ISAHLUKO 3

“Bagcwala Umoya Ongcwele”

Imiphumela yokuthululwa komoya ongcwele ngePhentekoste

Isekelwe encwadini yezEnzo 2:1-47

1. Chaza isimo ngoMkhosi WePhentekoste.

IMIGWAQO yaseJerusalema iyachwaza yinjabulo.a Kwenyuka umusi e-altare lethempeli njengoba amaLevi ehlabelela iHallel (AmaHubo 113 kuya ku-118), cishe ngendlela yokunikezelana. Kuphithiza izivakashi emigwaqweni. Zivela emazweni akude njengase-Elamu, eMesophothamiya, eKhaphadosiya, ePhontu, eGibhithe naseRoma.b Kwenzenjani? YiPhentekoste, elibizwa nangokuthi ‘usuku lwezithelo zokuqala ezivuthiwe.’ (Num. 28:26) Lo mkhosi waminyaka yonke usho ukuphela kokuvunwa kwebhali nokuqala kokuvunwa kwamabele. Usuku olujabulisayo lolu.

Ibalazwe eliveza izindawo abantu abezwa izindaba ezinhle ababesuka kuzo ngePhentecoste lika-33 C.E. 1. Izindawo: ILibhiya, iGibhithe, iTopiya, iBhithiniya, iPhontu, iKhaphadosiya, iJudiya, iMesophothamiya, iBhabhiloni, i-Elamu, iMediya neParte. 2. Amadolobha: IRoma, i-Aleksandriya, iMemfisi, i-Antiyokiya (yaseSiriya), iJerusalema neBhabhiloni. 3. Izilwandle: ULwandle IMedithera, uLwandle Olumnyama, uLwandle Olubomvu, i-Caspian Sea ne-Persian Gulf.

IJERUSALEMA—ISIKHUNGO SOBUJUDA

Eziningi zezenzakalo ezisezahlukweni zokuqala zencwadi yezEnzo zenzeka eJerusalema. Leli dolobha liphakathi kokhahlamba lwezintaba zaseJudiya, endaweni engaba amakhilomitha angu-55 empumalanga yoLwandle LwaseMedithera. Ngo-1070 B.C.E., iNkosi uDavide yanqoba inqaba eyayisesiqongweni seNtaba iZiyoni ekule ndawo, futhi idolobha elayizungeza laba inhloko-dolobha yesizwe sakwa-Israyeli wasendulo.

Eduze kweNtaba iZiyoni kumi iNtaba iMoriya, lapho, ngokomlando wamaJuda, u-Abrahama azama khona ukunikela ngo-Isaka, eminyakeni engaba ngu-1 900 ngaphambi kwezenzakalo ezichazwe encwadini yezEnzo. INtaba iMoriya yaba ngaphansi kwaleli dolobha ngesikhathi uSolomoni akha ithempeli likaJehova lokuqala phezu kwayo. Lesi sakhiwo saba ikomkhulu lokuphila okuvamile nokukhulekela kwamaJuda.

Wonke amaJuda azinikele ayebuthana njalo ethempelini likaJehova evela kuwo wonke umhlaba owakhiwe ukuze anikele, akhulekele, futhi agubhe imikhosi eyayenziwa ngezikhathi ezithile zonyaka. Babenza kanjalo ngoba belalela umyalo kaNkulunkulu: “Kathathu ngonyaka, bonke abantu bakho besilisa kufanele bavele phambi kukaJehova uNkulunkulu wakho endaweni ayikhethayo.” (Dut. 16:16) EJerusalema yilapho kwakukhona khona neSanhedrini Enkulu, inkantolo ephakeme yamaJuda nomkhandlu ophethe isizwe.

2. Kwenzeka siphi isimanga ngePhentekoste lika-33 C.E.?

² Namuhla ekuseni yintwasahlobo epholile ngo-33 C.E., cishe ngehora lesi-9, kwenzeka okuthile okuyolokhu kubatshazwa amakhulu eminyaka ezayo. Khona manjalo, kuzwakala “umsindo uvela ezulwini, unjengowesivunguvungu esinamandla.” (IzE. 2:2) Le nhlokomo igcwalisa indlu lapho abafundi bakaJesu abangaba ngu-120 bebuthene khona. Kube sekwenzeka isimanga. Kubonakala izilimi ezinjengamalangabi, ngalinye lihlala phezu komfundi ngamunye.c Abafundi babe ‘sebegcwala umoya ongcwele’ futhi baqale ukukhuluma ngezinye izilimi! Njengoba bephuma endlini, izivakashi abahlangana nazo emigwaqweni yaseJerusalema ziyamangala ngoba abafundi sebekwazi ukukhuluma nazo! Yebo, ngamunye ubezwa “bekhuluma ngolimi lwakhe.”—IzE. 2:1-6.

3. (a) Kungani iPhentekoste lika-33 C.E. lingase libizwe ngokuthi ingqopha-mlando emlandweni wokukhulekela kweqiniso? (b) Inkulumo kaPetru ihlobana kanjani nokusetshenziswa ‘kwezihluthulelo zoMbuso’?

³ Lokhu kulandisa okuthakazelisayo kuchaza isenzakalo esiyingqopha-mlando ekukhulekeleni kweqiniso—ukuzalwa kwesizwe sika-Israyeli ongokomoya, ibandla lamaKristu agcotshiwe. (Gal. 6:16) Kodwa akugcini lapho. Ngesikhathi uPetru ekhuluma nesixuku ngalolo suku, wasebenzisa esokuqala kwezintathu “izihluthulelo zoMbuso,” ngasinye esasiyovulela amaqembu ahlukene abantu amalungelo akhethekile. (Math. 16:18, 19) Esokuqala senza kwenzeka ngamaJuda namaJuda angamaproselithe ukuba amukele izindaba ezinhle futhi agcotshwe ngomoya ongcwele kaNkulunkulu.d Ngaleyo ndlela, ayeyoba ingxenye ka-Israyeli ongokomoya, futhi ngenxa yalokho, abe nethemba lokubusa njengamakhosi nabapristi eMbusweni KaMesiya. (IsAm. 5:9, 10) Kamuva, lelo lungelo laliyodluliselwa kumaSamariya, bese kuba kwabeZizwe. Yini amaKristu namuhla angayifunda ezenzakalweni eziyingqopha-mlando zangePhentekoste lika-33 C.E.?

“Bonke Babendawonye Endaweni Efanayo” (IzEnzo 2:1-4)

4. Kungamuphi umqondo ibandla lobuKristu lanamuhla liwukuqhutshekiselwa phambili kwebandla elaqalwa ngo-33 C.E.?

⁴ Ibandla lobuKristu laqala ngabafundi abangaba ngu-120 ‘bonke ababendawonye endaweni efanayo’—ekamelweni eliphezulu—futhi ababegcotshwe ngomoya ongcwele. (IzE. 2:1) Kwathi kuphela lolo suku, ayesebalelwa ezinkulungwaneni amalungu abhapathiziwe alelo bandla. Lokhu kwakumane kuyisiqalo sokwanda kwenhlangano esaqhubeka yanda nanamuhla! Yebo, lona umphakathi wamadoda nabesifazane abesaba uNkulunkulu—ibandla lobuKristu lanamuhla—oshumayela ‘izindaba ezinhle zoMbuso emhlabeni wonke ukuze kube ubufakazi ezizweni zonke’ ngaphambi kokuba lesi simiso sezinto siphele.—Math. 24:14.

5. Iziphi izibusiso ezaziyolethwa ukuhlanganyela nebandla lobuKristu, kokubili ekhulwini lokuqala nanamuhla?

⁵ Ibandla lobuKristu lalizoba nangumthombo wamandla angokomoya emalungwini alo agcotshiwe, futhi kamuva, ‘nawezinye izimvu.’ (Joh. 10:16) UPawulu wabonisa ukuthi uyakwazisa ukusekelana kwamalungu ebandla lapho ebhalela amaKristu aseRoma: “Ngilangazelela ukunibona, ukuze ngidlulisele kini isipho esithile esivela kuNkulunkulu ukuze niqiniswe; noma, kunalokho, ukuze sikhuthazane, ngokholo lomunye nomunye, olwenu nolwami.”—Roma 1:11, 12.

IROMA—INHLOKO-DOLOBHA YOMBUSO

Phakathi nenkathi ehlanganiswa incwadi yezEnzo, iRoma yayiyidolobha elikhulu kunawo wonke nelibaluleke kakhulu kwezombusazwe emhlabeni owawaziwa ngaleso sikhathi. Yayiyinhloko-dolobha yombuso okwathi lapho udlondlobala, wabusa amazwe kusuka eBrithani kuya eNyakatho Afrika nokusuka oLwandle i-Atlantic kuya ePersian Gulf.

ERoma kwakunengxubevange yamasiko, izinhlanga, izilimi nezinkolelo ezingamanga. Imigwaqo eyayinakekelwa kahle yayiletha izivakashi nempahla eyayivela kuzo zonke izingxenye zombuso. Ethekwini lase-Ostia eliseduze, imikhumbi yayiphuma ingena olwandle iletha ukudla nempahla ebizayo kuleli dolobha.

Ngasekhulwini lokuqala C.E., kwakuhlala abantu abangaphezu kwesigidi eRoma. Kungenzeka ukuthi ingxenye yabo kwakuyizigqila—izinswelaboya ezigwetshiwe, izingane ezithengisiwe noma ezingenabazali, neziboshwa ezabanjwa phakathi nomkhankaso wamabutho aseRoma. Phakathi kwalabo abalethwa eRoma njengezigqila kwakunamaJuda aseJerusalema, ayeboshwe ngemva kokunqotshwa kwalelo dolobha nguJenene waseRoma uPompey ngo-63 B.C.E.

Iningi labantu ababekhululekile kwakungabantu ababehlupheka ababehlala ezindlini ezinezitezi eziningi futhi bethembele osizweni lukahulumeni. Nokho, ababusi babehlobise leli dolobha ngezakhiwo zomphakathi ezinhle kakhulu kwezake zabonwa. Phakathi kwazo kwakunezinkundla zemidlalo ezinkulu okwakudlalelwa kuzo imidlalo yaseshashalazini, imiqhudelwano yezilwi nemijaho yezinqola zamahhashi—konke okwakuwukuzijabulisa kwamahhala kwezixuku.

6, 7. Ibandla lobuKristu liwufeza kanjani umyalo kaJesu wokushumayela ezizweni zonke?

⁶ Nanamuhla, ibandla lobuKristu linemigomo efanayo nelalinayo ekhulwini lokuqala. UJesu wanikeza abafundi bakhe umsebenzi oyinselele kodwa ojabulisayo. Wabatshela: “Hambani niyokwenza abantu bazo zonke izizwe babe abafundi, nibabhapathize egameni likaYise neleNdodana nelomoya ongcwele, nibafundise ukugcina konke enginiyale ngakho.”—Math. 28:19, 20.

⁷ Ibandla lobuKristu loFakazi BakaJehova liyinhlangano okufezwa ngayo lo msebenzi namuhla. Yiqiniso, kuyinselele ukufinyelela abantu bezilimi ezihlukahlukene. Nokho, oFakazi BakaJehova baye bakhiqiza izincwadi zeBhayibheli ngezilimi ezingaphezu kuka-1 000. Uma ukukhuthalele ukuhlanganyela nebandla lobuKristu futhi unengxenye emsebenzini wokushumayela ngoMbuso nokwenza abafundi, unesizathu sokwethaba. Uphakathi kwabambalwa emhlabeni namuhla abanelungelo lokunikeza ubufakazi obuphelele ngegama likaJehova!

8. Yiluphi usizo esiluthola ebandleni lobuKristu?

⁸ Ukuze akusize ukhuthazele ngenjabulo kulezi zikhathi ezibucayi, uJehova uNkulunkulu ukunike abazalwane bomhlaba wonke. UPawulu wabhalela amaKristu angamaHebheru: “Masicabangelane ukuze sivuselelane uthando nemisebenzi emihle, singakuyeki ukuhlangana ndawonye, njengoba kungumkhuba wabanye, kodwa sikhuthazane, futhi ikakhulu njengoba nibona usuku lusondela.” (Heb. 10:24, 25) Ibandla lobuKristu liyilungiselelo elivela kuJehova lokukusiza ukuba ukhuthaze abanye futhi ukhuthazeke kwawena. Sondelana nabafowenu nodadewenu abangokomoya. Ungakuyeki ukuhlangana nabo emihlanganweni yobuKristu!

‘Ngamunye Wayezwa Kukhulunywa Ngolimi Lwakhe’ (IzEnzo 2:5-13)

Abafundi bakaJesu bashumayeza amaJuda namaproselithe emgwaqweni ophithizelayo. — “Sibezwa bekhuluma ngezilimi zethu ngezinto ezinhle kakhulu zikaNkulunkulu.”—IzEnzo 2:11

9, 10. Abanye bazenze bakutholakalela kanjani ukufinyelela abantu abakhuluma ulimi oluhlukile?

⁹ Yibone ngeso lengqondo injabulo enkulu okumelwe ukuba yaba khona eqenjini elalixube amaJuda namaproselithe ngePhentekoste lika-33 C.E. Cishe iningi lababekhona lalikhuluma ulimi olufanayo, mhlawumbe isiGreki noma isiHebheru. Kodwa manje “ngamunye . . . wayebezwa [abafundi] bekhuluma ngolimi lwakhe.” (IzE. 2:6) Kumelwe ukuba ababelalele bathinteka lapho bezwa izindaba ezinhle ngolimi abaluncela. Kuyavunywa, amaKristu namuhla awanaso isiphiwo esiyisimangaliso sokukhuluma ezinye izilimi. Kepha abaningi bazenze batholakalela ukusakaza isigijimi soMbuso kubantu bazo zonke izizwe. Kanjani? Abanye bafunde ulimi olusha ukuze bakwazi ukuyokhonza ebandleni eliseduze lolunye ulimi noma baze bathuthele kwelinye izwe. Ngokuvamile, baye bathole ukuthi izilaleli zabo zihlabeka umxhwele impela ngemizamo yabo.

¹⁰ Cabanga ngoChristine owafunda isiGujarati kanye nabanye oFakazi abangu-7. Lapho ehlangana nentokazi ayesebenza nayo ekhuluma isiGujarati, wayibingelela ngaso. Yahlabeka umxhwele futhi yafuna ukwazi ukuthi kungani uChristine ayenza umzamo wokufunda ulimi olunzima kangaka, isiGujarati. Wakwazi ukunikeza ubufakazi obuhle. Le ntokazi yathi kuChristine: “Kumelwe ukuba ngempela ninento ebalulekile enifuna ukuyisho.”

11. Singakulungiselela kanjani ukushumayela ngoMbuso kubantu abakhuluma olunye ulimi?

¹¹ Yiqiniso, akuthina sonke esingafunda olunye ulimi. Noma kunjalo, singakuhlomela ukushumayela isigijimi soMbuso kubantu bezinye izilimi. Kanjani? Enye indlela iwukusebenzisa i-JW Language^® ukuze ufunde indlela elula yokubingelela ngolimi olukhulunywa endaweni. Ungafunda namagama ambalwa alolo limi angenza abantu bafune ukukulalela. Batshele ukuba bangene ku-jw.org, ubabonise amavidiyo nezincwadi ezihlukahlukene ezitholakala ngolimi lwabo. Uma siwasebenzisa la mathuluzi lapho sishumayela, sizojabula ngendlela abajabula ngayo abafowethu bangekhulu lokuqala ngesikhathi abantu bakwamanye amazwe bebamba ongezansi lapho bezwa izindaba ezinhle “ngamunye . . . ngolimi lwakhe.”

AMAJUDA EMESOPHOTHAMIYA NASEGIBHITHE

Incwadi ethi The History of the Jewish People in the Age of Jesus Christ (175 B.C.–A.D. 135) ithi: “EMesophothamiya, eMediya naseBhabhiloniya kwakuhlala isizukulwane sabantu bombuso wezizwe eziyishumi [zakwa-Israyeli], nabombuso wakwaJuda, ababedingiselwe lapho ngabase-Asiriya nabaseBhabhiloniya.” Ngokuka-Ezra 2:64, ama-Israyeli angu-42 360 kuphela abuyela eJerusalema evela ekudingisweni eBhabhiloniya. Lokhu kwenzeka ngo-537 B.C.E. UFlavius Josephus uphawula ukuthi ekhulwini lokuqala C.E., amaJuda “ayehlala eBhabhiloniya” ayebalelwa emashumini ezinkulungwane. Ngekhulu lesithathu kuya kwelesihlanu C.E., le miphakathi yamaJuda yenza incwadi eyaziwa ngokuthi iTalmud yaseBhabhiloniya.

Kunobufakazi obulotshiwe bokuthi kunamaJuda ayehlala eGibhithe kusukela cishe ngekhulu lesithupha B.C.E. Phakathi naleyo nkathi, uJeremiya wathumela umyalezo kumaJuda ayehlala ezindaweni ezihlukahlukene zaseGibhithe, kuhlanganise naseMemfisi. (Jer. 44:1, mbhw.) Kungenzeka ukuthi isibalo esikhulu samaJuda saya eGibhithe phakathi nenkathi yokubusa kwamaGreki. UJosephus uthi amaJuda ayephakathi kwabantu bokuqala abahlala e-Aleksandriya. Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi, banikwa ingxenye ethile yaleli dolobha. Ngekhulu lokuqala C.E., umlobi ongumJuda uPhilo wagomela ngokuthi izigidi zozakwabo zazihlala kulo lonke elaseGibhithe, kusukela “eLibhiya kuya emingceleni yaseTopiya.”

“UPetru Wasukuma” (IzEnzo 2:14-37)

12. (a) Umprofethi uJoweli wayebhekisele kanjani kulesi senzakalo esiyisimangaliso esenzeka ngePhentekoste lika-33 C.E.? (b) Kungani kwakulindelekile ukugcwaliseka kwesiprofetho sikaJoweli ekhulwini lokuqala?

¹² “UPetru wasukuma” wakhuluma nesixuku sezizwe ezihlukahlukene. (IzE. 2:14) Wachazela bonke ababelalele ukuthi ikhono eliyisimangaliso lokukhuluma ngezilimi ezihlukahlukene babelinikezwe uNkulunkulu ukuze kugcwaliseke isiprofetho esashiwo uJoweli: “Ngiyothululela umoya wami phezu kwayo yonke inyama.” (Joweli 2:28) Ngaphambi kokuba enyukele ezulwini, uJesu watshela abafundi bakhe: “Ngizocela uBaba futhi uzoninika omunye umsizi,” uJesu awubiza ngokuthi “umoya.”—Joh. 14:16, 17.

13, 14. UPetru wazama kanjani ukufinyelela izinhliziyo zezilaleli zakhe, futhi singamlingisa kanjani?

¹³ Amazwi kaPetru okuphetha ayenamandla: “Yonke indlu ka-Israyeli mayazi ngokuqinisekile ukuthi uNkulunkulu wamenza iNkosi noKristu, lo Jesu enambethela esigxotsheni.” (IzE. 2:36) Yiqiniso, iningi lezilaleli zikaPetru zazingekho lapho uJesu ebulawa esigxotsheni sokuhlushwa. Kodwa isenzo sazo njengesizwe senza wonke umphakathi waba necala. Nokho, phawula ukuthi wakhuluma namaJuda akubo ngenhlonipho futhi wawafinyelela izinhliziyo. Umgomo kaPetru kwakuwukwenza izilaleli zakhe ziphenduke, hhayi ukuzilahla. Ingabe amazwi kaPetru asicasula isixuku? Phinde. Kunalokho, abantu “bahlabeka enhliziyweni.” Babuza: “Yini okufanele siyenze?” Ukukhuluma kukaPetru ngenhlonipho cishe kwaba nesandla ekufinyeleleni kwakhe izinhliziyo zabaningi, baze bashukumiseleka ukuba baphenduke.—IzE. 2:37.

¹⁴ Singayilingisa indlela kaPetru yokufinyelela izinhliziyo. Lapho sifakaza kwabanye, akudingeki siphikise yonke imibono engavumelani nemiBhalo engase ivezwe umninikhaya. Kunalokho, kuyoba kuhle sakhele emaphuzwini esivumelana ngawo. Uma sesinayo into esivumelana ngayo, singakwazi ukubonisana ngesu naye ngeZwi likaNkulunkulu. Ngokuvamile, lapho amaqiniso eBhayibheli ethulwa ngale ndlela, aba makhulu amathuba okuba abantu abanhliziyo ziqotho basabele kahle.

UBUKRISTU EPHONTU

Phakathi kwalabo abezwa inkulumo kaPetru ngePhentekoste lika-33 C.E. kwakunamaJuda avela ePhontu, isifunda esisenyakatho ye-Asia Minor. (IzE. 2:9) Akungabazeki ukuthi amanye awo abuyela nezindaba ezinhle emazweni akubo, ngoba lapho uPetru ebhala incwadi yakhe yokuqala wahlanganisa namakholwa ‘ayehlakazekele’ ezindaweni ezinjengePhontu.g (1 Pet. 1:1) Incwadi yakhe yembula ukuthi la maKristu ayenziwe ‘lusizi yizilingo ezihlukahlukene’ ngenxa yokholo lwawo. (1 Pet. 1:6) Kungenzeka ukuthi lokhu kwakuhlanganisa ukuphikiswa noshushiso.

Lapho uPliny Omncane, umbusi wezifundazwe zaseRoma, iBhithiniya nePhontu, ebhalelana noMbusi uTrajan, bakhuluma ngovivinyo olwengeziwe amaKristu abhekana nalo ePhontu. Lapho uPliny ebhala cishe ngo-112 C.E. esePhontu, wabika ukuthi “ukusakazeka” kobuKristu kwakwesabisa wonk’ umuntu kungakhathaliseki ubulili, ubudala noma isikhundla sakhe. Wanikeza labo ababemangalelwa ngokuba amaKristu ithuba lokubuphika ubuKristu futhi labo ababenqaba, wayebabulala. Noma yibaphi ababeqalekisa uKristu noma bakhuleke konkulunkulu noma esithombeni sikaTrajan babekhululwa. UPliny wavuma ukuthi lezi kwakuyizinto “labo abangamaKristu eqiniso abangeke benziswe zona.”

g Igama elithi ‘hlakazekile’ livela egameni lesiGreki elisho ukuthi ‘abaHlakazekile.’ Leli gama lihlangene nobuJuda, libonisa ukuthi iningi lalabo abaguquka ekuqaleni lalivela emiphakathini yamaJuda.

“Yilowo Nalowo Kini Abhapathizwe” (IzEnzo 2:38-47)

15. (a) Wathini uPetru, futhi waba yini umphumela? (b) Kungani izinkulungwane ezezwa izindaba ezinhle ngePhentekoste zazikufanelekela ukubhapathizwa ngalo lolo suku?

¹⁵ Ngalolu suku olujabulisayo lwePhentekoste lika-33 C.E., uPetru watshela amaJuda namaproselithe ayelalele: “Phendukani, yilowo nalowo kini abhapathizwe.” (IzE. 2:38) Umphumela waba ukuthi abangaba ngu-3 000 babhapathizwa, cishe emachibini ayeseJerusalema noma eduze kwakhona.e Ingabe kwakuyisenzo sokuthatheka lesi? Ingabe lokhu kulandisa kuyisibonelo sabafundi beBhayibheli nabantwana babazali abangamaKristu sokuba bagijimele ukubhapathizwa bengakakulungeli? Cha. Khumbula, lawo maJuda namaJuda angamaproselithe abhapathizwa ngosuku lwePhentekoste lika-33 C.E. ayengabafundi beZwi likaNkulunkulu abakhuthele, futhi eyingxenye yesizwe esasizinikezele kuJehova. Ngaphezu kwalokho, ayeseyibonisa kakade intshiseko yawo—kwezinye izimo ngokuhamba amabanga amade eya kulo mkhosi waminyaka yonke. Ngemva kokwamukela amaqiniso abalulekile aphathelene nendima kaJesu Kristu ekufezekeni kwenjongo kaNkulunkulu, ayesekulungele ukuqhubeka ekhonza uNkulunkulu—kodwa manje njengabalandeli bakaKristu ababhapathiziwe.

AYENGOBANI AMAPROSELITHE?

“AbangamaJuda nabangamaproselithe” bamuzwa uPetru eshumayela ngePhentekoste lika-33 C.E.—IzE. 2:10.

Phakathi kwamadoda afanelekayo ayemiswe ukuba anakekele ‘umsebenzi odingekile’ wokwaba ukudla nsuku zonke kwakukhona uNikolawu, owaziwa ngokuthi “umproselithe wase-Antiyokiya.” (IzE. 6:3-5) Amaproselithe ayengewona amaJuda, kodwa ayengabantu beZizwe ababeguqukele ebuJudeni. Ayebhekwa njengamaJuda kuzo zonke izici, njengoba ayamukele uNkulunkulu noMthetho ka-Israyeli, enqaba bonke abanye onkulunkulu, asokwa (uma ayengawesilisa) futhi azihlanganisa nesizwe sakwa-Israyeli.

Ngemva kokukhululwa kwamaJuda ekudingisweni eBhabhiloni ngo-537 B.C.E., amaningi ahlala kude nezwe lakwa-Israyeli kodwa aqhubeka ephila ngamasiko obuJuda. Ngenxa yalokhu, abantu bakuyo yonke iMpumalanga Eseduze nangalé kwayo bajwayelana nenkolo yobuJuda. Abalobi basendulo, njengoHorace noSeneca, bayakufakazela ukuthi abantu abaningi emazweni ahlukahlukene abakhangwa amaJuda nezinkolelo zawo, bazihlanganisa nawo futhi baba amaproselithe.

16. AmaKristu ekhulu lokuqala awubonisa kanjani umoya wokuzidela?

¹⁶ Isibusiso sikaJehova ngempela sasikulelo qembu. UmBhalo uthi: “Bonke ababa amakholwa babendawonye, bahlanganyela yonke into ndawonye, babethengisa izimpahla zabo nezindawo, imali abayithole lapho bayabele bonke abantu, kuye ngesidingo somuntu ngamunye.”f (IzE. 2:44, 45) Ngokuqinisekile, wonke amaKristu eqiniso afuna ukulingisa lowo moya wothando nowokuzidela.

17. Yiziphi izinyathelo ezidingekayo ukuze umuntu afanelekele ubhapathizo?

¹⁷ Ukuzinikezela nobhapathizo lobuKristu kuhilela izinyathelo ezimbalwa ezidingekayo ezingokomBhalo. Umuntu kumelwe angenise ulwazi lweZwi likaNkulunkulu. (Joh. 17:3) Kudingeka abonise ukholo futhi kumelwe aphenduke enkambweni yakhe yangaphambili, abonise ukudabuka kwangempela ngayo. (IzE. 3:19) Ngemva kwalokho, kumelwe aguquke futhi aqale ukwenza imisebenzi elungile evumelana nentando kaNkulunkulu. (Roma 12:2; Efe. 4:23, 24) Lezi zinyathelo zilandelwa ukuzinikezela kwakhe kuNkulunkulu ngomthandazo abese ebhapathizwa.—Math. 16:24; 1 Pet. 3:21.

18. Yiliphi ilungelo elivulekele abafundi bakaKristu ababhapathiziwe?

¹⁸ Ingabe wena ungumfundi kaJesu Kristu ozinikezele futhi wabhapathizwa? Uma kunjalo, jabula ngelungelo elikuvulekele. Njengabafundi bekhulu lokuqala ababegcwaliswe ngomoya ongcwele, ungasetshenziswa ngendlela enamandla ukuba unikeze ubufakazi obuphelele futhi wenze intando kaJehova!

a Bheka ibhokisi elithi “IJerusalema—Isikhungo SobuJuda,” ekhasini 23.

b Bheka ibhokisi elithi “IRoma—Inhloko-dolobha Yombuso,” ekhasini 24; “AmaJuda EMesophothamiya NaseGibhithe,” ekhasini 25; nelithi “UbuKristu EPhontu,” ekhasini 26.

c Lezi ‘zilimi’ zazingewona amalangabi angokoqobo, kodwa ‘zazinjengamalangabi,’ okubonisa ngokucacile ukuthi okwakubonakala phezu komfundi ngamunye kwakufana nelangabi lomlilo futhi kukhanya njengalo.

d Bheka ibhokisi elithi “Ayengobani Amaproselithe?” ekhasini 27.

e Ngo-Agasti 7, 1993, emhlanganweni wezizwe woFakazi BakaJehova eKiev, e-Ukraine, kwabhapathizwa abantu abangu-7 402 emadamini ayisithupha. Lolu bhapathizo lwathatha amahora amabili nemizuzu engu-15.

f Leli lungiselelo lesikhashana lagcwalisa isidingo esaphakama ngoba izivakashi zazihleli eJerusalema ukuze zithole ukukhanyiselwa okwengeziwe ngokomoya. Lokhu kwakuwukwabelana ngokuzithandela, akufanele kudidaniswe nesimiso sokuphoqa abantu ukuba benze okuthile.—IzE. 5:1-4.