“Pitiriza Kupalizira Ndipo Leka Kunyamala”

1-3. N’thangwe ranyi mpostolo Paulo adayenda ku Kolinto, ndipo ni mabvuto yaponi yomwe adagumana nayo kumweko?

KUKHALI kuphampha kwa gole la 50 EC. Mpostolo Paulo akhali ku Kolinto, mzinda umweyu ukhali likulu la malonda ndipo wanthu azinji wa mu mzindayu akhali Agerego, Aroma na Adjuda.a Paulo akhali lini kumweko kuti agulise ayai kugula bzinthu ne kunyang’ana basa. Iye akhali ku Kolinto na thangwe lakufunika kwene-kwene lomwe ni kucitira umboni Umambo bwa Mulungu. Pa nthawe ibodzi-bodziyo, Paulo akhafuna mbuto yakukhala ndipo akhadatsimikiza kuleka kukhala mtolo kwa wanthu winango. Iye akhafuna lini kuti wanthu ambalewe kuti akudya na basa la Mulungu. Tsono, n’ciyani comwe iye angadacita?

² Paulo akhadziwa kucita basa linango lomwe likhali kukonza matendi. Basa la kukonza matendi likhali lini lakupusa, koma Paulo akhali wakukonzeka kuliphata kuti abzisamalire. Kodi iye angadagumana basa mu mzindayu? Angadagumana mbuto yabwino kuti akhale? Napo kuti akhagumana na mabvuto, Paulo alibe kusiya utumiki bwace lomwe likhali basa lakufunika kwene-kwene.

³ Paulo adakhala nthawe ikulu ku Kolinto, ndipo utumiki bwace budakhala na bzakutewera bzabwino. Mbaticezeraneni bza basa la Paulo ku Kolinto ndipo tiwone momwe tingacitire umboni bwakukwanira pakulewa bza Umambo bwa Mulungu mu gawo lathu.

“Akhakonza Matendi” (Mabasa 18:1-4)

4, 5. Kodi Paulo akhali kumui kwa yani pomwe akhali ku Kolinto, ndipo ni basa liponi lomwe akhaphata kuti abzisamalire? (b) Kodi pinango Paulo adapfunza tani kukonza matendi?

⁴ Pomwe padapita ntsiku zakucepa kucokera pomwe Paulo adafika ku Kolinto, iye adadziwa banja linango la Cidjuda la Akila na Prisila ayai Priska lomwe likhatambira bwino alendo. Banjali lidafulukira ku Kolinto thangwe ra lamulo lomwe mambo waciroma wakucemeredwa Klaudiyo adalipereka, iye adatonga kuti: “Adjuda wentse acoke ku Roma.” (Mab. 18:1, 2) Banjali liribe kundotambira Paulo pa mui pawo basi, koma iro lidamuuzambo kuti aphate nawo basa pabodzi. Bibliya limbati: “Pakuti iwo akhacita basa lakundendemerana na lace, iye [Paulo] adakhala kumui kwawoko aciphata basa nawo pabodzi, thangwe wentse akhakonza matendi.” (Mab. 18:3) Paulo adakhala kumui kwa banja lakudeka mtimali pa utumiki bwace bwentse ku Kolinto. Nthawe yomwe adakhala nawoyi, pinango Paulo adanemba matsamba manango, yomwe patsogolo pace yadacita mbali ya Bibliya.b

⁵ Kodi bzidakwanisika tani kuti Paulo, mwamuna “wakupfunzisidwa na Gamaliyeli,” adziwe kukonza matendi? (Mab. 22:3) Bzikuwoneka kuti Adjuda wa m’magole yakuyambirira, akhabva lini manyazi kupfunzisa wana wawo mabasa yomwe yakhawoneka ninga yakunyozeka, napo penu wanawo akhadapfunza kwene-kwene. Paulo akhali wa ku Tarso ku Silisiya, cigawo cakudziwika kwene-kwene na nguwo zakucemeredwa cilicium, zomwe zikhaphatisidwa basa pakukonza matendi. Ndipopa mpsakukwanisika kuti Paulo adapfunza basa limweri pomwe akhali tswaka. Kodi tendi likhakonzedwa tani? Basa limweri likhaphatanidza kuluka nguwo, kuigwata-gwata na kusona nguwo yakukhuma yomwe ikhaphatisidwa basa pakukonza matendi. Mwa njira iri-yentse, bzikuwonekeratu kuti limweri likhali basa lamphanvu kwene-kwene.

6, 7. (a) Kodi Paulo akhaliwona tani basa lakukonza matendi, ndipo n’ciyani comwe cikulatiza kuti Akila na Prisila akhana makumbukidwe mabodzi-bodziya? (b) Kodi Akristau ntsiku zino angatewezere tani ciratizo ca Paulo, Akila na Prisila?

⁶ Paulo akhawona lini basa lakukonza matendi kukhala lakufunika kwene-kwene pa moyo wace. Iye akhaphata basa limweri kuti akwanise kubzisamalira pomwe akhacita utumiki bwace, bomwe ni kupalizira mafala yabwino “fovolo.” (2 Ako. 11:7) Kodi Akila na Prisila akhaliwona tani basa lawoli? Mwakusaya kupenukira, pakuti akhali Akristau iwo akhaliwona ninga momwe Paulo akhaliwonera. Pomwe Paulo adacoka ku Kolinto mu gole la 52 EC, Akila na Prisila adasiya nyumba yawo na basa lawo aciyenda naye pabodzi ku Efezo, kumweko nyumba yawo idayamba kuphatisidwa basa ninga mbuto yakutsonkhanira gwere. (1 Ako. 16:19) Na kupita kwa nthawe, iwo adadzabwerera ku Roma ndipo patsogolo pace adayenda pomwe ku Efezo. Banja la nyongoli likhaikha Umambo bwa Mulungu pa mbuto yakuyamba, ndipo likhabzipereka na mtima wentse kuti litumikire winango, bzimwebzi bzikhacitisa kuti “magwere yentse ya wanthu wa mitundu inango,” yawatende. — Aro. 16:3-5; 2 Tim. 4:19.

⁷ Ntsiku zino, Akristau ambatewezera ciratizo ca Paulo, Akila na Prisila. Akristau wa nyongo ambaphata basa kuti ‘aleke kukhala mtolo kwa winango.’ (1 Ates. 2:9) Mpsakukondwesa kwene-kwene kuti apalizi azinji wa Umambo, ambagawa nthawe ya kucita madjolidjo kuti abzisamalire pomwe akucita basa lakufunika kwene-kwene lakupalizira. Ninga Akila na Prisila, atumiki wa Yahova azinji ambabzipereka kuti atambire anyakunyang’anira dera. Kwa omwe ‘ambatambira alendo,’ ambadziwa cikondweso comwe ambakhala naco ndipo ambalimbikisidwa. — Aro. 12:13.

“Wanthu Azinji wa ku Kolinto . . . Adakhulupira” (Mabasa 18:5-8)

8, 9. N’ciyani comwe Paulo adacita pomwe Adjuda akhamutsutsa thangwe ra basa lace lakupalizira, ndipo iye adadzayenda kukapalizira kuponi?

⁸ Nfundo yakuti Paulo akhaphata basa lakukonza matendi kuti andokwanise kubzisamalira pomwe akhacita utumiki bwace, idawonekera pomwe Sila na Timotio adabweresa mphaso kucokera ku Masedoniya. (2 Ako. 11:9) Pa nthawe imweyo, Paulo “adayamba kukhala wakutanganika kwene-kwene na basa lakupalizira.” (Mab. 18:5) Tenepo, Adjuda akhamutsutsa thangwe ra basa lace lakupalizira. Paulo adalatiza kuti akhalibe mulandu thangwe ra Adjuda kulamba mafala yacipulumuso yakucokera kwa Kristu, mwakukutumula bzakubvala bzace aciuza anyakutsutsawo kuti: “Ciri-centse comwe cinkucitikiranico mulandu ngwanu, ine ndine wakucena. Kuyambira tsapano ndiniyenda kwa wanthu wa mitundu inango.” — Mab. 18:6; Ezek. 3:18, 19.

⁹ Tsono, Paulo angadakapalizira kuponi? Bzikuwoneka kuti mwamuna munango wakucemeredwa Tisiyo Justo, omwe akhadatendeukira ku Cidjuda ndipo akhakhala pafupi na nyumba yakunamatira ya Adjuda, adatambira Paulo pa mui pace. Tenepo, Paulo adacoka m’nyumba yakunamatira ya Adjuda acipita m’nyumba mwa mwamunayu. (Mab. 18:7) Pomwe Paulo akhali ku Kolinto, adapitiriza kukhala na Akila na Prisila, tsono nyumba ya Tisiyo Justo idakhala mbuto yace yakupalizirira.

10. Kodi n’ciyani cikulatiza kuti Paulo akhandopalizira lini wanthu wa mitundu inango basi?

¹⁰ Kodi mafala ya Paulo yakuti angadayenda kukapalizira wanthu wa mitundu inango, yakhathandauza kuti angadalekeratu kupalizira Adjuda na anyakutendeukira ku Cidjuda, napo kuti winango wa iwo akhabvuma mafala yabwino? Ne, ndibzo lini. Mwa ciratizo, “Krispo omwe akhali mtsogoleri wa nyumba yakunamatira ya Adjuda, pabodzi na wanthu wentse wa pamui pace adakhulupira Mbuya.” Bzikuwoneka kuti wanthu azinji omwe akhambayenda ku nyumba yakunamatira ya Adjuda, adakhala ku mbali ya Krispo, thangwe Bibliya limbati: “Wanthu azinji wa ku Kolinto omwe adabva mafalayo adakhulupira acibatizidwa.” (Mab. 18:8) Tenepo, nyumba ya Tisiyo Justo idakhala mbuto yakutsonkhanira gwere lipsa la ku Kolinto. Penu Luka adanemba nkhani zomwe ziri m’bukhu la Mabasa mwa ndondomeko ninga momwe akhambacitira nthawe zentse, bzikulatiza kuti Adjuda ayai anyakutendeukira ku Cidjuda wale adakhala Akristau pomwe Paulo akhadakutumula kale bzakubvala bzace. Cakucitikaci, cikulatiza kuti Paulo akhangingimira lini nkhani ibodzi na ibodzi koma iye akhambacinja mwakubverana na momwe bzinthu bziriri.

11. Kodi Mboni za Yahova ntsiku zino zimbatewezera tani Paulo mwa kupalizira wale omwe ambabziti ni Akristau?

¹¹ M’madziko mazinji ntsiku zino, magereja yakunama yambadziwika ndipo wanthu azinji ambakhulupira kwene-kwene bzomwe ambapfunzisidwa m’mwemo. M’madziko manango na mu ntsuwa, amisiyonario wa m’magereja yamweya atendeusa wanthu azinji. Azinji omwe ambabziti ni Akristau, ambakhulupira miyambo ya magereja, ninga momwe akhaliri Adjuda wa ku Kolinto mu nthawe ya Akristau wakuyambirira. Tenepo, ninga Paulo, Mboni za Yahovafe, timbapalizira mwanyongo wanthu amwewa mwakulokotera bzomwe iwo ambadziwa pakulewa bza Bzinembo ticiwauza cadidi ca m’Bibliya. Napo iwo acititsutsa ayai atsogoleri wawo akatizunza, ifepano timbabwerera lini m’mbuyo. Pakati pa wale omwe “ana nyongo kwa Mulungu, tsono iwo ambamudziwa lini bwino-bwino,” pangagumanike wanthu azinji wa mitima yabwino omwe tikuwanyang’ana. — Aro. 10:2.

“Ndina Wanthu Azinji mu Mzinda Muno” (Mabasa 18:9-17)

12. Kodi Paulo adatsimikiziridwa ciyani m’masomphenya yomwe adawona?

¹² Pinango Paulo akhabzibvunza penu angadapitiriza na utumiki bwace ku Kolinto ayai ne, tsono iye adagumana mtawiro usiku bomwe mbuya Jezu adawonekera kwa iye m’masomphenya acimuuza kuti: “Leka kucita mantha, pitiriza kupalizira ndipo leka kunyamala, pakuti inepano ndinawe ndipo palibe munthu omwe an’dzakumenya ne kukucita bzakuipa, thangwe ndina wanthu azinji mu mzinda muno.” (Mab. 18:9, 10) Masomphenyaya yakhali yakulimbikisa. Mbuya Jezu adatsimikizira Paulo kuti angadamukhotcerera pa ngozi iri-yentse yomwe ingadamucitikira nakuti mu mzindamo mukhana wanthu azinji wakuthemera. N’ciyani comwe Paulo adacita na masomphenya yomwe adawonaya? Bibliya limbati: “Iye adapitiriza kukhala kumweko kwa gole libodzi na minyezi 6 acimbapfunzisa mafala ya Mulungu pakati pawo.” — Mab. 18:11.

13. N’ciyani comwe pinango Paulo adakumbukira pomwe akhafika ku nyumba ya mphala, ndipo n’ciyani comwe cikhamutsimikizira kuti bzimwebzi bzingadamucitikira lini?

¹³ Pomwe Paulo adamala pafupi-fupi gole libodzi ali ku Kolinto, kudacitika bzinthu bzomwe bzidamutsimikizira kuti Mbuya akhamuthandiza. “Adjuda adabverana kuti aphindukire Paulo ndipo adamuyendesa ku nyumba ya mphala,” yakucemeredwa bema. (Mab. 18:12) Wanthu winango ambalewa kuti nyumba ya mphalayi, ikhali yapadzulu kwene-kwene ndipo ikhadakonzedwa na minyala ya mármore ya azuli na icena ndipo ikhali pakati pa msika wa ku Kolinto. Pinango kutsogolo kwa nyumba ya mphalayi kukhana mbuto ikulu yomwe wanthu azinji angadakwana kutsonkhana. Anyakufufudza bzinthu bzakale-kale, adazindikira kuti nyumba ya mphalayi ikhali pafupi na nyumba yakunamatira Adjuda, ndipo ikhalimbo pafupi na nyumba ya Tisiyo Justo. Pomwe akhafika pafupi na bema, pinango Paulo adakumbukira bza kubomedwa kwa Sitefano, omwe nthawe zinango ambalewedwa kuti ni Mkristau wakuyamba kuphedwa. Paulo, omwe pa nthaweyo akhadziwika na dzina lakuti Saulo, “adabvumambo kuti Sitefano aphedwe.” (Mab. 8:1) Kodi bzimwebzi bzingadamucitikirambo Paulo? Ne, thangwe Jezu akhadamupicira kuti: ‘Palibe ankucita bzakuipa.’ — Mab. 18:10.

14, 15. (a) Kodi Adjuda adanamizira ciyani Paulo, ndipo thangwe ranyi Galiyo adamalisa nkhaniyo? (b) N’ciyani cidacitikira Sosisteni, ndipo pinango bzakutewera bzace bzidakhala bziponi?

¹⁴ N’ciyani cidacitika pomwe Paulo adafika ku nyumba ya mphala? Mtongi wa nyumba ya mphalayo akhali Galiyo, omwe akhali mtongi wa cigawo ca Akaya ndipo akhali mkulu wace wa mdziwi munango waciroma wakucemeredwa Seneka. Adjuda adayamba kunamizira Paulo kuti: “Munthu umweyu akupfunzisa wanthu kuti anamate Mulungu mu njira yakusaya kubverana na lamulo.” (Mab. 18:13) Na mafala yamweya, Adjuda akhathandauza kuti Paulo akhatendeusa wanthu mwakusaya kuteweza lamulo. Tsono Galiyo adawona kuti Paulo akhalibe kucita cinthu ‘cakuphonyeka’ ayai bzinthu bzomwe ‘bzikhapitana na lamulo’. (Mab. 18:14) Galiyo akhafuna lini kupitira nkhani za Adjudawo. Iye adamalisa nkhaniyo pomwe Paulo akhanati kufotokoza mbali yace. Anyakumunamizirawo adakalipa kwene-kwene ndipo ukali bwawobo adatulira Sosisteni, omwe pinango akhadapita nkhankha ya Krispo ninga mtsogoleri wa nyumba yakunamatira ya Adjuda. Iwo adaphata Sosisteni “ndipo adayamba kum’menya pa nyumba yakutongera miranduyo.” — Mab. 18:17.

¹⁵ Thangwe ranyi Galiyo alibe kuletsa thimu la wanthu lire kumenya Sosisteni? Pinango Galiyo adakumbuka kuti Sosisteni akhali mtsogoleri wa thimu lomwe likhadaphindukira Paulo lire ndipo akhatambira bzomwe bzikhamuthemera. Mwa njira iri-yentse, bzikuwoneka kuti nkhaniyi idakhala na bzakutewera bzabwino. Mu tsamba lace lakuyamba lakuyenda ku gwere la ku Kolinto, lomwe lidanembedwa pomwe pakhadapita magole mazinji, Paulo adacemera m’bale munthu munango wakucemeredwa Sosisteni. (1 Ako. 1:1, 2) Kodi Sosisteni umweyu ni omwe adamenyedwa ku Kolinto ule? Penu ndiye, pinango cakucitika cakuwawa cire cidathandiza Sosisteni kukhala Mkristau.

16. Kodi mafala ya Mbuya yakuti “pitiriza kupalizira ndipo leka kunyamala, pakuti inepano ndinawe” yangatithandize tani?

¹⁶ Kumbukirani kuti ni pambuyo pa Adjuda kulamba upalizi bwa Paulo pomwe Mbuya Jezu adamutsimikizira kuti: “Leka kucita mantha, pitiriza kupalizira ndipo leka kunyamala, pakuti inepano ndinawe.” (Mab. 18:9, 10) Mpsabwino kwene-kwene kumbakumbukira mafala yamweya, maka-maka wanthu akalamba mafala yabwino. Lekani kuyebwa kuti Yahova ambawona bza mu mtima ndipo ambakwewera kwa iye wanthu wa mitima yabwino. (1 Sam. 16:7; Juw. 6:44) Bzimwebzi bzimbatilimbikisa kuti timbapalizire mwanyongo. Gole liri-lentse, wanthu azinji ambabatizidwa. Kwa omwe ambabvera lamulo lakuti “kapfunziseni wanthu wa mitundu yentse” Jezu adawatsimikizira kuti: “Ine nin’dzakhala namwe ntsiku zentse mpaka kuphampha kwa dzikoli.” — Mat. 28:19, 20.

“Yahova Akabvuma” (Mabasa 18:18-22)

17, 18. Kodi n’ciyani comwe pinango Paulo akhakumbukira pomwe akhayenda ku Efezo?

¹⁷ Tikudziwa lini penu bzomwe Galiyo adacitira wanthu omwe akhatsutsa Paulo bzidabweresa mtendere kwa gwere lipsa la ku Kolinto. Koma Paulo adakhala kumweko “ntsiku zizinji” pomwe akhanati kugonekana na abale. Pakati pa gole la 52 EC, iye adakumbuka bza kuyenda ku Siriya kucokera ku mbuto yakuimira naviyo ya ku Senkereya, yomwe ikhali pa mtantho wa makilometro 11 kumabvadzuwa kwa Kolinto. Pomwe akhanati kucoka ku Senkereya Paulo “adasenga tsisi lace thangwe ra lumbiro lomwe akhadacita.”c (Mab. 18:18) Pomwe adamala, iye adatenga Akila na Prisila aciyambuka nyanza ya Egeu aciyenda ku Efezo, ku Ásia Menor.

¹⁸ Pomwe naviyo ikhacoka ku Senkereya, pinango Paulo akhakumbukira nthawe yomwe adakhala ku Kolinto. Iye akhana bzinthu bzabwino kuti akumbukire na mathangwe mazinji yakukhalira wakukondwa. Utumiki bwace bwa gole libodzi na meya mu mzinda umweule budakhala na bzisapo bzabwino. Gwere lakuyamba ku Kolinto likhadakhazikisidwa, ndipo nyumba ya Tisiyo Justo ikhali mbuto yawo yakutsonkhanira. Winango mwa wanthu omwe adakhala Akristau akhali Tisiyo Justo, Krispo na wanthu wa pamui pace, pabodzi na wanthu winango. Paulo akhafuna kwene-kwene abale anovuwa, thangwe ndiye adawathandiza kukhala Akristau. Pomwe padapita nthawe, Paulo adawanembera tsamba aciwauza kuti ali ninga ‘tsamba lakulewa bzabwino’ lakunembedwa mu mtima mwace. Ifepano timbafunambo wanthu omwe tawathandiza kudziwa cadidi. Mpsakukondwesa kwene-kwene kuwona wanthu amwewa omwe ali ninga “matsamba yakulewa bzabwino.” — 2 Ako. 3:1-3.

19, 20. N’ciyani comwe Paulo adacita pomwe adafika ku Efezo, ndipo tikupfunza ciyani tikafuna kukwanirisa bzakulinga bzathu?

¹⁹ Pomwe adafika ku Efezo, Paulo adayambiratu kupalizira. Iye “adapita m’nyumba yakunamatira ya Adjuda ndipo adathandiza Adjudawo kubvesesa bzinembo.” (Mab. 18:19) Ulendo buno, Paulo alibe kukhalisa ku Efezo. Napo kuti adamukumbira kuti akhale kumweko nthawe itali, Paulo “alibe kubvuma.” Pakugonekana nawo iye adawauza kuti: “Yahova akabvuma, nin’dzabwerera pomwe kwa imwepo.” (Mab. 18:20, 21) Paulo akhazindikira kuti ku Efezo kukhafunikira kwene-kwene kupaliziridwa. Mpostoloyu akhafuna kubwerera pomwe, koma adasiya nkhaniyi m’manja mwa Yahova. Kodi cimweci n’ciratizo lini cabwino comwe tingafunike kucikumbukira? Kuti Mulungu atithandize kukwanirisa bzakulinga bzathu bzauzimu, ifepano ndife tin’funika kuyamba kucita makonzedwe. Tsono nthawe zentse tin’funika kuteweza malango ya Yahova na kucita bzinthu mwakubverana na kufuna kwace. — Tiy. 4:15.

²⁰ Pambuyo pa kusiya Akila na Prisila ku Efezo, Paulo adakwira naviyo aciyenda ku Sezareya. Bzikuwoneka kuti, iye adayenda ku Jeruzalemu ndipo kumweko adazungira gwere. (Onani mafala ya m’nyantsi pa Mabasa 18:22.) Tenepo, Paulo adayenda ku Antiyokiya wa ku Siriya, komwe akhakhala akakhala kuti akuzungira lini magwere. Ulendo bwace bwaciwiri bwa umisiyonario budamufambira bwino. Kodi n’ciyani comwe cidacitikira Paulo pa ulendo bwace bwakumalizira bwa umisiyonario?