OFakazi BakaJehova Abashisekayo Bayaqhubeka!
OFAKAZI BakaJehova bekhulu lokuqala leminyaka babengabantu abanesibindi nentshiseko. Bakufeza ngenkuthalo ukuthunywa okwashiwo uJesu: “Hambani nenze izizwe zonke abafundi.”—Mathewu 28:19, 20.
Kodwa sazi kanjani ukuthi abalandeli bakaKristu bakuqala bakuthatha ngokungathi sína lokho kuthunywa? Phela, incwadi yeBhayibheli yezEnzo Zabaphostoli ifakazela ukuthi babengofakazi bakaJehova abashisekayo, ababeqhubeka ngempela!
IZINZUZO NEZINYE IZICI
Ukufana kolimi nendlela yokubhala phakathi kweVangeli lesithathu nencwadi yezEnzo kubonisa ukuthi kwabhalwa umlobi oyedwa—uLuka, “inyanga ethandekayo.” (Kolose 4:14) Phakathi kwezici zayo eziyingqayizivele kunezingxoxo nemithandazo okulondolozwe encwadini yezEnzo. Cishe amaphesenti angu-20 alencwadi aqukethe izinkulumo, njengalezo ezanikezwa nguPetru noPawulu besekela ukholo lweqiniso.
Incwadi yezEnzo yalotshwa eRoma cishe ngo-61 C.E. Ngokusobala yingakho ingakhulumi ngokuma kukaPawulu phambi kukaKesari noma ngoshushiso olwalethwa uNero kumaKristu cishe ngo-64 C.E.—2 Thimothewu 4:11.
NjengeVangeli likaLuka, incwadi yezEnzo yayiqondiswe kuTheyofilu. Yabhalwa ngenjongo yokuqinisa ukholo nokubika ngokwanda kobuKristu. (Luka 1:1-4; IzEnzo 1:1, 2) Lencwadi ifakazela ukuthi isandla sikaJehova sasinezinceku zakhe ezithembekile. Isenza siqaphele amandla omoya wakhe futhi iqinisa ukuthembela kwethu iziprofethweni eziphefumlelwe ngokwaphezulu. Incwadi yezEnzo isisiza futhi ukuba sikhuthazelele ushushiso, isishukumisela ukuba sibe oFakazi bakaJehova abazidelayo, futhi ikhulisa ukholo lwethu ethembeni loMbuso.
UKUNEMBA OKUNGOKOMLANDO
Njengomngane kaPawulu, uLuka wabhala ngohambo lwabo. Wakhuluma futhi nofakazi bokuzibonela. Lezizici kanye nokucwaningisisa kwenza imibhalo yakhe ibe ubungcweti ngokuqondene nokunemba okungokomlando.
Ngakho isazi uWilliam Ramsay sasingathi: “ULuka uyisazi-mlando esihamba phambili: akukhona nje ukuthi ukulandisa kwakhe kuthembekile, unolwazi lomlando lweqiniso . . . Lombhali kumelwe abalwe kanye nezinye izazi-mlando ezihlonishwa kakhulu.”
UPETRU—UFAKAZI OTHEMBEKILE
Umsebenzi ovela kuNkulunkulu wokumemezela izindaba ezinhle ungenziwa kuphela ngamandla omoya ongcwele kaJehova. Kanjalo, lapho abalandeli bakaJesu bemukela umoya ongcwele, bazokuba ofakazi bakhe eJerusalema, eJudiya, naseSamariya “kuze kube-sekugcineni komhlaba.” NgePentekoste lika-33 C.E., bagcwala umoya ongcwele. Njengoba kusengu–9:00 a.m., ngokuqinisekile abadakiwe, njengoba abanye becabanga. UPetru unikeza ubufakazi obuvusa amadlingozi, futhi kubhapathizwa abangu-3 000. Abaphikisi benkolo abathile bazama ukuthulisa abamemezeli boMbuso, kodwa lapho ephendula umthandazo, uNkulunkulu wenza ofakazi bakhe ukuba bakwazi ukukhuluma izwi lakhe ngesibindi. Lapho besongelwa futhi, bayaphendula: “Simelwe ukulalela uNkulunkulu kunabantu.” Umsebenzi uyaqhubeka njengoba beqhubeka beshumayela endlini ngendlu.—1:1–5:42.
Ukuthembela emoyeni kaJehova kwenza ofakazi bakhe bakwazi ukukhuthazelela ushushiso. Ngakho, ngemva kokuba ufakazi othembekile uStefanu ekhandwe ngamatshe waze wafa, abalandeli bakaJesu bayasakazeka, kodwa lokhu kumane nje kusakaza izwi. UFiliphu umvangeli uphayona eSamariya. Ngokumangalisayo, umshushisi onobudlova uSawulu waseTarsu uyaphenduka. Esewumphostoli uPawulu, uyakuzwa ukushisa koshushiso eDamaseku kodwa uyawabalekela amacebo amaJuda okumbulala. UPawulu uhlangana okwesikhashana nabaphostoli eJerusalema bese eqhubeka enkonzweni yakhe.—6:1–9:31.
Isandla sikaJehova sinofakazi bakhe, njengoba izEnzo ziqhubeka zibonisa. UPetru uvusa uDorka (uThabitha) kwabafileyo. Esabela obizweni, umemezela izindaba ezinhle eKesariya kuKorneliyu, kwabendlu yakhe, nakubangane bakhe. Babhapathizwa njengabeZizwe bokuqala ababa abafundi bakaJesu. Kanjalo kuphela “amasonto angamashumi ayisikhombisa,” kusiletha ku-36 C.E. (Daniyeli 9:24) Ngokushesha ngemva kwalokho, uHerode Agrippa I ubulala umphostoli uJakobe futhi ubopha uPetru. Kodwa lomphostoli ukhululwa ingelosi ejele, futhi ‘izwi likaNkulunkulu liyakhula futhi liyanda.’—9:32–12:25.
UHAMBO OLUTHATHU LUKAPAWULU LOBUTHUNYWA BEVANGELI
Izibusiso zigelezela kulabo abazikhandlayo enkonzweni kaNkulunkulu, njengoba kwenza uPawulu. Uhambo lwakhe lokuqala lobuthunywa bevangeli luqala eAntiyokiya, eSiriya. Esiqhingini saseKhupro, induna yamabutho uSergiyu Pawulu nabanye abaningi baba amakholwa. Esuka ePerge ePhamfiliya, uJohane Marku uya eJerusalema, kodwa uPawulu noBarnaba baqhubekela eAntiyokiya ePhisidiya. EListra, amaJuda aphehla ushushiso. Nakuba ekhandwa ngamatshe eshiywa umndondo, uPawulu uyalulama futhi uqhubeka enkonzweni. Ekugcineni, yena noBarnaba babuyela eAntiyokiya eSiriya, bephetha uhambo lokuqala.—13:1–14:28.
Njengomfuziselo wayo wekhulu lokuqala leminyaka, iNdikimba Ebusayo yanamuhla iphendula imibuzo ngokuqondiswa umoya ongcwele. Ukusoka kwakungekho phakathi ‘kwezinto ezifunekayo,’ ezihlanganisa ‘ukuyeka okuhlatshelwe izithombe, negazi, nokuqumbeleneyo, nobufebe.’ (15:28, 29) Njengoba uPawulu eqalisa uhambo lwesibili lobuthunywa bevangeli, uSila uhamba naye, futhi kamuva uThimothewu uhambisana nabo. Bathatha isinyathelo esisheshayo ngemva kokubizwa ukuba bawelele eMakedoniya. EFilipi, ukufakaza kuphumela esiyaluyalwini nasekuboshweni. Kodwa uPawulu noSila bakhululwa ukuzamazama komhlaba futhi bashumayeza umgcini-ziboshwa nabendlu yakhe, futhi laba baba amakholwa abhapathiziwe.—15:1–16:40.
Izinceku zikaJehova kufanele zibe abafundi abakhuthele beZwi lakhe, njengoPawulu nabaseBereya ababecwaninga imiBhalo. EseAreyophagu eAthene, unikeza ubufakazi bokuba kukaJehova uMdali, futhi abanye baba amakholwa. EKorinte kuboniswa isithakazelo esikhulu kangangokuthi uhlala kulowomuzi izinyanga ezingu-18. Eselapho, ubhala incwadi yokuQala neyesiBili eya kwabaseThesalonika. Ehlukana noSila noThimothewu, umphostoli uya e-Efesu ngomkhumbi, bese edlulela eKesariya, futhi aqhubekele eJerusalema. Lapho ebuyela eAntiyokiya yaseSiriya, uhambo lwakhe lwesibili lobuthunywa bevangeli luyaphela.—17:1–18:22.
Njengoba uPawulu abonisa, ukufakaza endlini ngendlu kuyingxenye ebalulekile yenkonzo yobuKristu. Uhambo lwesithathu lwalomphostoli (52-56 C.E.) luphinda ikakhulukazi uhambo lwakhe lwesibili. Inkonzo kaPawulu ibangela ukuphikiswa e-Efesu, lapho ebhala khona eyokuQala eya kwabaseKorinte. EyesiBili eya kwabaseKorinte ibhalelwa eMakedoniya, futhi abaseRoma ubabhalela lapho eseKorinte. EMilethu, uPawulu uhlangana nabadala base-Efesu futhi ukhuluma ngendlela abafundisa ngayo obala nasendlini ngendlu. Uhambo lwakhe lwesithathu luphela lapho efika eJerusalema.—18:23–21:14.
USHUSHISO ALUNAMANDLA
Ushushiso aluyivali imilomo yofakazi bakaJehova abathembekile. Ngakho lapho isixuku senza ubudlova kuPawulu ethempelini eJerusalema, ubashumayeza ngesibindi lababhikishi abathukuthele. Icebo lokumbulala liyashafa lapho ethunyelwa kuMbusi uFeliksi eKesariya egadwe amabutho. UPawulu ugcinwa eboshiwe iminyaka emibili njengoba uFeliksi elindele ukufunjathiswa angakutholi. Omlandelayo esikhundleni, uFestu, uzwa uPawulu edlulisela icala kuKesari. Nokho, ngaphambi kokuya eRoma, lomphostoli uziphendulela ngendlela eshukumisayo phambi kweNkosi uAgripha.—21:15–26:32.
Zingaqedwa amandla uvivinyo, izinceku zikaJehova ziyaqhubeka zishumayela. Ngokuqinisekile lokhu kwakunjalo ngoPawulu. Ngenxa yokudlulisela kwakhe icala kuKesari, lomphostoli uya eRoma noLuka cishe ngo-58 C.E. EMira laseLikhiya, bashintshela komunye umkhumbi. Nakuba befelwa umkhumbi futhi bema esiqhingini saseMelitha, kamuva bathathwa omunye umkhumbi ubayisa eItaliya. Ngisho noma egadwe amabutho eRoma, uPawulu ubizela abantu etilongweni futhi umemezela izindaba ezinhle. Phakathi nalokhu kuboshwa, ubhalela abase-Efesu, abaseFilipi, abaseKolose, uFilemoni, namaHeberu.—27:1–28:31.
BAYAQHUBEKA NJALO
Incwadi yezEnzo ibonisa ukuthi umsebenzi owaqaliswa iNdodana kaNkulunkulu waqhutshwa ngokwethembeka ofakazi bakaJehova bekhulu lokuqala leminyaka. Yebo, ngaphansi kwamandla omoya kaNkulunkulu ongcwele, bafakaza ngentshiseko.
Ngenxa yokuthi abalandeli bakaJesu bakuqala bathembela kuNkulunkulu ngomthandazo, isandla saKhe sasinabo. Kanjalo izinkulungwane zaba amakholwa, futhi ‘ivangeli lashunyayelwa kukho konke okudaliweyo okuphansi kwezulu.’ (Kolose 1:23) Ngempela, ngalesosikhathi namanje, amaKristu eqiniso aye azibonakalisa engofakazi bakaJehova abashisekayo abaqhubekayo!
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UKORNELIYU INDUNA YEKHULU: UKorneliyu wayeyinduna yempi, noma induna yekhulu. (10:1) Iholo lonyaka lenduna yekhulu lalicishe liliphinde kahlanu elamasosha aqeqeshelwe ukulwa ehamba ngezinyawo, noma laliba odenariyu abangaba ngu-1 200, kodwa lalingaba ngaphezulu kakhulu kwalokho. Lapho ithola umhlalaphansi, yayithola isipho semali noma sendawo. Isambatho sayo sempi sasimibalabala, kusukela esigqokweni sesiliva kuya esembathweni esinjengesiketi, ingubo yamahlombe kavolo ocolekile, nesivikelo semilenze esihlotshisiwe. Iqembu lenduna yekhulu kwakuthiwa lingabantu abangu-100, kodwa ngezinye izikhathi kwakuba nabangu-80 noma ngaphezudlwana. Ngokusobala ababejoyina ‘ibutho laseItaliya’ babevela ezakhamuzini zaseRoma nabakhululwe ebugqilini eItaly.
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UMTHANDAZO PHEZU KWENDLU: UPetru wayengabukisi lapho ethandaza yedwa ophahleni lwendlu. (10:9) Ngokunokwenzeka wayesithwe udonga olwaluzungeze uphahla oluyisicaba. (Duteronomi 22:8) Uphahla futhi lwaluyindawo yokuphumula nokubalekela umsindo wasemgwaqweni kusihlwa.
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OKWAKUTHIWA ONKULUNKULU BESESIMWENI SABANTU: Ukuphulukisa kukaPawulu indoda eyisishosha kwenza izakhamuzi zaseListra zacabanga ukuthi onkulunkulu bavele besesimweni sabantu. (14:8-18) UZeus, unkulunkulu oyinhloko wamaGreki, wayenethempeli kulowomuzi, futhi indodana yakhe uHermes, isithunywa sonkulunkulu, yayaziwa ngekhono layo lokukhuluma. Njengoba abantu babecabanga ukuthi uPawulu nguHermes ngenxa yokuthi wayehola ekukhulumeni, babheka uBarnaba njengoZeus. Kwakuyisiko ukuba izithombe zonkulunkulu bamanga zithweswe imigexo yezimbali noma yamahlamvu omsayipuresi noma esihlahla sepine, kodwa oPawulu noBarnaba bayenqaba impatho enjalo yokukhulekela izithombe.
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UMGCINI-ZIBOSHWA UYAKHOLWA: Lapho ukuzamazama komhlaba kuvula iminyango yejele futhi kukhulula amaketango eziboshwa, umgcini-ziboshwa waseFilipi wayezozibulala. (16:25-27) Ngani? Ngoba umthetho waseRoma wawuthi umgcini-ziboshwa kumelwe athwale isijeziso sesiboshwa esibalekile. Ngokusobala lomgcini-ziboshwa wakhetha ukufa ngokuzibulala kunokufa ngokuhlushwa, mhlawumbe okwakulinde ezinye zeziboshwa. Nokho, wazamukela izindaba ezinhle, futhi “wabhapathizwa khona-lapho, yena nabo bonke abakhe.”—16:28-34.
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UKUDLULISELA ICALA KUKESARI: Njengesakhamuzi saseRoma ngokuzalwa, uPawulu wayenelungelo lokudlulisela icala kuKesari futhi aquliswe eRoma. (25:10-12) Isakhamuzi saseRoma kwakungamelwe siboshwe, sihlushwe, noma sijeziswe ngaphandle kokuquliswa.—16:35-40; 22:22-29; 26:32.
[Umthombo]
Musei Capitolini, Roma
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UMLONDI WETHEMPELI KADIYANA: Ecasulwe ukushumayela kukaPawulu, umkhandi wesiliva uDemetriyu wabangela ukubhikisha. Kodwa umahluleli wakwamasipala womuzi waseEfesu wasihlakaza lesosixuku. (19:23-41) Abakhi bezinto zesiliva babenza imifanekiso emincane yesiliva yengxenye engcwelengcwele yethempeli eyayinesithombe sikaDiyana unkulunkulukazi wenzalo onamabele amaningi. Imizi yayincintisana ngokufuna udumo lokuba yine·o·koʹros yakhe, noma “umlondi wethempeli.”
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INKINGA OLWANDLE: Lapho umkhumbi owawuthwele uPawulu upheshulwa isivunguvungu esithiwa uEwurakiloni, ‘basibamba kalukhuni isikebhe.’ (27:15, 16) Isikebhe sasiwumkhumbi omncane ngokuvamile owawudonswa umkhumbi omkhulu. Umkhumbi wawuthwala izintambo ezazingazungeziswa ezinhlangothini zomkhumbi ukuze ubanjwe ngaphansi futhi kuncishiswe ubunzima obubangelwa ukusebenza kwensika yokhumbi ngesikhathi seziphepho. (27:17) Lamatilosi aphonsa amahange amane abese ethukulula izintambo zamaphini, noma izigwedlo, ezazisetshenziselwa ukuqondisa umkhumbi. (27:29, 40) Umkhumbi waseAleksandriya wawunomfanekiso ‘wamaDodana kaZeus”—oCastor noPollux, esihlokweni sawo, ababebhekwa njengababheki bamatilosi.—28:11.