Isahluko 3

“Bagcwala Umoya Ongcwele”

Okwenzakala ngemva kokuthululwa komoya ongcwele ngePhentekhosti

Isihloko lesi sisekelwe kumiSebenzi 2:1-47

1. Chasisa ukuthi kuhamba njani eJerusalema ngelanga loMkhosi wePhentekhosti.

AKUBIZWA ozwayo eJerusalema, kuyaphithizela abantu bayathokoza.a Ethempelini intuthu iyathunqa e-alithareni ngapha amaLevi ehlabela ingoma zokudumisa ezitholakala kumaHubo 113 kusiya ku-118. Kungenzakala ukuthi abanye bayayikhalela ingoma abanye beyivuma. Yisiminyeminye kugcwele abantu abavela endaweni ezitshiyeneyo, abanye bavela e-Elami, eMesophothamiya, eKhaphadokhiya, ePhontusi, eGibhithe laseRoma.b Balandeni abantu laba? Balande uMkhosi wePhentekhosti obizwa langokuthi ‘lilanga lezithelo zokuqala.’ (Nani. 28:26) Lo ngumkhosi owenziwa minyaka yonke nxa beqeda ukuvuna ibhali sebeqalisa ukuvuna ingqoloyi. Lilanga elithokozisayo sibili.

Imephu etshengisa ukuthi izivakatshi ezabuya eMkhosini wePhentekhosti eJerusalema zazivela ngaphi.

Ijerusalema—isigodlo Senkolo Yamajuda

Okunengi okubhalwe ezahlukweni zakuqala zebhuku lemiSebenzi kwenzakala eJerusalema. Idolobho leli lisezintabeni zaseJudiya, endaweni esempumalanga yoLwandle lweMedithera futhi liqhelelane lolwandle lolu ngamakhilomitha angaba ngu-55. Ngomnyaka ka-1070 B.C.E., iNkosi uDavida yanqoba idolobho elalisentabeni okuthiwa yiZiyoni yasisakha idolobho elaba yisigodlo sesizwe sako-Israyeli wasendulo.

Eduze kwentaba iZiyoni kulentaba okuthiwa yiMoriya. Imbali yamaJuda ithi entabeni le kulapho u-Abrahama aphosa wanikela khona ngo-Isaka eminyakeni engaba ngu-1 900 kungakenzakali izinto ezilandiswe ebhukwini lemiSebenzi. USolomoni wakha ithempeli likaJehova lakuqala entabeni iMoriya, futhi lokhu kwenza intaba le yaba yingxenye yedolobho leJerusalema. Ithempeli lelo laliqakatheke kakhulu kumaJuda njalo yikho lapho ayekhonzela khona.

Wonke amaJuda ayezinikele kuJehova ayehlala ebuthana ethempelini lakhe esuka ezindaweni ezikhatshana ukuze amkhonze, anikele imihlatshelo njalo ananze imikhosi eyayihlala isibakhona. Ayekwenza lokhu ngoba elalela umthetho kaNkulunkulu othi: “Kathathu ngomnyaka, wonke amadoda aphakathi kwenu kumele abuye azokuma phambi kukaJehova uNkulunkulu wenu endaweni azayikhetha.” (Dute. 16:16) Kanti njalo eJerusalema yikho lapho okwakuleSanihedrini Enkulu. Lo kwakungumthethwandaba omkhulu wamaJuda owawuhlanganisa leziphathamandla zesizwe.

2. Kuyini okumangalisayo okwenzakala ngelanga lePhentekhosti?

² Yisikhathi sentwasa ngo-33 C.E., kubetha umoya omnandi ekuseni izikhathi sezisondela kubo-9. Kwenzakala isimanga sezimanga esizahlala sibatshazwa ngabantu okweminyaka eminengi elandelayo. Kuzwakala umsindo ovela ezulwini “kungathi ngumoya ovunguza ngamandla” kumbe angathi ngumdumo wesiphepho esesabekayo. (Imiseb. 2:2) Umsindo lo ugcwala endlini okubuthene kuyo abafundi bakaJesu abangaba ngu-120. Ngemva kwalokho kwenzakala into ebatshiya bebambe owangaphansi. Babona okungathi ngamalangabi omlilo afanana lolimi lomuntu futhi ahlala emuntwini munye ngamunye olapho.c Ngemva kwalokho abafundi “bagcwala umoya ongcwele” njalo baqalisa ukukhuluma ezinye indimi ezikhulunywa endaweni ezitshiyeneyo. Abafundi laba bathi bephuma endlini baqalise ukuxoxa labantu abavakatshileyo abagcwele emgwaqweni eJerusalema. Abantu laba bayamangala ngoba ngamunye wabo ubezwa “bekhuluma ngolimi lwakhe.”—Imiseb. 2:1-6.

3. (a) Kungani okwenzakala ngePhentekhosti lika-33 C.E. kuyisenzakalo esiqakathekileyo ekukhonzeni kweqiniso? (b) Okwakhulunywa nguPhetro mhlalokho kungenelana njani ‘lamakhiye oMbuso’?

³ Lesi kwaba yisenzakalo esiqakathekileyo ekukhonzeni kweqiniso. Kwaba yikusungulwa kwesizwe esitsha, u-Israyeli kaNkulunkulu okutsho ibandla lamaKhristu agcotshiweyo. (Gal. 6:16) Kodwa akuphelelanga khonapho, uPhetro wathi esekhuluma lexuku labantu mhlalokho wasebenzisa eyinye ‘yamakhiye oMbuso.’ Ikhiye ngayinye kwamathathu yayizavula ithuba lokuthi iqembu elithile labantu lithole izibusiso eziqakathekileyo. (Mat. 16:18, 19) Ikhiye yokuqala yavula ithuba lokuthi amaJuda lamaPhroselithe amukele izindaba ezinhle njalo agcotshwe ngomoya ongcwele kaNkulunkulu.d Lokhu kwenza ukuthi lawo abe ngamalunga ka-Israyeli kaNkulunkulu futhi abe lethemba lokuba ngamakhosi kanye labaphristi eMbusweni kaMesiya. (Isam. 5:9, 10) Ngokuya kwesikhathi isibusiso lesi sasizavulelwa amaSamariya labantu bezinye izizwe. Manje amaKhristu akhona lamuhla angafundani kulokho okwenzakala ngePhentekhosti lika-33 C.E.?

“Bonke Babebuthene Ndawonye” (Imiseb. 2:1-4)

4. Kungani sisithi ibandla lamaKhristu elikhona lamuhla lilokhe liyileliyana elaqalisa ngo-33 C.E.?

⁴ Ibandla lamaKhristu laqalisa lilabafundi abangaba ngu-120 abagcotshwa ngomoya ongcwele ngesikhathi ‘bebuthene ndawonye’ endlini ephezulu. (Imiseb. 2:1) Ilanga lisiyatshona inani leli laselikhwelile, kwasekubhabhathizwe izinkulungwane zabafundi. Yayisiqalisile ukuqhela inhlanganiso njalo ilokhu ikhula kuze kube lamuhla. Ibandla leli lamaKhristu elibunjwa ngamadoda labesifazana abesaba uNkulunkulu yilo elitshumayela ‘izindaba ezinhle zoMbuso emhlabeni wonke ukuze kube lobufakazi ezizweni zonke’ ukuphela kungakafiki.—Mat. 24:14.

5. Ukuba sebandleni kuwanceda njani amaKhristu?

⁵ Okunye okwakuzakwenziwa ebandleni yikuncedisa amaKhristu la agcotshiweyo ukuthi abe lokholo oluqinileyo. Kwakuzancediswa ‘labezinye izimvu’ ababezakuba khona ngokuya kwesikhathi. (Joh. 10:16) Ngesikhathi uPhawuli ebhalela amaKhristu aseRoma watshengisa ukuthi uyayiqakathekisa indlela abantu ababekhuthazana ngayo ebandleni. Wathi: “Ngilesifiso esikhulu sokulibona ukuze ngiliphe isipho esivela kuNkulunkulu esizaliqinisa. Engikutshoyo yikuthi ngifuna sikhuthazane, ngilikhuthaze ngokholo lwami, lani lingikhuthaze ngokholo lwenu.”—Rom. 1:11, 12.

Iroma—isigodlo Sombuso Olamandla

Izinto ezibhalwe ebhukwini lemiSebenzi zenzakala ngesikhathi iRoma isaselidolobho elikhulu kulawo wonke emhlabeni. Ngalesosikhathi ezombusazwe zedolobho leli zaziqakathekiswa kakhulu. Laliyisigodlo sombuso olamandla okwathi ngesikhathi uphethe intambo wabusa kusukela eBritain kusiya engxenyeni esenyakatho ye-Africa, njalo wabusa kusukela eLwandle lwe-Atlantic kusiya ePersian Gulf.

ERoma kwakuhlangene yonke imihlobo yabantu, amasiko lezindimi futhi kwakukholwa izinto ezingamanga. Kwakulemigwaqo emihle eyayihlala ilungiswa njalo yiyo eyayisenza kufike izethekeli, lempahla ezinengi ezazivela kuyo yonke imihlubulo yombuso. Eduze nje kwakulendawo okuthiwa yi-Ostia lapho okwakufikela khona izikepe. Yikho lapho ezazisethulela khona ukudla lempahla ezidulayo ezazilethwa eRoma.

Ngesikhathi samaKhristu akuqala eRoma kwakuhlala abantu abedlula 1 miliyoni. Abanengi babo babeyizigqili, izigebenga ezazigwetshiwe, abantwana ababethengisiwe kumbe belahlwe ngabazali babo, lezibotshwa ezazibanjwe ngamasotsha eRoma ekuhlaseleni kwawo. Phakathi kwalabo abalethwa eRoma bezokwenziwa izigqili kwakulamaJuda ayevela eJerusalema. Alethwa ngo-63 B.C.E. ngemva kokunqotshwa kwedolobho lawo lisotsha leRoma elikhulu okuthiwa nguPompey.

Abantu abanengi ababekhululekile babedubeka, behlala ezindlini eziyisixhobexhobe ezazilezitezi ezinengi futhi babethembe ukuncediswa nguhulumende. Kodwa amakhosi ayececisa izigodlo zawo ngezakhiwo ezinhle kakhulu, ezazingakaze zibonakale. Ezinye zakhona kwakuzinkundla okwakubukelwa khona abadlali besestejini, lezinkundla zemidlalo ezinkulu lapho okwakubukelwa khona abantu besilwa kanye lemncintiswano yamabhiza. Abantu babebukela konke lokhu mahala bezilibazisa.

6, 7. Ibandla lamaKhristu lamuhla liwufeza njani umsebenzi wokutshumayela ezizweni zonke?

⁶ Inhloso yebandla lamaKhristu lamuhla iyafanana leyamaKhristu akuqala. UJesu wanika abalandeli bakhe umsebenzi ababezawukholisa kungelani lokuthi babezahlangana lenhlupho. Wabatshela wathi: ‘Lenze abantu bezizwe zonke babe ngabafundi, libabhabhathize ebizweni likaBaba leleNdodana lelomoya ongcwele, libafundise ukulandela izinto zonke engilitshele zona.’—Mat. 28:19, 20.

⁷ Ibandla lamaKhristu elibunjwa ngoFakazi bakaJehova yilo elisetshenziswa nguJehova ukwenza umsebenzi lo lamuhla. Akulula ukutshumayeza abantu abakhuluma indimi ezitshiyeneyo. Kodwa ukuze bakwenze lokho oFakazi bakaJehova sebedinde amabhuku asekelwe eBhayibhilini ngezindimi ezedlula 400. Ulesizatho sokuthokoza nxa kuyikuthi ukukhuthalele ukungena imihlangano lokutshumayela ngoMbuso kanye lokwenza abantu babe ngabafundi. Phela nxa ukwenza lokhu ungomunye wabalutshwane abalesibusiso sokufakaza ngokugcweleyo ngebizo likaJehova.

8. Ukungena imihlangano yebandla kusinceda njani?

⁸ UJehova uNkulunkulu usiphe abazalwane emhlabeni wonke abasinceda ukuthi sihlale sithokoza njalo siqinisele nxa sihlangana lobunzima. UPhawuli wabhalela amaKhristu angamaHebheru wathi: “Asicabanganeni ukuze sivuselelane ethandweni lasemisebenzini emihle, singayekeli ukuhlangana ndawonye njengabanye abalomkhuba wokwenza njalo. Kodwa asikhuthazaneni ikakhulu njengoba libona usuku lusondela.” (Heb. 10:24, 25) Ukuba sebandleni yisibusiso esivela kuJehova esisinceda ukuthi sikhuthaze abanye labo basikhuthaze. Yikho hlala useduze labafowenu labodadewenu. Ungayekeli ukuhlangana labo emihlanganweni yebandla.

“Ngamunye Wabo Wayebezwa Bekhuluma Ngolimi Lwakhe” (Imiseb. 2:5-13)

Abafundi baqalisa ukukhuluma ngendimi zezivakatshi eMkhosini wePhentekhosti. — “Sonke sibezwa bekhuluma izinto ezimangalisayo zikaNkulunkulu ngezindimi zethu.”—ImiSebenzi 2:11

9, 10. Kuyini okwenziwe ngabanye ukuze benelise ukutshumayeza abantu abakhuluma ezinye indimi?

⁹ Akucabange ukuthi amaJuda lamaPhroselithe athokoza kangakanani ngePhentekhosti lika-33 C.E. Kungenzakala ukuthi abanengi babo babekhuluma ulimi olwalujayelekile ngalesosikhathi, kungaba yisiGrikhi loba isiHebheru. Kodwa khathesi ‘ngamunye wabo wayesizwa abafundi bekhuluma ngolimi lwakhe.’ (Imiseb. 2:6) Kumele ukuthi abantu laba kwabathokozisa ukuzwa izindaba ezinhle ngolimi lwabo lomdabuko. Lanxa amaKhristu lamuhla engeke enelise ukukhuluma ezinye izindimi ngendlela eyisimangaliso, abanengi benza okusemandleni abo ukuze batshumayeze abantu bemihlobo etshiyeneyo. Bakwenza njani lokhu? Abanye bayafunda olunye ulimi ukuze bancedise abantu abakhuluma lolo limi kumbe bathuthele kwamanye amazwe. Izikhathi ezinengi abantu abakhuluma indimi lezo bayathokoza nxa bebona imizamo eyenziwa ngabafowethu labodadewethu.

¹⁰ Ngokwesibonelo udadewethu okuthiwa nguChristine labanye oFakazi abangu-7 baqalisa ukufunda ulimi lwesiGujarati. Wathi ehlangana leyinye intombi asebenza layo ekhuluma isiGujarati wayibingelela ngolimi lwayo lomdabuko yathokoza kakhulu yabuza uChristine ukuthi yindaba ezihlupha ngokufunda isiGujarati. Lokhu kwamnika ithuba lokuthi ayitshumayeze, yasisithi kuye: “Ayikho eyinye isonto ekhuthaza amalunga ayo ukuthi afunde ulimi olunzima kangaka, kumele ukuthi kukhona okuqakathekileyo ofuna ukungitshela khona.”

11. Singenzani ukuze sitshumayeze abantu abakhuluma ezinye indimi?

¹¹ Kayisithi sonke esingenelisa ukufunda olunye ulimi. Lanxa kunjalo singenelisa ukuhlala sikulungele ukutshumayeza abantu abakhuluma ezinye indimi. Singakwenza njani lokhu? Okunye esingakwenza yikusebenzisa i-JW Language ukuze sifunde indlela yokubingelela ngolimi olukhulunywa endaweni yakithi. Kanti njalo singafunda lemitsho emfitshane engenza lowo esixoxa laye afune ukuzwa okunengi. Kumele sibatshele bangene ku-jw.org njalo nxa kuvuma sibatshengise amavidiyo lamabhuku atholakala lapho ngolimi lwabo. Nxa sisebenzisa amathuluzi la ekutshumayeleni, sizathokoza njengamaKhristu akuqala. Phela kwakumnandi ukuthi abone abantu bemangele ukuzwa izindaba ezinhle ʼngolimi lwabo.ʼ

Amajuda Ayehlala Emesophothamiya Lasegibhithe

Ibhuku elithi The History of the Jewish People in the Age of Jesus Christ (175 B.C.–A.D. 135) lithi: “EMesophothamiya, eMidiya laseBhabhiloniya kwakuhlala izizukulwane zabantu bombuso wezizwe ezilitshumi [zako-Israyeli], lezabantu bombuso wakoJuda, abahanjiswa endaweni lezi ngama-Asiriya lamaBhabhiloni.” Ku-Ezra 2:64, sitshelwa ukuthi amadoda ako-Israyeli, omkabo labantwababo ababuyela eJerusalema bevela ekuthunjweni eBhabhiloni babengu-42 360 kuphela. Lokhu kwenzakala ngo-537 B.C.E. UFlavius Josephus uthi ngesikhathi samaKhristu akuqala, amaJuda “ayehlala endaweni eziseduze kweBhabhiloniya” ayengamatshumi ezinkulungwane. Phakathi kuka-201 C.E. kusiya ku-500 C.E. amaJuda la abhala ibhuku elaziwa ngokuthi yi-Babylonian Talmud.

Kulobufakazi obuveza ukuthi kulamaJuda ayevele esehlala eGibhithe kusukela ngeminyaka yabo-600 B.C.E kusiya ku-501 B.C.E. Ngalesosikhathi, uJeremiya wakhuluma amazwi ayesiya kumaJuda ayehlala ezindaweni ezitshiyeneyo zeGibhithe, okuhlanganisa layehlala eMemfisi. (Jer. 44:1, amabala angaphansi) Kungenzeka ukuthi amanengi akhona athuthela eGibhithe ngesikhathi abantu abanengi belandela amasiko esiGrikhi. UJosephus uthi amaJuda ayephakathi kwabantu bakuqala abahlala e-Alekizandriya. Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi bacina bephiwa ingxenye enkulu yedolobho leli. Ngesikhathi samaKhristu akuqala, umlobi ongumJuda okuthiwa nguPhilo wathi abantu bakibo babegcwele eGibhithe kusukela “eLibhiya usehla uze uyebamba emngceleni weTopiya.”

‘UPhetro Wasukuma’ (Imiseb. 2:14-37)

12. (a) Kuyini okwakhulunywa ngumphrofethi uJoweli okwagcwaliseka ngelanga lePhentekhosti lika-33 C.E.? (b) Kungani kwakukhangelelwe ukuthi isiphrofetho lesi sigcwaliseke ngesikhathi samaKhristu akuqala?

¹² ‘UPhetro wasukuma’ ukuze akhulume labantu laba ababevela endaweni ezitshiyeneyo. (Imiseb. 2:14) Wabachasisela bonke ababelalele ukuthi isimangaliso lesi esenze abafundi benelisa ukukhuluma indimi ezitshiyeneyo sasenziwe nguNkulunkulu egcwalisa isiphrofetho esakhulunywa nguJoweli esithi: “Ngizathululela umoya wami kuyo yonke imihlobo yabantu.” (Jow. 2:28) UJesu engakayi ezulwini watshela abalandeli bakhe wathi: “Ngizacela kuBaba futhi yena uzalinika omunye umsizi.” UJesu wathi umsizi lo ‘ngumoya ongcwele.’—Joh. 14:16, 17.

13, 14. UPhetro wenzani ukuze athinte inhliziyo zalabo ababemlalele njalo thina singamlingisela njani?

¹³ UPhetro waphetha inkulumo yakhe ngamazwi alamandla wathi: “Yonke indlu yako-Israyeli kumele ikwazi ukuthi uNkulunkulu wamenza waba yiNkosi loKhristu, yenalo uJesu elambulala ngokumbethela esigodweni.” (Imiseb. 2:36) Abanengi ababelalele uPhetro babengekho ngesikhathi uJesu ebulawa esigodweni sokuhlutshwa. Lanxa kunjalo bonke nje njengesizwe babelecala ngoba zonelwa mvuyinye. Kodwa uPhetro wakhuluma labo ngomusa langenhlonipho ngoba wayehlose ukubanceda ukuthi baphenduke hatshi ukubasola. Amazwi kaPhetro abazondisa yini ababemlalele? Hatshi. IBhayibhili lithi: “Bahlabeka enhliziyweni” basebebuza bathi: “Kumele senzeni?” Kumele ukuthi ukukhuluma kwakhe ngenhlonipho kwathinta inhliziyo zabanengi kwabenza baphenduka.—Imiseb. 2:37.

¹⁴ Lathi singamlingisela uPhetro ukuze sithinte inhliziyo zabantu esikhuluma labo. Nxa sitshumayeza abanye akudingakali ukuthi sihle silungise yonke imibono engaqondanga abangabe belayo. Kodwa okuhle yikuqala sixoxe ngalokho esivumelana ngakho. Lokhu kuzakwenza ukuthi siyendlalele kuhle indaba. Nxa singenza njalo kuzakuba lula ukubancedisa ukuthi balizwisise iLizwi likaNkulunkulu. Izikhathi ezinengi nxa singanamathela kulokho esivumelana ngakho kubalula ukuthi abantu abalenhliziyo eziqotho balamukele iqiniso.

Amakhristu Ephontusi

Phakathi kwalabo abezwa amazwi kaPhetro ngePhentekhosti lika-33 C.E. kwakulamaJuda ayevela ePhontusi, isabelo esisenyakatho ye-Asiya. (Imiseb. 2:9) Kungenzeka amanye awo afika atshela abantu bakiwo izindaba ezinhle ngoba labo uPhetro ababhalela incwadi yakhe yakuqala babehlanganisa lamakholwa ‘ayesabalele,’ etholakala lasePhontusi.g (1 Phet. 1:1) Incwadi yakhe isitshela ukuthi amaKhristu la ayeke ‘ahlupheka ngenxa yezilingo ezitshiyeneyo.’ (1 Phet. 1:6) Kungenzeka ayephikiswa njalo ehlukuluzwa ngenxa yalokho ayekukholwa.

Obunye ubunzima amaKhristu ePhontusi ahlangana labo kukhulunywa ngabo ezincwadini uPliny Omncane, umbusi weBhithiniya lePhontusi ayezibhalelana loMbusi uTrajan. Ebhala esePhontusi phose ngomnyaka ka-112 C.E., uPliny wathi “ukusabalala” kobuKhristu kwasekusiba yingozi kuye wonke umuntu kungelani lokuthi ngoyini, unganani kumbe ukuthi ulesikhundla bani. UPliny wayenika abantu ababemangalelwa ngokuba ngamaKhristu ithuba lokuthi batshiye ababekukholwa, ababengafuni wayebabulala. Wayekhulula loba ngubani owayethuka uKhristu loba owayekhuleka kubonkulunkulu kumbe esithombeni sikaTrajan. UPliny wavuma ukuthi “labo ababengamaKhristu eqiniso babengeke babanjwe ngamandla” ukuthi benze izinto lezi.

g Ibala elihunyutshwe ngokuthi ‘ayesabalele’ livela ebaleni lesiGrikhi elitsho “abantu abathuthele kwenye indawo.” Ibala lakhona lizwakala livela ebaleni lesiJuda, okuveza ukuthi abanengi ababa ngamakholwa babengamaJuda.

‘Ngamunye Wenu Kabhabhathizwe’ (Imiseb. 2:38-47)

15. (a) UPhetro wathini futhi abantu bakwamukela njani lokhu? (b) Kungani kwakuqondile ukuthi izinkulungwane zabantu ababezwe izindaba ezinhle ngePhentekhosti zibhabhathizwe mhlalokho?

¹⁵ Ngelanga lePhentekhosti lika-33 C.E., uPhetro watshela amaJuda lamaPhroselithe ayemlalele wathi: “Phendukani, ngamunye wenu abhabhathizwe.” (Imiseb. 2:38) Yikho mhlalokho kwabhabhathizwa abantu abangaba ngu-3 000. Abantu laba bangabe babhabhathizelwa ezizibeni eziseJerusalema loba eziseduze kwayo.e Kambe ukuthi lokhu kwakuyikuthatheka? Sokusitsho yini ukuthi abantu esifunda labo iBhayibhili kanye labantwabethu sokumele baphongubhabhathizwa nje bengakakulungeli? Ngitsho lakancane. Khumbula ukuthi amaJuda lamaPhroselithe abhabhathizwa ngelanga lePhentekhosti ayekukhuthalele ukufunda iLizwi likaNkulunkulu futhi engamalunga esizwe esasizinikele kuJehova. Kanti njalo kwakuvele kukhanya ukuthi bayakutshisekela ukukhonza uJehova ngoba babesuka ezindaweni ezikhatshana belanda umkhosi lo owawusenziwa minyaka yonke. Yikho bathi sebeyizwisisa indima kaJesu ekugcwalisekeni kwenhloso kaNkulunkulu basebezimisele ukuqhubeka bekhonza uJehova sebengabalandeli bakaKhristu ababhabhathiziweyo.

Ayengobani Amaphroselithe?

“AmaJuda labaphendukele okholweni lwesiJuda [amaphroselithe; amabala angaphansi]” bamuzwa uPhetro etshumayela ngePhentekhosti lika-33 C.E.—Imiseb. 2:10.

Omunye wamadoda akhethwa ukuthi ‘akhangele indaba eqakathekileyo’ yokwabela abantu ukudla kwakunguNikholayi “we-Antiyokhi owayephendukele ekholweni lwesiJuda.” (Imiseb. 6:3-5) Amaphroselithe kwakungabantu bezinye izizwe abasebetshintshele enkolweni yesiJuda. Babebonwa njengamaJuda sibili njengoba babelalela uJehova loMthetho wako-Israyeli, sebetshiye onkulunkulu bamanga njalo abangamadoda sebesokiwe futhi sebezimanyanise lesizwe sako-Israyeli.

Ngemva kokukhululwa kwamaJuda ekuthunjweni eBhabhiloni ngo-537 B.C.E., amanengi akhetha ukuhlala khatshana kwelizwe lako-Israyeli kodwa aqhubeka elandela inkolo yesiJuda. Lokhu kwenza abantu abanengi lapho okwakuthuthele khona amaJuda la bajayelana lenkolo yesiJuda. Abalobi bakudala abanjengoHorace loSeneca bayavuma ukuthi abantu abanengi endaweni ezitshiyeneyo abacina bethanda amaJuda lenkolo yawo, bamanyana lawo njalo baphendukela enkolweni yesiJuda.

16. AmaKhristu akuqala atshengisa njani ukuthi alothando?

¹⁶ Kuyazicacela ukuthi uJehova wayelibusisa iqembu leli. Phela iBhayibhili lithi: “Bonke ababa ngamakholwa babebuthene ndawonye njalo babenikela ngalokho ababelakho ukuze kusetshenziswe ngumuntu wonke. Babethengisa impahla yabo lezinto zabo, besebesabelana imali kusiya ngokuthi ngamunye wabo wayeswelani.”f (Imiseb. 2:44, 45) AmaKhristu eqiniso lawo kumele abe lothando elingisela isibonelo lesi esihle.

17. Umuntu kumele enzeni engakabhabhathizwa?

¹⁷ Kunengi okuseMibhalweni okumele umuntu akwenze ngaphambi kokuthi azinikele futhi abhabhathizwe. Umuntu kumele afunde iLizwi likaNkulunkulu futhi athole ulwazi oluqondileyo. (Joh. 17:3) Kumele abe lokholo aphenduke ngenhliziyo yonke, atshengise ukuthi uyazisola. (Imiseb. 3:19) Ngemva kwalokho kumele aguquke atshintshe indlela abephila ngayo abesephila ngendlela evumelana lentando kaNkulunkulu. (Rom. 12:2; Efe. 4:23, 24) Nxa esekwenzile lokhu usengazinikela kuNkulunkulu ngomthandazo abesebhabhathizwa.—Mat. 16:24; 1 Phet. 3:21.

18. Yisiphi isibusiso abafundi bakaKhristu abalaso?

¹⁸ Ungomunye wabafundi bakaJesu Khristu ababhabhathiziweyo yini? Nxa kunjalo siqakathekise isibusiso leso. Njengoba sizwile ukuthi amaKhristu akuqala agcwala umoya ongcwele, lawe uJehova angakusebenzisa ngendlela emangalisayo ukuze ufakaze ngokugcweleyo futhi wenze intando yakhe.

a Khangela ibhokisi elithi “IJerusalema—Isigodlo Senkolo YamaJuda” elisekhasini 23.

b Khangela ibhokisi elithi “IRoma—Isigodlo SoMbuso Olamandla” elisekhasini 24 lelithi “AmaJuda Ayehlala EMesophothamiya LaseGibhithe” elisekhasini 25 kanye lelithi “AmaKhristu EPhontusi,” elisekhasini 26.

c Okwabonwa ngabafundi laba kwakungasiwomlilo uqobo kodwa ‘kwakungathi ngamalangabi omlilo’ okutshengisa ukuthi abakubonayo okwakuhlezi kumfundi munye ngamunye kwakubonakala angathi ngumlilo.

d Khangela ibhokisi elithi “Ayengobani AmaPhroselithe?” elisekhasini 27.

e Mhlaka 7 August 1993 emhlanganweni wezizwe waboFakazi bakaJehova owawuseKiev, e-Ukraine kwabhabhathizwa abantu abangu-7 402 endaweni zokubhabhathizelwa eziyisithupha. Umsebenzi lo wathatha amahora amabili lemizuzu engu-15 ukuthi uphele.

f Lokhu kwakusenzelwa ukunceda abantu abangamaKhristu abakhetha ukuqhubeka beseJerusalema ukuze bafunde okunengi ngokholo lwabo olutsha. Abazalwane laba babenikela ngokuzithandela.—Imiseb. 5:1-4.