UJehova UnguMbusi Wethu!
“Simelwe ukulalela uNkulunkulu [njengombusi, “NW”] kunabantu.”—IZENZO 5:29.
1, 2. Yisiphi isimo sabaphostoli oFakazi BakaJehova abasithathayo lapho okufunwa abantu kulwisana nentando yaphezulu?
UJEHOVA UNKULUNKULU wavumela amadoda angu-12 ukuba ayiswe phambi kwenkantolo ephakeme. Kwakungonyaka ka-33 C.E., futhi inkantolo kwakuyiSanhedrin yamaJuda. Kwakumangalelwe abaphostoli bakaJesu Kristu. Lalela! ‘Saniyala ukuba ningafundisi ngalelogama,’ kusho umpristi omkhulu, ‘kodwa nigcwalisé iJerusalema ngesifundiso senu.’ Kulokho, uPetru nabanye abaphostoli, bathi: “Simelwe ukulalela uNkulunkulu [njengombusi] kunabantu.” (IzEnzo 5:27-29) Ngamanye amazwi, babethi: “UJehova unguMbusi wethu!”
2 Yebo, uJehova unguMbusi wabalandeli bakaJesu beqiniso. Lokhu kucaciswe encwadini yeBhayibheli yezEnzo Zabaphostoli, eyabhalwa eRoma cishe ngo-61 C.E. ‘nguLuka inyanga ethandekayo.’ (Kolose 4:14) Njengabaphostoli, abantu bakaJehova namuhla balalela uMbusi wabo osezulwini lapho okufunwa abantu kulwisana nentando yakhe. Kodwa yini enye esingayifunda encwadini yezEnzo? (Esifundweni sakho siqu, sisikisela ukuba ufunde izingxenye zalencwadi ezikhonjiwe ezibhalwe ngokugqamile.)
UJesu Uthuma OFakazi!
3. Lapho abalandeli bakaJesu ‘bebhapathizwa ngomoya ongcwele,’ yini ababeyikhathalele kakhulu?
3 Abaphostoli babengammelela ngokuqinile uNkulunkulu ngenxa yokuthi babeqinisiwe ngokomoya. UKristu wafela esigxotsheni, kodwa babazi ukuthi wayevusiwe. (1:1-5) UJesu “waziveza kubo ephilile” futhi wafundisa amaqiniso oMbuso esemizimbeni yenyama phakathi nazo zonke izinsuku ezingu-40. Watshela futhi abafundi bakhe ukuba balinde eJerusalema ukuze babhapathizwe “ngoMoya oNgcwele.” Ngemva kwalokho ukushumayela kwakuyoba into abayikhathalela kakhulu, njengoba kunjalo ngoFakazi BakaJehova namuhla.—Luka 24:27, 49; Johane 20:19–21:24.
4. Yini eyayiyokwenzeka lapho umoya ongcwele ufika phezu kwabalandeli bakaJesu?
4 Bengakabhapathizwa ngomoya ongcwele, abaphostoli bacabanga ngokungeyikho ngombuso wasemhlabeni owawuyoqeda ukubusa kwamaRoma lapho bebuza: “Nkosi, usawubuyisela umbuso kuIsrayeli ngalesisikhathi na?” (1:6-8) Kuyefana nokuthi, uJesu wathi cha, ngoba ‘kwakungekhona okwabo ukwazi izikhathi nemizuzu.’ ‘Lapho umoya ongcwele ufika phezu kwabo,’ wawuyobanika amandla okufakaza ngoMbuso wasezulwini kaNkulunkulu, hhayi owasemhlabeni. Babeyoshumayela eJerusalema, eJudiya, naseSamariya, “kuze kube-sekugcineni komhlaba.” Ngosizo lomoya, oFakazi BakaJehova benza umsebenzi onjalo ngezinga elihlanganisa umhlaba wonke kulezinsuku zokugcina.
5. UJesu wayeyofika kanjani ngendlela ayehambe ngayo?
5 UJesu wayesanda kukhipha lesosabelo sokushumayela emhlabeni wonke lapho eqala ukwenyukela ezulwini. Lokho kwenyuka kwaqala ngokuba akhuphuke esuka kubafundi bakhe, futhi kamuva uJesu wangena phambi koMbusi wakhe wasezulwini nasemsebenzini endaweni yomoya. (1:9-11) Ngemva kokuba ifu lisithe abaphostoli ukuba bangamboni uJesu, walahla umzimba wakhe wenyama. Izingelosi ezimbili zavela futhi zathi ‘wayeyokuza kanjalo.’ Futhi kuye kwaba njalo. Abafundi bakaJesu kuphela abambona ehamba, njengoba kungoFakazi BakaJehova kuphela abaqaphela ukubuya kwakhe okungabonakali.
UJehova Uyakhetha
6. Owathatha isikhundla sikaJuda Iskariyothe wakhethwa kanjani?
6 Ngokushesha abaphostoli base bebuyele eJerusalema. (1:12-26) Ekamelweni eliphezulu (mhlawumbe ekhaya likanina kaMarku, uMariya), abaphostoli abaqotho abangu-11 baphikelela bethandaza nabafowabo bakaJesu ngomzali oyedwa, abanye abafundi bakhe, nonina, uMariya. (Marku 6:3; Jakobe 1:1) Kodwa ngubani owayeyothola “isikhundla sikaJuda [sobubonisi, NW]”? (IHubo 109:8) Kwakukhona abafundi abacishe babe ngu-120 lapho uNkulunkulu ekhetha umuntu owayezothatha isikhundla somkhapheli kaJesu, uJuda, kubuyiselwa inani labaphostoli ku-12. Kwakufanele kukhethwe owayengumfundi phakathi nesikhathi senkonzo kaJesu nongufakazi wokuvuswa kwakhe. Yebo, lowomuntu futhi kwakumelwe aqaphele uJehova njengoMbusi wakhe. Ngemva komthandazo, uMathiya noJosefa Barsaba benzelwa inkatho. UNkulunkulu wenza ukuba inkatho idle uMathiya.—IzAga 16:33.
7. (a) Kukanjani ukuthi uJuda “wazuza insimu ngomvuzo wokungalungi”? (b) Wafa kanjani uJuda?
7 Ngokuqinisekile uJuda Iskariyothe akazange amqaphele uJehova njengoMbusi wakhe. Phela, wakhaphela iNdodana kaNkulunkulu ngezinhlamvu zesiliva ezingu-30! UJuda wabuyisela leyomali kubapristi abakhulu, kodwa uPetru wathi lomkhapheli “wazuza insimu ngomvuzo wokungalungi.” Kanjani? Nokho, wenza kwaba khona imali nesizathu sokuthenga “iNsimu yeGazi,” njengoba yabizwa kanjalo. Kuye kwathiwa iyisivande esihlelembekile esisohlangothini olungaseningizimu lwesiGodi sikaHinomu. Sebonakele ngokuphelele ubuhlobo bakhe noMbusi wasezulwini, uJuda “waziphanyeka.” (Mathewu 27:3-10) Mhlawumbe intambo noma igatsha lesihlahla lahlephuka, ngakho “wawa ngekhanda, waqhuma phakathi” lapho ewela emadwaleni acijile. Sengathi kungebebikho noyedwa phakathi kwethu oba ngumzalwane wamanga!
Bagcwala Umoya Ongcwele!
8. Abafundi bakaJesu babhapathizwa nini ngomoya ongcwele, futhi kwaba namuphi umphumela?
8 Kuthiwani ngesithembiso sokubhapathizwa ngomoya ongcwele? Sagcwaliseka ngePentekoste lika-33 C.E., ezinsukwini eziyishumi ngemva kokwenyuka kukaJesu. (2:1-4) Yeka isenzakalo esivusa amadlingozi lokho kubhapathizwa okwaba yiso! Cabanga ngalesosenzakalo. Abafundi abacishe babe ngu-120 basekamelweni eliphezulu lapho ‘ngokungazelelwe kuvela ezulwini inhlokomo kungathi eyokuvunguza komoya onamandla igcwalisa indlu.’ Kwakungewona umoya, kodwa kwakuzwakala njengawo. Kwahlala ulimi ‘kungathi olomlilo’ phezu komfundi nomphostoli ngamunye. “Base begcwala bonke umoya ongcwele, baqala ukukhuluma ngezinye izilimi.” Lapho lolubhapathizo lwenzeka, bazalwa nangomoya ongcwele, bagcotshwa, babekwa uphawu njengesibonakaliso sefa elingokomoya.—Johane 3:3, 5; 2 Korinte 1:21, 22; 1 Johane 2:20.
9. Abafundi abagcwele umoya bakhuluma ngani?
9 Lesisenzakalo sathinta amaJuda namaproselithe ayeseJerusalema ayevela “ezizweni zonke eziphansi kwezulu.” (2:5-13) Bemangele, babuza: ‘Yini pho ngamunye wethu ekwazi ukubezwa ngolimi lwakhe azalwa nalo?’ Kungenzeka kwakuwulimi lwezindawo ezinjengeMediya (empumalanga yeJudiya), iFrigiya, (eAsia Minor), neRoma (eYurophu). Njengoba abafundi babekhuluma ngezilimi ezihlukahlukene “ngemisebenzi emikhulu kaNkulunkulu,” izilaleli eziningi zamangala, kodwa abahleki bosulu basikisela ukuthi badakiwe.
UPetru Unikeza Ubufakazi Obushukumisayo
10. Isenzakalo sangePentekoste lika-33 C.E. sagcwalisa siphi isiprofetho, futhi ingabe lokhu kunawo umfuziselo wosuku lwanamuhla?
10 UPetru waqala ukufakaza ngokubonisa ukuthi ngehora lesishiyagalolunye kwakusesekuseni kakhulu ukuba ngabe sebedakiwe. (2:14-21) Kunalokho, lesisenzakalo sasiwukugcwaliseka kwesithembiso sikaNkulunkulu sokuthululela umoya ongcwele phezu kwabantu bakhe. UNkulunkulu waphefumlela uPetru ukuba akhombe esikhathini sethu ngokunezela amazwi athi “ezinsukwini zokuphela” nathi “ayakuprofetha.” (Joweli 2:28-32) UJehova wayeyonikeza izimangaliso ezulwini nezibonakaliso emhlabeni ngaphambi kosuku lwakhe olukhulu, futhi yilabo ababiza egameni lakhe ngokholo kuphela ababeyosindiswa. Ukuthululwa komoya okufanayo phezu kwabagcotshiwe kuye kwabenza bakwazi ‘ukuprofetha’ ngentshiseko enkulu nangokuphumelelayo namuhla.
11. Ngokuqondene noJesu, yini eyenziwa amaJuda noNkulunkulu?
11 UPetru ngokulandelayo wachaza uMesiya. (2:22-28) UNkulunkulu wafakazela ukuba uMesiya kukaJesu ngokumenza akwazi ukwenza imisebenzi enamandla, izibonakaliso, nezimpawu. (Heberu 2:3, 4) Kodwa amaJuda ambethela esigxotsheni “ngezandla zabangenamthetho,” amaRoma ayengawulaleli umthetho kaNkulunkulu. UJesu ‘wanikelwa ngesu elimisiweyo nangokwazi phambili kukaNkulunkulu’ ngokuthi lokhu kwakuyintando yaphezulu. Nokho, uNkulunkulu wamvusa uJesu futhi wawususa umzimba wakhe wobuntu ukuze ungaboli.—IHubo 16:8-11.
12. Yini uDavide ayibona kusengaphambili, futhi ukusindiswa kuxhomekephi?
12 Isiprofetho ngoMesiya sagcizelelwa ngokuqhubekayo njengoba ubufakazi bukaPetru buqhubeka. (2:29-36) Wathi uDavide wabona kusengaphambili ukuvuswa kwendodana yakhe enkulu kunawo wonke, uJesu onguMesiya. Esendaweni ephakeme ngakwesokudla sikaNkulunkulu ezulwini, uJesu wayethululé umoya ongcwele awuthole kuYise. (IHubo 110:1) Izilaleli zikaPetru ‘zabona futhi zezwa’ ukusebenza kwawo ngokubona izilimi ezinjengezomlilo phezu kwamakhanda abafundi nangokuzwa izilimi zakwamanye amazwe ababezikhuluma. Wabonisa futhi ukuthi ukusindiswa kuxhomeke ekuqapheleni uJesu njengeNkosi noMesiya.—Roma 10:9; Filipi 2:9-11.
UJehova Ubangela Ukwanda
13. (a) Ukuze abhapathizwe ngokufanele, yini amaJuda namaproselithe okwakumelwe ayiqaphele? (b) Kwabhapathizwa abangaki, futhi kwaba namuphi umphumela eJerusalema?
13 Yeka indlela amazwi kaPetru aphumelela ngayo! (2:37-42) Izilaleli zakhe zahlabeka enhliziyweni ngenxa yokuvumela ukubulawa kukaMesiya. Ngakho wanxusa: “Phendukani, yilowo nalowo abhapathizwe egameni likaJesu Kristu kukho ukuthethelelwa kwezono zenu; khona niyakwamukeliswa isiphiwo sikamoya ongcwele.” AmaJuda namaproselithe ayemqaphela kakade uJehova njengoNkulunkulu nesidingo sawo somoya wakhe. Manje kwakudingeka aphenduke futhi amukele uJesu njengoMesiya ukuze abhapathizwe egameni (ukuqaphela isikhundla noma umsebenzi) likaYise, eleNdodana, nelikamoya ongcwele. (Mathewu 28:19, 20) Ngokufakaza kulawomaJuda namaproselithe, uPetru wasebenzisa isihluthulelo sokuqala esingokomoya uJesu ayemnike sona ukuba avulele amaJuda akholwayo umnyango wolwazi nethuba lokuba angene eMbusweni wasezulwini. (Mathewu 16:19) Ngalolosuku olulodwa, kwabhapathizwa abangu-3 000! Cabanga ngalabofakazi bakaJehova abaningi kangako beshumayela ensimini encane yaseJerusalema!
14. Kungani abakholwayo “bahlanganyela izinto” futhi ngayiphi indlela?
14 Abaningi ababevela ezindaweni ezikude babentula ukudla ukuze bahlale isikhathi esengeziwe kodwa babefisa ukufunda okwengeziwe ngokholo lwabo olusha futhi bashumayele kwabanye. Ngakho abalandeli bakaJesu bokuqala basizana ngothando, njengoba oFakazi BakaJehova benza namuhla. (2:43-47) Abakholwayo “bahlanganyela izinto zonke” okwesikhashana. Abanye bathengisa impahla, futhi imali yabelwa noma yibaphi abasweleyo. Lokhu kwenza ibandla laba nesiqalo esihle njengoba “iNkosi yenezela ebandleni imihla ngemihla abasindiswayo.”
Ukuphilisa Nemiphumela Yakho
15. Yini eyenzeka lapho uPetru noJohane bengena ethempelini, futhi abantu basabela kanjani?
15 UJehova wasekela abalandeli bakaJesu ‘ngezibonakaliso.’ (3:1-10) Kanjalo, njengoba uPetru noJohane bengena ethempelini ngo–3:00 p.m. ngehora lokuthandaza elihlangene nomhlatshelo wakusihlwa, indoda eyayiyisishosha kwasekuzalweni yayiseduze noMnyango Omuhle icela “izipho.” UPetru wathi: ‘Isiliva negolide anginalo; kepha enginakho ngikupha khona: egameni likaJesu Kristu waseNazaretha, hamba.’ Leyondoda yaphiliswa ngaso lesosikhathi! Njengoba ingena ethempelini ‘ihamba, igxuma, idumisa uNkulunkulu,’ abantu ‘bamangala.’ Mhlawumbe abanye bakhumbula amazwi athi: “Unyonga luyakutshekula njengendluzele.”—Isaya 35:6.
16. Abaphostoli bakwazi kanjani ukuphilisa umuntu owayeyisishosha?
16 Abantu abamangele babuthana emphemeni kaSolomoni, osohlangothini lwethempeli olungasempumalanga. Lapho uPetru wanikeza ubufakazi. (3:11-18) Wabonisa ukuthi uNkulunkulu wayenikeze abaphostoli amandla okuphulukisa indoda eyisishosha ngeNceku yaKhe ekhazinyulisiwe, uJesu. (Isaya 52:13–53:12) AmaJuda amphika ‘ongcwele nolungileyo’; nokho,uJehova wamvusa. Nakuba abantu nababusi babo babengazi ukuthi babulala uMesiya, uNkulunkulu wawagcwalisa kanjalo amazwi angokwesiprofetho athi “uKristu wakhe uyakuhlupheka.”—Daniyeli 9:26.
17. (a) Yisiphi isinyathelo amaJuda okwakudingeka asithathe? (b) Yini eye yenzeka kusukela ‘ekuthunyweni kukaKristu’ osukwini lwethu?
17 Ngenxa yokuphatha kwawo uMesiya, uPetru wabonisa lokho amaJuda okwakufanele akwenze. (3:19-26) Ayedinga ‘ukuphenduka,’ noma ukuzisola ngenxa yezono zawo, futhi ‘aguquke,’ athathe inkambo ehlukile. Uma ayengabonisa ukholo kuJesu njengoMesiya, amukele isihlengo, ayeyothola ukuqatshulwa okuvela kuJehova njengathethelelwe izono. (Roma 5:6-11) AmaJuda akhunjuzwa ukuthi ayengamadodana esivumelwano uNkulunkulu ayesenze nawokhokho bawo, lapho etshela uAbrahama: “[Ngembewu] yakho iyakubusiswa imindeni yonke yomhlaba.” Ngakho uNkulunkulu okokuqala wathumela iNceku yakhe yobuMesiya ukuba ikhulule amaJuda aphendukayo. Ngokuthakazelisayo, kusukela ‘ekuthunyweni kukaKristu’ esemandleni oMbuso wasezulwini ngo-1914, kuye kwaba khona ukubuyiselwa okuqabulayo kwamaqiniso nokuhlelwa okungokwasezulwini phakathi koFakazi BakaJehova.—Genesise 12:3; 18:18; 22:18.
Babengenakuyeka!
18. Yiliphi “itshe” elenqatshwa “abakhi” abangamaJuda, futhi ingatholakala ngobani kuphela insindiso?
18 Bethukuthele ngenxa yokuthi uPetru noJohane babememezela ngokuvuka kukaJesu, abapristi abakhulu, induna yethempeli, nabaSadusi babafaka etilongweni. (4:1-12) AbaSadusi babengakholelwa ovukweni, kodwa abanye abaningi baba amakholwa, amadoda ewodwa ayengu-5 000 ngenani. Lapho ebuzwa phambi kwenkantolo ephakeme yaseJerusalema, uPetru wathi indoda eyayiyisishosha yaphulukiswa “ngegama likaJesu Kristu waseNazaretha,” owayebethelwe yibo kodwa wavuswa uNkulunkulu. ‘Lelitshe’ elalahlwa “abakhi” abangamaJuda laliye laba “inhloko yegumbi.” (IHubo 118:22) UPetru wathi: “Ayikho insindiso ngomunye.”
19. Lapho beyalwa ukuba bayeke ukushumayela, abaphostoli baphendula kanjani?
19 Kwenziwa umzamo wokuvimbela inkulumo enjalo. (4:13-22) Njengoba lendoda eyayiphulukisiwe yayikhona, babengenakusiphika ‘lesibonakaliso esiqhamileyo,’ nokho uPetru noJohane bayalwa ukuba ‘bangakhulumi ndawo noma bangafundisi ngegama likaJesu.’ Baphendula bathini? ‘Asinakuyeka ukukhuluma ngesikubonile nesikuzwile.’ Babelalela uJehova njengoMbusi wabo!
Imithandazo Iyaphendulwa!
20. Yini abafundi abayithandazela, futhi kwaba namuphi umphumela?
20 Njengoba oFakazi BakaJehova bethandaza emihlanganweni, kanjalo nabafundi bathandaza lapho abaphostoli abakhululiwe bebika okwakubehlele. (4:23-31) Kwaphawulwa ukuthi ababusi uHerode Antipase noPontiyu Pilatu, kanye namaRoma angabeZizwe nabantu bakwaIsrayeli, babehlangene ekumelaneni noMesiya. (IHubo 2:1, 2; Luka 23:1-12) Ekuphenduleni lowomthandazo, uJehova wagcwalisa abafundi ngomoya ongcwele, kangangokuthi bakhuluma izwi likaNkulunkulu ngesibindi. UMbusi wabo akacelwanga ukuba aqede ushushiso kodwa ukuba naphezu kwalo bakwazi ukushumayela ngesibindi.
21. Wayengubani uBarnaba, futhi yiziphi izimfanelo ayenazo?
21 Amakholwa aqhubeka ehlanganyela izinto, futhi akekho owayeswele. (4:32-37) Omunye owanikela kwakungumLevi uJosefa waseKhupro. Abaphostoli bamnika isibongo esithi nguBarnaba, esisho “Indodana Yenduduzo,” ngokunokwenzeka ngenxa yokuthi wayewusizo futhi enenhliziyo enhle. Ngokuqinisekile, sonke sifuna ukuba uhlobo olunjalo lwabantu.—IzEnzo 11:22-24.
Abaqambimanga Bayadalulwa
22, 23. Sasiyini isono sika-Ananiya noSafira, futhi singazuza kanjani kokuhlangenwe nakho kwabo?
22 Nokho, uAnaniya nomkakhe, uSafira bayayeka ukuqaphela uJehova njengoMbusi wabo. (5:1-11) Bathengisa insimu futhi bagodla enye yemali kuyilapho benza sengathi bayilethe yonke kubaphostoli. Ulwazi olwadluliselwa umoya kaNkulunkulu lwenza uPetru akwazi ukuqonda ubuzenzisi babo, okwaholela ekufeni kwabo. Yeka isixwayiso kulabo uSathane abalinga ukuba bakhohlise!—IzAga 3:32; 6:16-19.
23 Ngemva kwalesenzakalo, akekho owayenezisusa ezimbi owaba nesibindi sokuhlanganyela nabafundi. Abanye baba amakholwa. (5:12-16) Ngaphezu kwalokho, njengoba abagulayo nalabo ababehlushwa imimoya engcolile babekholwa amandla kaNkulunkulu, “baphulukiswa bonke.”
Lalela UNkulunkulu Kunabantu
24, 25. Kungani abaholi bamaJuda bashushisa abaphostoli, kodwa iyiphi indinganiso laba abathembekile abayibekela zonke izinceku zikaJehova?
24 Umpristi omkhulu nabaSadusi manje bazama ukuvimbela ukwanda okumangalisayo ngokubopha bonke abaphostoli. (5:17-25) Kodwa ngalobobusuku ingelosi kaNkulunkulu yabakhulula. Futhi ekuthatheni kokusa babefundisa ethempelini! Ukushushiswa akunakuzivimbela izinceku zikaJehova.
25 Nokho, kwasetshenziswa amandla lapho abaphostoli beyiswa phambi kweSanhedrin. (5:26-42) Nokho, beyalwe ukuba bangafundisi bathi: “Simelwe ukulalela uNkulunkulu [njengombusi] kunabantu.” Lokhu kwabekela abalandeli bakaJesu indinganiso ethile, leyo elandelwa oFakazi BakaJehova namuhla. Ngemva kwesixwayiso sesazi-mthetho uGamaliyeli, abaholi bashaya abaphostoli babayala ukuba bayeke ukushumayela, base bebadedela.
26. Inkonzo yabaphostoli yafana kanjani naleyo yoFakazi BakaJehova namuhla?
26 Abaphostoli babejabulile ngokuthi babefanele ukudunyazwa ngenxa yegama likaJesu. “Abayekanga ukufundisa nokushumayela ivangeli ngoJesu Kristu imihla yonke ethempelini nasemakhaya.” Yebo, babeyizikhonzi ezishumayela endlini ngendlu. Banjalo noFakazi bakaNkulunkulu bosuku lwanamuhla, nabo abaye bathola umoya wakhe ngoba bayamlalela futhi bathi, “uJehova unguMbusi wethu!”
Ubungaphendula Kanjani?
◻ Yikuphi ukuthunywa okumelwe kugcwaliswe abalandeli bakaJesu, besikhathi esidlule, nabamanje?
◻ Yini eyenzeka ngosuku lwePentekoste lika-33 C.E.?
◻ UPetru wasisebenzisa nini futhi kanjani isihluthulelo sokuqala esingokomoya uJesu ayemnike sona?
◻ Yini esingayifunda kokuhlangenwe nakho kuka-Ananiya noSafira?
◻ Lapho beyalwa ukuba bayeke ukushumayela, iyiphi indinganiso abaphostoli abayibekela bonke oFakazi BakaJehova?