Amabhuku Asetshenziswe Kugwalo Lwempilo Lenkonzo YamaKhristu
JANUARY 7-13
AMAGUGU ASELIZWINI LIKANKULUNKULU IMISEBENZI 21-22
“Intando KaJehova Kayenziwe”
(ImiSebenzi 21:8-12) Ngelanga elilandelayo sasuka saya eKhesariya safika sangena endlini kaFiliphu umvangeli sahlala laye. Wayengomunye wamadoda ayisikhombisa ayekhethiwe, 9 njalo wayelamadodakazi amane ayengatshadanga futhi ayephrofetha. 10 Kodwa sathi sesihlale khona okwensuku ezinengana, umphrofethi u-Agabhu wafika evela eJudiya. 11 Wasilanda wasethatha ibhanti likaPhawuli wazibopha ngalo inyawo lezandla wathi: “Umoya ongcwele uthi, ‘AmaJuda azambopha kanje umnikazi webhanti leli eJerusalema, njalo azamnikela ezandleni zabantu bezizweni.’” 12 Thina labanye ababelapho sathi sikuzwa lokhu, saqalisa ukuncenga uPhawuli ukuthi angayi eJerusalema.
bt-ZU 177-178 ¶15-16
“Intando KaJehova Mayenzeke”
15 Ngesikhathi uPawulu ehlala emzini kaFiliphu, kwafika nesinye isivakashi esihloniphekile—u-Agabu. Labo ababesendlini kaFiliphu babazi ukuthi u-Agabu umprofethi; wayebikezele indlala enkulu phakathi nokubusa kukaKlawudiyu. (IzE. 11:27, 28) Mhlawumbe bazibuza: ‘U-Agabu ubekwa yini lapha? Yisiphi isigijimi asiphethe?’ Njengoba bemgqolozele, wathatha ibhande likaPawulu—umchilo omude wendwangu owawuboshwa okhalweni owawungafaka imali nezinye izinto. U-Agabu walithatha wazibopha izinyawo nezandla. Wayesekhuluma. Isigijimi sakhe sasibalulekile: “Usho kanje umoya ongcwele, ‘Indoda okungelayo leli bhande, amaJuda azoyibopha ngale ndlela eJerusalema, ayinikele ezandleni zabantu bezizwe.’”—IzE. 21:11.
16 Lesi siprofetho saqinisekisa ukuthi uPawulu wayezoya eJerusalema. Sabonisa nokuthi ukushumayela kwakhe kumaJuda kwakuyophumela ekubeni anikelwe “ezandleni zabantu bezizwe.” Lesi siprofetho sabathinta kakhulu ababekhona. ULuka uyabhala: “Manje lapho sikuzwa lokhu, thina nabantu bakuleyo ndawo, samncenga ukuba angakhuphukeli eJerusalema. Khona-ke uPawulu waphendula: ‘Nenzani ngokukhala ningenza buthaka enhliziyweni na? Qinisekani ngalokhu, angilungele ukuboshwa nje kuphela kodwa futhi nokufa eJerusalema ngenxa yegama leNkosi uJesu.’”—IzE. 21:12, 13.
(ImiSebenzi 21:13) Yena waphendula wathi: “Kanti likhalelani lizama ukungiqeda amandla? Yazini ukuthi angizimiselanga ukuyabotshwa kuphela, kodwa ngizimisele lokufa eJerusalema ngenxa yebizo leNkosi uJesu.”
bt-ZU 178 ¶17
“Intando KaJehova Mayenzeke”
17 Sibone ngeso lengqondo lesi simo. Abazalwane, kuhlanganise noLuka, bancenga uPawulu ukuba angahambi. Abanye bayakhala. Eshukunyiswa ukukhathalela kothando abambonisa kona, ngomusa uPawulu uthi bamenza “buthaka enhliziyweni,” noma “bamphula inhliziyo,” njengoba ezinye izinguquko zesiGreki zihumusha le nkulumo. Yize kunjalo, uzimisele futhi ngeke akuvumele ukuncengwa noma izinyembezi zimyekise, njengoba nje engazange akuvumele nakubazalwane baseThire. Kunalokho, uyabachazela ukuthi kungani kumelwe ahambe. Yeka isibindi nokuzimisela akubonisa! Njengoba kwenza uJesu, uPawulu wayezimisele ukuya eJerusalema kumnyama kubomvu. (Heb. 12:2) Wayengafuni ukuba umfel’ ukholo, kodwa uma lokho kwenzeka, wayeyokubheka njengelungelo ukufa engumlandeli kaKristu Jesu.
(ImiSebenzi 21:14) Sithe sibona ukuthi kancengeki sayekela ukumphikisa sathi: “Intando kaJehova kayenziwe.”
bt-ZU 178 ¶18
“Intando KaJehova Mayenzeke”
18 Abazalwane basabela kanjani? Ngelilodwa nje, ngenhlonipho. Siyafunda: “Lapho engenakuvinjwa, sathula sathi: ‘Intando kaJehova mayenzeke.’” (IzE. 21:14) Labo ababezama ukukholisa uPawulu ukuba angayi eJerusalema abazange baphoqelele imibono yabo. Bamlalela, bamukela ayekusho, beqaphela ukuthi ukuhamba kwakhe kuyintando kaJehova, ngisho noma lokho kwakunzima kubo. UPawulu wayeqale umsebenzi owawuyogcina umholele ekufeni. Kwakuyoba lula ngaye ukube labo ababemthanda babengazange bazame ukumvimba.
Ukuchwayisisa IMibhalo
(ImiSebenzi 21:23, 24) Wena yenza esikutshela khona: Silamadoda amane enze isifungo. 24 Thatha amadoda la uyezihlambulula ngokoMthetho kaMosi kanye lawo, ubhadale izindleko zawo ukuze aphuce amakhanda awo. Lapho-ke wonke umuntu uzakwazi ukuthi amahungahunga abekhulunywa ngawe kawasilo qiniso lokuthi wena uhamba ngendlela eqondileyo futhi uyawugcina uMthetho.
bt-ZU 184-185 ¶10-12
“Yizwani Ukuziphendulela Kwami”
10 Nokho, uPawulu wabonisa ukubaqonda labo ababengenankinga yokugcina amasiko athile obuJuda, njengokungasebenzi ngeSabatha noma ukugwema ukudla okuthile. (Roma 14:1-6) Akazange futhi abeke mithetho ngokuqondene nokusoka. Yiqiniso, uPawulu wamsoka uThimothewu ukuze amaJuda angakhubeki ngoba uyise wayengumGreki. (IzE. 16:3) Ukusoka kwakuyisinqumo somuntu siqu. UPawulu watshela abaseGalathiya: “Ukusoka nokungasoki akubaluleke ngalutho, kodwa ukholo olusebenza ngothando yilo olubalulekile.” (Gal. 5:6) Nokho, ukusoka ngenjongo yokuba ngaphansi koMthetho noma ukuthi ukusoka kuyadingeka ukuze umuntu amukelwe uJehova, kwakuyobe kubonisa ukuntula ukholo.
11 Nakuba la mahemuhemu ayengamanga aluhlaza cwe, awakhuba amakholwa angamaJuda. Yingakho amadoda amadala anikeza uPawulu lesi siqondiso: “Sinamadoda amane enzé isifungo. Wathathe la madoda uzihlanze nawo ngokwesiko futhi unakekele izindleko zawo, ukuze aphuce amakhanda awo. Ngakho bonke abantu bazokwazi ukuthi awekho la mahemuhemu abawatshelwe ngawe, kodwa uhamba ngokuhlelekile, nawe ngokwakho uyawugcina uMthetho.”—IzE. 21:23, 24.
12 UPawulu wayengase athi inkinga yangempela yayingewona amahemuhemu ngaye, kodwa kwakuwukushisekela kwamakholwa angamaJuda uMthetho KaMose. Kodwa wayezimisele ukuvumelana nezimo, inqobo nje uma ayengeke enze izinto ezingqubuzana nezimiso zikaNkulunkulu. Ngaphambidlana, nakhu ayekubhalile: “Kwabaphansi komthetho ngaba njengophansi komthetho, nakuba mina ngokwami ngingekho phansi komthetho, ukuze ngizuze labo abaphansi komthetho.” (1 Kor. 9:20) Kulokhu, uPawulu wabambisana nabadala baseJerusalema futhi waba “njengophansi komthetho.” Ukwenza kwakhe kanjalo kusibekela isibonelo esihle namuhla sokuba sibambisane nabadala futhi singaphoqi ukuba izinto zenziwe ngendlela yethu.—Heb. 13:17.
(ImiSebenzi 22:16) Manje usalindeni? Sukuma ubhabhathizwe, ugeze izono zakho ngokubiza ibizo lakhe.’
nwtsty umcijo wokutaditsha oku-ImiS 22:16
ugeze izono zakho ngokubiza ibizo lakhe: Kumbe “ugeze izono zakho ubusubiza ibizo lakhe.” Umuntu ugeza izono zakhe ngokubiza ibizo likaJesu hatshi ngokubhabhathizwa. Ukubiza ibizo likaJesu kugoqela ukuba lokholo kuye lokwenza imisebenzi etshengisa ukuthi silokholo.
Ukubalwa KweBhayibhili
JANUARY 14-20
AMAGUGU ASELIZWINI LIKANKULUNKULU IMISEBENZI 23-24
“Kuthiwa UPhawuli Uluhlupho Njalo Udinga Ukubhidliza”
(ImiSebenzi 23:12) Kusisa amaJuda ahlanganisa amakhanda enza isifungo, athi wona aqalekisiwe nxa engadla loba anathe engazange aqale ambulale uPhawuli.
(ImiSebenzi 23:16) Lanxa kunjalo indodana kadadewabo kaPhawuli yezwa ukuthi babefuna ukumcathamela, yasingena enkambeni yamasotsha yabikela uPhawuli.
bt-ZU 191 ¶5-6
“Yiba Nesibindi”
5 Isikhuthazo uPawulu asithola safika ngesikhathi. Ngakusasa, amadoda angamaJuda angaphezu kuka-40 “akha uzungu futhi azibopha ngesiqalekiso, ethi ngeke adle noma aphuze aze ambulale uPawulu.” Lolu “zungu oluboshwe ngesifungo” lwabonisa indlela lawo maJuda ayezimisele ngayo ukubulala lo mphostoli. Uma lwalungaphumeleli, ayekholelwa ukuthi ayezoba namashwa. (IzE. 23:12-15) Lolu zungu olwalugunyazwe abapristi abakhulu namadoda amadala lwaluhloselwe ukubuyisela uPawulu kuyiSanhedrini ukuze aqhubeke ephenywa ngemibuzo, njengokungathi kunezinto ezithile ngaye lawo maJuda ayefuna ukuziqonda ngokunembile. Kodwa la maJuda ayezobe emqamekele endleleni ukuze ambulale.
6 Nokho, umshana kaPawulu wezwa ngalolu zungu, wayesembikela. UPawulu wacela le nsizwa ukuba ibike lolu daba kumlawuli wamabutho aseRoma, uKlawudiyu Lisiya. (IzE. 23:16-22) Ngokuqinisekile uJehova uyayithanda intsha efana nomshana kaPawulu, ongagagulwanga ngegama, equnga isibindi ibeke inhlalakahle yabantu bakaNkulunkulu ngaphambi kweyayo futhi ngokwethembeka yenze konke engakwenza ukuze ithuthukise izithakazelo zoMbuso.
(ImiSebenzi 24:2) UThethula wathi esetshelwe ukuthi akhulume, waqalisa ukusola uPhawuli phambi kukaFelikhe esithi: “Siyabona ukuthi wenze saba lokuthula okukhulu lokuthi ingqondo yakho ebanzi isilethe izinguquko esizweni lesi,
(ImiSebenzi 24:5, 6) Sithole ukuthi indoda le iyimpehlane, itshotshozela wonke amaJuda emhlabeni wonke ukuthi avukele umbuso futhi yiyo ekhokhela iqembu lamaNazaretha. 6 Ibizama lokungcolisa ithempeli, yikho siyibambile.
bt-ZU 192 ¶10
“Yiba Nesibindi”
10 Ngesikhathi eseKhesariya, uPawulu ‘wagcinwa esigodlweni sikaHerode’ ukuze alinde ababemmangalele ababevela eJerusalema. (IzE. 23:35) Ngemva kwezinsuku ezinhlanu bafika—umPristi Ophakeme u-Ananiyase, isikhulumi saseningini uTertulu kanye neqembu lamadoda amadala. UTertulu waqale wancoma uFeliksi ngalokho ayekwenzela amaJuda, ngokusobala emthopha futhi ezincengela. UTertulu wabe esengena endabeni, wathi uPawulu ‘ungumuntu owuhlupho nobhebhezela ukuvukela umbuso phakathi kwawo wonke amaJuda emhlabeni wonke owakhiwe futhi ungumholi wehlelo lamaNazaretha, ungumuntu owazama nokungcolisa ithempeli, bambamba.’ Amanye amaJuda “ahlanganyela kulokhu kuhlasela, egomela ngokuthi lezi zinto zinjalo.” (IzE. 24:5, 6, 9) Ukuvukela umbuso, ukuhola ihlelo eliyingozi nokungcolisa ithempeli—kwakungamacala amabi kakhulu ayengaholela ekugwetshweni intambo.
(ImiSebenzi 24:10-21) Usibalukhulu wanqekuza ikhanda esithi uPhawuli kakhulume. UPhawuli wasesithi:
“Ngikwazi mhlophe ukuthi usube ngumahluleli wesizwe lesi okweminyaka eminengi. Yikho ngikhuluma ngikhululekile, ngizivikela. 11 Akukadluli amalanga angu-12 ngihambe eJerusalema ngisiyakhonza, ungabuza loba ngubani. 12 Kabazange bangithole ngixabana lomuntu ethempelini loba ngitshotshozela amaxuku emasinagogeni lakulo lonke idolobho. 13 Kakho ongafakaza kuwe ukuthi ziliqiniso izinto abangimangalela ngazo khathesi. 14 Kodwa engikuvumayo kuwe yikuthi ngenzela uNkulunkulu wabokhokho bami inkonzo engcwele, ngilandela indlela le bona abayibiza ngokuthi ngeyababhazukayo, njalo ngiyakukholwa konke okuseMthethweni kanye lokubhalwe kubaPhrofethi. 15 Ngilethemba kuNkulunkulu, ithemba amadoda la lawo alalo elokuthi abafileyo bazavuswa, abalungileyo labangalunganga. 16 Lokhu kungenza ngihlale ngizama ngamandla wonke ukuba lomzwangedwa omsulwa phambi kukaNkulunkulu labantu. 17 Kwathi sekwedlule iminyaka eminengi, ngafika ngizokupha isizwe sakithi izipho njalo ngizokwenza iminikelo. 18 Ngathi ngisenza lokhu bangifica ethempelini ngihlanjululiwe ngokoMthetho kaMosi, ngingelaxuku futhi ngingabangeli ukuxokozela. Kodwa kwakulamanye amaJuda ayevela esabelweni sase-Asiya 19 obekumele abekhona phambi kwakho, angimangalele nxa kukhona sibili akusolayo ngami. 20 Kumbe vumela amadoda alapha azikhulumele ukuthi ngesikhathi ngimi phambi kweSanihedrini angithola ngilecala bani, 21 ngaphandle kokukodwa nje engakutshoyo ngimi phakathi kwawo ngisithi: ‘Lamuhla ngithonisiswa phambi kwenu ngenxa yokuthi ngiyakholwa ukuthi abafileyo bazavuswa!’”
bt-ZU 193-194 ¶13-14
“Yiba Nesibindi”
13 UPawulu wasibekela isibonelo esihle okufanele sisilingise uma kwenzeka siyiswa phambi kwababusi bezwe ngenxa yokukhulekela kwethu, simangalelwa ngokuthi singabaphehli bodweshu, sivukela umbuso noma singamalungu ‘ehlelo eliyingozi.’ Akazange azenze muhle kumbusi ngokusebenzisa amazwi athophayo njengoba kwenza uTertulu. Wayelokhu ezibambile futhi enenhlonipho. Ngobuhlakani, wanikeza ubufakazi obucacile nobuyiqiniso. Wathi ‘amaJuda avela esifundeni sase-Asiya’ ayemmangalele ngokungcolisa ithempeli ayengekho, kanti ngokomthetho kwakufanele abe khona ukuze uPawulu azizwele ukuthi ambeka maphi amacala.—IzE. 24:18, 19.
14 Okuphawuleka kakhulu ukuthi uPawulu akazange athule, wabunikeza ubufakazi ngezinkolelo zakhe. Ngesibindi, waphinde wakhuluma ngokukholelwa kwakhe ovukweni, indaba eyayisuse uthuthuva ngesikhathi ephambi kweSanhedrini. (IzE. 23:6-10) Lapho eziphendulela, wagcizelela ithemba lovuko. Kungani? Kungoba wayenikeza ubufakazi ngoJesu nangokuvuswa kwaKhe kwabafileyo—into labo baphikisi ababengayikholelwa. (IzE. 26:6-8, 22, 23) Yebo, impikiswano yayiphathelene novuko—futhi ngokuqondile nje, babengakholelwa kuJesu nasovukweni lwakhe.
Ukuchwayisisa IMibhalo
(ImiSebenzi 23:6) Njengoba uPhawuli wayesazi ukuthi elinye icele lalingelabaSadusi elinye lingelabaFarisi, wamemeza phakathi kweSanihedrini wathi: “Madoda, bafowethu, mina ngingumFarisi, ngiyindodana yabaFarisi. Ngithonisiswa ngenxa yokuthi ngilethemba lokuthi abafileyo bazavuswa.”
nwtsty umcijo wokutaditsha oku-ImiS 23:6
ngingumFarisi: Abanye abantu kuqembu elalilalele uPhawuli babemazi. Babekwazi ukuthi nxa wayesithi uyindodana yabaFarisi wayesitsho ukuthi wake waba ngumFarisi. Babezwisisa lokuthi wayengaqambi manga ngoba abanye abaFarisi ababebumba iSanihedrini babekwazi ukuthi wayesengumKhristu otshisekayo. Kodwa endabeni le amazwi kaPhawuli angabe esitsho okunye. Wayesitsho ukuthi laye njengabaFarisi uyakholwa ukuthi abantu abafileyo bazavuswa ngokungafanani labaSadusi ababesithi abantu abavuswa. Wadinga lapho ayevumelana khona labaFarisi. Kungenzakala wayecabanga ukuthi ukuvusa indaba le kwakuzenza amanye amalunga eSanihedrini amzwele. Lakanye icebo lakhe lasebenza. (ImiS 23:7-9) Amazwi akhe ahambelana lalokho akutsho ku-ImiSebenzi 23:6 ngesikhathi ethonisiswa yiNkosi u-Agripha. (ImiS 26:5) Langesikhathi ebhalela amaKhristu eFiliphi waphinda wathi ungumFarisi. (Flp 3:5) ImiSebenzi 15:5 ibiza abanye abasebengamakholwa ngokuthi ngabaFarisi.
(ImiSebenzi 24:24) Ngemva kwamalanga athile, uFelikhe wabuya lomkakhe uDrusila owayengumJuda, wasesithi uPhawuli abizwe, wamlalela ekhuluma ngokukholwa kuKhristu uJesu.
(ImiSebenzi 24:27) Kwathi sekwedlule iminyaka emibili uPhokhiyu Festu wangena esikhundleni sikaFelikhe. Kodwa uFelikhe watshiya uPhawuli elokhu esejele ngoba wayefuna ukuthabisa amaJuda.—Khangela umcijo wokutaditsha oku-ImiS 15:5
nwtsty umcijo wokutaditsha oku-ImiS 24:24
uDrusila: Wayengumntwana wesithathu kaHerodi Agripha I okukhulunywa ngaye ku-ImiS 12:1 futhi wayengomncane emankazaneni. Kungenzakala ukuthi wazalwa ngo-38 C.E. futhi wayezalwa lo-Agripha II loBhenisi. (Khangela umcijo wokutaditsha oku-ImiS 25:13 kanye leNgcazelo Yamabala, “UHerodi.”) USibalukhulu uFelikhe wayengumkakhe wesibili. Watshada lenkosi yaseSiriya u-Azizus wase-Emesa kodwa badivosa wasetshada loFelikhe ngesikhathi eleminyaka engaba ngu-16. Kungenzakala batshada ngo-54 C.E. Kucatshangwa ukuthi wayekhona lapho uPhawuli ekhuluma loFelikhe “ngokulunga, langokuzibamba kanye lokwahlulela okuzayo.” (ImiS 24:25) Kwathi uFelikhe esetshiyela uFestu isikhundla, watshiya uPhawuli elokhu esejele ngoba “wayefuna ukuthabisa amaJuda,” futhi abanye bacabanga ukuthi wayefuna ukuthabisa umkakhe owayengumJuda.—ImiS 24:27.
Ukubalwa KweBhayibhili
JANUARY 21-27
AMAGUGU ASELIZWINI LIKANKULUNKULU IMISEBENZI 25–26
“UPhawuli Udlulisela Icala kuKhesari Futhi Ufakaza KuHerodi Agripha”
(ImiSebenzi 25:11) Nxa ngiyisephulamthetho sibili njalo kukhona okubi engikwenzileyo okwenza ngifanele ukufa, kangali ukubulawa. Kodwa nxa abangimangalela ngakho kungela bufakazi, kakho olelungelo lokunginikela kubo ukuze abathabise. Ngidlulisela icala kuKhesari!”
bt-ZU 198 ¶6
“Ngidlulisela Icala KuKhesari!”
6 Isifiso sikaFestu sokujabulisa amaJuda sasingafaka ukuphila kukaPawulu engozini. Ngakho-ke, uPawulu wasebenzisa ilungelo lakhe njengesakhamuzi saseRoma. Watshela uFestu: “Ngimi phambi kwesihlalo sokwahlulela sikaKhesari, lapho kufanele ngahlulelwe khona. Angonanga lutho kumaJuda, njengoba nawe ukuthola kahle impela. . . . Ngidlulisela icala kuKhesari!” Kwakungavamile ukuba sihoxiswe leso sicelo uma sesenziwe. UFestu wakugcizelela lokho lapho ethi: “Udlulisele icala kuKhesari; uzoya kuKhesari.” (IzE. 25:10-12) Ngokucela ukuya egunyeni eliphakeme, uPawulu wawabekela isibonelo amaKristu eqiniso namuhla. Lapho abaphikisi bezama ukubiyela “inkathazo ngesinqumo somthetho,” oFakazi BakaJehova basebenzisa amalungiselelo angokomthetho ukuze bavikele izindaba ezinhle.—IHu. 94:20.
(ImiSebenzi 26:1-3) U-Agripha wathi kuPhawuli: “Usungakhuluma sizwe ukuthi uzivikela usithini.” UPhawuli waseselula isandla sakhe waqalisa ukukhuluma ezivikela esithi: 2 “Nkosi Agripha, kuyangithokozisa ukuthi lamuhla ngizazivikela phambi kwakho ezintweni zonke amaJuda angimangalela ngazo. 3 Wena uyawazi wonke amasiko amaJuda kanye lezimpikiswano zawo. Ngakho ngiyakuncenga ukuthi ubekezele, ungilalele.
bt-ZU 198-201 ¶10-16
“Ngidlulisela Icala KuKhesari!”
10 UPawulu wayibonga ngenhlonipho iNkosi u-Agripha ngethuba lokuzikhulumela eyamnika lona, wavuma ukuthi le nkosi yayiyisazi sawo wonke amasiko nezimpikiswano ezaziphakathi kwamaJuda. UPawulu wabe esechaza ukuphila kwakhe kwangaphambili: “Ngokwehlelo elinomthetho oqine kakhulu lendlela yethu yokukhulekela ngangiphila njengomFarisi.” (IzE. 26:5) NjengomFarisi, uPawulu wayenethemba lokufika kukaMesiya. Kodwa njengoba ayesengumKristu washo ngesibindi ukuthi uJesu Kristu wayeyilowo Mesiya okwase kuyisikhathi eside elindelwe. Inkolelo yena nabamangaleli bakhe ababevumelana ngayo—okungukuthi, ithemba lokugcwaliseka kwesithembiso uNkulunkulu asenza kokhokho babo—yiyona eyayiyisizathu sokuquliswa kwakhe icala ngalolo suku. Le ncazo yenza u-Agripha waba nesithakazelo esengeziwe sokuzwa lokho uPawulu ayezokusho.
11 Ekhumbula indlela ayewahlukumeza ngayo amaKristu, uPawulu wathi: “Mina ngokwami, ngangicabanga ngaphakathi kimi ukuthi kufanele ngenze izenzo eziningi zokuphikisa igama likaJesu umNazaretha . . Njengoba ngangibathukuthelele ngokudlulele [abalandeli bakaKristu], ngaze ngabashushisa ngisho nasemizini engaphandle.” (IzE. 26:9-11) UPawulu wayengenzi ihaba. Abantu abaningi babeyazi indlela ayewahlukumeze ngayo amaKristu. (Gal. 1:13, 23) Kungenzeka ukuthi u-Agripha wazibuza, ‘Kazi yini eyayishintshe le ndoda?’
12 Amazwi kaPawulu alandelayo ayinikeza impendulo: “Njengoba ngangiya eDamaseku nginegunya futhi ngithunywe abapristi abakhulu, emini bebade ngabona endleleni, nkosi, ukukhanya okuvela ezulwini okungaphezu kokukhazimula kwelanga kubaneka nxazonke zami nalabo esasihamba nabo. Lapho sonke sesiwele phansi, ngezwa izwi lithi kimi ngolimi lwesiHebheru, ‘Sawulu, Sawulu, ungishushiselani na? Ukuqhubeka ukhahlela izinkandi kwenza kube nzima kuwe.’ Kodwa ngathi, ‘Ungubani wena, Nkosi?’ INkosi yathi, ‘NginguJesu, omshushisayo.’”—IzE. 26:12-15.
13 Ngaphambi kokubona lo mbono ongavamile, uPawulu ‘wayekhahlela izinkandi’ ngomqondo ongokomfanekiso. Njengoba nje inkabi ingazilimaza uma ingakhahlela induku ecijile eyenzelwe ukuyiqhuba nokuyiqondisa, noPawulu wayezilimazile ngokomoya ngokumelana nentando kaNkulunkulu. Ngokubonakala kuPawulu endleleni eya eDamaseku, uJesu ovusiwe wenza ukuba le ndoda eqotho, kodwa ngokusobala eyayidukisiwe, ishintshe ukucabanga kwayo.—Joh. 16:1, 2.
14 UPawulu wazenza ngempela izinguquko ezinkulu ekuphileni kwakhe. Wathi ku-Agripha: “Angizange ngingawulaleli umbono wasezulwini, kodwa ngayisa isigijimi kulabo abaseDamaseku kuqala nakulabo abaseJerusalema, nakulo lonke izwe laseJudiya nasezizweni, sokuthi kufanele baphenduke futhi baguqukele kuNkulunkulu ngokwenza imisebenzi efanele ukuphenduka.” (IzE. 26:19, 20) Kwase kudlule iminyaka eminingi uPawulu enza umsebenzi uJesu Kristu amthuma wona kulowaya mbono awuthola emini bebade. Kwaba namiphi imiphumela? Abantu abamukela izindaba ezinhle ezazishunyayelwa uPawulu bashiya izindlela zabo zokuziphatha okubi nokungathembeki, baphendukela kuNkulunkulu. Baba izakhamuzi ezinhle ezihlonipha umthetho nezineqhaza ekuletheni ukuhleleka.
15 Kodwa lezo zinto ezinhle zazingasho lutho kubaphikisi bakaPawulu abangamaJuda. UPawulu wathi: “Ngenxa yalezi zinto amaJuda angibamba ethempelini futhi azama ukungibulala. Nokho, ngenxa yokuthi ngitholé usizo oluvela kuNkulunkulu ngiyaqhubeka kuze kube yilolu suku ngifakaza kwabancane nabakhulu.”—IzE. 26:21, 22.
16 NjengamaKristu eqiniso, kumelwe ‘ngaso sonke isikhathi sikulungele ukuvikela’ ukholo lwethu. (1 Pet. 3:15) Lapho sikhuluma nabahluleli nababusi ngezinkolelo zethu, kungase kusize ukulingisa indlela uPawulu akhuluma ngayo no-Agripha noFestu. Ngokuzitshela ngenhlonipho iziphathimandla indlela amaqiniso eBhayibheli ashintshe ngayo ukuphila—okwethu nokwalabo abalalela isigijimi esisiphethe—singase sizithinte izinhliziyo.
(ImiSebenzi 26:28) Kodwa u-Agripha wathi kuPhawuli: “Ngesikhatshana nje uzangenza ngintshintshe ngibe ngumKhristu.”
bt-ZU 202 ¶18
“Ngidlulisela Icala KuKhesari!”
18 Kodwa uPawulu wamphendula lo mbusi: “Angihlanyi, Mhlonishwa Festu, kodwa ngikhuluma amazwi eqiniso nawokuhluzeka kwengqondo. Eqinisweni, inkosi engikhuluma kuyo ngenkululeko yokukhuluma yazi kahle ngalezi zinto . . . Ingabe wena, Nkosi Agripha, uyakholelwa kubaProfethi? Ngiyazi ukuthi uyakholelwa.” U-Agripha waphendula: “Ngesikhashana nje uzongithonya ukuba ngibe umKristu.” (IzE. 26:25-28) Kungakhathaliseki ukuthi la mazwi ayesuka enhliziyweni noma cha, abonisa ukuthi ukufakaza kukaPawulu kwayithinta ngokujulile le nkosi.
Ukuchwayisisa IMibhalo
(ImiSebenzi 26:14) Sonke sawela phansi, ngasengisizwa ilizwi likhuluma lami ngolimi lwesiHebheru lisithi: ‘Sawuli, Sawuli, kanti ungihlukuluzelani? Uzithwalisa nzima nxa ulokhu ukhahlela izigodo ezicijileyo.’
nwtsty umcijo wokutaditsha oku-ImiS 26:14
ukhahlela izigodo ezicijileyo: Izigodo ezicijileyo kumbe izinciji yizigodo ezazisetshenziswa ukuqhuba inyamazana. (Aba 3:31) Umutsho othi “ukukhahlela izigodo ezicijileyo” yisaga esitholakala emabhukwini esiGrikhi. Isaga lesi sithathelwa esenzweni senkunzi elenkani engafuni ukunqandwa, ekhaba izinciji icine isizilimazile. Yikho okwakusenziwa nguSawuli engakabi ngumKhristu. Ngesikhathi esilwa labalandeli bakaJesu wayezifaka esimeni esasingamlimaza kakhulu ngoba babesekelwa nguJehova uNkulunkulu. (Qathanisa lo-ImiS 5:38, 39; 1Ti 1:13, 14) KuMtshumayeli 12:11, ‘izinciji,’ (TBS) zisetshenziswe ngendlela engokomfanekiso zisitsho amazwi omuntu ohlakaniphileyo anceda ukuthi olaleleyo alandele iseluleko.
nwt ingcazelo yamabala
Izinciji. Lezi yizigodo ezinde ezilensimbi ezicijileyo phambili ezazisetshenziswa ngabalimi ukuthinta izifuyo. Izinciji zifaniswa lamazwi omuntu ohlakaniphileyo enza ukuthi olaleleyo alandele iseluleko esilokuhlakanipha. ‘Ukukhahlela izinciji’ kuthathelwa esenzweni senkunzi elenkani ekhahlela izinciji isala ukunqandwa, icine isizilimazile.—ImiS 26:14; Aba 3:31.
(ImiSebenzi 26:27) Uyabakholwa yini abaPhrofethi Nkosi Agripha? Ngiyakwazi ukuthi uyabakholwa.”
w03-ZU 11/15 16-17 ¶14
Siza Abanye Bamukele Isigijimi SoMbuso
14 UPawulu wayazi ukuthi u-Agripha ungumJuda ngegama. Esebenzisa ulwazi luka-Agripha lwenkolo yobuJuda, uPawulu wabonisa ukuthi ngalokho akushumayelayo empeleni ‘akasho lutho ngaphandle kwezinto abaProfethi kanye noMose abathi zaziyokwenzeka’ ngokufa nokuvuka kukaMesiya. (IzEnzo 26:22, 23) UPawulu wabuza u-Agripha uqobo: “Ingabe wena, Nkosi Agripha, uyakholelwa kubaProfethi?” U-Agripha wayesenkingeni. Uma ayebaphika abaprofethi, idumela lakhe njengekholwa elingumJuda laliyokonakala. Kodwa uma ayevumelana nendlela kaPawulu yokucabanga, wayezobe uziveza obala njengovumelana nalo mphostoli, azibeke engozini yokubizwa ngomKristu. Ngokuhlakanipha, uPawulu wawuphendula yena umbuzo wakhe, wathi: “Ngiyazi ukuthi uyakholelwa.” Inhliziyo ka-Agripha yamshukumisela ukuba aphendule kanjani? Wathi: “Ngesikhashana nje uzongithonya ukuba ngibe umKristu.” (IzEnzo 26:27, 28) Nakuba u-Agripha engabanga umKristu, kusobala ukuthi ngezinga elithile uPawulu wayithonya inhliziyo yakhe ngesigijimi sakhe.—Hebheru 4:12.
Ukubalwa KweBhayibhili
JANUARY 28–FEBRUARY 3
AMAGUGU ASELIZWINI LIKANKULUNKULU IMISEBENZI 27-28
“UPhawuli Uya ERoma”
(ImiSebenzi 27:23, 24) Ebusuku ingilosi kaNkulunkulu wami engimenzela inkonzo engcwele ifike yama eceleni kwami 24 yathi: ‘Ungesabi Phawuli. Kumele ume phambi kukaKhesari, njalo bonke ohamba labo uNkulunkulu uzabasindisa ngenxa yakho.’
bt-ZU 208 ¶15
“Akukho Mphefumulo Kini Ozolahleka”
15 Cishe uPawulu wayefakaze kwabaningi emkhunjini ‘ngethemba lesithembiso esenziwa uNkulunkulu.’ (IzE. 26:6; Kol. 1:5) Manje, njengoba base besengozini yokuphihlizekelwa umkhumbi, uPawulu wayesengakwazi ukubanika isisekelo esiqinile sethemba. Wathi: “Kulobu busuku kuye kwema eduze kwami ingelosi . . . , yathi, ‘Ungesabi, Pawulu. Kumelwe ume phambi kukaKhesari, futhi, bheka! uNkulunkulu ukunike bonke labo abahamba nawe.’” UPawulu wabanxusa: “Ngakho-ke yibani nesibindi, madoda; ngoba ngiyakholwa kuNkulunkulu ukuthi kuzoba njengoba nje ngitsheliwe. Nokho, kumelwe siphonseke ogwini esiqhingini esithile.”—IzE. 27:23-26.
(ImiSebenzi 28:1, 2) Sithe sesifike kuhle ekhunjini, sezwa ukuthi isihlenge leso sasithiwa yiMalitha. 2 Abantu bakuleyondawo baba lomusa omangalisayo kithi. Basemukela kuhle kakhulu sonke basebebasa umlilo ngoba izulu lalisina futhi kuqanda.
bt-ZU 209 ¶18
“Akukho Mphefumulo Kini Ozolahleka”
18 Abasinda bazithola sebesesiqhingini saseMelitha, eningizimu yaseSisili. (Bheka ibhokisi elithi “Ikuphi IMelitha?”) Abantu bakulesi siqhingi abakhuluma olunye ulimi bababonisa “umusa wobuntu ongaphezu kovamile.” (IzE. 28:2) Bababasela umlilo laba bantu abangabazi ababefikele ogwini lwabo bemanzi té futhi beqhaqhazela. Umlilo wabasiza bafudumala. Wenza kwenzeka nesimangaliso.
bt-ZU 210 ¶21
“Akukho Mphefumulo Kini Ozolahleka”
21 Kule ndawo kwakuhlala uPhubhiliyu, isicebi esasinezindawo. Kungenzeka ukuthi wayeyisikhulu esingumRoma esiqavile eMelitha. ULuka wamchaza ngokuthi “indoda evelele yalesi siqhingi,” esebenzisa isiqu esifana nesiye satholwa emibhalweni emibili eqoshiwe yaseMelitha. Wababungaza ngomusa izinsuku ezintathu oPawulu nayehamba nabo. Nokho, uyise kaPhubhiliyu wayegula. Nalapha futhi uLuka usichaza ngokunembile isifo sakhe. Wathi le ndoda ‘yayilele icindezelwe umkhuhlane nesihudo,’ ekuchaza ngokuthé ngqo okwakuyigulisa. UPawulu wathandaza futhi wayibeka izandla, yayisiphulukiswa. Zithintwe ngokujulile yilesi simangaliso, izakhamuzi zaletha abanye abantu abagulayo ukuze bazophulukiswa, zaletha nezipho ukuze zinakekele izidingo zikaPawulu nayehamba nabo.—IzE. 28:7-10.
(ImiSebenzi 28:16, 17) Sathi sesifikile eRoma uPhawuli wavunyelwa ukuthi ahlale yedwa elindwe lisotsha. 17 Kodwa ngemva kwensuku ezintathu wabiza amadoda aqakathekileyo esizweni samaJuda. Athe esebuthene wathi kuwo: “Madoda, bafowethu, lanxa ngangingonelanga muntu futhi ngingaphikisananga lamasiko abokhokho bethu, ngabotshwa eJerusalema nganikelwa ezandleni zamaRoma.
bt-ZU 213 ¶10
‘Ukunikeza Ubufakazi Obuphelele’
10 Lapho ekugcineni leli qembu lezihambi lifika eRoma “uPawulu wavunyelwa ukuba ahlale yedwa nesosha elalimqaphile.” (IzE. 28:16) Ukuze iziboshwa ezaziboshelwa endlini zingeqi, ngokuvamile iketanga ezaziboshwa ngalo laliboshelwa kunogada wazo. Ngisho eboshwe kanjalo, uPawulu wayengummemezeli woMbuso, futhi lelo ketanga lalingeke limthulise. Ngemva kokuphumula izinsuku ezintathu, wabizela ndawonye amadoda avelele kumaJuda eRoma ukuze azethule kuwo futhi awanikeze ubufakazi.
Ukuchwayisisa IMibhalo
(ImiSebenzi 27:9) Kwadlula isikhathi eside, futhi kwasekuyingozi ukuqhubeka ngohambo ngoba lokuzila ukudla okwakusenziwa ngeLanga Lokubuyisana kwasekudlulile. Yikho uPhawuli wabacebisa
nwtsty umcijo wokutaditsha oku-ImiS 27:9
lokuzila ukudla okwakusenziwa ngeLanga Lokubuyisana: Kumbe “ukuzila ukudla okwakusenziwa ngentwasa.” Ibala lesiGrikhi elithi “ukuzila ukudla” litsho ukuzila okukhulunywa ngakho eMthethweni kaMosi okwakusenziwa kanye ngomnyaka ngeLanga Lokubuyisana. NgesiGrikhi kuthiwa yiYom Kippur (ngesiHebheru, yohm hak·kip·pu·rimʹ, “Ilanga lokusibekela izono”). (ULevi 16:29-31; 23:26-32; AmaNani 29:7; khangela INgcazelo Yamabala, “ILanga Lokubuyisana.”) ‘Ukuzidela’ okwakumele kwenziwe ngeLanga Lokubuyisana kwakugoqela ukuzincitsha ezinye izinto. (ULevi 16:29) Umutsho othi “ukuzila ukudla” oku-ImiSebenzi 27:9 utshengisa ukuthi indlela enkulu yokuzidela eyayisenziwa ngeLanga Lokubuyisana yikuzila ukudla. ILanga Lokubuyisana lalisiba khona ekupheleni kukaSeptember kumbe ekuqaliseni kuka-October.
(ImiSebenzi 28:11) Sesihlale okwenyanga ezintathu kuleyondawo sasuka ngomkhumbi owawulezithombe zamadodana kaZewusi. Umkhumbi lo wawuvela e-Alekizandriya futhi wawuhlale esihlengeni leso ngesikhathi sebusika.
nwtsty umcijo wokutaditsha oku-ImiS 28:11
zamadodana kaZewusi: Ngokwembali yamaGrikhi lamaRoma, “amadodana kaZewusi” (ngesiGrikhi, Di·oʹskou·roi) kwakunguCastor loPollux. Babengamaphahla kankulunkulu uZewusi leNdlovukazi yeSparta uLeda. Kwakucatshangwa ukuthi amadodana la ayenelisa ukusindisa abantu abehlelwe yingozi elwandle. Indaba le ephathelene lamadodana kaZewusi itshengisa ukuthi umuntu owabhala ngayo wakubona okwenzakalayo.
Ukubalwa KweBhayibhili