1. Yini letasidvudvuta nasitiva sinesitunge nobe sicindzetelwa tinkinga tetfu? (Tihlabelelo 118:5-7)

UKE wativa yini unesitunge futsi weva shengatsi kute lokusitako kuze ukhone kubhekana netinkinga takho? Labanyenti bake bativa kanjalo, lokufaka ekhatsi netikhonti taJehova letetsembekile. (1 Khos. 19:14) Nangabe loko kwenteka nakuwe, khumbula setsembiso saJehova lesitsi: “Ngeke ngize ngikushiye, futsi ngeke ngize ngikulahle.” Ngako singasho ngekuciniseka sitsi: “Jehova ungumsiti wami; ngeke ngesabe.” (Heb. 13:5, 6) Umphostoli Pawula wawabhalela emaKhristu lebekahlala eJudiya lamavi, nga-61 C.E. Lamavi akhe asikhumbuta loko lokwashiwo ngumhlabeleli kuTihlabelelo 118:5-7.—Fundza.

2. Sitawucoca ngani kulesihloko, futsi leni?

² Njengalomhlabeleli, Pawula bekati kutsi Jehova utamsita ngobe bekamsite tikhatsi letinyenti ngaphambili. Nasi sibonelo, nasekusele iminyaka lemibili ngaphambi kwekutsi abhale incwadzi leya kumaHebheru, Pawula wasindza eluhambweni lwakhe loluyingoti elwandle. (Imis. 27:4, 15, 20) Kulo lonkhe loluhambo, Jehova wasita Pawula ngetindlela letinyenti. Sitawucoca ngetindlela letintsatfu lamsita ngato. Jehova wamsita asebentisa Jesu netingilosi, bantfu labasemagunyeni kanye nalamanye emaKhristu. Kucoca ngaletintfo letenteka kuPawula, kutawusenta simetsembe kakhulu Nkulunkulu kutsi utayiphendvula imithantazo yetfu nasicela lusito.

3. Yini lokungenteka Pawula watibuta yona futsi kungani?

³ Pawula bekaludzinga lusito. Cishe nga-56 C.E., sicumbi sebantfu samhudvulela ngephandle eJerusalema  futsi setama kumbulala. Ngelilanga lelilandzelako, ngesikhatsi Pawula amikiswa eNkantolo Lenkhulu YemaJuda, titsa takhe betimshaye taphose tambulala. (Imis. 21:30-32; 22:30; 23:6-10) Ngaleso sikhatsi, kungenteka Pawula watibuta kutsi ‘Ngitakubeketelela sikhatsi lesinganani lokuphatfwa kabi?’

4. Jehova wamsita njani Pawula asebentisa Jesu?

⁴ Jesu wamsita njani Pawula? Ngemuva kwebusuku Pawula laboshwa ngabo, Jesu “iNkhosi,” wema ngakuye watsi: “Bani nesibindzi! Ngobe njengobe ufakaze ngalokuphelele ngami eJerusalema, kufanele wente lokufanako naseRoma.” (Imis. 23:11) Lesikhutsato safika ngesikhatsi! Jesu wamncoma Pawula ngemsebenti lomuhle wekushumayela lebekawente eJerusalema. Wetsembisa Pawula kutsi bekatawufika eRoma aphephile futsi achubeke ashumayele khona. Ngemuva kwekutfola lesicinisekiso, kungenteka Pawula wativa aphephile njengemntfwana logodlwe ngubabe wakhe.

5. Jehova wamsita njani Pawula asebentisa ingilosi? (Buka sitfombe lesisekhasini lekucala.)

⁵ Ngutiphi letinye tinkinga Pawula labhekana nato? Nasekuphele iminyaka lemibili ngemuva kwaletintfo lebetenteke eJerusalema, Pawula bekagibele umkhumbi loya eTaliyane futsi babhekana nesiphepho lesimatima kangangekutsi labo lebekagibele nabo bacabanga kutsi batawufa. Kodvwa Pawula bekangesabi. Kungani? Watjela lebekahamba nabo watsi: “Ebusuku ingilosi yaNkulunkulu lengimkhontako nalengimkhotsamelako ifike yema eceleni kwami, yatsi: ‘Ungesabi Pawula. Wena kufanele ume embikwaKhesari, futsi Nkulunkulu utabasindzisa bonkhe laba lohamba nabo.’” Jehova wasebentisa ingilosi kuze iphindze icinisekise Pawula ngaloko Jesu lebekakushito ngaphambili. Pawula wagcine afikile eRoma.—Imis. 27:20-25; 28:16.

6. Ngusiphi setsembiso saJesu lesingasicinisa, futsi kungani?

⁶ Jesu usisita njani? Jesu utasisita njengobe amsita naPawula. Nasi sibonelo, Jesu wetsembisa bonkhe labo lababalandzeli bakhe utsi: “Mine nginani onkhe emalanga kute kube sekupheleni kwalelive.” (Mat. 28:20) Lamavi aJesu ayasicinisa. Leni? Ngobe ngaletinye tikhatsi kuba matima. Sibonelo saloko kutsi nasishonelwa ngumuntfu lesimtsandzako, kufanele sibhekane nalobo buhlungu iminyaka leminyenti. Labanye babhekana netinkinga tekukhula ngeminyaka. Labanye bahle bativa bacindzetelekile. Nobe kunjalo, siyakhona kubeketela ngobe siyati kutsi  Jesu unatsi “onkhe emalanga,” ngisho nangetikhatsi letimatima.—Mat. 11:28-30.

7. Ngekusho kweSembulo 14:6, Jehova usisita njani lamuhla?

⁷ LiVi laNkulunkulu lisicinisekisa ngekutsi Jehova usebentisa tingilosi takhe kuze asisite. (Heb. 1:7, 14) Nasi sibonelo, tingilosi tiyasisekela futsi tiyasicondzisa njengobe sishumayela “tindzaba letimnandzi teMbuso” kubantfu ‘bato tonkhe tive, tinhlanga netilwimi.’—Mat. 24:13, 14; fundza Sembulo 14:6.

8. Jehova wamsita njani Pawula asebentisa umkhuzeli wemphi?

⁸ Pawula watfola luphi lusito? Nga-56 C.E., Jesu wacinisekisa Pawula kutsi utawufika eRoma. Nobe kunjalo, lamanye emaJuda eJerusalema enta lisu lekuhlasela Pawula futsi ambulale. Ngesikhatsi umkhuzeli wemphi yemaRoma Klawudiyusi Lisiyasi eva ngalelisu, wasita Pawula. Ngekushesha, Klawudiyusi wayisa Pawula eKhesariya lebeyikhashane neJerusalema ngemakhilomitha langu-105. Nakefika eKhesariya, uMbusi Feliksi watsi Pawula “akagadvwe esigodlweni saHerodi.” LamaJuda lebekafuna kubulala Pawula bekangeke amtfole lapho.—Imis. 23:12-35.

9. UMbusi Festusi wamsita njani Pawula?

⁹ Ngemuva kweminyaka lemibili, Pawula bekasolo asejele leliseKhesariya. Ngaleso sikhatsi, besekunguFestusi umbusi. EmaJuda ancenga Festusi kutsi aletse Pawula eJerusalema kuze abhekane nelicala lakhe, kodvwa Festusi wala. Mhlawumbe lombusi bekati kutsi emaJuda ‘bekente lisu lekumlalela endleleni kuze ambulale.’—Imis. 24:27–25:5.

10. Yini leyentiwa nguFestusi ngesikhatsi acelwa nguPawula kutsi ehlulelwe nguKhesari?

¹⁰ Ngekuhamba kwesikhatsi, licala laPawula latekwa eKhesariya. Ngenca yekutsi Festusi “abefuna kutsandvwa ngemaJuda,” wabuta Pawula watsi: “Uyafuna yini kuya eJerusalema kuze wehlulelwe ngaletintfo embikwami?” Pawula bekati kutsi kungenteka abulawe eJerusalema futsi bekati kutsi yini langayenta kuze atisindzise, lokukutsi afike eRoma futsi ente umsebenti wekushumayela. Watsi: “Ngendlulisela licala kuKhesari!” Ngemuva kwekukhuluma nebeluleki bakhe, Festusi watjela Pawula watsi: “Licala lakho ulendlulisele kuKhesari, ngaleso sizatfu utakuya kuye.” Sincumo saFestusi sekuyisa Pawula eRoma, samkhulula Pawula etitseni takhe. Ngekushesha, Pawula bekatawuba seRoma lebeyikhashane nemaJuda lebekafuna kumbulala.—Imis. 25:6-12.

11. Ngumaphi emavi laniketa emandla labhalwa ngu-Isaya lokungenteka Pawula wacabangisisa ngawo?

¹¹ Ngesikhatsi Pawula asemele kuya eTaliyane, kungenteka wacabanga ngesecwayiso umphrofethi Isaya laphefumulelwa kutsi asibhale mayelana nalabo labamelene naJehova, lesitsi: “Takheleni emasu enu, kodvwa atakwehlulekiswa; yentani emachinga enu, kodvwa ngeke aphumelele; ngobe Nkulunkulu unatsi.” (Isa. 8:10) Pawula bekati kutsi Nkulunkulu utamsita futsi kungenteka loko kwamnika emandla ekubhekana netinkinga lebetiseta.

12. Juliyusi wamphatsa njani Pawula, futsi yini lokungenteka Pawula wayibona ngenca yaloko?

¹² Nga-58 C.E., Pawula watsatsa luhambo lwakhe loluya eTaliyane. Njengobe bekangumRoma, bekagadvwe ngumkhuzeli  wemphi lebekutsiwa nguJuliyusi. Juliyusi bekangamphatsa kahle Pawula nobe amphatse kabi. Juliyusi bekatalisebentisa njani ligunya lakhe? Ngelilanga lelilandzelako nabefika elugwini lwelwandle, “Juliyusi wamphatsa kahle Pawula, wamvumela nekutsi aye kubangani bakhe.” Ngekuhamba kwesikhatsi, Juliyusi wasindzisa Pawula. Kanjani? Emasotja bekafuna kubulala tonkhe tiboshwa lebetikulomkhumbi kodvwa Juliyusi wawavimba. Leni? ‘Bekafuna kusindzisa Pawula.’ Kungenteka Pawula bekabona kutsi Jehova bekasebentisa lomkhuzeli lonemusa kuze amsite futsi amvikele.—Imis. 27:1-3, 42-44.

13. Jehova angabasebentisa njani bantfu labasemagunyeni?

¹³ Nguluphi lusito lesilutfolako? Nangabe kuhambisana nentsandvo yakhe, Jehova angasebentisa umoya wakhe longcwele kuze ente bantfu labasemagunyeni kutsi bente loko lakufunako. INkhosi Solomoni yabhala yatsi: “Inhlitiyo yenkhosi isesandleni saSimakadze, uyicondzisa kalula njengemanti emfula.” (Taga 21:1) Sisho kutsini lesaga? Bantfu bangawugubha umsele kuze baphambukise emanti aye lapho bafuna khona. Ngendlela lefanako, Jehova angasebentisa umoya wakhe kuze ente babusi kutsi bente loko lokuhambisana nenjongo yakhe. Nakwenteka loko, bantfu labasemagunyeni babese benta tincumo letitawusita bantfu baNkulunkulu.—Catsanisa na-Ezra 7:21, 25, 26.

14. Ngekusho kweMisebenti 12:5, bobani lesingabathantazela?

¹⁴ Yini lesingayenta? Singawathantazela “emakhosi nabo bonkhe labasetikhundleni letiphakeme” nangabe kudzingeka bente tincumo letitawutsintsa kuphila kwetfu nemsebenti wetfu wekushumayela njengemaKhristu. (1 Thim. 2:1, 2; Neh. 1:11) Njengobe emaKhristu ekucala enta, natsi singabathantazela ngalokusuka enhlitiyweni bazalwane nabodzadzewetfu labasemajele. (Fundza Imisebenti 12:5; Heb. 13:3) Singaphindze sithantazele emaphoyisa asejele lagadze labazalwane nabodzadzewetfu. Singamcela Jehova kutsi ente tingcondvo talabo labasemagunyeni tifane neyaJuliyusi kuze babaphatse kahle bazalwane lababoshiwe.

15-16. Jehova wamsita njani Pawula asebentisa Aristakhusi naLukha?

¹⁵ Pawula watfola luphi lusito? Ngesikhatsi Pawula aya eRoma, Jehova  bekavame kusebentisa bazalwane nabodzadze kuze bamsite. Ase sicoce ngaletinye tibonelo.

¹⁶ Bangani lababili baPawula, bo-Aristakhusi naLukha, bahamba naye ngesikhatsi aya eRoma. * Babeka kuphila kwabo engotini kuze babe naPawula, ngisho nobe kute lokuveta kutsi bacinisekiswa nguJesu kutsi batawufika eRoma. Kwaze kwaba ngulesikhatsi kunesiphepho lesinemandla labeva khona kutsi batawusindza. Ngako-ke, ngesikhatsi Aristakhusi naLukha bagibele umkhumbi eKhesariya, kungenteka Pawula wambonga ngalokusuka enhlitiyweni Jehova, ngekumnika lamaKhristu lamabili lanesibindzi.—Imis. 27:1, 2, 20-25.

17. Jehova wamsita njani Pawula asebentisa lamanye emaKhristu?

¹⁷ Lamanye emaKhristu amsita kanyenti Pawula kuloluhambo lwakhe. Nasi sibonelo, ngesikhatsi bema edolobheni laseSidoni, Juliyusi wavumela Pawula kutsi “aye kubangani bakhe kuze bamnakekele.” Ngekuhamba kwesikhatsi, nabasedolobheni lasePhutheyoli, Pawula nebangani bakhe ‘batfola bazalwane futsi babancenga kutsi bahlale nabo emalanga lasikhombisa.’ Ngesikhatsi emaKhristu akuleto tindzawo anakekela tidzingo taPawula netebangani bakhe, kusebaleni kutsi bekajabula ngobe Pawula bekawacocela tintfo letiwakhutsatako. (Catsanisa neMisebenti. 15:2, 3.) Ngemuva kwalesikhatsi lesimnandzi, Pawula nebangani bakhe bachubeka neluhambo lwabo.—Imis. 27:3; 28:13, 14.

18. Yini leyenta Pawula wabonga Nkulunkulu futsi waba nesibindzi?

¹⁸ Njengobe Pawula achubeka neluhambo lwakhe loluya eRoma, kungenteka wacabanga ngaloko lebekakubhalele lelobandla eminyakeni lemitsatfu leyendlulile nakatsi: “Sekuphele iminyaka ngifuna kuta kini.” (Rom. 15:23) Nobe  kunjalo, bekangacabangi kutsi utawufika sekasiboshwa. Wakhutsateka kakhulu ngesikhatsi abona bazalwane baseRoma bammele endleleni kuze bambingelele! “Nakababona, Pawula wabonga Nkulunkulu, wase uba nesibindzi.” (Imis. 28:15) Naka kutsi Pawula wabonga Nkulunkulu ngekuba khona kwalabazalwane. Kungani? Kungobe Pawula wabona kutsi Jehova bekamsita asebentisa labazalwane.

19. Njengobe kusho 1 Phetro 4:10, Jehova angasisebentisa njani kuze sisite labo labadzinga lusito?

¹⁹ Yini lesingayenta? Bakhona yini bazalwane nabodzadze lobatiko ebandleni lokulo labacindzetelekile ngenca yekutsi bayagula nobe banaletinye tinkinga? Kungenteka labanye bashonelwe ngumuntfu labamtsandzako. Nangabe siva kutsi kukhona lodzinga lusito, singacela Jehova asisite sisho emavi latamdvudvuta nobe simentele lokutsite. Kungenteka emavi etfu nobe sento setfu kube sikhutsatako lesidzingwa ngumzalwane nobe dzadzewetfu. (Fundza 1 Phetro 4:10.) * Labo lesitabasita batawuphindze bawetsembe emavi aJehova latsi: “Ngeke ngize ngikushiye, futsi ngeke ngize ngikulahle.” Loko kutakujabulisa kakhulu!

20. Kungani siwasho ngekuciniseka emavi latsi: “Jehova ungumsiti wami”?

²⁰ NjengaPawula nebangani bakhe, natsi sibhekana netinkinga letinyenti. Kodvwa siyati kutsi kufanele sibe nesibindzi ngobe Jehova unatsi. Uyasisita asebentisa Jesu netingilosi. Nangabe kuhambisana nenjongo yakhe, Jehova angasisita asebentisa bantfu labasemagunyeni. Njengobe kuke kwenteka kulabanyenti betfu, Jehova usebentisa umoya wakhe longcwele kuze ente lamanye emaKhristu kutsi asisite. Ngako, njengaPawula, sinesizatfu lesihle sekuwasho ngekuciniseka lamavi latsi: “Jehova ungumsiti wami; ngeke ngesabe. Umuntfu angangentani?”—Heb. 13:6.