ukubona iKhupro kwakungase kumkhuthaze uPawulu? (b) Uma uzindla ngezibusiso nangezindlela uJehova aye akusiza ngazo, uphetha ngokuthini?

⁶ Kungenzeka ukuthi uPawulu wakhomba lesi siqhingi wayesexoxa ngezinto ezamehlela ngesikhathi elapho. Ohambweni lwakhe lokuqala lwezithunywa zevangeli, cishe eminyakeni engu-9 ngaphambili, uPawulu, uBarnaba, uJohane Marku bahlangana nomthakathi u-Eluma owaphikisa ukushumayela kwabo. (IzE. 13:4-12) Kungenzeka ukuthi ukubona leso siqhingi nokucabanga ngalokho okwamehlela ngesikhathi elapho kwanika uPawulu amandla okubhekana nokwakusazomehlela. Nathi singazuza ngokuzindla ngendlela uNkulunkulu aye wasibusisa futhi wasisiza ngayo ukuba sikhuthazelele ukulingwa. Ukuzindla okunjalo kungasisiza senanele amazwi kaDavide, owabhala: “Ziningi izinhlupheko zolungile, kodwa uJehova umkhulula kuzo zonke.”—IHu. 34:19.

 7. UPawulu nayehamba nabo benzani lapho befika eThire?

⁷ UPawulu wayekwazi ukubaluleka kokuba namanye amaKristu futhi wayelangazelela ukuba nawo. ULuka uthi lapho befika eThire, “sabafuna sabathola abafundi.” (IzE. 21:4) Njengoba babazi ukuthi kwakunamanye amaKristu eThire, bawafuna futhi kungenzeka ukuthi bahlala nawo. Esinye sezibusiso ezinkulu zokuba seqinisweni ukuthi kungakhathaliseki ukuthi siyaphi, singawathola amakholwa esikanye nawo ayosamukela. Abantu abasenkolweni yeqiniso nabathanda uNkulunkulu banabangane emhlabeni wonke.

 8. Kufanele siziqonde kanjani izEnzo 21:4?

⁸ Lapho echaza izinsuku eziyisikhombisa abazihlala eThire, uLuka usitshela okuthile okungaqale kuzwakale kudida: ‘Ngomoya ongcwele, [abazalwane baseThire] bamtshela ngokuphindaphindiwe uPawulu ukuba angalubeki unyawo lwakhe eJerusalema.’ (IzE. 21:4) Ingabe uJehova wayesewushintshile umqondo? Ingabe manje wayesetshela uPawulu ukuba angayi eJerusalema? Cha. Umoya wawubonise ukuthi uPawulu wayeyophathwa kabi eJerusalema, kodwa hhayi ukuthi kwakufanele angayi khona. Kubonakala sengathi ngosizo lomoya ongcwele, abazalwane baseThire baphetha kufanele ngokuthi uPawulu wayezobhekana nobunzima eJerusalema. Ngakho, ngenxa yokumkhathalela, bamnxusa ukuba angayi khona. Sasiqondakala isifiso sabo sokuvikela uPawulu engozini eyayizomehlela. Noma kunjalo, uPawulu waqhubeka nohambo lwakhe lokuya eJerusalema ngoba wayezimisele ukwenza intando kaJehova.—IzE. 21:12.

9, 10. (a) Yisiphi isimo esifanayo okungenzeka ukuthi uPawulu wasikhumbula lapho ezwa ukukhathalela kwabazalwane baseThire? (b) Yimuphi umbono ovamile ezweni namuhla, futhi uhluke kanjani emazwini kaJesu?

⁹ Lapho ezwa ukukhathalela kwabafowabo, kungenzeka ukuthi uPawulu wakhumbula ukuthi uJesu wayebhekane nesimo esifanayo ngemva kokutshela abafundi bakhe ukuthi wayezoya eJerusalema, ahlupheke ngezinto eziningi, futhi abulawe. Eshukunyiswa uzwela, uPetru wayethe kuJesu: “Yiba nomusa kuwe, Nkosi; ngeke neze lokhu kwenzeke kuwe.” UJesu waphendula: “Yana emva kwami, Sathane! Uyisikhubekiso kimi, ngoba awucabangi imicabango kaNkulunkulu, ucabanga eyabantu.” (Math. 16:21-23) UJesu wayezimisele ukwamukela umsebenzi wokuzidela ayewabelwe uNkulunkulu ukuba awenze. UPawulu naye wayezizwa ngendlela efanayo. Njengomphostoli uPetru, akungabazeki ukuthi nabazalwane baseThire babenezinhloso ezinhle, kodwa bengayiqondi intando kaNkulunkulu.

¹⁰ Umbono wokuba nomusa kuwe noma wokuthanda izindlela ezilula ukhanga abaningi namuhla. Abantu ngokuvamile bathanda ukufuna inkolo ebavumela ukuba bazenzele umathanda nengalindeli okungako emalungwini ayo. Ngokuphambene, uJesu wakhuthaza isimo sengqondo esihluke ngokuphelele. Watshela abafundi bakhe: “Uma umuntu efuna ukungilandela, makazidele athathe isigxobo sakhe sokuhlushwa angilandele njalo.” (Math. 16:24) Ukulandela uJesu kuyinkambo ehlakaniphile nelungile, kodwa engelula.

11. Abafundi baseThire babonisa kanjani ukuthi babemthanda futhi bemsekela uPawulu?

¹¹ Safika isikhathi sokuba uPawulu, uLuka nabanye ababenabo baqhubeke nohambo lwabo. Iyadabukisa indlela okuchazwa ngayo ukuhlukana kwabo. Ibonisa uthando abazalwane baseThire ababemthanda ngalo uPawulu nendlela ababeyisekela ngokugcwele ngayo inkonzo yakhe. Amadoda, abesifazane nezingane baphelezela uPawulu nayehamba nabo babayisa ogwini lolwandle. Baguqa bonke bathandaza, base bevalelisana. Ngemva kwalokho, uPawulu, uLuka nababehamba nabo bagibela esinye isikebhe balibhekisa ePhetolemayi, lapho bahlangana khona nabazalwane, bahlala nabo usuku olulodwa.—IzE. 21:5-7.

12, 13. (a) UFiliphu wayenamuphi umlando wenkonzo yokwethembeka? (b) UFiliphu uyisibonelo esihle ngayiphi indlela kobaba abangamaKristu namuhla?

¹² ULuka ube esesitshela ukuthi uPawulu nayehamba nabo balibhekisa eKhesariya. Sebefikile, ‘bangena endlini kaFiliphu umvangeli.’a (IzE. 21:8) Kumelwe ukuba bajabula ukubona uFiliphu. Eminyakeni engaba ngu-20 ngaphambili, wayemiswe abaphostoli eJerusalema ukuba asingathe ukwabiwa kokudla ebandleni lobuKristu elalisafufusa. UFiliphu wayenomlando omude wokushumayela ngentshiseko. Khumbula ukuthi lapho ushushiso luhlakaza abafundi, uFiliphu waya eSamariya waqala ukushumayela khona. Kamuva, washumayeza futhi wabhapathiza umthenwa ongumTopiya. (IzE. 6:2-6; 8:4-13, 26-38) Yeka umlando wenkonzo yokwethembeka!

¹³ UFiliphu wayesayishisekela inkonzo. Manje wayesehlala eKhesariya, futhi esematasa ngokushumayela. Lokhu sikubona ngokuthi uLuka umbiza ‘ngomvangeli.’ Sifunda nokuthi manje wayesenamadodakazi amane aprofethayo, okusikisela ukuthi alandela ezinyathelweni zikayise.b (IzE. 21:9) Ngaleso sikhathi, kungenzeka ukuthi uFiliphu wayenze lukhulu ekuqiniseni umndeni wakhe ngokomoya. Kuhle obaba abangamaKristu namuhla balingise isibonelo sakhe, bahole enkonzweni futhi basize abantababo ukuba bathande umsebenzi wobuvangeli.

14. Ukuvakashela kukaPawulu amanye amakholwa kwaba namuphi umphumela, futhi yimaphi amathuba akhona nanamuhla?

¹⁴ Kuzo zonke izindawo uPawulu ayehamba kuzo wayefuna amanye amakholwa bese echitha isikhathi nawo. Ngokuqinisekile abazalwane babeba magange ukwamukela lesi sithunywa sevangeli nalabo esasihamba nabo. Akungabazeki ukuthi ukuvakashelwa okunjalo ‘kwakubakhuthaza.’ (Roma 1:11, 12) Nanamuhla akhona amathuba afanayo. Ziningi izinzuzo ezitholakala ngokwamukela umbonisi wesigodi nomkakhe, ngisho noma umuzi wakho uphansi.—Roma 12:13.

15, 16. Yisiphi isigijimi esalethwa u-Agabu, futhi saba naliphi ithonya kwabasizwa?

¹⁵ Ngesikhathi uPawulu ehlala emzini kaFiliphu, kwafika nesinye isivakashi esihloniphekile—u-Agabu. Labo ababesendlini kaFiliphu babazi ukuthi u-Agabu umprofethi; wayebikezele indlala enkulu phakathi nokubusa kukaKlawudiyu. (IzE. 11:27, 28) Mhlawumbe bazibuza: ‘U-Agabu ubekwa yini lapha? Yisiphi isigijimi asiphethe?’ Njengoba bemgqolozele, wathatha ibhande likaPawulu—umchilo omude wendwangu owawuboshwa okhalweni owawungafaka imali nezinye izinto. U-Agabu walithatha wazibopha izinyawo nezandla. Wayesekhuluma. Isigijimi sakhe sasibalulekile: “Usho kanje umoya ongcwele, ‘Umnikazi waleli bhande, amaJuda azombopha ngale ndlela eJerusalema, amnikele kubantu bezizwe.’”—IzE. 21:11.

¹⁶ Lesi siprofetho saqinisekisa ukuthi uPawulu wayezoya eJerusalema. Sabonisa nokuthi ukushumayela kwakhe kumaJuda kwakuyophumela ekubeni anikelwe “kubantu bezizwe.” Lesi siprofetho sabathinta kakhulu ababekhona. ULuka uyabhala: “Lapho sikuzwa lokhu, thina nabantu ababelapho, samncenga ukuba angakhuphukeli eJerusalema. UPawulu waphendula wathi: ‘Nikhalelani nisenza buthaka isinqumo sami? Qinisekani ngalokhu, angilungele ukuboshwa nje kuphela kodwa ngilungele nokufa eJerusalema ngenxa yegama leNkosi uJesu.’”—IzE. 21:12, 13.

17, 18. UPawulu wabonisa kanjani ukuthi wayezimisele ukwenza intando kaJehova, futhi abazalwane basabela kanjani?

¹⁷ Sibone ngeso lengqondo lesi simo. Abazalwane, kuhlanganise noLuka, bancenga uPawulu ukuba angahambi. Abanye bayakhala. Eshukunyiswa ukukhathalela kothando abambonisa kona, ngomusa uPawulu uthi benza ‘buthaka isinqumo sakhe,’ noma ‘bamphula inhliziyo,’ njengoba ezinye izinguqulo zesiGreki zihumusha le nkulumo. Yize kunjalo, uzimisele futhi ngeke akuvumele ukuncengwa noma izinyembezi zimyekise, njengoba nje engazange akuvumele nakubazalwane baseThire. Kunalokho, uyabachazela ukuthi kungani kumelwe ahambe. Yeka isibindi nokuzimisela akubonisa! Njengoba kwenza uJesu, uPawulu wayezimisele ukuya eJerusalema kumnyama kubomvu. (Heb. 12:2) Wayengafuni ukuba umfel’ ukholo, kodwa uma lokho kwenzeka, wayeyokubheka njengelungelo ukufa engumlandeli kaKristu Jesu.

¹⁸ Abazalwane basabela kanjani? Ngelilodwa nje, ngenhlonipho. Siyafunda: “Lapho engavimbeki, sayeka ukuphikisana naye sathi: ‘Intando kaJehova mayenzeke.’” (IzE. 21:14) Labo ababezama ukukholisa uPawulu ukuba angayi eJerusalema abazange baphoqelele imibono yabo. Bamlalela, bamukela ayekusho, beqaphela ukuthi ukuhamba kwakhe kuyintando kaJehova, ngisho noma lokho kwakunzima kubo. UPawulu wayeqale umsebenzi owawuyogcina umholele ekufeni. Kwakuyoba lula ngaye ukube labo ababemthanda babengazange bazame ukumvimba.

19. Isiphi isifundo esibalulekile esisithola kulokho okwenzeka kuPawulu?

¹⁹ Sifunda isifundo esibalulekile kulokho okwenzeka kuPawulu: Asifuni nakanye ukuvimba abanye ukuba baphishekele inkambo yokukhonza uNkulunkulu ngokuzidela. Lesi sifundo singasisebenzisa ezimweni eziningi, hhayi nje kuphela lezo ezihilela ukufa nokuphila. Ngokwesibonelo, nakuba kuba nzima ngabazali abaningi abangamaKristu ukubona izingane zabo zihamba ekhaya ziyokhonza uJehova ezabelweni ezikude, bazimisele ukungazidikibalisi. UPhyllis ohlala eNgilandi ukhumbula indlela azizwa ngayo lapho indodakazi yakhe enguzinyobulala iyokhonza njengesithunywa sevangeli e-Afrika. Uthi: “Kwakuyisikhathi esibuhlungu. Ukwazi nje ukuthi yayiya kude kangaka kwangiphatha kabi. Ngangidumele kodwa ngesikhathi esifanayo ngiziqhenya ngayo. Ngathandaza kaningi ngale ndaba. Kodwa kwakuyisinqumo sayo lesi futhi angizange ngizame ukusishintsha. Angithi yimina engangiyifundise ukuba ibeke uMbuso kuqala! Sekudlule iminyaka engu-30 ikhonza ezabelweni zakwamanye amazwe, futhi ngibonga uJehova nsuku zonke ngokwethembeka kwayo.” Yeka indlela okuhle ngayo ukukhuthaza amakholwa esikanye nawo azidelayo!

20, 21. Yini ebonisa ukuthi uPawulu wayenesifiso sokuba nabafowabo, futhi kungani ayefuna ukuba nabo?

²⁰ Kwenziwa amalungiselelo futhi uPawulu waqhubeka nohambo lwakhe ephelezelwa abazalwane ababebonise ukuthi bamsekela ngenhliziyo yonke. Phakathi nohambo oluya eJerusalema, uPawulu nayehamba nabo babefuna ukuba nabazalwane nodade abangamaKristu. EThire, babethole abafundi futhi bahlala nabo izinsuku eziyisikhombisa. EPhetolemayi, babehlangane nabazalwane nodade futhi bachitha usuku nabo. EKhesariya, babehlale izinsuku eziningana emzini kaFiliphu. Ngemva kwalokho, abanye babafundi eKhesariya baphelezela uPawulu nayehamba nabo baya eJerusalema, lapho babungazwa khona uMnasoni, umfundi wokuqala. Lapho ekugcineni befika eJerusalema, uLuka uthi “abafowethu basamukela ngenjabulo.”—IzE. 21:17.

²¹ Kusobala ukuthi uPawulu wayefuna ukuba kanye namanye amakholwa. Lo mphostoli wayethola isikhuthazo kubafowabo nodadewabo, njengoba kunjalo nangathi namuhla. Akungabazeki ukuthi leso sikhuthazo samqinisa uPawulu ukuba abhekane nabaphikisi ababewoth’ ubomvu befuna ukumbulala.

1-4. Kungani uPawulu eya eJerusalema, futhi ulindelwe yini lapho?

KUBUHLUNGU kakhulu njengoba uPawulu noLuka sebehamba eMilethu. Kunzima ukuhlukana nabadala base-Efesu asebebathanda kangaka! Lezi zithunywa zevangeli ezimbili zimi phakathi emkhunjini. Izikhwama zazo zigcwele izinto ezizozidinga endleleni. Ziphethe neminikelo enikelelwe amaKristu aseJudiya aswele, futhi zifuna ukuqiniseka ukuthi ayasithola lesi sipho.

² Oseyili bapheshulwa umoya ohelezayo bese umkhumbi uqhela ezixukwini. La madoda amabili nabanye abayisikhombisa abahamba nawo babuka abafowabo abadangele abami ogwini. (IzE. 20:4, 14, 15) Abasemkhunjini balokhu bevayiza bevalelisa abangane babo njengoba beqhela baze bayosithela.

³ UPawulu usesebenzelane eduze nabadala base-Efesu iminyaka ethi ayibe mithathu. Kodwa manje umoya ongcwele umqondisa ukuba aye eJerusalema. Ngokwezinga elithile, uyazi ukuthi yini emlindele. Ngaphambidlana, wayetshele labo badala: “Ngiya eJerusalema ngiholwa umoya, nakuba ngingazi ukuthi kuzokwenzekani kimi khona, ngaphandle kokuthi umoya ongcwele ufakaza kimi ngokuphindaphindiwe edolobheni nedolobha, uthi ngilindelwe ukuboshwa nezinsizi.” (IzE. 20:22, 23) Naphezu kwengozi engase imehlele, uPawulu uzizwa ‘eholwa umoya’—enesibopho futhi ezimisele ukulandela isiqondiso somoya sokuya eJerusalema. Uyakwazisa ukuphila kwakhe, kodwa into ebaluleke kakhulu kuye ukwenza intando kaNkulunkulu.

⁴ Ingabe nawe uzizwa kanjalo? Lapho sizinikezela kuJehova, sisuke sithembisa ngobuqotho ukwenza intando yakhe ibe iyona nto esemqoka ekuphileni kwethu. Singazuza ngokucabangela isibonelo sokwethembeka sikamphostoli uPawulu.

 5. UPawulu nayehamba nabo bahamba ngayiphi indlela beya eThire?

⁵ Isikebhe esagitshelwa uPawulu nayehamba nabo sahamba ‘ngendlela eqondile.’ Ngamanye amazwi, sasiqhutshwa umoya kwaze kwaba yilapho befika eKhose ntambama ngalolo suku. (IzE. 21:1) Kubonakala sengathi isikebhe sama lapho ubusuku bonke ngaphambi kokudlulela eRodu nasePathara. SebesePathara, esogwini oluseningizimu ye-Asia Minor, abazalwane bagibela umkhumbi omkhulu wezimpahla owabayisa ngqo eThire, eFenike. Endleleni badlula ‘isiqhingi saseKhupro ngakwesobunxele’ sogu. (IzE. 21:3) Kungani uLuka, umlobi wencwadi yezEnzo, esitshela lokhu?

 6. (a) Kungani ukubona iKhupro kwakungase kumkhuthaze uPawulu? (b) Uma uzindla ngezibusiso nangezindlela uJehova aye akusiza ngazo, uphetha ngokuthini?

⁶ Kungenzeka ukuthi uPawulu wakhomba lesi siqhingi wayesexoxa ngezinto ezamehlela ngesikhathi elapho. Ohambweni lwakhe lokuqala lwezithunywa zevangeli, cishe eminyakeni engu-9 ngaphambili, uPawulu, uBarnaba, uJohane Marku bahlangana nomthakathi u-Eluma owaphikisa ukushumayela kwabo. (IzE. 13:4-12) Kungenzeka ukuthi ukubona leso siqhingi nokucabanga ngalokho okwamehlela ngesikhathi elapho kwanika uPawulu amandla okubhekana nokwakusazomehlela. Nathi singazuza ngokuzindla ngendlela uNkulunkulu aye wasibusisa futhi wasisiza ngayo ukuba sikhuthazelele ukulingwa. Ukuzindla okunjalo kungasisiza senanele amazwi kaDavide, owabhala: “Ziningi izinhlupheko zolungile, kodwa uJehova umkhulula kuzo zonke.”—IHu. 34:19.

 7. UPawulu nayehamba nabo benzani lapho befika eThire?

⁷ UPawulu wayekwazi ukubaluleka kokuba namanye amaKristu futhi wayelangazelela ukuba nawo. ULuka uthi lapho befika eThire, “sabafuna sabathola abafundi.” (IzE. 21:4) Njengoba babazi ukuthi kwakunamanye amaKristu eThire, bawafuna futhi kungenzeka ukuthi bahlala nawo. Esinye sezibusiso ezinkulu zokuba seqinisweni ukuthi kungakhathaliseki ukuthi siyaphi, singawathola amakholwa esikanye nawo ayosamukela. Abantu abasenkolweni yeqiniso nabathanda uNkulunkulu banabangane emhlabeni wonke.

 8. Kufanele siziqonde kanjani izEnzo 21:4?

⁸ Lapho echaza izinsuku eziyisikhombisa abazihlala eThire, uLuka usitshela okuthile okungaqale kuzwakale kudida: ‘Ngomoya ongcwele, [abazalwane baseThire] bamtshela ngokuphindaphindiwe uPawulu ukuba angalubeki unyawo lwakhe eJerusalema.’ (IzE. 21:4) Ingabe uJehova wayesewushintshile umqondo? Ingabe manje wayesetshela uPawulu ukuba angayi eJerusalema? Cha. Umoya wawubonise ukuthi uPawulu wayeyophathwa kabi eJerusalema, kodwa hhayi ukuthi kwakufanele angayi khona. Kubonakala sengathi ngosizo lomoya ongcwele, abazalwane baseThire baphetha kufanele ngokuthi uPawulu wayezobhekana nobunzima eJerusalema. Ngakho, ngenxa yokumkhathalela, bamnxusa ukuba angayi khona. Sasiqondakala isifiso sabo sokuvikela uPawulu engozini eyayizomehlela. Noma kunjalo, uPawulu waqhubeka nohambo lwakhe lokuya eJerusalema ngoba wayezimisele ukwenza intando kaJehova.—IzE. 21:12.

9, 10. (a) Yisiphi isimo esifanayo okungenzeka ukuthi uPawulu wasikhumbula lapho ezwa ukukhathalela kwabazalwane baseThire? (b) Yimuphi umbono ovamile ezweni namuhla, futhi uhluke kanjani emazwini kaJesu?

⁹ Lapho ezwa ukukhathalela kwabafowabo, kungenzeka ukuthi uPawulu wakhumbula ukuthi uJesu wayebhekane nesimo esifanayo ngemva kokutshela abafundi bakhe ukuthi wayezoya eJerusalema, ahlupheke ngezinto eziningi, futhi abulawe. Eshukunyiswa uzwela, uPetru wayethe kuJesu: “Yiba nomusa kuwe, Nkosi; ngeke neze lokhu kwenzeke kuwe.” UJesu waphendula: “Yana emva kwami, Sathane! Uyisikhubekiso kimi, ngoba awucabangi imicabango kaNkulunkulu, ucabanga eyabantu.” (Math. 16:21-23) UJesu wayezimisele ukwamukela umsebenzi wokuzidela ayewabelwe uNkulunkulu ukuba awenze. UPawulu naye wayezizwa ngendlela efanayo. Njengomphostoli uPetru, akungabazeki ukuthi nabazalwane baseThire babenezinhloso ezinhle, kodwa bengayiqondi intando kaNkulunkulu.

¹⁰ Umbono wokuba nomusa kuwe noma wokuthanda izindlela ezilula ukhanga abaningi namuhla. Abantu ngokuvamile bathanda ukufuna inkolo ebavumela ukuba bazenzele umathanda nengalindeli okungako emalungwini ayo. Ngokuphambene, uJesu wakhuthaza isimo sengqondo esihluke ngokuphelele. Watshela abafundi bakhe: “Uma umuntu efuna ukungilandela, makazidele athathe isigxobo sakhe sokuhlushwa angilandele njalo.” (Math. 16:24) Ukulandela uJesu kuyinkambo ehlakaniphile nelungile, kodwa engelula.

11. Abafundi baseThire babonisa kanjani ukuthi babemthanda futhi bemsekela uPawulu?

¹¹ Safika isikhathi sokuba uPawulu, uLuka nabanye ababenabo baqhubeke nohambo lwabo. Iyadabukisa indlela okuchazwa ngayo ukuhlukana kwabo. Ibonisa uthando abazalwane baseThire ababemthanda ngalo uPawulu nendlela ababeyisekela ngokugcwele ngayo inkonzo yakhe. Amadoda, abesifazane nezingane baphelezela uPawulu nayehamba nabo babayisa ogwini lolwandle. Baguqa bonke bathandaza, base bevalelisana. Ngemva kwalokho, uPawulu, uLuka nababehamba nabo bagibela esinye isikebhe balibhekisa ePhetolemayi, lapho bahlangana khona nabazalwane, bahlala nabo usuku olulodwa.—IzE. 21:5-7.

12, 13. (a) UFiliphu wayenamuphi umlando wenkonzo yokwethembeka? (b) UFiliphu uyisibonelo esihle ngayiphi indlela kobaba abangamaKristu namuhla?

¹² ULuka ube esesitshela ukuthi uPawulu nayehamba nabo balibhekisa eKhesariya. Sebefikile, ‘bangena endlini kaFiliphu umvangeli.’a (IzE. 21:8) Kumelwe ukuba bajabula ukubona uFiliphu. Eminyakeni engaba ngu-20 ngaphambili, wayemiswe abaphostoli eJerusalema ukuba asingathe ukwabiwa kokudla ebandleni lobuKristu elalisafufusa. UFiliphu wayenomlando omude wokushumayela ngentshiseko. Khumbula ukuthi lapho ushushiso luhlakaza abafundi, uFiliphu waya eSamariya waqala ukushumayela khona. Kamuva, washumayeza futhi wabhapathiza umthenwa ongumTopiya. (IzE. 6:2-6; 8:4-13, 26-38) Yeka umlando wenkonzo yokwethembeka!

¹³ UFiliphu wayesayishisekela inkonzo. Manje wayesehlala eKhesariya, futhi esematasa ngokushumayela. Lokhu sikubona ngokuthi uLuka umbiza ‘ngomvangeli.’ Sifunda nokuthi manje wayesenamadodakazi amane aprofethayo, okusikisela ukuthi alandela ezinyathelweni zikayise.b (IzE. 21:9) Ngaleso sikhathi, kungenzeka ukuthi uFiliphu wayenze lukhulu ekuqiniseni umndeni wakhe ngokomoya. Kuhle obaba abangamaKristu namuhla balingise isibonelo sakhe, bahole enkonzweni futhi basize abantababo ukuba bathande umsebenzi wobuvangeli.

14. Ukuvakashela kukaPawulu amanye amakholwa kwaba namuphi umphumela, futhi yimaphi amathuba akhona nanamuhla?

¹⁴ Kuzo zonke izindawo uPawulu ayehamba kuzo wayefuna amanye amakholwa bese echitha isikhathi nawo. Ngokuqinisekile abazalwane babeba magange ukwamukela lesi sithunywa sevangeli nalabo esasihamba nabo. Akungabazeki ukuthi ukuvakashelwa okunjalo ‘kwakubakhuthaza.’ (Roma 1:11, 12) Nanamuhla akhona amathuba afanayo. Ziningi izinzuzo ezitholakala ngokwamukela umbonisi wesigodi nomkakhe, ngisho noma umuzi wakho uphansi.—Roma 12:13.

15, 16. Yisiphi isigijimi esalethwa u-Agabu, futhi saba naliphi ithonya kwabasizwa?

¹⁵ Ngesikhathi uPawulu ehlala emzini kaFiliphu, kwafika nesinye isivakashi esihloniphekile—u-Agabu. Labo ababesendlini kaFiliphu babazi ukuthi u-Agabu umprofethi; wayebikezele indlala enkulu phakathi nokubusa kukaKlawudiyu. (IzE. 11:27, 28) Mhlawumbe bazibuza: ‘U-Agabu ubekwa yini lapha? Yisiphi isigijimi asiphethe?’ Njengoba bemgqolozele, wathatha ibhande likaPawulu—umchilo omude wendwangu owawuboshwa okhalweni owawungafaka imali nezinye izinto. U-Agabu walithatha wazibopha izinyawo nezandla. Wayesekhuluma. Isigijimi sakhe sasibalulekile: “Usho kanje umoya ongcwele, ‘Umnikazi waleli bhande, amaJuda azombopha ngale ndlela eJerusalema, amnikele kubantu bezizwe.’”—IzE. 21:11.

¹⁶ Lesi siprofetho saqinisekisa ukuthi uPawulu wayezoya eJerusalema. Sabonisa nokuthi ukushumayela kwakhe kumaJuda kwakuyophumela ekubeni anikelwe “kubantu bezizwe.” Lesi siprofetho sabathinta kakhulu ababekhona. ULuka uyabhala: “Lapho sikuzwa lokhu, thina nabantu ababelapho, samncenga ukuba angakhuphukeli eJerusalema. UPawulu waphendula wathi: ‘Nikhalelani nisenza buthaka isinqumo sami? Qinisekani ngalokhu, angilungele ukuboshwa nje kuphela kodwa ngilungele nokufa eJerusalema ngenxa yegama leNkosi uJesu.’”—IzE. 21:12, 13.

17, 18. UPawulu wabonisa kanjani ukuthi wayezimisele ukwenza intando kaJehova, futhi abazalwane basabela kanjani?

¹⁷ Sibone ngeso lengqondo lesi simo. Abazalwane, kuhlanganise noLuka, bancenga uPawulu ukuba angahambi. Abanye bayakhala. Eshukunyiswa ukukhathalela kothando abambonisa kona, ngomusa uPawulu uthi benza ‘buthaka isinqumo sakhe,’ noma ‘bamphula inhliziyo,’ njengoba ezinye izinguqulo zesiGreki zihumusha le nkulumo. Yize kunjalo, uzimisele futhi ngeke akuvumele ukuncengwa noma izinyembezi zimyekise, njengoba nje engazange akuvumele nakubazalwane baseThire. Kunalokho, uyabachazela ukuthi kungani kumelwe ahambe. Yeka isibindi nokuzimisela akubonisa! Njengoba kwenza uJesu, uPawulu wayezimisele ukuya eJerusalema kumnyama kubomvu. (Heb. 12:2) Wayengafuni ukuba umfel’ ukholo, kodwa uma lokho kwenzeka, wayeyokubheka njengelungelo ukufa engumlandeli kaKristu Jesu.

¹⁸ Abazalwane basabela kanjani? Ngelilodwa nje, ngenhlonipho. Siyafunda: “Lapho engavimbeki, sayeka ukuphikisana naye sathi: ‘Intando kaJehova mayenzeke.’” (IzE. 21:14) Labo ababezama ukukholisa uPawulu ukuba angayi eJerusalema abazange baphoqelele imibono yabo. Bamlalela, bamukela ayekusho, beqaphela ukuthi ukuhamba kwakhe kuyintando kaJehova, ngisho noma lokho kwakunzima kubo. UPawulu wayeqale umsebenzi owawuyogcina umholele ekufeni. Kwakuyoba lula ngaye ukube labo ababemthanda babengazange bazame ukumvimba.

19. Isiphi isifundo esibalulekile esisithola kulokho okwenzeka kuPawulu?

¹⁹ Sifunda isifundo esibalulekile kulokho okwenzeka kuPawulu: Asifuni nakanye ukuvimba abanye ukuba baphishekele inkambo yokukhonza uNkulunkulu ngokuzidela. Lesi sifundo singasisebenzisa ezimweni eziningi, hhayi nje kuphela lezo ezihilela ukufa nokuphila. Ngokwesibonelo, nakuba kuba nzima ngabazali abaningi abangamaKristu ukubona izingane zabo zihamba ekhaya ziyokhonza uJehova ezabelweni ezikude, bazimisele ukungazidikibalisi. UPhyllis ohlala eNgilandi ukhumbula indlela azizwa ngayo lapho indodakazi yakhe enguzinyobulala iyokhonza njengesithunywa sevangeli e-Afrika. Uthi: “Kwakuyisikhathi esibuhlungu. Ukwazi nje ukuthi yayiya kude kangaka kwangiphatha kabi. Ngangidumele kodwa ngesikhathi esifanayo ngiziqhenya ngayo. Ngathandaza kaningi ngale ndaba. Kodwa kwakuyisinqumo sayo lesi futhi angizange ngizame ukusishintsha. Angithi yimina engangiyifundise ukuba ibeke uMbuso kuqala! Sekudlule iminyaka engu-30 ikhonza ezabelweni zakwamanye amazwe, futhi ngibonga uJehova nsuku zonke ngokwethembeka kwayo.” Yeka indlela okuhle ngayo ukukhuthaza amakholwa esikanye nawo azidelayo!

20, 21. Yini ebonisa ukuthi uPawulu wayenesifiso sokuba nabafowabo, futhi kungani ayefuna ukuba nabo?

²⁰ Kwenziwa amalungiselelo futhi uPawulu waqhubeka nohambo lwakhe ephelezelwa abazalwane ababebonise ukuthi bamsekela ngenhliziyo yonke. Phakathi nohambo oluya eJerusalema, uPawulu nayehamba nabo babefuna ukuba nabazalwane nodade abangamaKristu. EThire, babethole abafundi futhi bahlala nabo izinsuku eziyisikhombisa. EPhetolemayi, babehlangane nabazalwane nodade futhi bachitha usuku nabo. EKhesariya, babehlale izinsuku eziningana emzini kaFiliphu. Ngemva kwalokho, abanye babafundi eKhesariya baphelezela uPawulu nayehamba nabo baya eJerusalema, lapho babungazwa khona uMnasoni, umfundi wokuqala. Lapho ekugcineni befika eJerusalema, uLuka uthi “abafowethu basamukela ngenjabulo.”—IzE. 21:17.

²¹ Kusobala ukuthi uPawulu wayefuna ukuba kanye namanye amakholwa. Lo mphostoli wayethola isikhuthazo kubafowabo nodadewabo, njengoba kunjalo nangathi namuhla. Akungabazeki ukuthi leso sikhuthazo samqinisa uPawulu ukuba abhekane nabaphikisi ababewoth’ ubomvu befuna ukumbulala.