“Sitefano — Akhafunidwa na Mulungu Ndipo Mulunguyo Adamupasa Mphanvu”

1-3. (a) Kodi ni cakucitika ciponi cakupasa mantha comwe Sitefano adagumana naco ndipo iye adacita ciyani? (b) Kodi ni mibvunzo iponi yomwe tin’cezerana?

SITEFANO akhali pamaso pa atongi wa nyumba yakutongera mirandu. Amuna 71 adakhala m’mipando yomwe akhadailongedza mwakucita kuzungulira ninga uta, m’cipinda cakudeka kwene-kwene pinango-pentse pafupi na templo ya Jeruzalemu. Atongi wa nyumba yakutongera miranduyi, yakucemeredwa Sinedriyo, akhadatsonkhana kuti atonge Sitefano. Atongiwo akhali amuna wamphanvu na wakubvekera, ndipo azinji wa iwo akhalemekeza lini nyakupfunza wa Jezuyu. Omwe adawacemeresa, ni Kaifasi mkulu wa antsembe, ndipo ni m’bodzi-m’bodziyu omwe akhatsogolera Sinedriyo minyezi ming’ono-ng’ono m’mbuyomu pa nthawe yomwe nyumba yakutongera mirandu ya Adjudayi idatonga kuti Jezu Kristu aphedwe. Kodi Sitefano akhacita mantha?

² Pa nthaweyi nkhope ya Sitefano ikhawoneka mwakudabwisa kwene-kwene. Atongiwo adamunyang’anisisa ndipo adawona kuti nkhope yace ikhawoneka “ninga nkhope ya anjo.” (Mab. 6:15) Anjo ambapereka mafala yakucokera kwa Yahova Mulungu, ndipopa ana mathangwe yakukhala wakukhwimika, wakuderekha, na wa mtendere. Sitefano adacitambo bzibodzi-bodzibzi, mwakuti atongi omwe akhamuwengawo adazindikira bzimwebzi. Kodi iye adakwanisa tani kukhala wakuderekha?

³ Ninga Akristau, tingapfunze bzizinji na mtawiro wa mbvunzo umweyi. Ifepano tin’funikambo kudziwa kuti n’thangwe ranyi Sitefano adayendesedwa ku nyumba yakutongera miranduyi. Kodi m’mbuyomu iye adakhotcerera tani cikhulupiro cace? Ndipo ifepano tingamutewezere tani?

“Iwo Adacitisa Wanthu Kuti Akalipe” (Mabasa 6:8-15)

4, 5. (a) Thangwe ranyi Sitefano akhali munthu wakufunika kwene-kwene m’gwere? (b) Thangwe ranyi tingalewe kuti ‘Sitefano akhafunidwa kwene-kwene na Mulungu ndipo Mulunguyo adamupasa mphanvu’?

⁴ Tawona kale kuti Sitefano akhali munthu wakufunika kwene-kwene mu gwere lacikristau lomwe likhadayamba tsapanopa. Mu msolo wa m’mbuyoyu, tidawona kuti iye akhali m’bodzi mwa amuna 7 omwe adabvuma mwakusaya kunesa, pomwe apostolo adawakumbira kuti akathandize Akristau anzawo ndipo kubzicepesa kwace kumbatidabwisa maka-maka tikambakumbukira bza luso ayai mphaso zizinji zomwe iye adapasidwa na Yahova. Pa Mabasa 6:8 timbawerenga kuti iye akhadapasidwa mphanvu za kucita “bzakudabwisa bza mphanvu na bzizindikiro” ninga momwe akhacitira apostolo winango. Ndipo pambalewambo kuti iye “akhafunidwa na Mulungu ndipo Mulunguyo adamupasa mphanvu.” Kodi bzimwebzi bzin’funa kulewa ciyani?

⁵ Bzikuwoneka kuti Sitefano akhali wakudeka mtima ndipo akhacitira wanthu bzinthu bzabwino. Wanthu omwe akhamubvesera akhafuna kumutetekera thangwe ra momwe iye akhalewalewera. Bzomwe iye akhalewa, bzikhacitisa azinji kuzindikira kuti iye akhalewa cadidi, nakuti bzomwe iye akhawapfunzisa bzingadawathandiza. Pakuti Sitefano akhali wakubzicepesa akhabvuma kuti mzimu wakucena wa Yahova uphate basa mwa iye, bzomwe bzikulatiza kuti iye akhabvuma kutsogoleredwa na mzimuyo. M’mbuto mwa kubzikuza thangwe ra mphaso zomwe akhanazo, iye akhapereka ulemerero bwentse kwa Yahova ndipo akhalatiza thupo cairo kuna wanthu omwe akhalewalewa nawo. Ndipopa mpsakudabwisa lini kuti anyamadulanthaka wace akhamuwenga!

6-8. (a) Kodi anyamadulanthaka wa Sitefano adamunamizira bzinthu bziwiri bziponi, ndipo n’thangwe ranyi? (b) Thangwe ranyi ciratizo ca Sitefano n’cakuthandiza kwa Akristau wa ntsiku zino?

⁶ Pa nthawe inango, wanthu adabwera kudzanesana na Sitefano, tsono iwo alibe kukwanisa kumukunda thangwe ra “nzeru zomwe akhanazo pabodzi na mzimu wakucena omwe ukhamutsogolera pa kulewalewa.”a Pomwe adamalidwa nzeru, iwo “mwakabisebise adapumpsa” amuna winango kuti anamizire mteweri wa Kristu wakusaya kuphonyayu. Iwo adacitisambo “wanthu winango,” akulu na anembi kuti akalipe mwakuti Sitefano adatengedwa mwamphanvu aciyendesedwa ku Sinedriyo. (Mab. 6:9-12) Anyamadulanthakawo adamunamizira bzinthu bziwiri: Kunyoza Mulungu na kunyoza Mozeji. Kodi iwo akhakumbuka kuti iye adacita tani bzimwebzi?

⁷ Anyamadulanthakawo akhalewa kuti Sitefano akhadanyoza Mulungu thangwe ra kulewa kuipa “templo ya Mulungu” ya ku Jeruzalemu. (Mab. 6:13) Iwo akhalewa pomwe kuti iye akhadanyoza Mozeji pakulewa kuipa Lamulo la Mozeji na kucinja miyambo yomwe Mozejiyo akhadapereka. Mulandu umweyu ukhali ukulu, thangwe pa nthawe imweyire Adjuda akhalemekeza kwene-kwene templo, nfundo za Lamulo la Mozeji, na miyambo inango yomwe iwo adaithumizira okha pa Lamulolo. Tenepo, bzinthu bzomwe akhamunamizirabzo bzikhalatiza ninga kuti Sitefano akhali munthu wakugopswa mwakuti akhathemera kufa!

⁸ Mpsakupasa ntsisi kuti ntsiku zinombo wanthu wa magereja ambaphatisa basa njira zimwezi kuti acitise atumiki wa Mulungu kugumana na mabvuto. Napo ntsiku zathu zino, anyakutsutsa wa magereja, nthawe zinango ambanyengerera atsogoleri wa ndale kuti azunze Mboni za Yahova. N’ciyani comwe tingacite wanthu akatilewa bzinthu bzakuipa ayai akatinamizira? Tingapfunze bzizinji na ciratizo ca Sitefano.

Adacitira Umboni Mwakukhwimika bza“Mulungu wa Ulemerero” (Mabasa 7:1-53)

9, 10. N’ciyani comwe anyakutsutsa adalewa bza nkhani ya Sitefano ndipo n’ciyani comwe tin’funika kukumbukira?

⁹ Ninga momwe tawonera kumayambiriro kwa msolo uno, pomwe Sitefano akhanamiziridwa, iye akhali wakuderekha ndipo nkhope yace ikhawoneka ninga nkhope ya anjo. Tenepo, Kaifasi adamunyang’anisisa acimubvunza kuti: “Kodi bzimwebzi mpsacadidi?” (Mab. 7:1) Imweyi ikhali nthawe yakuti Sitefano alewelewembo. Ndipo ndibzo bzomwe adacita!

¹⁰ Anyakutsutsa winango adalewa bza nkhani ya Sitefano, kuti napo ikhali itali, iye alibe kutawira mulandu omwe akhatongedwayo. Kulewa cadidi Sitefano adatipasa ciratizo cabwino ca momwe tingakhotcererere mafala yabwino. (1 Ped. 3:15) Kumbukirani kuti Sitefano adapasidwa mulandu wakunyoza Mulungu mwa kumunamizira kuti walewa kuipa templo, nakuti anyoza Mozeji mwakulewa kuipa Lamulo. Pomwe Sitefano adatawira, adafotokoza mwacigwatho nthawe zitatu za mbiri ya Ajirayeri, ndipo adabvekesa bwino-bwino nfundo zinango. Bwerani tiwone nthawe zitatuzi, iri-yentse payokha.

11, 12. (a) Kodi Sitefano adaphatisa tani basa nkhani ya Abulahamu? (b) Thangwe ranyi ciratizo ca Zuze cikhali cakufunika pa nkhani ya Sitefano?

¹¹ Pa nthawe ya makolo yakale. (Mab. 7:1-16) Sitefano adayamba kulewa bza Abulahamu omwe Adjuda akhamulemekeza kwene-kwene thangwe ra cikhulupiro cace. Pakufotokoza nkhani yomwe wentse akhaikhulupirayi, Sitefano adatsindika nfundo yakuti Yahova, “Mulungu wa Ulemerero,” adayamba kuwonekera kuna Abulahamu pomwe akhali ku Mezopotamiya. (Mab. 7:2) Kulewa cadidi Abulahamu akhali mulendo mu dziko lakupiciridwa. Iye akhalibe templo ne Lamulo la Mozeji. Tenepo, kodi munthu angadangingimira tani kulewa kuti akhafunikira templo na Lamulo la Mozeji kuti akhale wakukhulupirika kwa Mulungu?

¹² Zuze, mbadwo ya Abulahamu, akhafunidwa kwene-kwene na Adjuda omwe akhabvesera Sitefano. Tsono Sitefano adawakumbusa kuti abale caiwo wa Zuze, omwe ni abereki wa madzinza ya Ajirayeri, adaboneresa mwamuna wakulungama ule acimugulisa ninga kapolo. Napo bzikhali tenepo, Mulungu adaphatisa basa Zuze kuti apulumuse Ajirayeri pa nthawe ya njala. Mwakusaya kupenukira, Sitefano akhawona kundendemerana pakati pa Zuze na Jezu Kristu, tsono adatcenkha kuleweratu bzimwebzi kuti abveseri wace apitirize kumutetekera.

13. Kodi bzomwe Sitefano adalewa pakulewa bza Mozeji, bzidatawira tani mulandu wace ndipo ni nfundo iponi yakufunika yomwe adaifotokoza?

¹³ Pa nthawe ya Mozeji. (Mab. 7:17-43) Sitefano adafotokoza bzizinji pakulewa bza Mozeji. Pamwepa iye adakumbuka bwino thangwe atongi azinji wa mu Sinedriyo akhali Asaduki ndipo iwo akhabvuma lini mabukhu ya m’Bibliya yomwe yalibe kunembedwa na Mozeji. Kumbukirani kuti Sitefano akhadapasidwa mulandu wakunyoza Mozeji. Mafala ya Sitefano yakhali mtawiro wakubveka bwino wa mulanduyo thangwe yadalatiza kuti iye akhalemekeza kwene-kwene Mozeji na Lamulo. (Mab. 7:38) Sitefano adalewambo kuti Mozeji adalambidwa na wanthu omwe akhafuna kuwapulumusa. Iwo adalamba Mozeji pomwe iye akhana magole 40 ndipo pomwe padapita magole manango yakupitirira 40, wanthuwo adatsutsa utsogoleri bwace kazinji kentse.b Tenepo Sitefano adafotokoza nfundo yakufunika kwene-kwene yakuti: Wanthu wa Mulungu akhalamba mwakubwereza-bwereza wanthu omwe Mulunguyo akhadawasankhula kuti awatsogolere.

14. Kodi Sitefano adafotokoza nfundo zakufunika ziponi pakuphatisa basa ciratizo ca Mozeji?

¹⁴ Sitefano adakumbusa wanthu omwe akhamutetekera kuti Mozeji akhadaleweratu kuti mpolofeta wakundendemerana na Mozejiyo angadadzagumanika mu Jirayeri. Kodi mpolofeta umweyu angadadzakhala mbani ndipo wanthu angadadzamutambira tani? Sitefano alibe kutawira mibvunzoyi pa nthawe imweyoletu, koma adaitawira kuphampha kwa nkhani yace. Tsono, Sitefano adalewa nfundo inango yakufunika kwene-kwene yakuti: Mozeji akhadapfunza kuti Mulungu angacitise kuti mbuto iri-yentse ikhale yakucena ninga momwe bzidakhalira pa mbuto yomwe citsamba cidagaka moto, pomwe Yahova adalewalewa naye. Tenepo, kodi wanthu akhafunika kunamata Yahova pa mbuto ibodzi yokha ninga templo yomwe ikhali ku Jeruzalemu? Bwerani tiwone.

15, 16. (a) Thangwe ranyi kulewa bza tendi la mtsonkhano kukhali kwakufunika pa nkhani ya Sitefano? (b) Pomwe Sitefano adafotokoza bza templo ya Salomau mu nkhani yace, kodi iye akhafuna kubvekesa ciyani?

¹⁵ Tendi la mtsonkhano na templo. (Mab. 7:44-50) Sitefano adakumbusa atongi wa mu Sinedriyo kuti pomwe mu Jeruzalemu mukhanati kumangidwa templo, Mulungu adauza Mozeji kuti akonze tendi la mtsonkhano lomwe akhacita kulinyamula. Pakuti Mozeji caiyeyo akhanamata Mulungu mu tendiro, kodi ni mbani omwe angadakhwimika kulewa kuti tendi la mtsonkhano likhali lakusaya kufunika pakundendemezera na templo?

¹⁶ Patsogolo pace, pomwe Salomau adamanga templo ku Jeruzalemu, iye adafuliziridwa na Mulungu kuti alewe nfundo yakufunika kwene-kwene mu mpembo wace. Pakufotokoza bzomwe Salomau adalewa, Sitefano adati: “Mulungu Mkululetu ambakhala lini m’nyumba zakukonzedwa na manja ya wanthu.” (Mab. 7:48; 2 Nkha. 6:18) Yahova angaphatise basa templo kuti acite bzomwe akufuna, koma iye ambathemba lini bzimwebzi. Tsono thangwe ranyi wanthu omwe ambamunamata an’funika kukumbuka kuti kunamata kwakucena kumbafunikira mbuto yakukonzedwa na manja ya wanthu? Pakumalizira, Sitefano adatsindika mwamphanvu nkhani yace, mwakulewa mafala ya m’bukhu la Zaiya yakuti: “Yahova walewa kuti: Kudzulu ni mpando wangu wa umambo ndipo dziko la pantsi ni cakupondera nzayo zangu. Kodi ni nyumba ya mtundu wanyi yomwe mun’dzandimangira ayai iripo mbuto iri-yentse yomwe inepano ningakhale? Kodi ni boko lini langu lomwe lidakonza bzinthu bzentsenebzi?” — Mab. 7:49, 50; Zai. 66:1, 2.

17. Kodi nkhani ya Sitefano (a) idalatiza tani kuti wanthu omwe akhamunamizira wale akhana makumbukidwe yakuphonyeka ndipo (b) idatawira tani mulandu omwe iye akhadapasidwa?

¹⁷ Pa kukumbukira bzomwe Sitefano adalewa, kodi mukutawiriza lini kuti iye adalatiza padeca mwaluso kwene-kwene kuti wanthu omwe akhamunamizira wale akhana makumbukidwe yakuphonyeka? Iye adalatiza kuti Yahova akafuna kukwanirisa cakulinga cace ambangingimira lini pa cinthu cibodzi ne miyambo ya wanthu. Wanthu omwe akhangingimira pa nkhani yakulewa bza templo yakudeka ya ku Jeruzalemu, makhalidwe ya wanthu na miyambo yomwe ikhacokera pa Lamulo la Mozeji pabodzi na templo, akhadziwa lini cakulinga caico ca Lamulolo na temployo. Bzikhali ninga kuti Sitefano akubvunza kuti: Kodi kubvera Yahova ndiyo lini njira yabwino yakulatizira kuti timbalemekeza Lamulo na templo? Kulewa cadidi, mafala yomwe Sitefano adalewaya yadalatiza kuti bzomwe iye akhacita bzikhali bzacadidi thangwe iye akhabvera Yahova na mtima wentse.

18. Kodi tingatewezere tani Sitefano?

¹⁸ Kodi tapfunza ciyani na nkhani ya Sitefano? Iye akhadziwa bwino Bzinembo. Mwa njira ibodzi-bodziyi, ifepano tin’funikambo kupfunza mafala ya Mulungu na nyongo kuti tikwanise kuphatisa basa “bwino mafala ya cadidi.” (2 Tim. 2:15) Tingapfunzembo na momwe Sitefano akhatawirira wanthu mwakuderekha na mwakuphatisa basa mafala yabwino. Napo kuti wanthu omwe akhamutetekerawo akhali wakunesa kwene-kwene, iye adapitiriza kulewalewa nawo nkhani yomwe wentsenewo akhabverana nayo, yomwe ikhali yakufunika kwene-kwene kwa iwo. Sitefano akhalewalewambo nawo mwaulemu, ndipo wanthu wa udindo akhawacemera na madzina ya ulemu. (Mab. 7:2) Ifepano tin’funikambo kumbauza wanthu cadidi ca m’Fala la Mulungu “mwakubzicepesa na ulemu bukulu.” — 1 Ped. 3:15.

19. Kodi Sitefano adalatiza tani kukhwimika pa kupereka mafala ya ciyeruzo ca Yahova kwa atongi wa mu Sinedriyo?

¹⁹ Tsono, ifepano tingaleke lini kulewa cadidi ca m’Fala la Mulungu thangwe ra kugopa kukalipisa wanthu ayai kucepesa mphanvu ya mafala ya ciyeruzo ca Yahova kuti tiwakondwese. Sitefano adapereka ciratizo cabwino pa nkhani imweyi. Mwakusaya kupenukira, iye akhakwanisa kuwona kuti bzentse bzomwe adalewa pamaso pa atongi wa mu Sinedriyo bziribe kucitisa atongi wakusaya ntsisiwo kucinja makumbukidwe yawo. Tenepo, mwakutsogoleredwa na mzimu wakucena, Sitefano adamaliza kulalewa nkhani yace mwakukhwimika mwakuwauza kuti iwo akhalibe kusiyana na makolo yawo yakale yomwe yadalamba Zuze, Mozeji na apolofeta wentse. (Mab. 7:51-53) Atongi amwewa ni omwe adapha Mesiya omwe Mozeji na apolofeta wentse akhadaleweratu kuti angadadzabwera. Kulewa cadidi iwo alibe kubvera Lamulo la Mozeji!

“Mbuya Jezu, Tambirani Moyo Wangu” (Mabasa 7:54–8:3)

20, 21. Kodi atongi wa nyumba yakutongera mirandu ya Adjuda adacita tani pomwe adabva mafala ya Sitefano ndipo Yahova adamulimbikisa tani?

²⁰ Cadidi comwe Sitefano adalewa cidacitisa kuti atongi akalipe kwene-kwene. Mwakusaya manyazi iwo ‘adayamba kukeketa mano’ thangwe ra Sitefano. Munthu wakukhulupirikayu pinango adazindikira kuti wanthu amwewa angadamulatiza lini ntsisi ninga momwe iwo alibembo kulatiza ntsisi kuna mbuya wace Jezu.

²¹ Sitefano akhafunika kukhala wakukhwimika kuti akwanise kukunda mabvuto yomwe yakhadasala pang’ono kuyambika. Mwakusaya kupenukira iye adalimbikisidwa na masomphenya yomwe Yahova adamupasa pa nthawe imweyire. Sitefano adawona ulemerero bwa Mulungu na bwa Jezu omwe akhadaima kuboko lamadidi la Yahova. Pomwe Sitefano akhafotokoza bza masomphenyayo atongiwo adafunga makutu yawo na manja. N’thangwe ranyi? N’thangwe rakuti pa nthawe inango m’mbuyomu, Jezu adauza atongi wa mu Sinedriyo kuti iye ni Mesiya ndipo mwakusaya kupita nthawe, angadadzakhala kuboko lamadidi la Baba wace. (Mar. 14:62) Masomphenya ya Sitefanoya yadalatiza kuti bzomwe Jezu akhadalewa bzikhali bzacadidi. Kulewa cadidi, nyumba yakutongera mirandu ibodzi-bodziyi, ni yomwe idapha Mesiya! Patsogolo pace, wentse pabodzi adayenda pomwe pakhana Sitefanoyo acikam’boma na minyala mpaka kufa.c

22, 23. Kodi kuphedwa kwa Sitefano kudandendemerana tani na kuphedwa kwa mbuya wace Jezu, ndipo Akristau wa ntsiku zino angatewezere tani cikhulupiro ca Sitefano?

²² Sitefano adafa mwakundendemerana na momwe adafera mbuya wace Jezu thangwe iye adafa na mtendere mumtima mwace, wakukhulupirika kwa Yahova ndipo adalekerera wanthu omwe adamuphawo. Iye adati: “Mbuya Jezu, tambirani moyo wangu.” Pinango-pentse akhalewa bzimwebzi thangwe ra kuti akhakwanisa kuwona m’masomphenya, mwana wa Mulungu ali pabodzi na Yahova. Mpsakupenukirisa lini kuti Sitefano akhadziwa mafala yakutsangalaza ya Jezu yakuti: “Inepano ndine kumuka na moyo.” (Juw. 11:25) Pakumalizira, Sitefano adapemba kwa Yahova mwakukuwa kuti: “Yahova, lekani kuwapasa mulandu thangwe ra pikadoyi.” Pomwe adamaliza kulewa bzimwebzi, iye adafa. — Mab. 7:59, 60.

²³ Tenepo, Sitefano adakhala mteweri wakuyamba kuphedwa pa ateweri wentse wa Jezu. (Onani kwadru yakuti “Thangwe Ranyi Sitefano Adaphedwa?”) Mpsakupasa ntsisi kuti iye akhali lini wakumalizira. Mpaka ntsiku zino, atumiki winango wakukhulupirika wa Yahova akuphedwa na wanthu wa m’magereja, wa ndale na anyakutsutsa winango. Napo bziri tenepo, ifepano tina mathangwe mazinji yakukhalira na cikhulupiro cakulimba ninga Sitefano. Tsapano Jezu akutonga ninga Mambo, ndipo ana mphanvu zizinji zomwe adapasidwa na Baba wace. Ndipo palibe ciri-centse comwe cingamutazise kudzalamusa ateweri wace wakukhulupirika. — Juw. 5:28, 29.

24. Kodi Saulo adathandizira tani kuphedwa kwa Sitefano, ndipo kuphedwa kwa munthu wakukhulupirikayu kudacitisa tani kuti bzinthu bzicinje?

²⁴ Pa wanthu omwe akhawona kubomedwa kwa Sitefano, pakhana tswaka linango dzina lace Saulo, lomwe likhawona bzentse. Iye adabvuma kuti Sitefano aphedwe, mpaka akhanyang’anira bzakubvala bza wanthu omwe akhaboma Sitefano na minyala. Pomwe padapita nthawe pang’ono, Saulo adatsogolera wanthu winango pa kuzunza Akristau. Tsono kuphedwa kwa Sitefano kudacitisa kuti bzinthu bzicinje. Ciratizo ca Sitefano, cidalimbikisa Akristau winango kuti apitirize kukhala wakukhulupirika na kukunda mayezo ninga momwe iye adacitira. Ndipo Saulo, omwe patsogolo pace adayamba kudziwika kuti Paulo akhawawidwa mu mtima akakumbukira bzomwe adacita pa kubvuma kuti Sitefano aphedwe. (Mab. 22:20) Napo kuti Saulo adathandizira kuphedwa kwa Sitefano, na kupita kwa nthawe iye adazindikira kuti: ‘Akhanyoza Mulungu, akhaboneresa wanthu wace ndipo akhalewalewa nawo mwaukali.’ (1 Tim. 1:13) Bzikuwoneka kuti Paulo alibe kuyebwa Sitefano pabodzi na nkhani yomwe adaifotokoza pa ntsiku imweyire. Ndipo nkhani zinango zomwe Paulo adafotokoza na kunemba zidacokera mu nkhani ya Sitefano. (Mab. 7:48; 17:24; Ahe. 9:24) Na kupita kwa nthawe, Paulo adapfunza kutewezera cikhulupiro na kukhwimika kwa Sitefano omwe “akhafunidwa kwene-kwene na Mulungu ndipo Mulunguyo adamupasa mphanvu.” Tenepo, mbvunzo kwa ifepano ngwakuti: Kodi tin’dzatewezerambo ciratizo ca Sitefano?