“Wolokerani ku Makedoniya Kuno”

1-3. (a) Kodi mzimu woyera unatsogolera bwanji Paulo ndi anzake? (b) Kodi tikambirana chiyani munkhaniyi?

GULU la azimayi linanyamuka kuchoka mumzinda wa Filipi ku Makedoniya ndipo pasanapite nthawi yaitali linafika pamtsinje wina waung’ono wotchedwa Gangitesi. Monga mmene ankachitira nthawi zonse, iwo anakhala pansi m’mphepete mwa mtsinjewo kuti apemphere kwa Mulungu wa Isiraeli, ndipo Yehova ankawaona.​—2 Mbiri 16:9; Sal. 65:2.

² Pa nthawiyi n’kuti gulu la amuna enaake likunyamuka mumzinda wa Lusitara umene unali kum’mwera kwa chigawo cha Galatiya. Mzindawu unali pamtunda wa makilomita oposa 800 kum’mawa kwa mzinda wa Filipi. Patapita masiku angapo, amunawa anafika mumsewu wabwino kwambiri wa Aroma wopita kumadzulo, kuchigawo cha Asia kumene kunkakhala anthu ambiri. Amunawa, omwe anali Paulo, Sila ndi Timoteyo ankafunitsitsa kudutsa mumsewu umenewu kuti akafike ku Efeso ndiponso mizinda ina kumene anthu ambiri ankafunikira kumva za Khristu. Komabe iwo asanayambe ulendo wawo wodutsa mumsewu umenewu, mzimu woyera unawaletsa koma Baibulo silifotokoza mmene mzimuwo unawaletsera. Iwo analetsedwa kulalikira ku Asia. Chifukwa chiyani? Yesu, pogwiritsa ntchito mzimu wa Mulungu, ankafuna kutsogolera Paulo ndi anzakewo pa ulendowo kuti adutse ku Asia Minor, kuwoloka nyanja ya Aegean mpaka kukafika m’mphepete mwa mtsinje waung’ono wotchedwa Gangitesi.

³ Tingaphunzire mfundo zothandiza masiku ano tikaona mmene Yesu anatsogolera Paulo ndi anzake aja pa ulendo umenewu wopita ku Makedoniya. Choncho, tiyeni tikambirane zinthu zina zimene zinachitika pa ulendowu, womwe unali ulendo wachiwiri waumishonale wa Paulo, umene unayamba cha m’ma 49 C.E.

“Mulungu Watiitana” (Machitidwe 16:6-15)

4, 5. (a) Kodi chinachitika n’chiyani Paulo ndi anzake atatsala pang’ono kufika ku Bituniya? (b) Kodi ophunzirawa anaganiza zochita chiyani, nanga zotsatira zake zinali zotani?

⁴ Paulo ndi anzake aja ataletsedwa kulalikira ku Asia, anapita chakumpoto kuti akalalikire m’mizinda ya ku Bituniya. Kuti akafike kumeneko, ayenera kuti anayenda kwa masiku angapo m’misewu yafumbi, kudutsa m’zigawo za Fulugiya ndi Galatiya zomwe zinali ndi nyumba zotalikirana. Komabe, atatsala pang’ono kufika ku Bituniya, Yesu anawaletsanso pogwiritsa ntchito mzimu woyera. (Mac. 16:6, 7) Pa nthawiyi, amunawa ayenera kuti anasokonezeka maganizo kwambiri. Iwo ankadziwa uthenga woti alalikire ndiponso mmene angalalikirire, koma sankadziwa kumene angakalalikire. Tinganene kuti iwo anagogoda pakhomo lopita ku Asia koma sanawatsegulire. Anagogodanso pakhomo lopita ku Bituniya koma sanawatsegulire. Ngakhale zinali choncho, Paulo anatsimikiza ndi mtima wonse kugogoda mpaka atapeza khomo limene lingatsegulidwe. Kenako amunawa anachita zinthu zimene zinkaoneka ngati zosathandiza. Analowera kumadzulo ndipo anayenda mtunda wa makilomita 550 kudutsa m’mizinda yosiyanasiyana mpaka anafika padoko la Torowa, kumene anthu ankakwerera ngalawa zopita ku Makedoniya. (Mac. 16:8) Kumeneko, Paulo anagogodanso kachitatu, ndipo khomo linawatsegukira.

⁵ Luka amene analemba Uthenga Wabwino, anakumana ndi Paulo ku Torowa ndipo anayamba kuyendera limodzi. Iye anafotokoza zimene zinachitika kuti: “Ndiyeno usiku Paulo anaona masomphenya. Anaona munthu wina wa ku Makedoniya ataima n’kumuuza kuti: ‘Wolokerani ku Makedoniya kuno mudzatithandize.’ Atangoona masomphenya amenewo, tinaganiza zopita ku Makedoniya. Tinatsimikiza kuti Mulungu watiitana kuti tikalengeze uthenga wabwino kwa anthu akumeneko.”a (Mac. 16:9, 10) Tsopano Paulo anadziwa kumene angalalikire. Iye ayenera kuti anasangalala kwambiri chifukwa chakuti sanataye mtima n’kubwerera panjira. Nthawi yomweyo amuna 4 amenewa anakwera ngalawa n’kupita ku Makedoniya.

6, 7. (a) Kodi tikuphunzira chiyani pa zimene zinachitika pa ulendo wa Paulo? (b) Kodi zimene zinachitikira Paulo zikutilimbikitsa kuti tizitani?

⁶ Kodi nkhaniyi ikutiphunzitsa chiyani? Taonani mfundo zotsatirazi: Mzimu wa Mulungu unatsogolera Paulo atayamba kale ulendo wake wopita ku Asia. Yesu anatsogolera Paulo atayandikira ku Bituniya. Komanso Yesu anauza Paulo kuti apite ku Makedoniya atafika kale ku Torowa. Yesu, yemwe ndi Mutu wa mpingo, angatitsogolerenso masiku ano mwanjira imeneyi. (Akol. 1:18) Mwachitsanzo, mwina takhala tikuganizira kwa nthawi yaitali zochita upainiya kapenanso zopita kudera limene kukufunika olalikira Ufumu ambiri. Komabe, pogwiritsa ntchito mzimu wa Mulungu, Yesu angatitsogolere pokhapokha ngati tayamba kuchita zinthu zimene zingatithandize kuti tikwanitse cholinga chathucho. N’chifukwa chiyani? Taganizirani chitsanzo ichi: Munthu angathe kukhotetsa galimoto kuti ipite kudzanja lamanja kapena lamanzere pokhapokha ngati galimotoyo ikuyenda. N’chimodzimodzinso ndi utumiki wathu. Yesu amatitsogolera kuti tikwanitse utumiki wathu, pokhapokha ngati tikudzipereka ndi mtima wonse kuchita zinthu zimene zingatithandize kukwanitsa utumikiwo.

⁷ Nanga bwanji ngati zikuoneka kuti sizikutiyendera ngakhale titayesetsa ndi mtima wonse? Kodi tiyenera kutaya mtima, n’kumaganiza kuti mzimu wa Mulungu sukutitsogolera? Ayi. Kumbukirani kuti Paulo nayenso anakumana ndi zinthu zina zokhumudwitsa. Komabe, anapitiriza kufufuza mpaka anapeza khomo limene linamutsegukira. Tingakhale otsimikizira kuti tikapitiriza kufufuza mwakhama, “khomo lalikulu la utumiki” lidzatitsegukira.​—1 Akor. 16:9.

8. (a) Fotokozani mmene mzinda wa Filipi unalili. (b) Kodi ndi zinthu ziti zosangalatsa zimene zinachitika Paulo atalalikira ‘kumalo opempherera’?

⁸ Atafika kuchigawo cha Makedoniya, Paulo ndi anzake aja anapita ku Filipi, mzinda umene anthu ake ankanyadira kuti ndi Aroma. Mzinda wa Filipi unkakhala ngati mzinda wa Roma waung’ono umene unali ku Makedoniya chifukwa kunkakhala asilikali a Chiroma amene anapuma pa ntchito. Amishonalewo anapeza dera lina lake kumene ankaganiza kuti kunali “malo opempherera.”b Malowa anali kunja kwa geti la mzindawo, m’mphepete mwa mtsinje waung’ono. Pa tsiku la Sabata, iwo anapita kumalo amenewo ndipo anapeza azimayi angapo amene anasonkhana kuti alambire Mulungu. Ophunzirawo anakhala pansi ndipo anayamba kulankhula nawo. Mayi wina dzina lake Lidiya “ankamvetsera, [ndipo] Yehova anatsegula kwambiri mtima wake.” Lidiya anasangalala kwambiri ndi zimene anaphunzira kwa amishonalewo moti iye ndi anthu a m’banja lake anabatizidwa. Kenako, anachonderera Paulo ndi anzake aja kuti apite kunyumba kwake ndi kukakhala kumeneko.c​—Mac. 16:13-15.

9. Kodi anthu ambiri masiku ano amatsanzira bwanji Paulo, nanga amapeza madalitso ati?

⁹ Tangoganizani mmene anthu anasangalalira Lidiya atabatizidwa. Paulo nayenso ayenera kuti anasangalala chifukwa chakuti anavomera ‘kuwolokera ku Makedoniya’ ndiponso chifukwa chakuti Yehova anaganiza zomugwiritsa ntchito limodzi ndi anzake aja poyankha mapemphero a azimayi oopa Mulungu amenewo. Masiku anonso, abale ndi alongo ambirimbiri, achinyamata ndi achikulire, okwatira ndi osakwatira, amasamukira kumadera amene kukufunika ofalitsa Ufumu ambiri. N’zoona kuti amakumana ndi mavuto, koma samada nawo nkhawa akaganizira za mmene amasangalalira akapeza anthu ngati Lidiya, amene amavomera kuphunzira choonadi cha m’Baibulo n’kuyamba kuchigwiritsa ntchito. Kodi inunso mungasinthe zinthu zina pa moyo wanu kuti mukwanitse ‘kuwolokera’ kudera kumene kukufunika anthu ambiri olalikira? Mukatero mudzadalitsidwa kwambiri. Mwachitsanzo, taganizirani m’bale wina wazaka za m’ma 20 dzina lake Aaron, amene anasamukira m’dziko lina ku Central America. Iye analankhula mawu amene anthu ambiri amalankhula akuti: “Kutumikira kudera lina kwandithandiza kuti ndikule mwauzimu komanso kuti ndikhale pa ubwenzi wabwino kwambiri ndi Yehova. Utumiki ukusangalatsa kwambiri ndipo panopa ndikuphunzira Baibulo ndi anthu 8.”

“Gulu Lonselo Linanyamuka N’kuukira Atumwiwo” (Machitidwe 16:16-24)

10. Kodi ziwanda zinachititsa bwanji kuti zinthu zisinthe kwa Paulo ndi anzake?

¹⁰ N’zoonekeratu kuti Satana anakwiya kwambiri chifukwa chakuti uthenga wabwino unayamba kufalikira kudera limene anthu pafupifupi onse ankaoneka kuti akuchita zofuna za Satanayo ndi ziwanda zake. N’chifukwa chake n’zosadabwitsa kuti iwo anachititsa kuti Paulo ndi anzakewo ayambe kuzunzidwa. Nthawi zonse Paulo ndi anzakewo akamapita kumalo opempherera, mtsikana wina wantchito yemwe anagwidwa ndi ziwanda, amene ankapezera ndalama mabwana ake polosera za m’tsogolo, ankawatsatira, uku akufuula kuti: “Anthu awa ndi akapolo a Mulungu Wam’mwambamwamba ndipo akulengeza njira ya chipulumutso kwa inu.” N’kutheka kuti chiwandacho chinkachititsa mtsikanayo kulankhula mawu amenewa mofuula kuti zizioneka ngati zimene ankaloserazo zinkachokera kwa Mulungu mofanana ndi zimene Paulo ankaphunzitsa. Mwanjira imeneyi, anthu omvetsera akanasokonezeka ndipo sakanadziwa otsatira enieni a Khristu. Koma Paulo anatulutsa chiwandacho mwa mtsikanayo ndipo anakhala chete.​—Mac. 16:16-18.

11. Kodi n’chiyani chinachitikira Paulo ndi Sila atatulutsa chiwanda mwa mtsikana wina?

¹¹ Mabwana a mtsikanayo ataona kuti sangathenso kupeza ndalama mosavuta, anakwiya kwambiri. Anagwira Paulo ndi Sila n’kupita nawo kumsika kumene kunali akuluakulu oimira boma la Roma amene ankaweruza milandu. Mabwanawo anakopa oweruzawo amene anali a tsankho ndiponso a mtima wokonda kwambiri dziko lawo ponena kuti: ‘Ayuda awa akusokoneza kwambiri mzinda wathu, pophunzitsa miyambo imene kwa ife Aroma ndi yosaloleka kuitsatira kapena kuichita.’ Atangomaliza kulankhula mawu amenewa, “gulu lonselo [mumsikawo] linanyamuka n’kuukira atumwiwo,” ndipo akuluakulu a zamalamulo aja analamula kuti “awakwapule ndi ndodo.” Zitatero, Paulo ndi Sila anatengedwa n’kupita nawo kundende. Woyang’anira ndendeyo anatenga amuna ovulalawo n’kuwatsekera m’chipinda chamkati cha ndendeyo ndipo anamanga mapazi awo m’matangadza. (Mac. 16:19-24) Woyang’anira ndendeyo atatseka chitseko, m’ndendemo munali mdima wandiweyani ndipo Paulo ndi Sila sankatha kuonana. Koma Yehova ankaona zonsezi.​—Sal. 139:12.

12. (a) Kodi ophunzira a Khristu amamva bwanji akamazunzidwa, nanga n’chifukwa chiyani? (b) Kodi Satana ndi otsatira ake amagwiritsa ntchito njira ziti pozunza Akhristu oona?

¹² Zaka zingapo m’mbuyomo, Yesu anauza otsatira ake kuti: “Adzakuzunzani.” (Yoh. 15:20) Choncho, Paulo ndi anzake atawolokera ku Makedoniya, anali okonzeka kukumana ndi anthu otsutsa. Atayamba kuzunzidwa, iwo sanaone ngati Yehova sakusangalala nawo, koma anadziwa kuti amene akuchititsa zimenezi ndi Satana chifukwa wakwiya kwambiri. Masiku anonso, otsatira a Satana amagwiritsa ntchito njira zofanana ndi zimene anagwiritsa ntchito ku Filipi. Anthu achinyengo amene amatitsutsa, amatinamizira mabodza kusukulu ngakhalenso kuntchito ndipo zimenezi zimachititsa kuti anthu ayambe kutitsutsa. M’mayiko ena, anthu azipembedzo amene amatitsutsa, amatisumira kukhoti ndipo tingati amanena kuti: ‘A Mboni za Yehova akusokoneza anthu pophunzitsa miyambo imene ife “otsatira zikhulupiriro za makolo athu” sitingagwirizane nayo.’ M’madera ena, Akhristu anzathu amamenyedwa komanso kuponyedwa m’ndende. Koma Yehova amaona zonsezi.​—1 Pet. 3:12.

“Pasanapite Nthawi Yaitali, . . . Anabatizidwa” (Machitidwe 16:25-34)

13. Kodi n’chiyani chinachititsa woyang’anira ndende kufunsa kuti: “Ndichite chiyani kuti ndipulumuke?”

¹³ Paulo ndi Sila ayenera kuti anafunikira nthawi kuti maganizo awo akhazikikenso chifukwa cha zinthu zoopsa zimene zinawachitikira tsiku limenelo. Koma pofika pakati pa usiku, ululu umene ankamva chifukwa cha kumenyedwa unali utachepa, moti “anayamba kupemphera ndiponso kutamanda Mulungu poimba nyimbo.” Kenako mwadzidzidzi, kunachitika chivomerezi chimene chinagwedeza ndendeyo. Woyang’anira ndende atadzuka n’kuona kuti zitseko ndi zotsegula, anachita mantha chifukwa ankaganiza kuti akaidiwo athawa. Podziwa kuti alandira chilango chifukwa choti akaidi aja athawa, iye “anasolola lupanga lake kuti adziphe.” Koma Paulo anafuula kuti: “Usadzivulaze, tonse tilipo!” Woyang’anira ndendeyo anafunsa akunjenjemera kuti: “Mabwana, ndichite chiyani kuti ndipulumuke?” Popeza Paulo ndi Sila sakanatha kumupulumutsa koma Yesu yekha, iwo anamuyankha kuti: “Khulupirira Ambuye Yesu ndipo udzapulumuka.”​—Mac. 16:25-31.

14. (a) Kodi Paulo ndi Sila anathandiza bwanji woyang’anira ndende? (b) Kodi Paulo ndi Sila anadalitsidwa bwanji chifukwa chokhalabe osangalala pamene ankazunzidwa?

¹⁴ Kodi funso la woyang’anira ndende uja linali lochokera pansi pa mtima? Paulo sanakayikire kuti munthuyo akufunsa zenizeni. Woyang’anira ndendeyo sanali Myuda, ndipo sankadziwa Malemba. Kuti akhale Mkhristu ankafunika kuphunzira ndi kuvomereza mfundo zoyambirira za choonadi za m’Malemba. Choncho kwa nthawi yaitali, Paulo ndi Sila analankhula “mawu a Yehova kwa iye.” Atatanganidwa kwambiri ndi kuphunzitsa Malemba, mwina amunawa anaiwala za ululu umene ankamva chifukwa chokwapulidwa. Koma woyang’anira ndendeyo anaona mabala akuluakulu amene anali kumsana kwawo ndipo anawatsuka. Kenako “pasanapite nthawi yaitali, iye ndi anthu onse a m’banja lake anabatizidwa.” Pamenepatu Paulo ndi Sila anadalitsidwa kwambiri chifukwa chopitirizabe kukhala osangalala pamene ankazunzidwa.​—Mac. 16:32-34.

15. (a) Kodi a Mboni ambiri masiku ano amatani potsanzira Paulo ndi Sila? (b) N’chifukwa chiyani tiyenera kupita kunyumba za anthu a m’gawo lathu mobwerezabwereza?

¹⁵ Mofanana ndi Paulo ndi Sila, a Mboni ambiri masiku ano amalalikira uthenga wabwino ngakhale pamene atsekeredwa m’ndende chifukwa cha chikhulupiriro chawo, ndipo zotsatira zake zimakhala zabwino. Mwachitsanzo, m’dziko lina kumene ntchito yathu inali yoletsedwa, pa nthawi ina pafupifupi hafu ya a Mboni a m’dzikolo, anaphunzira choonadi chonena za Yehova pamene anali kundende. (Yes. 54:17) Onaninso kuti woyang’anira ndende uja anapempha kuti athandizidwe, chivomerezi chitachitika. Mofanana ndi zimenezo, anthu enanso masiku ano amene amatsutsa kwambiri uthenga wa Ufumu, angasinthe n’kuyamba kumvetsera uthengawu atakumana ndi mavuto. Tikamapita kunyumba za anthu a m’gawo lathu mobwerezabwereza, timasonyeza kuti ndife okonzeka kuwaphunzitsa.

“Kodi Tsopano Akutitulutsa Mwamseri?” (Machitidwe 16:35-40)

16. Kodi zinthu zinasintha bwanji tsiku lotsatira, Paulo ndi Sila atakwapulidwa?

¹⁶ M’mawa wa tsiku lotsatira, akuluakulu a zamalamulo analamula kuti Paulo ndi Sila amasulidwe. Koma Paulo anati: “Iwo atikwapula pamaso pa anthu n’kutitsekera m’ndende popanda kutizenga mlandu, chikhalirecho ndife Aroma. Kodi tsopano akutitulutsa mwamseri? Ayi, zimenezo sizitheka! Abwere eniakewo adzatitulutse okha.” Akuluakulu a zamalamulowo “anachita mantha” atamva kuti anthuwo anali nzika za Roma chifukwa anawaphwanyira ufulu wawo.d Tsopano zinthu zinavuta. Ophunzirawo anakwapulidwa pamaso pa anthu ndipo akuluakulu a zamalamulowo anafunikanso kuwapepesa pamaso pa anthu. Iwo anachonderera Paulo ndi Sila kuti achoke mumzinda umenewo. Ophunzira awiriwa anamvera koma asanachoke ku Filipi, analimbikitsa kaye gulu la ophunzira atsopano limene linkakula. Atachita zimenezi anachoka mumzindawo.

17. Kodi Akhristu atsopano anaphunzira chiyani pa zimene Paulo ndi Sila anachita pololera kuti azunzidwe?

¹⁷ N’kutheka kuti Paulo ndi Sila sakanakwapulidwa ngati akuluakulu a zamalamulo akanalemekeza ufulu wawo monga nzika za Roma. (Mac. 22:25, 26) Komabe, ophunzira a ku Filipi akanaganiza kuti atumwiwa agwiritsa ntchito ufulu wawo wokhala nzika za Roma kuti asazunzidwe chifukwa cha Khristu. Kodi zimenezi zikanakhudza bwanji chikhulupiriro cha ophunzira amene sanali nzika za Roma, omwe malamulo sakanawateteza kuti asakwapulidwe? Pololera kuti azunzidwe, Paulo ndi Sila anapereka chitsanzo kwa ophunzira atsopanowo kuti otsatira Khristu angapirire ngati akuzunzidwa. Komanso Paulo ndi Sila anachita bwino kukakamiza akuluakulu a zamalamulo kuti anene pamaso pa anthu kuti anawaphwanyira ufulu wawo. Zimenezi zikanathandiza kuti akuluakulu a bomawo asadzazunzenso Akhristu ena poopa kuphwanya malamulo.

18. (a) Kodi oyang’anira a Chikhristu masiku ano amatsanzira bwanji Paulo? (b) Kodi ‘timateteza bwanji uthenga wabwino ndi kukhazikitsa mwalamulo ntchito yolengeza uthenga wabwino’ masiku ano?

¹⁸ Masiku anonso oyang’anira mumpingo wa Chikhristu amatsogolera anthu popereka chitsanzo chabwino. Zilizonse zimene amayembekezera kuti Akhristu anzawo azichita, abusa a Chikhristuwa amakhalanso ofunitsitsa kuchita zomwezo. Mofanana ndi Paulo, timaganizira bwino nthawi komanso mmene tingagwiritsire ntchito ufulu wathu mogwirizana ndi malamulo podziteteza. Ngati m’pofunika, timakadandaula ku makhoti ang’onoang’ono kapena akuluakulu a m’dziko lathu kapena a m’dziko lina kuti tizitha kulambira Mulungu mwaufulu. Cholinga chathu sikufuna kusintha malamulo a dziko, koma ‘kuteteza uthenga wabwino ndi kukhazikitsa mwalamulo ntchito yolengeza uthenga wabwino,’ mogwirizana ndi zimene Paulo analembera mpingo wa ku Filipi patapita zaka pafupifupi 10 atamasulidwa m’ndende ku Filipi komweko. (Afil. 1:7) Kaya akhotiwo aweruza motikomera kapena ayi, mofanana ndi Paulo ndi anzake aja, timakhala otsimikiza ndi mtima wonse kupitirizabe ‘kulengeza uthenga wabwino’ kulikonse kumene mzimu wa Mulungu ungatitsogolere kupita.​—Mac. 16:10.