1, 2. N’chifukwa chiyani ulendo umene Baranaba ndi Saulo ankakonzekera unali wapadera, nanga kodi ntchito yawo inathandiza bwanji kukwaniritsa lemba la Machitidwe 1:8?

TSIKU lina mpingo wa ku Antiokeya unasangalala kwambiri chifukwa pa aneneri ndi aphunzitsi onse amene anali mumpingomo, mzimu woyera unasankha Baranaba ndi Saulo kuti akalalikire uthenga wabwino kumadera akutali.a (Mac. 13:1, 2) N’zoona kuti amuna oyenerera anali atatumizidwa m’madera osiyanasiyana m’mbuyomu. Komabe pa nthawiyo amishonale ankapita kumadera kumene Chikhristu chinali chitakhazikitsidwa kale. (Mac. 8:14; 11:22) Koma pa nthawiyi, Baranaba ndi Saulo limodzi ndi Yohane Maliko, amene anam’tenga kuti azikawatumikira, ankakonzekera kupita kumadera amene anthu ambiri anali asanamvepo uthenga wabwino.

² Zaka 14 m’mbuyomo, Yesu anali atauza otsatira ake kuti: “Mudzakhala mboni zanga mu Yerusalemu, ku Yudeya konse ndi ku Samariya, mpaka kumalekezero a dziko lapansi.” (Mac. 1:8) Kusankhidwa kwa Baranaba ndi Saulo kuti akhale amishonale kunathandiza kuti ulosi wa Yesu ukwaniritsidwe.b

Anawapatula “Kuti Agwire Ntchito” (Machitidwe 13:1-12)

3. N’chifukwa chiyani kuyenda maulendo ataliatali kunali kovuta m’nthawi ya atumwi?

³ Masiku ano anthu angayende ulendo wautali kwa ola limodzi kapena maola awiri okha chifukwa kuli magalimoto komanso ndege. Koma m’nthawi ya atumwi zinthu sizinali choncho. Kalelo, anthu akafuna kuyenda ulendo wautali, kawirikawiri ankayenda wapansi ndipo nthawi zambiri ankadutsa m’misewu yoipa. Kwa tsiku lathunthu ankayenda mtunda wokwana makilomita pafupifupi 30 ndipo ulendo wake unkakhala wotopetsa.c Choncho, n’zosakayikitsa kuti pamene Baranaba ndi Saulo ankakonzekera utumiki wawo, ankadziwa kuti ukhala ulendo wovuta kwambiri, ndipo akufunika kuvala zilimbe.​—Mat. 16:24.

4. (a) N’chiyani chinatsogolera mpingo kuti usankhe Baranaba ndi Saulo, nanga Akhristu ena anatani amuna amenewa atasankhidwa? (b) Kodi tingathandize bwanji anthu amene alandira utumiki mumpingo wa Chikhristu?

⁴ Komabe, kodi n’chifukwa chiyani Mulungu pogwiritsa ntchito mzimu woyera anauza mpingo kuti upatule Baranaba ndi Saulo “kuti agwire ntchito” yapadera? (Mac. 13:2) Baibulo silinena chifukwa chake. Koma timadziwa kuti mzimu woyera ndi umene unatsogolera mpingowo kuti usankhe amuna amenewa. Komabe zikuoneka kuti aneneri ndi aphunzitsi ena a ku Antiokeya sanatsutse maganizo amenewa. M’malomwake, iwo anagwirizana kwambiri ndi kusankhidwa kwa amuna awiriwa. Taganizani mmene Baranaba ndi Saulo anamvera pamene Akhristu anzawo, mopanda nsanje, ‘anasala kudya ndi kupemphera, [kenako] kuwagwira pamutu n’kuwalola kuti apite.’ (Mac. 13:3) Ifenso tiyenera kuthandiza anthu amene apatsidwa utumiki mumpingo wa Chikhristu, monga amuna amene asankhidwa kuti aziyang’anira mumpingo. M’malo mochita nsanje ndi anthu amene alandira utumiki umenewu, tiyenera ‘kuwasonyeza chikondi komanso ulemu waukulu chifukwa cha ntchito yawo.’​—1 Ates. 5:13.

5. Fotokozani mmene ntchito yochitira umboni pachilumba cha Kupuro inayendera.

⁵ Atayenda ulendo wapansi mpaka kukafika ku Selukeya, doko limene linali pafupi ndi Antiokeya, Baranaba ndi Saulo anakwera ngalawa n’kuyenda ulendo wa makilomita pafupifupi 200 kupita ku Kupuro.d Kwawo kwa Baranaba kunali ku Kupuro, choncho n’zosakayikitsa kuti iye anasangalala kuti akalalikire uthenga wabwino m’dera la kwawo. Atafika ku Salami, mzinda umene unali kum’mawa kwa chilumbacho, mwamsanga amuna amenewa “anayamba kulalikira mawu a Mulungu m’masunagoge a Ayuda.”e (Mac. 13:5) Baranaba ndi Saulo anayenda m’madera onse a pachilumbacho, ndipo zikuoneka kuti ankalalikira m’mizinda ikuluikulu imene ankadutsa. Poona njira imene anadutsa, n’kutheka kuti amishonalewa anayenda mtunda wokwana makilomita pafupifupi 160.

6, 7. (a) Kodi Serigio Paulo anali ndani, nanga n’chifukwa chiyani Bara-Yesu ankafuna kumukopa kuti asamvetsere uthenga wabwino? (b) Kodi Saulo anachita chiyani Bara-Yesu atayamba kutsutsa uthenga wabwino?

⁶ M’nthawi ya atumwi, anthu a ku Kupuro ankalambira kwambiri milungu yabodza. Tikudziwa zimenezi chifukwa cha zomwe zinachitika pamene Baranaba ndi Saulo anafika mumzinda wa Pafo, umene unali kumadzulo kwa chilumbacho. Kumeneko anakumana ndi “[munthu] wina wamatsenga dzina lake Bara-Yesu, yemwe analinso mneneri wabodza.” Komanso “iyeyu anali limodzi ndi bwanamkubwa Serigio Paulo, yemwe anali munthu wanzeru.”f Pa nthawiyo, Aroma ambiri otchuka, ngakhale “munthu wanzeru” ngati Serigio Paulo, ankadalira kwambiri anthu amatsenga kapena okhulupirira nyenyezi kuti awathandize maganizo pa nkhani zofunika. Komabe, Serigio Paulo anachita chidwi kwambiri ndi uthenga wa Ufumu ndipo “ankafunitsitsa kumva mawu a Mulungu.” Koma zimenezi sizinasangalatse Bara-Yesu, amenenso ankadziwika ndi dzina logwirizana ndi ntchito yake lakuti Elima, kutanthauza kuti “Wamatsenga.”​—Mac. 13:6-8.

⁷ Bara-Yesu ankatsutsa kwambiri uthenga wa Ufumu. Ndipotu iye analibe njira ina yotetezera udindo wake wokhala mlangizi wa Serigio Paulo kuposa ‘kuyesetsa kuti bwanamkubwayo asakhulupirire Ambuye.’ (Mac. 13:8) Koma Saulo sakanalekerera kuti wamatsengayo achotse chidwi chimene Serigio Paulo anali nacho pa choonadi. Ndiye Saulo anachita chiyani? Nkhaniyi imati: “Saulo, wotchedwanso Paulo, atadzazidwa ndi mzimu woyera, anamuyang’anitsitsa [Bara-Yesu] n’kunena kuti: ‘Iwe munthu wodzaza ndi chinyengo chamtundu uliwonse ndiponso zoipa, mwana wa Mdyerekezi komanso mdani wa chinthu chilichonse cholungama, kodi udzasiya liti kupotoza njira zowongoka za Yehova? Tsopano tamvera! Dzanja la Yehova lili pa iwe ndipo ukhala wakhungu. Kwakanthawi, suthanso kuona kuwala kwa dzuwa.’ Nthawi yomweyo anaona nkhungu yamphamvu m’maso mwake ndiponso mdima wandiweyani, ndipo anayamba kufufuza anthu oti amugwire dzanja ndi kumutsogolera.”g Kodi zotsatira za chozizwitsa chimenechi zinali zotani? “Bwanamkubwa uja ataona zimenezi, anakhala wokhulupirira, chifukwa anadabwa kwambiri ndi zimene anaphunzira zokhudza Yehova.”​—Mac. 13:9-12.

8. Kodi tingatsanzire bwanji kulimba mtima kwa Paulo masiku ano?

⁸ Paulo sanachite mantha ndi Bara-Yesu. Ifenso tisamachite mantha anthu otsutsa akamafuna kufooketsa anthu amene asonyeza chidwi ndi kukhulupirira uthenga wa Ufumu. Ndipotu, ‘nthawi zonse mawu athu azisonyeza kuti ndife okoma mtima ndipo azikhala okoma ngati kuti tawathira mchere.’ (Akol. 4:6) Komabe, tisalephere kuthandiza munthu amene ali ndi chidwi chofuna kuphunzira mawu a Mulungu pongofuna kupewa mikangano. Kapenanso tisamachite mantha kutsutsa mfundo zonama zimene chipembedzo chonyenga chimaphunzitsa, chifukwa chikupitirizabe “kupotoza njira zowongoka za Yehova” ngati mmene ankachitira Bara-Yesu. (Mac. 13:10) Mofanana ndi Paulo tiyenera kulengeza choonadi mopanda mantha ndi kuthandiza anthu a mitima yabwino. Ngakhale kuti Mulungu sangatithandize m’njira yoonekera ngati mmene anachitira ndi Paulo, timatsimikiza ndi mtima wonse kuti Yehova adzagwiritsira ntchito mzimu wake woyera kukoka anthu oyenerera kuti aphunzire choonadi.​—Yoh. 6:44.

‘Mawu Olimbikitsa’ (Machitidwe 13:13-43)

9. Kodi Paulo ndi Baranaba anapereka bwanji chitsanzo chabwino kwa abale amene akutsogolera mumpingo masiku ano?

⁹ Zikuoneka kuti zinthu zinasintha pamene amuna amenewa anachoka ku Pafo ndi kuyenda panyanja ulendo wa makilomita pafupifupi 250 kupita ku Pega, dera limene linali m’mphepete mwa nyanja ku Asia Minor. Ponena za gulu la anthu amenewa, lemba la Machitidwe 13:13, limati panali ‘Paulo ndi anzake.’ Mmene mawuwa analembedwera, zimasonyeza kuti Paulo ndi amene anayamba kutsogolera gululi. Komabe, palibe paliponse pamene pamasonyeza kuti Baranaba anayamba kuchitira nsanje Paulo. M’malomwake amuna awiriwa anapitiriza kugwira ntchito limodzi pofuna kukwaniritsa chifuniro cha Mulungu. Paulo ndi Baranaba anapereka chitsanzo chabwino kwambiri kwa abale amene amatsogolera mumpingo masiku ano. M’malo mochita zinthu mopikisana pofuna kutchuka, Akhristu amakumbukira mawu a Yesu akuti: “Nonsenu ndinu abale.” Iye ananenanso kuti: “Aliyense amene amadzikweza adzatsitsidwa, koma aliyense amene amadzichepetsa adzakwezedwa.”​—Mat. 23:8, 12.

10. Fotokozani mmene ulendo wochokera ku Pega kupita ku Antiokeya wa ku Pisidiya unalili.

¹⁰ Atafika ku Pega, Yohane Maliko anasiya Paulo ndi Baranaba n’kubwerera ku Yerusalemu. Baibulo silinena chifukwa chimene anabwererera mwadzidzidzi choncho. Koma Paulo ndi Baranaba anapitiriza ulendo wawo, ndipo atachoka ku Pega anafika mumzinda wa Antiokeya wa ku Pisidiya, umene unali m’chigawo cha Galatiya. Ulendo umenewu unali wovuta kwambiri chifukwa chakuti mzinda wa Antiokeya wa ku Pisidiya unali pamalo okwera kwambiri, mamita pafupifupi 1,100. Misewu ya m’mapiri akumeneko inali yoipa kwambiri ndiponso inali yoopsa chifukwa nthawi zambiri munkakhala achifwamba. Kuwonjezera pamenepo, n’kutheka kuti pa nthawiyi Paulo ankadwala.h

11, 12. Kodi Paulo anakopa bwanji anthu amene ankamumvetsera pamene ankalankhula m’sunagoge ku Antiokeya wa ku Pisidiya?

¹¹ Pamene anali ku Antiokeya wa ku Pisidiya, tsiku la Sabata, Paulo ndi Baranaba analowa m’sunagoge. Nkhaniyi imati: “Chilamulo ndi zimene aneneri analemba zitawerengedwa pamaso pa anthu, atsogoleri a sunagoge anatuma munthu kukawauza kuti: ‘Abale inu, ngati muli ndi mawu alionse amene angalimbikitse anthuwa, lankhulani.’” (Mac. 13:15) Pamenepo Paulo anaimirira kuti alankhule.

¹² Poyamba kulankhula ndi anthuwo, Paulo anati: “Anthu inu, Aisiraeli, ndiponso ena nonsenu amene mumaopa Mulungu.” (Mac. 13:16) Anthu amene ankamvetsera Paulo anali Ayuda komanso anthu amitundu ina amene analowa Chiyuda. Kodi Paulo anatani kuti akope anthuwo, amene sankadziwa udindo umene Yesu ali nawo pokwaniritsa chifuniro cha Mulungu? Choyamba, iye anafotokoza mbiri ya mtundu wa Chiyuda. Anafotokoza mmene Yehova ‘anasandutsira anthu amenewa kukhala mtundu wamphamvu pamene ankakhala m’dziko lachilendo la Iguputo,’ komanso mmene Mulungu ‘anapiririra khalidwe lawo m’chipululu’ kwa zaka 40 atawalanditsa. Paulo anafotokozanso mmene Aisiraeliwo anatengera Dziko Lolonjezedwa ndi mmene Yehova ‘anaperekera dzikolo kwa iwo kuti likhale cholowa chawo.’ (Mac. 13:17-19) Anthu ena amanena kuti n’kutheka kuti Paulo ankagwira Malemba ena amene anali atawerengedwa kumene mokweza tsiku la Sabata lomwelo. Ngati zimenezi n’zoona, ndiye kuti pamenepa tikuonapo chitsanzo china chosonyeza kuti Paulo ankadziwa mmene angakhalire “zinthu zonse kwa anthu osiyanasiyana.”​—1 Akor. 9:22.

13. Kodi tingatani kuti uthenga wathu uwafike pamtima anthu amene tikuwalalikira?

¹³ Ifenso tiyenera kuyesetsa kuti uthenga wathu uziwafika pamtima anthu amene tikuwalalikira. Mwachitsanzo, kudziwa chipembedzo cha munthu komanso zimene amakhulupirira, kungatithandize kusankha nkhani imene ingamusangalatse. Komanso tingatchule mawu a m’Baibulo amene munthuyo akuwadziwa bwino. Ndipo zingakhale zothandiza kwambiri ngati titamupempha munthuyo kuti awerenge mawuwo m’Baibulo lake. Nthawi zonse muziyesetsa kufotokoza mfundo m’njira yoti omvera anu ziwafike pamtima.

14. (a) Kodi Paulo anayamba bwanji kufotokoza uthenga wabwino wa Yesu, nanga anapereka chenjezo lotani? (b) Kodi anthu anachita chiyani atamva mawu amene Paulo ananena?

¹⁴ Kenako Paulo anafotokoza za mzera wa mafumu a Isiraeli umene unadzafika pa “mpulumutsi . . . amene ndi Yesu,” ndipo kalambulabwalo wake anali Yohane M’batizi. Atatero Paulo anafotokoza za kuphedwa kwa Yesu ndi kuukitsidwa kwake. (Mac. 13:20-37) Ndiyeno Paulo ananena kuti: “Tsopano dziwani abale anga kuti, ife tikulalikira kwa inu za kukhululukidwa kwa machimo kudzera mwa ameneyu. Dziwaninso kuti . . . aliyense wokhulupirira akuonedwa wopanda mlandu kudzera mwa iyeyu.” Kenako mtumwiyu anachenjeza anthu amene ankamumvetserawo kuti: “Choncho samalani kuti zimene aneneri analemba zisakugwereni, zomwe zimati: ‘Inu onyoza onani zimene ine ndikuchita n’kudabwa nazo. Kenako mudzatha, chifukwa simudzakhulupirira ngakhale pang’ono zimene ndidzachite m’masiku anu, ngakhale wina atakufotokozerani mwatsatanetsatane.’” Zimene anthuwo anachita atamva mawu amenewa zinali zodabwitsa. Baibulo limati: “Anthu anawachonderera kuti adzawafotokozerenso nkhani zimenezi Sabata lotsatira.” Komanso msonkhano wa m’sunagoge utatha, “Ayuda ndi anthu ambiri omwe analowa Chiyuda amene ankalambira Mulungu anatsatira Paulo ndi Baranaba.”​—Mac. 13:38-43.

“Tikupita kwa Anthu a Mitundu Ina” (Machitidwe 13:44-52)

15. Kodi chinachitika n’chiyani tsiku la Sabata Paulo atalankhula ndi anthu?

¹⁵ Sabata lotsatira, “pafupifupi mzinda wonse” unasonkhana pamodzi kudzamvetsera Paulo. Koma Ayuda ena sanasangalale nazo zimenezi ndipo “anayamba kutsutsa mwamwano zimene Paulo ankalankhula.” Zitatero, Paulo ndi Baranaba anawauza molimba mtima kuti: “Inu munali oyenera kuti muyambe kuuzidwa mawu a Mulungu. Koma popeza mukuwakana ndipo mukudziweruza nokha kuti ndinu osayenera moyo wosatha, ife tikupita kwa anthu a mitundu ina. Ndipotu Yehova watilamula kuti, ‘Ndakupatsani udindo woti mukhale kuwala kwa anthu a mitundu ina, kuti mukhale chipulumutso mpaka kumalekezero a dziko lapansi.’”​—Mac. 13:44-47; Yes. 49:6.

16. Kodi Ayuda anatani Paulo ndi Baranaba atawauza mawu amphamvu, nanga amishonalewa anachita chiyani anthu atayamba kuwatsutsa?

¹⁶ Anthu a mitundu ina amene ankamvetsera mawu a Paulo anasangalala, ndipo “anthu onse amene anali ndi maganizo abwino amene akanawathandiza kukapeza moyo wosatha anakhala okhulupirira.” (Mac. 13:48) Pasanapite nthawi mawu a Yehova anafalikira m’dziko lonselo. Koma Ayuda sanalabadire uthengawo, ndiye amishonalewa anawauza kuti ngakhale kuti iwowo anali oyamba kuuzidwa mawu a Mulungu, anasankha kukana Mesiya ndipo anali oyenera kulandira chilango choopsa. Atamva zimenezi, Ayudawo anauza zoipa azimayi otchuka komanso amuna olemekezeka amumzindawo ndipo iwowa “anachititsa kuti Paulo ndi Baranaba ayambe kuzunzidwa, ndipo anawaponya kunja kwa mzinda wawo.” Kodi pamenepa Paulo ndi Baranaba anachita chiyani? Iwo “anasansa fumbi kumapazi awo kuti ukhale umboni wowatsutsa n’kupita ku Ikoniyo.” Kodi zimenezi zikutanthauza kuti Chikhristu chinathera pomwepo ku Antiokeya wa ku Pisidiya? Ayi, chifukwa ophunzira amene anatsala kumeneko “anapitiriza kukhala osangalala komanso mzimu woyera unkawathandiza kwambiri.”​—Mac. 13:50-52.

17-19. Kodi tingatsanzire bwanji chitsanzo chabwino cha Paulo ndi Baranaba, nanga zimenezi zingatithandize bwanji kukhala osangalala?

¹⁷ Zimene amuna okhulupirikawa anachita atayamba kutsutsidwa zikutipatsa phunziro lofunika kwambiri. Timapitiriza kulalikira, ngakhale anthu otchuka m’dzikoli atayesetsa kutiletsa kulengeza uthenga wathu. Onaninso kuti anthu a ku Antiokeya atakana uthenga wa Paulo ndi Baranaba, ophunzirawa “anasansa fumbi kumapazi awo.” Zimenezi sizinatanthauze kuti iwo anakwiya ayi, koma zinasonyeza kuti analibe mlandu wa magazi a anthuwo. Amishonalewa ankazindikira kuti anthu anali ndi ufulu wosankha kumvetsera kapena kukana uthenga wawo. Choncho iwo anangofunikira kusankha kupitiriza kapena kusiya kulalikira, moti anasankha kupitiriza ndipo anachoka kumeneko n’kupita ku Ikoniyo.

¹⁸ Kodi ophunzira amene anatsalira ku Antiokeya anachita chiyani? Iwo anali osangalala ngakhale kuti ankakhala m’dera la anthu ovuta kwambiri omwe sankamvetsera uthenga wabwino. Koma panali chifukwa chimene chinawachititsa kuti azisangalala. Yesu anati: “Osangalala ndi anthu amene akumva mawu a Mulungu n’kuwasunga!” (Luka 11:28) Ndipotu ophunzira a ku Antiokeya wa ku Pisidiya anali otsimikiza mtima kuchita zimenezi.

¹⁹ Mofanana ndi Paulo komanso Baranaba, nthawi zonse tizikumbukira kuti udindo wathu ndi wolalikira uthenga wabwino. Anthu amene timawalalikirawo ali ndi ufulu wosankha kumvetsera kapena ayi. Ngati anthu amene tikuwalalikira akuoneka kuti sakulabadira uthenga wathu, tingachite zimene ophunzira a m’nthawi ya atumwi anachita. Tikamadziwa kufunika kwa uthenga wabwino komanso kulola kuti Mulungu azititsogolera ndi mzimu wake, tidzakhala osangalala ngakhale pamene ena akutitsutsa.​—Agal. 5:18, 22.

1, 2. Kodi ndi zinthu zosiyanasiyana ziti zimene zinachitika pamene Paulo ndi Baranaba anali ku Lusitara?

MUMZINDA wa Lusitara munali chipwirikiti chokhachokha. Munthu wina amene anabadwa wolumala anayamba kudumphadumpha mosangalala amuna enaake awiri amene sankawadziwa atamuchiritsa. Anthu anadabwa kwambiri ndi zimene zinachitikazo ndipo wansembe wa Zeu anabweretsa nkhata zamaluwa kuti adzaveke amuna awiriwo, omwe anthu ankakhulupirira kuti anali milungu. Wansembeyo anabweretsanso ng’ombe zamphongo zimene ankafuna kuzipha kuti azipereke nsembe. Paulo ndi Baranaba anayesetsa kuletsa anthuwo kuti asachite zimene ankafunazo. Anang’amba zovala zawo n’kuthamanga kukalowa m’gulu la anthu lija akufuula mwamphamvu poletsa anthuwo kuti asawalambire. Ngakhale kuti zinali zovuta, iwo anayesetsa kuchonderera anthuwo kuti asachite zimenezi.

² Kenako Ayuda amene ankatsutsa atumwiwo anafika kuchokera ku Antiokeya wa ku Pisidiya ndi ku Ikoniyo. Iwo ananena zinthu zabodza zokhudza Paulo ndi Baranaba ndipo anachititsa kuti anthu a ku Lusitara ayambe kudana nawo. Anthu amene poyamba ankafuna kulambira Paulo, tsopano anamuzungulira n’kuyamba kumugenda mpaka anakomoka. Kenako anamukokera kunja kwa mzinda ali ndi magazi komanso mabala okhaokha poganiza kuti wafa.

3. Kodi m’mutu uno tikambirana mafunso ati?

³ Kodi n’chiyani chinachititsa zimenezi? Kodi ofalitsa uthenga wabwino masiku ano angaphunzire chiyani pa nkhani yokhudza Baranaba, Paulo ndi anthu a ku Lusitara amene sanachedwe kusintha maganizo awo? Kodi akulu a Chikhristu angatsanzire bwanji Baranaba ndi Paulo amene anachita utumiki wawo mwakhama ndipo “ankalankhula molimba mtima chifukwa cha mphamvu ya Yehova”?​—Mac. 14:3.

Anthu Ambiri “Anakhala Okhulupirira” (Machitidwe 14:1-7)

4, 5. N’chifukwa chiyani Paulo ndi Baranaba anapita ku Ikoniyo, ndipo n’chiyani chinachitika kumeneko?

⁴ Masiku angapo m’mbuyomu, Paulo ndi Baranaba anaponyedwa kunja kwa mzinda wa Antiokeya wa ku Pisidiya, umene unkalamuliridwa ndi Aroma, Ayuda amene ankatsutsa atumwiwo atalimbikitsa anthu kuti ayambe kuwazunza. Koma amuna awiriwa sanafooke, m’malomwake ‘anasansira anthu osamverawo fumbi kumapazi awo.’ (Mac. 13:50-52; Mat. 10:14) Paulo ndi Baranaba anachoka mumzindawo mwamtendere ndipo anasiya anthu otsutsawo kuti aweruzidwe ndi Mulungu. (Mac. 18:5, 6; 20:26) Amishonale awiriwo anakhalabe osangalala ndipo anapitiriza ulendo wawo wolalikira. Iwo analowera kum’mwera chakum’mawa ndipo atayenda mtunda wa makilomita pafupifupi 150, anafika m’dera lachonde lomwe ndi lokwera kwambiri ndipo lili pakati pa phiri la Taurus ndi la Sultan.

⁵ Choyamba, Paulo ndi Baranaba anaima mumzinda wa Ikoniyo, womwe unali umodzi mwa mizinda yofunika kwambiri ya Aroma ya m’chigawo cha Galatiya, ndipo anthu ake ankatsatira chikhalidwe cha Agiriki.a Mumzindawu munkakhala Ayuda ambiri komanso anthu ambiri a mitundu ina amene analowa chipembedzo cha Chiyuda. Monga mwa nthawi zonse, Paulo ndi Baranaba analowa m’sunagoge ndi kuyamba kulalikira. (Mac. 13:5, 14) Iwo “analankhula bwino kwambiri moti Ayuda ambiri limodzi ndi Agiriki anakhala okhulupirira.”​—Mac. 14:1.

6. N’chifukwa chiyani Paulo ndi Baranaba ankaphunzitsa mwaluso, nanga tingawatsanzire bwanji?

⁶ N’chifukwa chiyani Paulo ndi Baranaba ankaphunzitsa mwaluso? Paulo ankadziwa bwino kwambiri Malemba. Mwaluso, iye ankatchula mfundo zochokera m’mbiri yakale, mu ulosi komanso m’Chilamulo cha Mose popereka umboni wosonyeza kuti Yesu analidi Mesiya wolonjezedwa. (Mac. 13:15-31; 26:22, 23) Komanso mmene Baranaba ankalankhulira, zinkasonyeza kuti iye amadera nkhawa anthu. (Mac. 4:36, 37; 9:27; 11:23, 24) Amuna onsewa sankadalira nzeru zawo koma ankalankhula “chifukwa cha mphamvu ya Yehova.” Kodi tingatsanzire bwanji amishonale amenewa pa ntchito yathu yolalikira? Tingawatsanzire pochita zinthu zotsatirazi: Tiyenera kuwadziwa bwino Mawu a Mulungu. Tiyenera kusankha Malemba amene angafike pamtima anthu amene akutimvetsera. Tizifufuza njira zolimbikitsira anthu amene tikuwalalikira. Ndipo nthawi zonse pophunzitsa, tisamadalire nzeru zathu koma tizigwiritsa ntchito Mawu a Yehova.

7. (a) Kodi chimachitika n’chiyani anthu akamva uthenga wabwino? (b) Kodi muyenera kukumbukira chiyani ngati banja lanu lagawanika chifukwa chakuti mumakhulupirira uthenga wabwino?

⁷ Komabe, si onse ku Ikoniyo amene anasangalala ndi zimene Paulo ndi Baranaba ankanena. Luka anapitiriza kufotokoza kuti: “Ayuda amene sanakhulupirire, anauza zoipa anthu a mitundu ina n’kuwasokoneza maganizo kuti atsutsane ndi abalewo.” Paulo ndi Baranaba anaona kuti m’pofunika kuti akhalebe kumeneko kuti ateteze uthenga wabwino, ndipo “kwa nthawi yaitali, ankalankhula molimba mtima.” Chifukwa cha zimenezi, “gulu la anthu mumzindawo linagawanika. Ena anali kumbali ya Ayuda, ena kumbali ya atumwi.” (Mac. 14:2-4) Masiku anonso, anthu amachita zimenezi chifukwa ena akamva uthenga wabwino amagwirizana, koma ena amagawanika. (Mat. 10:34-36) Ngati banja lanu lagawanika chifukwa chakuti mumakhulupirira uthenga wabwino, kumbukirani kuti anthu a m’banja lanu mwina anayamba kukutsutsani chifukwa chakuti anthu ena anawauza zabodza. Koma khalidwe lanu labwino lingasonyeze kuti zimene anthu akukuneneranizo n’zabodza ndipo n’kupita kwa nthawi lingathandize kuti anthu amene akukutsutsaniwo asinthe maganizo.​—1 Pet. 2:12; 3:1, 2.

8. N’chifukwa chiyani Paulo ndi Baranaba anachoka ku Ikoniyo, nanga ifeyo tikuphunzirapo chiyani?

⁸ Patapita nthawi, anthu otsutsa a ku Ikoniyo anakonza chiwembu kuti aponye miyala Paulo ndi Baranaba. Amishonalewa atauzidwa zimenezi, anaganiza zochoka n’kupita kukalalikira kudera lina. (Mac. 14:5-7) Masiku ano, alaliki a Ufumu amachitanso chimodzimodzi. Anthu akamalankhula zinthu motsutsana nafe, timapitiriza kulankhula molimba mtima. (Afil. 1:7; 1 Pet. 3:13-15) Koma tikaona kuti anthuwo akufuna kuyambitsa chiwawa, timapewa kuchita zinthu zosayenera zimene zingaike moyo wathu kapena wa okhulupirira anzathu pangozi.​—Miy. 22:3.

‘Yambani Kulambira Mulungu Wamoyo’ (Machitidwe 14:8-19)

9, 10. Kodi mzinda wa Lusitara unali kuti, ndipo tikudziwa zinthu zotani zokhudza anthu akumeneko?

⁹ Paulo ndi Baranaba anapita ku Lusitara, mzinda womwe unkalamuliridwa ndi Aroma ndipo unali pa mtunda wa makilomita pafupifupi 30 kum’mwera chakumadzulo kwa mzinda wa Ikoniyo. Anthu a ku Lusitara ankagwirizana kwambiri ndi anthu a ku Antiokeya wa ku Pisidiya, koma mosiyana ndi ku Antiokeya, ku Lusitara kunalibe Ayuda ambiri. N’kutheka kuti anthu a mumzindawu ankalankhula Chigiriki, koma chilankhulo chawo chenicheni chinali Chilukaoniya. Paulo ndi Baranaba anayamba kulalikira m’malo amene kunkapezeka anthu ambiri, mwina chifukwa chakuti mumzindawo munalibe sunagoge. Nthawi inayake ku Yerusalemu, Petulo anachiritsa munthu amene anabadwa wolumala, ndipo chifukwa cha chozizwitsachi, anthu ambiri anakhala okhulupirira. (Mac. 3:1-10) Nayenso Paulo, pamene anali ku Lusitara anachiritsa munthu amene anabadwa wolumala, koma zimene anthu anachita ataona chozizwitsachi zinali zosiyana kwambiri ndi zimene anthu a ku Yerusalemu aja anachita.​—Mac. 14:8-10.

¹⁰ Monga momwe taonera kumayambiriro kwa nkhani ino, munthu wolumala uja atadumpha n’kuyamba kuyenda, nthawi yomweyo gulu la anthu olambira mafano a ku Lusitara anaganiza zinthu zolakwika. Anthuwo anayamba kutchula Baranaba kuti Zeu, mtsogoleri wa milungu, ndipo Paulo anayamba kumutchula kuti Heme, mwana wa Zeu komanso wolankhula m’malo mwa milungu. (Onani bokosi lakuti “Anthu a ku Lusitara Ankalambira Zeu ndi Heme.”) Koma Baranaba ndi Paulo anayesetsa kuthandiza anthuwo kumvetsa kuti zimene iwo ankaphunzitsa ndiponso kuchita, sankazichita ndi mphamvu za milungu yabodza koma ankazichita ndi mphamvu za Yehova, Mulungu yekhayo amene ndi woona.​—Mac. 14:11-14.

11-13. (a) Kodi Paulo ndi Baranaba ananena chiyani kwa anthu a ku Lusitara? (b) Kodi tikuphunzira chiyani pa zimene Paulo ndi Baranaba ananena?

¹¹ Ngakhale kuti panachitika zoterezi, Paulo ndi Baranaba anayesetsabe kufotokoza mfundo zimene zingafike pamtima anthu amene ankawalalikira. Pamenepa Luka analemba nkhani imene ikutisonyeza njira yabwino yolalikirira uthenga wabwino kwa anthu olambira milungu yabodza. Taonani mmene Paulo ndi Baranaba analankhulira ndi anthuwo. Iwo anati: “Anthu inu, mukuchitiranji zimenezi? Ifenso ndife anthu okhala ndi zofooka ngati inu nomwe. Tikulengeza uthenga wabwino kwa inu kuti musiye zinthu zachabechabezi n’kuyamba kulambira Mulungu wamoyo, amene anapanga kumwamba, dziko lapansi, nyanja ndi zonse zokhala mmenemo. M’mibadwo yam’mbuyomu iye analola anthu a mitundu yonse kuti aziyenda m’njira zawo. Komabe iye sanangokhala wopanda umboni wakuti anachita zabwino. Anakupatsani mvula kuchokera kumwamba ndi nyengo zimene zokolola zanu zimakhala zambiri. Anadzaza mitima yanu ndi chakudya komanso chisangalalo.”​—Mac. 14:15-17.

¹² Kodi tikuphunzira chiyani pa mawu ogwira mtimawa? Choyamba, Paulo ndi Baranaba sankadziona ngati anthu apamwamba kuposa anthu amene ankawalalikirawo. Iwo sanadzikuze koma anavomereza modzichepetsa kuti anali ndi zofooka mofanana ndi anthu olambira mafanowo. N’zoona kuti Paulo ndi Baranaba anali atalandira mzimu woyera komanso anali atamasuka ku ziphunzitso zabodza. Kuwonjezera pamenepa, anali atadalitsidwa mwapadera ndipo ankayembekezera kukalamulira limodzi ndi Khristu. Komabe, iwo ankadziwa kuti anthu a ku Lusitarawo akanathanso kulandira mphatso zimenezi ngati akanamvera Khristu.

¹³ Kodi anthu amene timawalalikira timawaona bwanji? Kodi timawaona kuti ndi ofanana ndi ife? Tikamathandiza ena kuphunzira choonadi cha m’Mawu a Mulungu, kodi timapewa kutamandidwa ngati mmene Paulo ndi Baranaba anachitira? Charles Taze Russell, amene anali katswiri pophunzitsa Mawu a Mulungu ndipo ankatsogolera ntchito yolalikira chakumapeto kwa zaka za m’ma 1800 ndi kumayambiriro kwa zaka za m’ma 1900, anapereka chitsanzo chabwino pa nkhani imeneyi. Iye analemba kuti: “Sitikufuna kuti anthu azititamanda kapena azitamanda mabuku athu. Sitikufunanso kuti anthu azititchula kuti Abusa kapena Arabi.” M’bale Russell anasonyeza mtima wodzichepetsa ngati umene Paulo ndi Baranaba anasonyeza. Chimodzimodzinso ifeyo, cholinga chathu polalikira sikufuna ulemerero koma kuthandiza anthu kuti ayambe kulambira “Mulungu wamoyo.”

14-16. Kodi tingaphunzire mfundo yachiwiri ndi yachitatu iti, tikaganizira zimene Paulo ndi Baranaba anauza anthu a ku Lusitara?

¹⁴ Taonani mfundo yachiwiri imene tingaphunzire pa zimene Paulo ndi Baranaba ananena. Iwo ankasintha ulaliki wawo kuti ugwirizane ndi anthu amene ankawamvetsera. Mosiyana ndi Ayuda komanso anthu amene analowa Chiyuda ku Ikoniyo, anthu a ku Lusitara ankadziwa pang’ono chabe mwinanso sankadziwa n’komwe Malemba kapena za ubwenzi umene unalipo pakati pa Mulungu ndi mtundu wa Isiraeli. Komabe anthu amene Paulo ndi Baranaba ankawalalikira anali alimi. Mzinda wa Lusitara unali ndi minda yachonde komanso nyengo yake inali yabwino kwambiri. Anthuwo akanatha kuona umboni wakuti kuli Mlengi poona zinthu zosiyanasiyana monga nyengo imene zokolola zimakhala zambiri, ndipo amishonalewa powalalikira, anagwiritsa ntchito mfundoyi, yomwe anthuwo ankaidziwa bwino.​—Aroma 1:19, 20.

¹⁵ Ifenso tingachite bwino kusintha ulaliki wathu kuti uzigwirizana ndi anthu amene tikuwalalikira. Ngakhale kuti mlimi angadzale mbewu yofanana m’minda yake ingapo, koma polima iye amafunika kugwiritsa ntchito njira zosiyanasiyana mogwirizana ndi nthaka ya m’mundamo. Mwachitsanzo, mlimi angafunike kupanga mizera m’munda wa kumtunda, koma polima m’dimba, sangafunike kupanga mizera koma kungotipula n’kudzala mbewu. Mofanana ndi zimenezi, timadzala mbewu yofanana, yomwe ndi uthenga wa Ufumu ndipo umapezeka m’Mawu a Mulungu. Komabe, tikamatsanzira Paulo ndi Baranaba, tidzayesetsa kuti tidziwe mmene zinthu zilili pa moyo wa anthu amene tikuwalalikirawo kapenanso zinthu zimene amakhulupirira. Tikadziwa zimenezi, tidzakwanitsa kusintha ulaliki wathu.​—Luka 8:11, 15.

¹⁶ Palinso mfundo yachitatu imene tingaphunzire pa nkhani yokhudza Paulo, Baranaba ndi anthu amumzinda wa Lusitara. Ngakhale titayesetsa chotani, nthawi zina Satana amachotsa mbewu imene tadzala kapena mbewuyo imagwera pamiyala. (Mat. 13:18-21) Ngati zinthu zimenezi zitachitika, musakhumudwe. Muzikumbukira zimene Paulo nthawi ina anakumbutsa ophunzira a ku Roma kuti, “aliyense wa ife [kuphatikizapo munthu aliyense amene timakambirana naye Mawu a Mulungu] adzayankha yekha kwa Mulungu.”​—Aroma 14:12.

“Anawapereka kwa Yehova” (Machitidwe 14:20-28)

17. Kodi Paulo ndi Baranaba anapita kuti atachoka ku Debe, nanga n’chifukwa chiyani?

¹⁷ Anthu atakokera Paulo kunja kwa mzinda wa Lusitara n’kumusiya kumeneko poganiza kuti wafa, ophunzira anamuzungulira ndipo iye anadzuka, kenako anapeza malo ogona mumzinda momwemo. Tsiku lotsatira, Paulo ndi Baranaba anayamba ulendo wopita ku Debe, mzinda umene unali pa mtunda wa makilomita 100. N’zodziwikiratu kuti Paulo anayenda ulendo umenewu akumva kupweteka kwambiri, chifukwa panali patangopita maola owerengeka kuchokera pamene anamugenda. Komabe, iye ndi Baranaba anapirira ndipo atafika ku Debe, anaphunzitsa “anthu ambiri ndithu kuti akhale ophunzira.” Kenako, m’malo modutsa njira yachidule pobwerera kunyumba kwawo ku Antiokeya wa ku Siriya, iwo “anabwerera ku Lusitara, ku Ikoniyo ndi ku Antiokeya [wa ku Pisidiya].” N’chifukwa chiyani anachita zimenezi? Iwo ankafuna kukalimbikitsa “ophunzira komanso kuwathandiza kuti apitirize kukhala ndi chikhulupiriro.” (Mac. 14:20-22) Amuna awiriwa anasonyeza chitsanzo chabwino kwambiri. Iwo ankafunitsitsa kuchita zinthu zimene zingathandize mpingo m’malo mongodzisangalatsa okha. Masiku ano, oyang’anira madera komanso amishonale amatengera chitsanzo chimenechi.

18. Kodi zimayenda bwanji kuti munthu aikidwe kukhala mkulu?

¹⁸ Kuwonjezera pa kulimbikitsa ophunzira ndi mawu kapena zochita zawo, Paulo ndi Baranaba anaika “akulu mumpingo uliwonse.” Ngakhale kuti Paulo ndi Baranaba “anatumizidwa ndi mzimu woyera” pa ulendo waumishonalewu, iwo anapemphera ndi kusala kudya pamene “anawapereka [akuluwo] kwa Yehova.” (Mac. 13:1-4; 14:23) Zinthu ngati zimenezi zimachitikanso masiku ano. Bungwe la akulu lisanavomereze munthu kuti aikidwe paudindo, akuluwo amayamba apemphera kaye, kenako amakambirana ngati m’baleyo akukwaniritsa mfundo za m’Malemba kuti akhale paudindowo. (1 Tim. 3:1-10, 12, 13; Tito 1:5-9; Yak. 3:17, 18; 1 Pet. 5:2, 3) Akulu savomereza munthu paudindo pongoona kutalika kwa nthawi imene munthuyo wakhala Mkhristu. M’malomwake zolankhula zake, makhalidwe ake komanso mbiri imene ali nayo n’zimene zimasonyeza mmene mzimu woyera ukugwirira ntchito pa moyo wake. Munthu amayenerera kukhala woyang’anira ngati zochita zake zikugwirizana ndi mfundo za m’Malemba zimene abusa ankhosa za Mulungu amayenera kukwaniritsa. (Agal. 5:22, 23) Woyang’anira dera ndi amene amaika anthu paudindo.​—Yerekezerani ndi 1 Timoteyo 5:22.

19. Kodi akulu amadziwa kuti adzayankha mlandu wotani, nanga amatsanzira bwanji Paulo ndi Baranaba?

¹⁹ Akulu mumpingo amadziwa kuti adzayankha mlandu kwa Mulungu chifukwa cha mmene amachitira zinthu ndi mpingo. (Aheb. 13:17) Mofanana ndi Paulo ndi Baranaba, akulu amatsogolera pa ntchito yolalikira. Zimene iwo amalankhula zimalimbikitsa Akhristu anzawo, ndipo nthawi zonse amakhala ofunitsitsa kuchita zinthu zimene zingathandize mpingo m’malo modzisangalatsa okha.​—Afil. 2:3, 4.

20. Kodi kuwerenga za ntchito imene abale athu akugwira chifukwa cha chikhulupiriro chawo kungatithandize bwanji?

²⁰ Paulo ndi Baranaba atabwerera ku Antiokeya wa ku Siriya kumene anayambira umishonale wawo, “anawafotokozera zinthu zambiri zimene Mulungu anachita kudzera mwa iwo. Anawafotokozeranso kuti Mulungu anatsegulanso khomo kuti anthu a mitundu ina akhale okhulupirira.” (Mac. 14:27) Tikamawerenga za ntchito zimene abale athu a Chikhristu akugwira masiku ano chifukwa cha chikhulupiriro chawo ndi kuona mmene Yehova akuwadalitsira, zimatilimbikitsa kuti tipitirize ‘kulankhula molimba mtima chifukwa cha mphamvu ya Yehova.’