ISAHLUKO 21
“Ngimsulwa Egazini Labo Bonke Abantu”
Intshiseko kaPawulu enkonzweni neseluleko sakhe kubadala
Isekelwe encwadini yezEnzo 20:1-38
1-3. (a) Chaza isimo ngobusuku u-Evitiku afa ngabo. (b) UPawulu wenzani, futhi lokho akwenzayo kusifundisani ngaye?
UPAWULU usekamelweni eligcwele phama abantu eTrowa. Ngenxa yokuthi lobu ubusuku bokugcina enabazalwane, ukhuluma nabo isikhathi eside. Sekuphakathi kwamabili. Kuleli kamelo kukhanyiswe izibani eziningi, ezenza kube nesifuthufuthu futhi kugcwale intuthu. Kwelinye lamafasitela kuhleli ibhungu, igama lalo u-Evitiku. Njengoba uPawulu ekhuluma, u-Evitiku uzunywa ubuthongo bese ewela phansi ngefasitela esuka esitezi sesithathu!
2 Njengodokotela, cishe uLuka uba kwabokuqala abaphuthumela ngaphandle beyohlola leli bhungu. Akubuzwa ukuthi balithola linjani. U-Evitiku ‘watholwa esefile.’ (IzE. 20:9) Kube sekwenzeka isimangaliso. UPawulu uziphonsa phezu kwakhe, athi esixukwini: “Yekani ukukhathazeka ngoba uyaphila.” UPawulu usemvusile u-Evitiku!—IzE. 20:10.
3 Leso senzakalo sibonisa amandla omoya ongcwele kaNkulunkulu. Ukufa kuka-Evitiku kwakungelona iphutha likaPawulu. Noma kunjalo, wayengafuni ukuba ukufa kwakhe kuphazamise lesi senzakalo esibalulekile noma kukhube abanye. Ngokuvusa u-Evitiku, uPawulu washiya ibandla liduduzekile futhi linomfutho wokuqhubeka nenkonzo. Kusobala ukuthi uPawulu wayekukhathalela ngempela ukuphila kwabanye. Kusikhumbuza amazwi akhe: “Ngimsulwa egazini labo bonke abantu.” (IzE. 20:26) Ake sicabangele indlela isibonelo sikaPawulu esingasisiza ngayo kule ndaba.
“Wathatha Uhambo Oluya EMakedoniya” (IzEnzo 20:1, 2)
4. Yisiphi isigameko esaphazamisa uPawulu emoyeni?
4 Njengoba sifundile esahlukweni esedlule, uPawulu wayehlelwe isigameko esamphazamisa emoyeni. Inkonzo yakhe e-Efesu yayisuse isiyaluyalu esikhulu. Abakhandi besiliva abangenisa imali ngokukhulekelwa kuka-Arthemisi babenesandla kulesi siphithiphithi! IzEnzo 20:1 ziyalandisa: “Lapho isiyaluyalu sesinciphile, uPawulu wathumela ukuba kulandwe abafundi, ngemva kokubakhuthaza nokubavalelisa, wathatha uhambo oluya eMakedoniya.”
5, 6. (a) Kungenzeka ukuthi uPawulu wahlala isikhathi esingakanani eMakedoniya, futhi wabenzelani abazalwane lapho? (b) UPawulu wayewabheka kanjani amakholwa akanye nawo?
5 Esendleleni eya eMakedoniya, uPawulu wama ethekwini laseTrowa wachitha isikhathi lapho. Wayenethemba lokuthi uzohlangana noThithu owayekade ethunywe eKorinte. (2 Kor. 2:12, 13) Kodwa lapho ebona ukuthi uThithu akafiki, uPawulu waya eMakedoniya, mhlawumbe wachitha unyaka khona noma ngaphezulu ‘esho izinto eziningi ezikhuthazayo kwababelapho.’ a (IzE. 20:2) Ekugcineni uThithu wafika kuPawulu eMakedoniya emphathele izindaba ezinhle ngendlela abaseKorinte ababesabele ngayo encwadini kaPawulu yokuqala. (2 Kor. 7:5-7) Lokhu kwashukumisa uPawulu ukuba ababhalele enye incwadi, manje eyaziwa ngokuthi eyesi-2 Korinte.
6 Kuyaphawuleka ukuthi uLuka usebenzisa amagama athi ‘esebakhuthazile’ nelithi ‘isikhuthazo’ lapho echaza ukuhambela kukaPawulu abazalwane e-Efesu naseMakedoniya. Yeka indlela lawo mazwi asichaza kahle ngayo isimo sengqondo sikaPawulu ngamakholwa akanye nawo! Ngokungafani nabaFarisi ababebukela phansi abanye abantu, uPawulu wayebheka lezo zimvu njengezisebenzi ezikanye naye. (Joh. 7:47-49; 1 Kor. 3:9) Wayebabheka kanjalo ngisho nalapho kudingeka abanikeze iseluleko esiqinile.—2 Kor. 2:4.
7. Ababonisi abangamaKristu namuhla bangasilingisa kanjani isibonelo sikaPawulu?
7 Nanamuhla, abadala bamabandla nababonisi besigodi balwela ukulingisa isibonelo sikaPawulu. Ngisho nalapho benikeza isiyalo, umgomo wabo ukuqinisa labo abadinga usizo. Ababonisi bakhuthaza ngozwela kunokuba basole. Omunye umbonisi wesigodi osengumakad’ ebona wakubeka kanje: “Iningi labafowethu nodade lifuna ukwenza okulungile kodwa ezikhathini eziningi lihlushwa ukucindezeleka, ukwesaba nomuzwa wokuthi alinamandla okuzisiza.” Ababonisi bangaba umthombo wamandla emakholweni anjalo.—Heb. 12:12, 13.
“Amakhela Uzungu” (IzEnzo 20:3, 4)
8, 9. (a) Yini eyaphazamisa izinhlelo zikaPawulu zokuya eSiriya? (b) Kungenzeka yini eyenza amaJuda azonda uPawulu?
8 UPawulu wasuka eMakedoniya waya eKorinte. b Ngemva kokuhlala izinyanga ezintathu khona, waqhubekela eKenikreya, lapho ayehlele ukugibela khona umkhumbi oya eSiriya. Esuka eSiriya, wayezokwazi ukuya eJerusalema ahambise iminikelo kubazalwane bakhona abaswele. c (IzE. 24:17; Roma 15:25, 26) Nokho, izenzakalo ezingalindelekile zashintsha izinhlelo zikaPawulu. IzEnzo 20:3 ziyabika: “AmaJuda amakhela uzungu”!
9 Akumangazi ukuthi amaJuda ayemzonda uPawulu, phela ayembheka njengesihlubuki. Ngaphambili, inkonzo yakhe yayiholele ekuguqukeni kukaKrispu—isikhulu sesinagoge laseKorinte. (IzE. 18:7, 8; 1 Kor. 1:14) Kwesinye isehlakalo, amaJuda aseKorinte ayemangalele uPawulu kuGaliyu, umphathi-sifundazwe wase-Akhaya. Nokho, uGaliyu wayewachithile lawo macala ethi awanasisekelo—isinqumo esazithukuthelisa kakhulu izitha zikaPawulu. (IzE. 18:12-17) Kungenzeka ukuthi amaJuda eKorinte ayazi noma acabanga ukuthi ngokushesha uPawulu uzosuka ngomkhumbi eKenikreya eseduze, ngakho akha uzungu ukuze ambulale. UPawulu wayezokwenzenjani?
10. Ingabe uPawulu wayeyigwala ngokungayi eKenikreya? Chaza.
10 Ukuze aphephe—futhi avikele nezimali ayephathiswe zona—uPawulu wakhetha ukungabe esaya eKenikreya, waphindela eMakedoniya. Yiqiniso, ukuhamba ezweni kwakuzoba nezazo izingozi. Izinswelaboya zazivame ukucutha emigwaqweni yasendulo. Ngisho nezindawo zezihambi kwakwenzeka zingaphephi. Noma kunjalo, uPawulu wakhetha ukuhamba ezweni kunokuba azose kulabo ababemlinde eKenikreya. Kwakungcono ngoba wayengahambi yedwa. Wayehamba no-Aristarku, uGayu, uSekhundu, uSophatru, uThimothewu, uTrofimu noThikhiku.—IzE. 20:3, 4.
11. AmaKristu namuhla azithatha kanjani izinyathelo ezifanele ukuze azivikele, futhi uJesu wawabekela siphi isibonelo kulokhu?
11 NjengoPawulu, amaKristu namuhla athatha izinyathelo zokuzivikela lapho esenkonzweni. Kwezinye izindawo ahamba ngamaqembu—noma ngamabili—kunokuhamba ngawodwa. Kuthiwani ngoshushiso? AmaKristu ayazi ukuthi awanakulugwema. (Joh. 15:20; 2 Thim. 3:12) Noma kunjalo, awazichayi engozini ngamabomu. Cabanga ngesibonelo sikaJesu. Ngesinye isikhathi lapho abaphikisi eJerusalema becosha amatshe ukuze bamjikijele, “uJesu wacasha futhi waphuma ethempelini.” (Joh. 8:59) Kamuva, lapho amaJuda eceba ukumbulala, “uJesu akabange esahamba obala phakathi kwamaJuda, kodwa wasuka lapho waya esifundeni esiseduze kwehlane.” (Joh. 11:54) UJesu wathatha izinyathelo ezifanele ukuze azivikele uma ukwenza kanjalo kwakungangqubuzani nentando kaNkulunkulu ngaye. AmaKristu enza okufanayo namuhla.—Math. 10:16.
“Baduduzeka Kakhulu” (IzEnzo 20:5-12)
12, 13. (a) Ukuvuswa kuka-Evitiku kwaliphatha kanjani ibandla? (b) Yimaphi amathemba aseBhayibhelini aduduza labo namuhla abalahlekelwe abathandekayo babo ngokufa?
12 UPawulu nayehamba nabo badabula elaseMakedoniya bendawonye, futhi kubonakala sengathi base behlukana. Ngokusobala baphinde bahlangana eTrowa. d Ukulandisa kuthi: “Safika kubo eTrowa zingakapheli izinsuku ezinhlanu.” e (IzE. 20:6) Kulapha lapho ibhungu elingu-Evitiku lavuswa khona, njengoba kulandiswe ekuqaleni kwalesi sahluko. Cabanga indlela abazalwane abazizwa ngayo lapho umngane wabo u-Evitiku esevusiwe! Njengoba ukulandisa kusho, “baduduzeka kakhulu.”—IzE. 20:12.
13 Yiqiniso, izimangaliso ezinjalo azisenzeki manje. Noma kunjalo, labo abalahlekelwe abathandekayo babo ngokufa “baduduzeka kakhulu” ngethemba lovuko eliseBhayibhelini. (Joh. 5:28, 29) Cabanga ngalokhu: Ngenxa yokuthi u-Evitiku wayenesono, waphinde wafa. (Roma 6:23) Kodwa labo abazovuswa ezweni elisha likaNkulunkulu banethemba lokuphila phakade! Ngaphezu kwalokho, labo abavuselwa ukuyobusa noJesu ezulwini bagqoka ukungafi. (1 Kor. 15:51-53) AmaKristu namuhla—kungakhathaliseki ukuthi agcotshiwe noma ‘angawezinye izimvu’—anesizathu esihle ‘sokududuzeka kakhulu.’—Joh. 10:16.
“Obala Nasendlini Ngendlu” (IzEnzo 20:13-24)
14. Yini uPawulu ayitshela abadala base-Efesu lapho ehlangana nabo eMilethu?
14 UPawulu neqembu lakhe basuka eTrowa baya e-Asu, ngemva kwalokho baya eMithilene, eKhiyo, eSamo naseMilethu. Umgomo kaPawulu kwakuwukufika eJerusalema ngesikhathi soMkhosi WePhentekoste. Ukujaha kwakhe ukufika eJerusalema ngePhentekoste kusenza siqonde ukuthi kungani akhetha ukuhamba ngomkhumbi owawungeke udlule e-Efesu lapho esebuya. Kodwa ngenxa yokuthi uPawulu wayefuna ukukhuluma nabadala base-Efesu, wacela ukuba bahlangane naye eMilethu. (IzE. 20:13-17) Lapho befika, uPawulu wathi kubo: “Niyazi kahle indlela engaziphatha ngayo phakathi kwenu kusukela ngosuku lokuqala engafika ngalo esifundazweni sase-Asiya, ngakhonza iNkosi ngokuzithoba okukhulu nangezinyembezi, ngehlelwa nayizilingo eziningi ngenxa yokuthi amaJuda ayengakhela uzungu, kuyilapho ngingagodlanga ukunitshela noma yini ezintweni eziyinzuzo nokunifundisa obala nasendlini ngendlu. Kodwa kumaJuda nakumaGreki nganikeza ubufakazi obuphelele ngokuphathelene nokuphendukela kuNkulunkulu nokholo eNkosini yethu uJesu.”—IzE. 20:18-21.
15. Yiziphi izinzuzo zokufakaza endlini ngendlu?
15 Namuhla ziningi izindlela zokufinyelela abantu ngezindaba ezinhle. NjengoPawulu, silwela ukuya lapho abantu betholakala khona, kungaba sezitobhini zamabhasi, emigwaqweni ephithizelayo noma ezimakethe. Noma kunjalo, ukushumayela endlini ngendlu kuyiyona ndlela eyinhloko esetshenziswa oFakazi BakaJehova. Kungani? Kungoba kunika bonke ithuba elihle lokuba bezwe isigijimi soMbuso kaningi, ngakho kubonisa ukungakhethi kukaNkulunkulu. Kuvumela nabanhliziyo ziqotho ukuba bathole usizo lomuntu siqu kuye ngezidingo zabo. Ngaphezu kwalokho, inkonzo yendlu ngendlu yakha ukholo nokukhuthazela kulabo abayenzayo. Ngempela, uphawu lwamaKristu eqiniso namuhla ukushumayela kwawo ngentshiseko “obala nasendlini ngendlu.”
16, 17. UPawulu wasibonisa kanjani isibindi, futhi amaKristu namuhla asilingisa kanjani isibonelo sakhe?
16 UPawulu wachazela abadala base-Efesu ukuthi akazi ukuthi zingozi zini ezazimlindele lapho ephindela eJerusalema. Wabatshela: “Noma kunjalo, ukuphila kwami angikubheki njengokubalulekile kimi, uma nje ngingaqeda inkambo yami nenkonzo engayamukela eNkosini uJesu, yokunikeza ubufakazi obuphelele ngezindaba ezinhle zomusa omkhulu kaNkulunkulu.” (IzE. 20:24) Ngesibindi, uPawulu akazange avumele noma isiphi isimo—kungakhathaliseki ukuthi impilo engeyinhle noma ushushiso olunonya—simvimbele ukuba angasiqedi isabelo sakhe.
17 AmaKristu namuhla nawo akhuthazelela izimo ezinzima ezihlukahlukene. Amanye avinjelwe ohulumeni futhi ayashushiswa. Amanye alwisana nezifo zomzimba nezomzwelo eziwawohlozayo. Intsha engamaKristu ibhekene nokucindezela kontanga esikoleni. NjengoPawulu, kunoma iziphi izimo abazithola bekuzo, oFakazi BakaJehova bama baqine. Bazimisele ‘ukunikeza ubufakazi obuphelele ngezindaba ezinhle.’
“Ziqapheleni Nina Nawo Wonke Umhlambi” (IzEnzo 20:25-38)
18. UPawulu wazigcina kanjani emsulwa ecaleni legazi, futhi abadala base-Efesu babengamlingisa kanjani?
18 UPawulu wabe esenikeza abadala base-Efesu iseluleko esingagwegwesi esebenzisa inkambo yakhe njengesibonelo. Waqale wabatshela ukuthi kungenzeka babonana okokugcina. Wayesethi: “Ngimsulwa egazini labo bonke abantu, ngoba angigodlanga ukunitshela yonke injongo kaNkulunkulu.” Abadala base-Efesu babengasilingisa kanjani isibonelo sikaPawulu, ngokwenza kanjalo bazigcine bemsulwa ecaleni legazi? Wabatshela: “Ziqapheleni nina nawo wonke umhlambi umoya ongcwele onimise phakathi kwawo ukuba nibe ababonisi, ukuze neluse ibandla likaNkulunkulu, alithenga ngegazi leNdodana yakhe.” (IzE. 20:26-28) UPawulu waxwayisa ngokuthi “izimpisi ezicindezelayo” zaziyongena emhlanjini ‘zikhulume izinto ezisontekile ukuze zimonyule abafundi ukuba bazilandele.’ Yini okwakufanele bayenze abadala? UPawulu wabaxwayisa: “Hlalani niphapheme, nikhumbule ukuthi iminyaka emithathu, ubusuku nemini, angiyekanga ukuyala ngamunye wenu ngezinyembezi.”—IzE. 20:29-31.
19. Kwavela kuphi ukuhlubuka ngasekupheleni kwekhulu lokuqala, futhi kwaholelaphi emakhulwini eminyaka alandela?
19 “Izimpisi ezicindezelayo” zavela ngasekupheleni kwekhulu lokuqala. Cishe ngo-98 C.E., umphostoli uJohane wabhala: “Sekunabaphik’ ukristu abaningi; . . . Baphuma kithi, kodwa babengebona abohlobo lwethu; ukube babengabohlobo lwethu, babeyohlala nathi.” (1 Joh. 2:18, 19) Ngekhulu lesithathu, ukuhlubuka kwase kubangele ukuba khona kwesigaba sabefundisi beLobukholwa, kwathi ngekhulu lesine, uMbusi uConstantine wenza lobu “buKristu” obonakele baqashelwa ngokomthetho. Ngokwamukela imikhuba yobuqaba nokuyenza ibukeke ingeyobuKristu, abaholi benkolo ngempela bakhuluma “izinto ezisontekile.” Imiphumela yalokho kuhlubuka isabonakala ezimfundisweni nasemikhubeni yeLobukholwa.
20, 21. UPawulu wawubonisa kanjani umoya wokuzidela, futhi abadala abangamaKristu namuhla bangakwenza kanjani lokhu?
20 Inkambo yokuphila kukaPawulu yayihluke ngokuphelele kweyalabo kamuva ababezowuphatha kabi umhlambi. Wayesebenza ukuze azisekele, angabi umthwalo ebandleni. Ukuzikhandla kwakhe ngenxa yabafowabo kwakungekona okokuzizuzisa yena. UPawulu wanxusa abadala base-Efesu ukuba babonise umoya wokuzidela. Wathi kubo: ‘Kumelwe nisize ababuthakathaka, nikhumbule amazwi eNkosi uJesu, athi: ‘Kukhona injabulo eyengeziwe ekupheni kunasekwamukeleni.’’—IzE. 20:35.
21 NjengoPawulu, abadala abangamaKristu namuhla bayazidela. Ngokungafani nabefundisi beLobukholwa abaphundla imihlambi yabo, labo abaphathiswe umthwalo ‘wokwalusa ibandla likaNkulunkulu’ bafeza izabelo zabo ngokungenabugovu. Ukuqhosha nesifiso sokuvelela akunandawo ebandleni lobuKristu ngoba labo ‘abazifunela inkazimulo’ ngeke baphumelele ekugcineni. (IzAga 25:27) Ukugabadela kuholela ehlazweni nje kwaphela.—IzAga 11:2.
“Bonke bakhala kakhulu impela.”—IzEnzo 20:37
22. Yini eyenza abadala base-Efesu bamthanda uPawulu?
22 Uthando lweqiniso uPawulu ayenalo ngabafowabo lwabenza bamthanda kakhulu. Lapho kufika isikhathi sokuba ahambe, “bonke bakhala kakhulu impela, bamanga ngothando uPawulu bamqabula.” (IzE. 20:37, 38) AmaKristu ayabazisa futhi abathanda ngempela labo abazinikela ngokungazigodli ngenxa yomhlambi, njengoPawulu. Ngemva kokufunda ngesibonelo sikaPawulu esihle kangaka, awuvumi yini ukuthi wayengaqhoshi futhi engenzi ihaba lapho ethi: “Ngimsulwa egazini labo bonke abantu”?—IzE. 20:26.
a Bheka ibhokisi elithi “ Izincwadi UPawulu Azibhala EseMakedoniya.”
b Kungenzeka ukuthi uPawulu wabhala incwadi yakhe eya kwabaseRoma ngesikhathi eseKorinte.
c Bheka ibhokisi elithi “ UPawulu Uhambisa Iminikelo,” ekhasini 169.
d Ukuzihlanganisa kukaLuka encwadini yezEnzo 20:5, 6 kubonisa ukuthi waphinde wahlangana noPawulu eFilipi ngemva kokuba esale khona ngaphambili.—IzE. 16:10-17, 40.
e Uhambo olusuka eFilipi luya eTrowa lwathatha izinsuku ezinhlanu. Kungenzeka kwakunemimoya enamandla ngoba uhambo olufanayo ngaphambili lwaba izinsuku ezimbili.—IzE. 16:11.
