Memezela UMbuso KaJehova Ngesibindi!
“Wamukela bonke abeza kuye, washumayela umbuso kaNkulunkulu.”—IZENZO 28:30, 31.
1, 2. Yibuphi ubufakazi bokusekelwa ngokwaphezulu uPawulu ayenabo, futhi yisiphi isibonelo asibeka?
UJEHOVA ubasekela njalo abamemezeli boMbuso. Yeka ukuthi lokho kwakuyiqiniso kanjani ngomphostoli uPawulu! Esekelwa ngokwaphezulu, wama phambi kwababusi, wakhuthazelela ukuhlaselwa isixuku, futhi wamemezela uMbuso kaJehova ngesibindi.
2 Ngisho noma eyisiboshwa eRoma, uPawulu ‘wamukela bonke abeza kuye, wabashumayeza umbuso kaNkulunkulu.’ (IzEnzo 28:30, 31) Yeka isibonelo esihle koFakazi BakaJehova namuhla! Singafunda okuningi enkonzweni kaPawulu njengoba ibikwa uLuka ezahlukweni zokugcina zencwadi yeBhayibheli yezEnzo.—20:1–28:31.
Amakholwa Akanye Nawo Ayakhiwa
3. Yini eyenzeka eTrowa, futhi ingafaniswa nani osukwini lwethu?
3 Ngemva kokuba isiphithiphithi e-Efesu sidambile, uPawulu waqhubeka nohambo lwakhe lwesithathu lobuthunywa bevangeli. (20:1-12) Nokho, lapho esezohamba ngomkhumbi aye eSiriya wezwa ukuthi amaJuda ayemenzele uzungu. Njengoba kungenzeka ukuthi babecebe ukugibela umkhumbi ofanayo futhi babulale uPawulu, wadabula eMakedoniya. EseTrowa, wachitha isonto akha amakholwa akanye nawo njengoba ababonisi abajikelezayo phakathi koFakazi BakaJehova benza manje. Ngobusuku obandulela ukuhamba kwakhe, uPawulu welula inkulumo yakhe kwaze kwaba phakathi kwamabili. UEvitiku, owayehlezi efasiteleni, ngokusobala wayekhathele ngenxa yomsebenzi wosuku. Elele, wawa esuka esitezi sesithathu wafa. Kodwa uPawulu wamvusela ekuphileni. Yeka injabulo okumelwe ukuba lokhu kwayibangela! Khona-ke, cabanga ngenjabulo eyoba umphumela lapho kuvuswa izigidi eziningi ezweni elisha elizayo.—Johane 5:28, 29.
4. Ngokuqondene nenkonzo, yini uPawulu ayifundisa abadala base-Efesu?
4 Esendleleni eya eJerusalema, eMilethu, uPawulu wahlangana nabadala base-Efesu. (20:13-21) Wabakhumbuza ukuthi wayebafundise “kuzo izindlu ngezindlu” nokuthi ‘wafakaza kubaJuda nakumaGreki ukuphendukela kuNkulunkulu nokukholwa iNkosi yethu uJesu.’ Labo ekugcineni ababa abadala babephendukile futhi benokholo. Umphostoli futhi wayekade ebaqeqesha ukuba bamemezele uMbuso ngesibindi kwabangakholwa enkonzweni yendlu ngendlu efana neyenziwa oFakazi BakaJehova namuhla.
5. (a) Kukanjani uPawulu ayeyisibonelo ngokuqondene nokuqondiswa umoya ongcwele? (b) Kungani abadala babedinga iseluleko sokuba ‘baqaphele umhlambi’?
5 UPawulu wayeyisibonelo ekwamukeleni ukuqondisa komoya ongcwele kaNkulunkulu. (20:22-30) ‘Eboshiwe emoyeni,’ noma ezizwa enesibopho sokulandela ukuhola kwawo, lomphostoli wayeya eJerusalema, nakuba ukuboshwa nokuvivinywa kwakumlindele lapho. Wayekwazisa ukuphila, kodwa ukugcina ubuqotho kuNkulunkulu kwakuyinto ebaluleke kakhulu kuye, njengoba kufanele kube njalo nangathi. UPawulu wanxusa abadala ukuba ‘baqaphele umhlambi wonke umoya ongcwele owawubabeke kuwo ukuba babe ngababonisi.’ Ngemva “kokumuka” kwakhe (ngokusobala ngokufa), “izimpisi ezihahayo” ‘zazingeke ziwuhawukele umhlambi.’ Amadoda anjalo ayeyovela phakathi kwabadala ngokwabo, futhi abafundi abangaqondi ngokugcwele babeyokwamukela izimfundiso zawo ezisontekile.—2 Thesalonika 2:6.
6. (a) Kungani uPawulu ayenganikela abadala kuNkulunkulu ngokuqiniseka? (b) UPawulu wasilandela kanjani isimiso esikuzEnzo 20:35?
6 Abadala kwakudingeka bahlale bephapheme ngokomoya ukuze bagweme ukuhlubuka. (20:31-38) Umphostoli wayebafundise imiBhalo YesiHeberu nezimfundiso zikaJesu, ezinamandla okungcwelisa ezaziyobasiza ukuba bathole uMbuso wasezulwini, “ifa phakathi kwabo bonke abangcwelisiweyo.” Ngokusebenza ukuze aziphilise yena kanye nabangane bakhe, uPawulu futhi wakhuthaza abadala ukuba babe yizisebenzi ezikhuthele. (IzEnzo 18:1-3; 1 Thesalonika 2:9) Uma siphishekela inkambo efanayo futhi sisiza abanye ukuba bazuze ukuphila okuphakade, siyowaqonda amazwi kaJesu: “Kubusisekile ukupha kunokwamukela.” Umongo walenkulumo uyatholakala kuwo emaVangelini kodwa icashunwe nguPawulu kuphela, okungenzeka wayithola ngokuyitshelwa noma ngokuphefumlelwa. Singathola injabulo enkulu uma sizidela njengoPawulu. Phela, wazidela kangangokuthi ukuhamba kwakhe kwabadabukisa kakhulu abadala base-Efesu!
Mayenzeke Intando KaJehova
7. UPawulu wasibeka kanjani isibonelo ekuzithobeni entandweni kaNkulunkulu?
7 Njengoba uhambo lwesithathu lukaPawulu lobuthunywa bevangeli lwalusondela ekupheleni (cishe ngo-56 C.E.), wabeka isibonelo esihle ekuzithobeni entandweni kaNkulunkulu. (21:1-14) EKesariya yena nabangane bakhe bahlala noFiliphu, omadodakazi akhe amane ayizintombi ‘ayeprofetha,’ ebikezela izenzakalo ngomoya ongcwele. Lapho umprofethi ongumKristu uAgabu wazibopha izandla nezinyawo ngoqhotho lukaPawulu futhi washukunyiswa umoya ukuba athi amaJuda ayezobopha umninilo eJerusalema futhi amkhaphele ezandleni zabeZizwe. UPawulu wathi: “Sengilungele, kungesikho ukuboshwa kuphela kepha nokufa eJerusalema ngenxa yegama leNkosi uJesu.” Abafundi bathula, base bethi: “Mayenziwe intando yeNkosi.”
8. Uma ngezinye izikhathi sikuthola kunzima ukuthatha iseluleko esihle, yini esingayikhumbula?
8 UPawulu watshela abadala eJerusalema lokho uNkulunkulu akwenza kwabeZizwe ngenkonzo yakhe. (21:15-26) Uma noma yinini sikuthola kunzima ukwamukela iseluleko esihle, singakhumbula indlela uPawulu asamukela ngayo. Ukuze afakazele ukuthi wayengafundisi amaJuda emazweni abeZizwe “ukuhlubuka kuMose,” walalela iseluleko sabadala sokuba azihlanze ngokomthetho futhi azikhokhele yena kanye namanye amadoda amane. Nakuba ukufa kukaJesu kwawugudluza uMthetho, uPawulu akonanga ngokugcina izici zawo eziqondene nezifungo.—Roma 7:12-14.
Wahlaselwa Isixuku Kodwa Waba Nesibindi
9. Ngokuqondene nobudlova besixuku, yikuphi ukufana okukhona phakathi kokuhlangenwe nakho kukaPawulu nokoFakazi BakaJehova namuhla?
9 OFakazi BakaJehova ngokuvamile baye balondoloza ubuqotho kuNkulunkulu lapho bebhekene nobudlova bezixuku. (Ngokwesibonelo, bheka iYearbook of Jehovah’s Witnesses ka-1975, amakhasi 180-90.) AmaJuda aseAsia Minor ngokufanayo agqugquzela isixuku ukuba sihlasele uPawulu. (21:27-40) Sibona uTrofimu wase-Efesu ekanye naye, sammangalela ngamanga umphostoli ngokuthi ungcolisa ithempeli ngokungenisa amaGreki kulo. UPawulu wayesezobulawa lapho induna yenkulungwane engumRoma uKlawudiyu Lisiya neqembu lakhe besiqeda isiphithiphithi! Njengoba kwakubikezelwe (kodwa kubangelwa amaJuda), uLisiya wabopha uPawulu ngamaketanga. (IzEnzo 21:11) Lomphostoli wayesezoyiswa ekamu lamasosha elixhumene negceke lethempeli lapho uLisiya ezwa ukuthi uPawulu wayengelona ivukela-mbuso kodwa ungumJuda ovunyelwe ukungena endaweni yethempeli. Ngemva kokuthola imvume yokukhuluma, uPawulu wakhuluma nabantu ngesiHeberu.
10. Inkulumo kaPawulu yamukelwa kanjani amaJuda eJerusalema, futhi kungani engabhaxabulwanga?
10 UPawulu wanikeza ubufakazi ngesibindi. (22:1-30) Wazichaza njengomJuda owafundiswa uGamaliyeli ohlonishwa kakhulu. Umphostoli wachaza ukuthi endleleni eya eDamaseku eyoshushisa abalandeli beNdlela, waba impumputhe lapho ebona inkazimulo kaJesu Kristu, kodwa uAnaniya wayemenze waphinde wabona. Kamuva iNkosi yatshela uPawulu: “Hamba, ngokuba mina ngizakukuthuma uye kude kwabezizwe.” Lawomazwi aba njengenhlansi yokhela iqubula. Simemeza sithi uPawulu akakufanele ukuphila, isixuku saphonsa izingubo zaso yonke indawo saphonsa umhlabathi phezulu sithukuthele. Ngakho uLisiya wathi uPawulu makayiswe ekamu lamasosha ayophenywa ngokubhaxabulwa ukuze athole ukuthi kungani amaJuda emelene naye. UPawulu akabange esabhaxabulwa (ngenduku enemichilo yesikhumba eboshwe amafindo noma efakwe izingcezu zensimbi noma zamathambo) lapho ebuza: ‘Kuvunyelwe yini ukushaya umuntu ongumRoma engalahlwanga yicala na?” Lapho ezwa ukuthi uPawulu uyisakhamuzi saseRoma, uLisiya wesaba futhi wamyisa phambi kweSanhedrin ukuba athole ukuthi kungani ayemangalelwa amaJuda.
11. Iyiphi indlela uPawulu ayengumFarisi ngayo?
11 Lapho uPawulu eqala ukuziphendulela phambi kweSanhedrin ethi “ngihambile phambi kukaNkulunkulu nginonembeza wonke omuhle,” umpristi omkhulu uAnaniya wayala ukuba ashaywe. (23:1-10) UPawulu wathi, “uNkulunkulu uzakukushaya wena-ludonga olucakiweyo.” “Uthuka umpristi omkhulu?” kubuza abanye. Ngenxa yokungaboni kahle, kungenzeka uPawulu akabonanga ukuthi uAnaniya. Kodwa lapho ephawula ukuthi isigungu sasihlanganisa abaFarisi nabaSadusi, uPawulu wathi: ‘NgingumFarisi omangelelwe ngethemba lovuko.’ Lokhu kwayihlukanisa iSanhedrin, ngoba abaFarisi babekholelwa ovukweni abaSadusi bengakholelwa kulo. Kwaqubuka ukungezwani kangangokuthi uLisiya kwadingeka amkhulule umphostoli.
12. UPawulu waphunyuka kanjani ozungwini lokumbulala eJerusalema?
12 UPawulu ngokulandelayo waphunyuka ozungwini lokumbulala. (23:11-35) AmaJuda angamashumi amane ayefungile ukuba angadli futhi angaphuzi aze ambulale. Umshana kaPawulu wakubika lokhu kuye nakuLisiya. Eqashwe amabutho, umphostoli wayiswa kuMbusi uAntoniyu Feliksi eKesariya, inhloko-dolobha yaseJudiya ephethwe yiRoma. Ngemva kokuthembisa uPawulu ukuthi uzoqula icala lakhe, uFeliksi wamgcina egadiwe esiGodlweni sikaHerode Omkhulu, indlunkulu yombusi.
Ukuba Nesibindi Phambi Kwababusi
13. UPawulu wafakaza ngani kuFeliksi, futhi kwaba namuphi umphumela?
13 Ngokushesha umphostoli waziphendulela lapho emangalelwe ngamanga futhi wafakaza ngesibindi kuFeliksi. (24:1-27) Ephambi kwabamangali abangamaJuda, uPawulu waveza ukuthi akazange agqugquzele isixuku. Wathi wayezikholelwa izinto ezishiwo eMthethweni nakubaProfethi futhi wayenethemba ‘ovukweni lwabalungile nolwabangalungile.’ UPawulu wayeye eJerusalema ‘nezipho’ (iminikelo yabalandeli bakaJesu ababumpofu babo kungenzeka babuwumphumela woshushiso) futhi wayehlanjululiwe ngokomthetho. Nakuba uFeliksi asihlehlisa isahlulelo, kamuva uPawulu washumayela kuye nakumkakhe uDrusila (indodakazi kaHerode Agripha I) ngoKristu, ngokulunga, ngokuzithiba, nangokwahlulela okuzayo. Ethuswe yinkulumo enjalo, uFeliksi wamxosha uPawulu. Nokho, kamuva wayelokhu embiza lomphostoli, ethemba ukuthi uzomfumbathisa. UFeliksi wayazi ukuthi uPawulu wayengenacala kodwa wamyeka eboshiwe, ethemba ukuthi uzothandwa amaJuda. Eminyakeni emibili kamuva, uFeliksi walandelwa uPorkiyu Festu.
14. Yiliphi ilungiselelo elingokomthetho uPawulu alisebenzisa ngokugcwele lapho ephambi kukaFestu, futhi uthola muphi umfuziselo kulokhu?
14 UPawulu futhi waziphendulela ngesibindi phambi kukaFestu. (25:1-12) Uma umphostoli kwakufanele afe, wayengeke enqabe ukufa, kodwa akekho owayengamnikela kumaJuda ngoba ewenzela umusa. UPawulu wathi, “ngilidlulisela kuKesari,” esebenzisa ngokunenzuzo ilungelo lakhe lokuba isakhamuzi saseRoma ukuze aquliswe eRoma (ngalesosikhathi phambi kukaNero). Ukudluliswa kwecala kwamukelwa, uPawulu ‘wayeyofakaza eRoma,’ njengoba kwakubikezelwe. (IzEnzo 23:11) OFakazi BakaJehova nabo basebenzisa ngokunenzuzo amalungiselelo athile ukuze ‘bavikele futhi baliqinise ivangeli.’—Filipi 1:7.
15. (a) Yisiphi isiprofetho esagcwaliseka lapho uPawulu ema phambi kweNkosi uAgripha noKesari? (b) USawulu ‘wazikhahlela’ kanjani ‘izinkandi’?
15 Inkosi uHerode Agripha II wasenyakatho Judiya nodadewabo uBernike (ababenecala lobuhlobo bobulili nesihlobo) bamuzwa uPawulu lapho behambele uFestu eKesariya. (25:13–26:23) Ngokufakaza kuAgripha nakuKesari, uPawulu wagcwalisa isiprofetho sokuthi wayeyophatha igama leNkosi phambi kwamakhosi. (IzEnzo 9:15) Etshela uAgripha okwenzekile esendleleni eya eDamaseku, uPawulu waphawula ukuthi uJesu wathi: “Kulukhuni kuwe ukukhahlela ezinkandini.” Njengoba inkunzi enenkani izilimaza ngokumelana nokhandi, uSawulu wayezilimazile ngokulwisana nabalandeli bakaJesu, ababesekelwa uNkulunkulu.
16. UFestu noAgripha basabela kanjani ebufakazini bukaPawulu?
16 UFestu noAgripha basabela kanjani? (26:24-32) Ehluleka ukuqonda uvuko futhi emangazwe ukuqiniseka kukaPawulu, uFestu wathi: “Ukufunda okuningi kuyakuhlanyisa.” Ngokufanayo, namuhla abanye bathi oFakazi BakaJehova bayahlanya, nakuba njengoPawulu ‘bekhuluma amazwi ayiqiniso nawokuqonda.’ “Kusilele kancane ungivumise ngibe-ngumKristu,” kusho uAgripha, owaliphelisa icala kodwa wavuma ukuthi uPawulu ngabe ukhululiwe ukuba akalidluliselanga kuKesari icala.
Izingozi Olwandle
17. Ubungazichaza kanjani izingozi zasolwandle ezaba khona phakathi nohambo lukaPawulu oluya eRoma?
17 Uhambo lokuya eRoma lwafaka uPawulu “ezingozini elwandle.” (2 Korinte 11:24-27) Induna yebutho ethiwa uJuliyu yayiqaphe iziboshwa ezazihamba ngomkhumbi zisuka eKesariya ziya eRoma. (27:1-26) Lapho umkhumbi wabo ufika eSidoni, uPawulu wavunyelwa ukuba ahambele amakholwa, amqabula ngokomoya. (Qhathanisa neyesi-3 Johane 14.) Lapho befika eMira eAsia Minor, uJuliyu wagibeza iziboshwa emkhunjini othwala okusanhlamvu owawuya eItaliya. Naphezu kwezivunguvungu ezinamandla, bafika ethekwini laseMatheku-mahle, eduze nomuzi waseKrethe yaseLaseya. Ngemva kokusuka lapho sebeya eFeniksi, umoya ovela enyakatho-mpumalanga wawududula umkhumbi. Esaba ukubambeka eSirti (esihlabathini esibishayo) enyakatho Afrika, amatilosi “ehlisa izindwangu,” mhlawumbe oseyili nezinsika. Izintambo zazithandelwe ohlakeni lomkhumbi ukuze izindawo lapho umkhumbi uhlangana khona zingahlukani. Ngosuku olulandelayo lapho isiphepho sisabhenguza, umkhumbi wenziwa lula ngokuba kuphonswe umthwalo olwandle. Ngosuku lwesithathu, balahla izimpahla zomkhumbi (oseyili noma indwangu ababengazisebenzisi). Njengoba ithemba lalibonakala lincipha, ingelosi yabonakala kuPawulu futhi yamtshela ukuba angesabi, ngoba wayeyokuma phambi kukaKesari. Yeka ukuthi kwaba yimpumuzo kanjani lapho umphostoli ethi bonke ababehamba ngomkhumbi babezowelela ogwini lwesiqhingi esithile!
18. Yini eyenzeka ekugcineni kuPawulu nakulabo ayegibele nabo umkhumbi?
18 Labagibeli bomkhumbi basinda ngempela. (27:27-44) Phakathi kwamabili ngosuku lwe-14, amatilosi abona ukuthi ayeseduze nezwe. Ukuhlola kwakufakazela lokhu, futhi amahange ehliswa ukuze kugwenywe ukuba umkhumbi ushayeke emadwaleni. Ngokunxusa kukaPawulu, wonke amadoda angu-276 adla. Umkhumbi wabe sewenziwa lula ngokuba kulahlelwe ukolweni olwandle. Ekuseni, amatilosi anqamula amahange, athukulula amaphini okuqondisa, futhi aphakamisela emoyeni indwangu ephambili. Umkhumbi wama endaweni engajulile, ingemuva laqala ukuhlephuka laba izicucu. Kodwa bonke bakwazi ukufika emhlabathini.
19. Yini eyenzeka kuPawulu eMelitha, futhi yini ayenzela abanye lapho?
19 Zimanzi futhi zikhathele, lezisulu zokuphukelwa umkhumbi zazithola ziseMelitha, lapho izakhamuzi zakulesosiqhingi ‘zabaphatha khona ngobubele obungavamile.’ (28:1-16) Nokho, njengoba uPawulu ebeka izinsaba emlilweni, ukushisa kwavusa ibululu elalilele elazithandela esandleni sakhe. (Azisekho manje izinyoka ezinobuthi eMelitha, kodwa lesi ‘kwakuyisidalwa esinoshevu.’ [NW]) Abantu baseMelitha bacabanga ukuthi uPawulu wayengumbulali “ukuLunga” okwakungenakumvumela ukuba aphile, kodwa lapho engawi futhi afe noma avuvuke, bathi ungunkulunkulu. Kamuva uPawulu waphilisa abaningi, kuhlanganise nobaba kaPhubiliyu, induna yaseMelitha. Emva kwezinyanga ezintathu, uPawulu, uLuka, noAristaku bahamba ngomkhumbi onophawu “lwamaWele” (uCastor noPollux, onkulunkulu abangamawele okuthiwa bathanda abahamba olwandle). Lapho befika ePhutheyoli, uJuliyu waqhubeka neqembu lakhe ayeligadile. UPawulu wabonga uNkulunkulu futhi waba nesibindi lapho amaKristu avela enhloko-dolobha yaseRoma emhlangabeza eAphiyo Foru naseTresi Thaberne ngaseNdleleni yaseAphiyo. Ekugcineni, eRoma, uPawulu wavunyelwa ukuhlala yedwa, nakuba ayeqashwe isosha.
Qhubeka Umemezela UMbuso KaJehova!
20. Yimuphi umsebenzi uPawulu aba matasa ngawo endaweni ayegcinwe kuyo eRoma?
20 Esendaweni ayegcinwe kuyo eRoma, uPawulu wawumemezela ngesibindi uMbuso kaJehova. (28:17-31) Watshela amadoda avelele angamaJuda: “Ngenxa yethemba likaIsrayeli ngiboshiwe ngaleliketanga.” Lelothemba lalihilela ukwamukela uMesiya, okuyinto nathi okumelwe sizimisele ukuhlupheka ngenxa yayo. (Filipi 1:29) Nakuba iningi lalawomaJuda lingazange likholwe, abeZizwe abaningi nensali yamaJuda baba nesimo senhliziyo esilungile. (Isaya 6:9, 10) Iminyaka emibili (cishe ngo-59-61 C.E.) uPawulu wamukela bonke ababeza kuye, ‘eshumayela umbuso kaNkulunkulu, efundisa ngaso sonke isibindi izindaba zeNkosi uJesu Kristu, enganqatshelwa-muntu.’
21. Yisiphi isibonelo uPawulu asibeka kwaze kwaba sekupheleni kokuphila kwakhe kwasemhlabeni?
21 UNero ngokusobala wathi uPawulu wayengenacala futhi wamkhulula. Lomphostoli wawuqala kabusha umsebenzi wakhe ehambisana noThimothewu noThithu. Nokho, waphinde waboshwa eRoma (cishe ngo-65 C.E.) futhi ngokunokwenzeka wabulawa uNero njengomfel’ ukholo. (2 Thimothewu 4:6-8) Kodwa kuze kube sekugcineni, uPawulu wabeka isibonelo esihle njengommemezeli woMbuso onesibindi. Ngomoya ofanayo kulezinsuku zokugcina, sengathi bonke abazinikezele kuNkulunkulu bangawumemezela ngesibindi uMbuso kaJehova!
Ubungaphendula Kanjani?
◻ Yikuphi ukuqeqeshelwa inkonzo uPawulu akunikeza abadala base-Efesu?
◻ UPawulu wasibeka kanjani isibonelo sokuzithoba entandweni kaNkulunkulu?
◻ Ngokuqondene nobudlova besixuku, ikuphi ukufana okukhona phakathi kokuhlangenwe nakho kukaPawulu nokoFakazi BakaJehova namuhla?
◻ Yiliphi ilungiselelo elingokomthetho uPawulu alisebenzisa ngokugcwele ngenkathi ephambi koMbusi uFestu, futhi lokhu kunamuphi umfuziselo wosuku lwanamuhla?
◻ Imuphi umsebenzi uPawulu aba matasa ngawo endaweni ayegcinwe kuyo eRoma, ebeka siphi isibonelo?