ICANDELO 22
Abapostile Bashumayela Ngenkalipho
Ibandla lamaKristu landa ngokukhawuleza nakuba litshutshiswa
KWIINTSUKU ezilishumi emva kokuba uYesu enyukele ezulwini, abafundi bakhe abamalunga ne-120 bahlanganisana kwindlu eseYerusalem ngexesha loMthendeleko wamaYuda wePentekoste yowama-33 C.E. Ngequbuliso, indlu yazaliswa yingxolo efana nempepho ebhudlayo. Ngendlela engummangaliso abafundi baqalisa ukuthetha ngeelwimi abangazaziyo. Yintoni eyayibangela ezi ziganeko zimangalisayo? UThixo wayenike abafundi umoya oyingcwele.
Ngaphandle kwaloo ndlu, kwakukho isihlwele seendwendwe ezivela kwamanye amazwe ezazize emthendelekweni. Zathi khamnqa zakuva abafundi bakaYesu bezithetha ngokutyibilikayo iilwimi zazo. Ecacisa oko kwakusenzeka, uPetros wabhekisela kwisiprofeto sikaYoweli sokuba uThixo wayeya ‘kuthulula’ umoya wakhe, owawuya kubanika izipho ezingummangaliso abo bawufumanayo. (Yoweli 2:28, 29) Obu bungqina bunamandla bomoya oyingcwele benza kwacaca ukuba kwenzeke inguqu ebalulekileyo: Ngoku uThixo wayengasakholiswa ngamaSirayeli, wayekholiswa libandla elalisandul’ ukusekwa lamaKristu. Abo babefuna ukukhonza uThixo ngendlela eyamkelekileyo kuye babemele babe ngabalandeli bakaKristu.
Kanye ngelo xesha, inkcaso yaya isiba krakra, neentshaba zibavalela entolongweni abafundi. Kodwa ebusuku ingelosi kaYehova yavula iingcango zentolongo yaza yaxelela abafundi ukuba baqhubeke beshumayela. Kwathi kwakusa, benza kanye oko. Bangena etempileni baza bafundisa iindaba ezilungileyo ezingoYesu. Abo babeluchasa unqulo lwabo baba lugcwabevu ngumsindo baza babayalela ukuba bayeke ukushumayela. Bengoyiki, abapostile bathi: “Simele sithobele uThixo njengomlawuli kunabantu.”—IZenzo 5:28, 29.
Intshutshiso yaqatsela ngakumbi. Amanye amaYuda atyhola umfundi uStefano esithi uyanyelisa aza amxuluba ngamatye wafa. Ityendyana lomfana—uSawule waseTarso—lalibukele, yaye likholiswa kukubulawa kukaStefano. Emva koko laya eDamasko ukuze libambe nabani na ongumlandeli kaKristu. Njengoko lalisendleleni, labanekelwa kukukhanya okuvela ezulwini kwaza kwavakala ilizwi elithi: “Sawule, Sawule, kutheni unditshutshisa nje?” Emfanyekiswe koko kukhanya, uSawule wabuza: “Ungubani na?” Ilizwi laphendula lisithi: “NdinguYesu.”—IZenzo 9:3-5.
Emva kweentsuku ezintathu, uYesu wathumela umfundi wakhe ogama linguAnaniyas ukuba aye kuvula amehlo kaSawule. USawule wabhaptizwa waza waqalisa ukushumayela ngoYesu ngesibindi. USawule waziwa ngokuba ngumpostile uPawulos waza walilungu elinenzondelelo lebandla lamaKristu.
Abafundi bakaYesu babeshumayela iindaba ezilungileyo zoBukumkani bukaThixo kumaYuda nakumaSamariya kuphela. Kwabonakala ingelosi kuKorneli, igosa lomkhosi waseRoma elalisoyika uThixo, yamxelela ukuba athumele abantu baye kubiza umpostile uPetros. Ehamba nabanye, uPetros washumayela kuKorneli nendlu yakhe. Esathetha njalo uPetros, umoya oyingcwele wafikela amakholwa eeNtlanga, waza lo mpostile wayalela ukuba abhaptizwe egameni likaYesu. Ngoku indlela esa kubomi obungunaphakade yavulekela abantu bazo zonke iintlanga. Ibandla lalisele likulungele ukushumayela iindaba ezilungileyo kwiindawo ezikude.
—Oku kusekelwe kwiZenzo 1:1–11:21.