MSOLO 12

‘Adalewalewa Mwakukhwimika Thangwe Akhadapasidwa Mphanvu na Yahova’

Paulo na Barnaba adalatiza kubzicepesa, kupirira, na kukhwimika

Nkhaniyi yacokera pa Mabasa 14:1-28

1, 2. N’ciyani cidacitika pomwe Paulo na Barnaba akhali ku Listra?

MU LISTRA mukhana phiringu. Mwamuna munango omwe adabadwa wakupunduka minyendo adamoga mwakukondwa pomwe adapozedwa na amuna awiri omwe akhawadziwa lini. Wanthu adadabwa na bzimwebzi ndipo wantsembe munango wa mulungu wakucemeredwa Zeu adatenga nkhata za maluwa kuti akapase amuna awiriwa, ndipo thimu la wanthu lire likhakhulupira kuti amuna wale akhali mirungu. Wantsembeyo adabweresa ng’ombe zimuna zomwe akhafuna kupha kuti apereke ntsembe. Paulo na Barnaba adakuwa kuti aletse wanthuwo kucita bzomwe akhafuna kucitabzo mpaka adang’amba bzakubvala bzawo. Patsogolo pace adathamanga pakati pa thimulo acikumbira kuti aleke kuwanamata. Napo bzikhali tenepo, iwo adaneseka kwene-kwene kuletsa wanthuwo kucita bzimwebzo.

² Tenepo anyakutsutsa wacidjuda omwe akhakhala ku Antiyokiya wa ku Pisidiya na wa ku Ikoniyo adafika. Mwakuphatisa basa mafala yakunama, iwo adadzonga makumbukidwe ya wanthu wa ku Listra. Wanthu abodzi-bodzi omwe akhafuna kunamata Paulo wale adamuzungulira aciyamba kumuthusira minyala mpaka iye kusala pang’ono kufa. Patsogolo pace wanthuwo adakwekweta thupi la Paulo lomwe likhana bzironda mpaka kunja kwa msuwo ukulu wa mzinda acimusiya kumweko pakukumbuka kuti akhadafa.

3. Kodi ni mibvunzo iponi yomwe tin’cezerana mu msolo uno?

³ N’ciyani comwe cidacitisa bzimwebzi? Kodi apalizi wa mafala yabwino wa ntsiku zino akupfunza ciyani na nkhani ya Barnaba, Paulo na wanthu wa ku Listra omwe adacinja makumbukidwe yawo mwakamkulumize? Kodi akulu wacikristau ntsiku zino angatewezere tani ciratizo ca Paulo na Barnaba, omwe adapirira pa kucita utumiki bwawo mwakukhulupirika, mwa ‘kulewalewa mwakukhwimika thangwe ra mphanvu yomwe adapasidwa na Yahova?’ — Mab. 14:3.

“Thimu Likulu . . . Lidakhulupira” (Mabasa 14:1-7)

4, 5. N’tangwe ranyi Paulo na Barnaba adayenda ku Ikoniyo ndipo n’ciyani comwe cidacitika kumweko?

⁴ Pakhalibe kupita ntsiku zizinji kucokera pomwe Paulo na Barnaba akhadathothedwa mu mzinda waciroma wa Antiyokiya wa ku Pisidiya pambuyo pa anyakutsutsa wacidjuda kuwanyosera mabvuto. Tenepo, m’mbuto mwa kusunama, amuna awiriwa “adakunkhumula pfumbi ku nzayo zawo” kwa wanthu wakukhala mu mzindamu thangwe iwo akhabvuma lini mafala ya Mulungu. (Mab. 13:50-52; Mat. 10:14) Paulo na Barnaba adayenda mwa mtendere ndipo adasiya kuti anyakutsutsawo adzatongedwe na Mulungu. (Mab. 18:5, 6; 20:26) Mwakusaya kuluza cikondweso, amisiyonario awiri wale adapitiriza na ulendo bwawo bwa kupalizira. Pomwe adafamba mtantho wa makilometro pafupi-fupi 150 kuyendera kumabvadzuwa, iwo adafika ku mbuto zomwe zikhana ndovolo zomwe zikhali pakati pa mapiri ya Tauro na Sultau.

⁵ Pakuyamba, Paulo na Barnaba adaima ku Ikoniyo omwe ukhali ubodzi wa mizinda yakufunika kwene-kwene ya cigawo ca Roma ca Galatiya.a Mwakusiyana na mizinda inango, Ikoniyo akhatewezera cikhalidwe ca Cigerego. Mu mzinda umweyu wanthu azinji akhali Adjuda ndipo winango akhali wakutendeukira ku Cidjuda. Ninga mwa cizolowezi, Paulo na Barnaba adapita mu sinagoga aciyamba kupfunzisa. (Mab. 13:5, 14) Iwo “adalewalewa bwino kwene-kwene mwakuti thimu likulu la Adjuda na Agerego lidakhulupira.” — Mab. 14:1.

IKONIYO — MZINDA WA AFRIJIYA

Mzinda wa Ikoniyo ukhali pa mapiri yakupswipirira bwino na ya ndovolo. Pa mzindayo pakhana mseu wakufunika kwene-kwene omwe wanthu wa malonda akhauphatisira basa pakuyenda ku Siriya, Roma, Gresiya na cigawo ca Aziya comwe cikhatongedwa na Aroma.

Wanthu wa kumweko akhanamata mulungu wakucemeredwa Sibele, omwe akhali mulungu wacikazi wakuberekesa wa ku Frijiya, ndipo pa kunamata akhacitambo miyambo ya Cigerego yomwe adatengera kwa Ageregowo pa nthawe ya utongi bwawo. Mzindayu udayamba kutongedwa na Aroma mu gole la 65 AEC, ndipo mu nthawe ya Akristau wakuyambirira, iwo ukhali ukulu na wakubvekera pa nkhani za malonda na za ulimi. Napo Adjuda azinji akhakhala mu mzindamo, tsono wanthu wa kumweko adapitiriza kutewezera cikhalidwe ca Agerego. Ndipo nkhani ya m’bukhu la Mabasa imbalewa kuti mu mzindamo mukhakhala Adjuda na Agerego. — Mab. 14:1.

Mzinda wa Ikoniyo ukhacita malire na madera ya Likaoniya na Frijiya yomwe yakhali m’cigawo ca Galatiya. Anembi winango wakale, ninga Cícero na Estrabão, adalewa kuti Ikoniyo ukhali mzinda wa Likaoniya, ndipo tikawona komwe mzindayo ukhagumanika iwo ukhalidi ku dera la Likaoniya. Tsono, nkhani za m’bukhu la Mabasa zimbalewa lini kuti Ikoniyo ambacita mbali ya Likaoniya komwe kukhalewedwa ‘cirewedwe ca Cilikaoniya.’ (Mab. 14:1-6, 11) Ndipopa, wanthu winango akhalewa kuti bzomwe bukhu la Mabasa limbalewa mpsacadidi lini. Koma, mu 1910, anyakufufudza bzinthu bzakale adagumana mipukutu inango yomwe idanembedwa mu mzindayu yomwe ikhalewa kuti Cifrijiya cikhali cirewedwe comwe cikhalewedwa ku Ikoniyo kwa magole 200 pambuyo pa Paulo na Barnaba kuzungira mzindayo. Tenepo, m’nembi wa bukhu la Mabasa akhadalewa cadidi pakulewa kuti Ikoniyo akhacita lini mbali ya Likaoniya.

6. N’thangwe ranyi Paulo na Barnaba akhapfunzisa bwino ndipo tingawatewezere tani?

⁶ N’thangwe ranyi Paulo na Barnaba akhapfunzisa bwino? Paulo akhadziwa bwino bzinembo. Mwa luso iye akhambafotokoza nkhani za m’Bibliya, mapolofesiya na Lamulo la Mozeji kuti alatize umboni bwakuti Jezu akhalidi Mesiya wakupiciridwa. (Mab. 13:15-31; 26:22, 23) Momwe Barnaba akhapfunzisira, bzikhalatiza kuti iye akhacita thupo na wanthu. (Mab. 4:36, 37; 9:27; 11:23, 24) Palibe ne na m’bodzi wa awiriwa omwe akhathemba nzeru zace, koma akhambalewalewa na “mphanvu ya Yahova.” Kodi imwepo mungatewezere tani amisiyonariowa pakupalizira? Mun’funika kudziwa bwino Fala la Mulungu. Sankhulani Bzinembo bza m’Bibliya bzomwe bzingacitise abveseri wanu kufunisisa kukutetekerani. Nyang’anani njira zakutsangalazira wanthu omwe mukuwapalizira. Ndipo nthawe zentse pomwe mukupfunzisa, mbaphatisani basa Fala la Yahova, sikuti nzeru zanu.

7. (a) Kodi mafala yabwino yambabweresa bzakutewera bziponi? (b) Kodi n’ciyani comwe mun’funika kukumbukira penu banja lanu lagawanika thangwe rakuti mumbakhulupira mafala yabwino?

⁷ Tsono ni wentse lini ku Ikoniyo omwe adakomedwa kubva bzomwe Paulo na Barnaba akhapfunzisa. Luka adapitiriza kufotokoza kuti: “Adjuda omwe alibe kukhulupira adapumpsa wanthu wa mitundu inango kuti agaze Paulo na Barnaba.” Pomwe iwo adazindikira kuti akhafunikira kukhala kumweko kuti akhotcerere mafala yabwino, “iwo adamala nthawe ikulu akulewalewa mwakukhwimika. Thangwe ra bzimwebzi, thimu la wanthu lidagawanika. Winango adakhala ku mbali ya Adjuda ndipo winango adakhala kumbali ya apostolo.” (Mab. 14:2-4) Ntsiku zino mafala yabwino yambakhala na bzakutewera ninga bzimwebzi. Kwa winango mafalaya ni mphanvu ya ciphatano koma kwa winango ni thangwe la mgawano. (Mat. 10:34-36) Penu banja lanu lagawanika thangwe rakuti mumbakhulupira mafala yabwino, mun’funika kukumbukira kuti pinango-pentse iwo akukutsutsani thangwe ra magunkha ayai bzinthu bzakunama bzomwe wanthu winango ambawauza. Tsono makhalidwe yanu yabwino yangalatize kuti bzomwe wanthu akulewabzo mpsakunama ndipo na kupita kwa nthawe bzingacitise kuti wanthu omwe ambakutsutsaniwo acinje makumbukidwe yawo. — 1 Ped. 2:12; 3:1, 2.

8. Thangwe ranyi Paulo na Barnaba adacoka ku Ikoniyo ndipo n’ciyani comwe ifepano tikupfunza na ciratizo cawo?

⁸ Pomwe padapita nthawe anyakutsutsa wa ku Ikoniyo adapangana kuti abome Paulo na Barnaba na minyala. Pomwe adadziwa bzimwebzi, amisiyonario awiriwa adakumbuka bza kukapalizira ku gawo linango. (Mab. 14:5-7) Ntsiku zino, apalizi wa Umambo ambacitambo bzibodzi-bodzibzi. Wanthu akambalewa kuipa ifepano ayai bzomwe timbapalizira, ifepano timbapitiriza kulewalewa mwakukhwimika. (Afil. 1:7; 1 Ped. 3:13-15) Tsono tikawona kuti wanthuwo akufuna kucita bzinthu bzakuipa, ifepano timbatcenkha kucita bzinthu bzomwe bzingaikhe pa ngozi moyo wathu na wa abale wathu wauzimu. — Mim. 22:3.

‘Yambani Kunamata Mulungu Wamoyo’ (Mabasa 14:8-19)

9, 10. Kodi mzinda wa Listra ukhali kuponi ndipo n’ciyani comwe tikudziwa pakulewa bza wanthu wa kumweko?

⁹ Paulo na Barnaba adayenda ku Listra, mzinda omwe ukhatongedwa na Aroma ndipo ukhali pa mtantho wa makilometro pafupi-fupi 30 kumabvadzuwa kwa mzinda wa Ikoniyo. Wanthu wa ku Listra akhabverana kwene-kwene na wanthu wa ku Antiyokiya wa ku Pisidiya, tsono mwakusiyana na ku Antiyokiya, ku Listra kukhalibe Adjuda Azinji. Napo kuti pinango wanthu wa kumweko akhadziwa kulewalewa Cigerego, tsono cirewedwe cawo cakubadwa naco cikhali Cilikaoniya. Paulo na Barnaba adayamba kupalizira m’mbuto zomwe zikhagumanika wanthu azinji pinango-pentse thangwe rakuti mu mzindamo mukhalibe sinagoga. Ninga momwe Pedru adacitira ku Jeruzalemu, ku Listra Paulo adapoza mwamuna omwe akhadabadwa wakupunduka. (Mab. 14:8-10) Thangwe ra cakudabwisa comwe Pedru adacita thimu likulu la wanthu lidabvuma mafala yabwino. (Mab 3:1-10) Tsono bzomwe adacita wanthu omwe adawona cakudabwisa ca Paulo, bzidasiyana kwene-kwene na bzomwe wanthu wa ku Jeruzalemu adacita.

¹⁰ Ninga momwe tawonera kumayambiriro kwa msolo uno, munthu omwe akhadapunduka ule adamoga-moga aciyamba kufamba, tsono thimu la wanthu wa ku Listra pakuti akhanamata bzifanikiso adakhala na makumbukidwe yakuphonyeka. Wanthuwo adayamba kucemera Barnaba kuti Zeu, mtsogoleri wa mirungu ndipo adayamba kucemera Paulo kuti Herme, mwana wa Zeu omwe ambalewalewa m’mbuto mwa mirungu. (Onani kwadru yakuti “Wanthu wa ku Listra Akhanamata Zeu na Herme,” pa tsamba 109.) Barnaba na Paulo adayezera kuthandiza wanthuwo kuti abvesese kuti bzomwe iwo akhapfunzisa na kucita, akhacita lini na mphanvu za mirungu yakunama, koma akhacita na mphanvu za Yahova, Mulungu yekhayo wacadidi. — Mab. 14:11-14.

WANTHU WA KU LISTRA AKHANAMATA ZEU NA HERME

Mzinda wa Listra ukhali kutali na mizinda inango, ndipo ukhali kutali na miseu mikulu-mikulu. César Augusto adatenga mzindayu aciyamba kuutonga, ndipo adaupasa dzina lakuti Julia Felix Gemina Lustra. Acikunda omwe akhali mzindamo akhakhotcerera cigawo ca Galatiya kwa mitundu ya kumweko yomwe ikhakhala m’mapiri. Tenepo, mzindayu ukhatongedwa mwakuphatisa basa malamulo ya Aroma ndipo wanthu omwe akhaphata basa mu mzindamu akhadziwika na madzina ya ulemu ya Cilatini. Napo bzikhali tenepo, Wanthu wa ku Listra adapitiriza kuteweza cikhalidwe cawo. Napo wanthu wa ku Listra omwe ambagumidwa m’bukhu la Mabasa akhalewalewa cirewedwe ca Cilikaoniya.

Bzinango mwa bzinthu bzomwe adziwi wakufufudza bzinthu bzakale adagumana mu mzinda wakale wa Listra, ni mipukutu yomwe ikhalewa bza “antsembe wa mulungu wakucemeredwa Zeu” pabodzi na cifanikiso ca mulungu wakucemeredwa Herme. Ndipo m’cigawo cimweci adagumanambo guwa la ntsembe la Zeu na Herme.

Nkhani inango yomwe idanembedwa na nyakunemba poesia waciroma wakucemeredwa Ovídio (43 AEC mpaka 17 EC) imbafotokoza bzinthu bzomwe bzimbathandiza kubvesesa bwino-bwino bukhu la Mabasa. Ovídio adanemba kuti, Jupiter na Mercuriyo, mirungu yomwe wanthu akhaicemera Zeu na Herme, adayenda kukazungira dera la mapiri la Frijiya mwakukhala na mathupi ya wanthu. Iwo adanyang’ana mui wakufikira, adafika m’mii yakukwana 1000 koma palibe omwe adawatambira. Koma lidadzawoneka banja linango lakukalamba la Filêmon na Baucis, lomwe lidawatambira pa mui pawo. Bzakutewera bzace, Zeu na Herme adacitisa kuti nyumba ire ikhale templo yakukonzedwa na mármore na oro, ndipo adasankhula banja lire kuti likhale antsembe, ndipombo adapfudza nyumba za wanthu wentse omwe alibe kuwatambira wale. Bukhu linango la The Book of Acts in Its Graeco-Roman Setting lidalewa kuti: “Penu wanthu wa ku Listra adakumbukira nkhani imweyi pomwe adawona Paulo na Barnaba akupoza munthu omwe akhafamba lini ule, mwakusaya kupenukira iwo adakumbuka bza kupereka ntsembe pa kuwatambira.”

Paulo na Barnaba akulamba kunamatidwa na thimu la wanthu, ku Listra. Thimu la wanthu likuimba, likukonzekera ntsembe ndipo likugodamira amuna awiri. — “Musiye bzinthu bzakusaya basa, muciyamba kunamata Mulungu wamoyo omwe adalenga kudzulu na dziko la pantsi.” — Mabasa 14:15

11-13. (a) Kodi n’ciyani comwe Paulo na Barnaba adauza wathu wa ku Listra? (b) Kodi tikupfunza ciyani na bzomwe Paulo na Barnaba adalewa?

¹¹ Napo kuti bzinthu bzimwebzi bzidacitika, Paulo na Barnaba adayezera kufotokoza nfundo zomwe zingadatokonya mitima ya wanthu omwe akhawabvesera. Na cakucitikaci, Luka adanemba nkhani yomwe imbalatiza njira yabwino yakupalizirira mafala yabwino kwa wanthu omwe ambanamata mirungu yakunama. Onani momwe Paulo na Barnaba adalewalewera na wanthuwo. Iwo adati: “Wanthumwe, thangwe ranyi mukucita bzinthu bzimwebzi? Ifepano ndifembo wanthu ninga imwepo ndipo timbabonerambo. Ndipo tikupalizira mafala yabwinoya, kuti musiye bzinthu bzakusaya basa muciyamba kunamata Mulungu wamoyo omwe adalenga kudzulu, dziko la pantsi, nyanza na bzinthu bzentse bzomwe bziri m’mwemo. M’mibadwo ya m’mbuyomu, iye adalekerera kuti mitundu yentse ya wanthu, imbacite bzomwe ikhafuna, napo iye alibe kusiya kupereka umboni bwakuti alipo thangwe adacita bzinthu bzabwino kuna imwepo mwa kubvumbisa nvula kucokera kudzulu na kukupasani nthawe yakubvuna bzinthu bzizinji ndipo iye adakupasani bzakudya acidzaza mitima yanu na cikondweso.” — Mab. 14:15-17.

¹² Kodi n’ciyani comwe tikupfunza na mafalaya? Cakuyamba, Paulo na Barnaba akhabziwona lini ninga wanthu wapadzulu kuposa wanthu momwe akhawapalizirawo. Iwo alibe kubzikuza koma mwakubzicepesa adabvuma kuti akhali wakutepambo mwakundendemerana na wanthu omwe akhanamata bzifanikisowo. N’cadidi kuti Paulo na Barnaba akhadatambira mzimu wakucena ndipo akhadatsudzulidwa ku bzipfunziso bzakunama. Kuthumizira bzimwebzi, iwo akhadasimbidwa na cidikhiro ca kudzatonga pabodzi na Kristu. Tsono iwo akhadziwa kuti wanthu wa ku Listra angadatambirambo bzisimbo bzimwebzi angadabvera Kristu.

¹³ Kodi timbawona tani wanthu omwe timbawapalizira? Kodi timbawawona kuti mbakundendemerana na ifepano? Tikambathandiza winango kupfunza cadidi ca Mafala ya Mulungu kodi timbatcenkha kutumbizidwa ninga momwe Paulo na Barnaba akhacitira? Charles Taze Russell omwe akhali mpfunzisi wabwino, adatsogolera basa lakupalizira kumamaliziro kwa m’magole ya 1800 na kumayambiriro kwa m’magole ya 1900 ndipo adakhala ciratizo cabwino pa nkhani imweyi. Iye adanemba kuti: “Tikufuna lini kuti wanthu ambatitumbize ayai ambatumbize mabukhu yathu, ne kuti wanthu ambaticemere Abusa ayai Rabi.” M’bale Russell adalatiza khalidwe la kubzicepesa ninga lomwe Paulo na Barnaba akhanalo. Mpsibodzi-bodzimbo na ifepano, pomwe tikupalizira, cakulinga cathu cileke kukhala ca kubzibweresera ulemerero, koma kuthandiza wanthu kuti ayambe kunamata “Mulungu wamoyo.”

14-16. Kodi ni bzinthu bzinango bziponi bzomwe tingapfunze na mafala ya Paulo na Barnaba yomwe adauza wanthu wa ku Listra?

¹⁴ Onani cinthu caciwiri comwe tingapfunze na nkhaniyi. Paulo na Barnaba akhacinja upalizi bwawo kuti bubverane na wanthu omwe akhawatetekera. Mwakusiyana na Adjuda na wanthu wakutendeukira ku Cidjuda wa ku Ikoniyo, wanthu wa ku Listra akhandodziwa pang’ono ayai pinango akhadziwa lini na cinthuco pa nkhani ya bzinembo ayai uxamwali bomwe bukhalipo pakati pa Mulungu na Ajirayeri. Tsono iwo akhadziwa bza ulimi. Ku Listra kukhana ndovolo na nyengo yabwino. Tenepo, wanthuwo angadakwanisa kuwona kuti Mulengi alipo kucokera pa bzinthu bzizinji bzomwe akhakolola mu nyengo yakuthemera. Ndipo amisiyonariowa adaphatisa basa nfundo imweyi pakuwapalizira thangwe wentse akhaidziwa bwino. — Aro. 1:19, 20.

¹⁵ Ifepano tingacinjembo upalizi bwathu kuti bubverane na wanthu omwe tikuwapalizira. Napo kuti mulimi angabzale mbeu ibodzi-bodzi m’minda mizinji, koma pakulima iye angaphatise basa njira zakusiyana-siyana mwakubverana na mundayo. M’minda minango, pinango mataka yace yali kale bwino kuti angandobzale mbeu. Tsono m’minda minango bzingafunike kuyamba kukonza mataka kuti yakhale yabwino. Mwakundendemerana na bzimwebzi mbeu yomwe timbabzala njibodzi-bodzi yomwe ni mafala ya Umambo yomwe yambagumanika m’Fala la Mulungu. Tenepo, tikakhala ninga Paulo na Barnaba tin’dzayezera kuzindikira momwe bzinthu bziriri pa moyo wa wanthu omwe tikuwapalizirawo ayai bzinthu bzomwe ambakhulupira. Tikadziwa bzimwebzi, tin’dzakwanisa kucinja upalizi bwathu. — Luk. 8:11, 15.

¹⁶ Tingapfunze cinthu cinango cacitatu pa nkhani yakulewa bza Paulo, Barnaba na wanthu wa ku Listra. Napo kuti tingacite nyongo iri-yentse, nthawe zinango mbeu zomwe timbabzala ‘zimbacosedwa’ ayai zimbagwera pa minyala. (Mat. 13:18-21) Bzimwebzi bzikacitika, lekani kusunama. Kumbukirani bzomwe Paulo adakumbusa anyakupfunza wa ku Roma kuti: “Munthu ali-wentse payekha [kuphatanidzambo munthu ali-wentse omwe taceza naye mafala ya Mulungu] an’dzabzitawirira yekha kwa Mulungu.” — Aro. 14:12.

“Adawasiya m’Manja mwa Yahova” (Mabasa 14:20-28)

17. Kodi Paulo na Barnaba adayenda kuponi pomwe adacoka ku Derbe, ndipo n’thangwe ranyi?

¹⁷ Pambuyo pa Paulo kukwekwetewa acimuyendesa kunja kwa mzinda wa Listra pakukumbuka kuti wafa, anyakupfunza adabwera pomwe pakhana iyepo ndipo iye adalamuka. Patsogolo pace adagumana mbuto yakugona mu mzindamo. Mangwana yace, Paulo na Barnaba adayamba ulendo bwakuyenda ku Derbe, mzinda omwe ukhali pa mtantho wa makilometro 100. Mpsakudziwikiratu kuti Paulo adacita ulendobu uko akubva kuwawa kwene-kwene thangwe pakhadandopita maora yakucepa kucokera pomwe akhadabomedwa. Napo bzikhali tenepo, iye na Barnaba adapirira ndipo pomwe adafika ku Derbe ‘adathandiza wanthu kuti akhale anyakupfunza.’ Patsogolo pace, m’mbuto mwa kupita na njira ifupi pakuyenda ku Antiyokiya wa ku Siriya, “iwo adabwerera pomwe ku Listra, Ikoniyo na ku Antiyokiya” wa ku Pisidiya. Cakulinga cawo cikhali ciponi? Cikhali ca kukalimbikisa “anyakupfunza mwa kuwauza kuti apitirize kukhulupira mbuya.” (Mab. 14:20-22) Amuna awiriwa adalatiza ciratizo cabwino kwene-kwene. Kwa iwo, gwere likhali lakufunika kwene-kwene kuposa bzakufuna bzawo. Ntsiku zino anyakunyang’anira dera na amisiyonario ambatewezera ciratizo cimweci.

18. Kodi n’ciyani cimbacitika kuti munthu aikhidwe kukhala mkulu?

¹⁸ Kuthumizira pa kulimbikisa anyakupfunza na ciratizo cawo cabwino, Paulo na Barnaba adaikha “akulu mu gwere liri-lentse.” Napo kuti Paulo na Barnaba akhadacita “kutumizidwa na mzimu wakucena” Pa ulendo bwa umisiyonariobu, “iwo adawapempherera ndipo adabzimana kudya aciwasiya akuluwo m’manja mwa Yahova.” (Mab. 13:1-4; 14:23) Bzimwebzi bzimbacitikambo ntsiku zino. Bungwe la akulu likanati kuikha munthu pa udindo limbayamba kupemba patsogolo pace ambacezerana penu m’baleyo akukwanirisa nfundo za m’Bibliya kuti akhale pa udindobo. (1 Tim. 3:1-10, 12, 13; Tito 1:5-9; Tiy. 3:17, 18; 1 Ped. 5:2, 3) Cakufunika ni nthawe lini yomwe munthuyo akhala m’cadidi. Koma kalalewedwe kace, bzakucita bzace, na mbiri yace bzikalatiza momwe mzimu wakucena ukuphatira basa pa moyo wace. Munthu angakhale nyakunyang’anira penu bzakucita bzace bzikubverana na nfundo za m’Bibliya zomwe makabusa wa mabira ya Mulungu an’funika kukwanirisa. (Agal. 5:22, 23) Nyakunyang’anira dera ni omwe ambaikha wanthu pa udindo. — Ndendemezerani na 1 Timotio 5:22.

19. Thangwe ranyi akulu an’dzatawira mulandu ndipo ambatewezera tani Paulo na Barnaba?

¹⁹ Akulu ambadziwa kuti an’dzatawira mulandu kwa Mulungu thangwe ra momwe ambacitira bzinthu na gwere. (Aheb. 13:17) Ninga Paulo na Barnaba, akulu ambatsogolera basa lakupalizira. Iwo ambalimbikisa Akristau anzawo na mafala. Ndipo nthawe zentse, iwo mbakukonzeka kuikha bzakufuna bza gwere pa mbuto yakuyamba kuposa bzakufuna bzawo. — Afil. 2:3, 4.

20. Kodi ni phindu liponi lomwe timbagumana tikambawerenga bza basa lomwe abale wathu akuliphata?

²⁰ Pomwe Paulo na Barnaba adabwerera ku Antiyokiya wa ku Siriya komwe adayambira umisiyonariyo bwawo, iwo adafotokozera gwere “bzinthu bzizinji bzomwe Mulungu adacita mwakuphatisa basa iwo. Adawafotokozerambo momwe Mulungu adafungulira wanthu wa mitundu inango msuwo wa cikhulupiro.” (Mab. 14:27) Tikambawerenga bza basa lomwe abale wathu wacikristau akuphata ntsiku zino na kuwona momwe Yahova akuwasimbira, bzimbatilimbikisa kuti tipitirize “kulewalewa mwakukhwimika thangwe ra mphanvu ya Yahova.”

a Onani kwadru yakuti “Ikoniyo Mzinda wa Afrijiya”.