“Ndine Wakucena pa Mulandu wa Mulopa wa Wanthu Wentse”

1-3. (a) Fotokozani momwe bzidacitikira kuti Eutiko afe. (b) N’ciyani comwe Paulo adacita ndipo bzimwebzi bzikulatiza ciyani pakulewa bza Pauloyo?

PAULO akhali m’cipinda capadzaulu ku Trowa ndipo mukhadadzala na wanthu azinji kwene-kwene. Iye adafotokozera nkhani abalewo kwa nthawe itali thangwe mangwana yace angadacoka mu mzindamo, ndipo pakhali pakati pa usiku. M’cipindamo mukhapsa ndipo pinango mukhana utsi pakuti mukhana makandiyero mazinji. Mulumbwana munango wakucemeredwa Eutiko akhadakhala pa janera. Pomwe Paulo akhafotokoza nkhani yace, Eutiko adayamba kuwodzira acigona ndipo adagwa kucokera pa janerapo mpaka pantsi!

² Pakuti Luka akhali dotolo, pinango-pentse adakhala wakuyamba kuthamanga kuyenda panja kuti akawone mulumbwanayo. Luka alibe kupenukira kuti Eutiko “akhadafa.” (Mab. 20:9) Tenepo padacitika cakudabwisa. Paulo adagonera mulumbwanayo ndipo adauza thimu la wanthulo kuti: “Lekani kucita thupo, iye ana moyo.” Paulo adalamusa Eutiko acikhala pomwe na moyo! — Mab. 20:10.

³ Cakucitikaci, cikulatiza mphanvu ya mzimu wakucena wa Mulungu. Paulo angadapasidwa lini mulandu thangwe ra kufa kwa Eutiko. Napo bzikhali tenepo, iye akhafuna lini kuti kufa kwa mulumbwanayo kudzonge ntsiku yakufunika kwene-kwene ire ayai kucitisa kuti wanthu winango atepe mwauzimu. Pakulamusa Eutiko, Paulo adatsangalaza gwere ndipo adalimbikisa abale kupitiriza na utumiki bwawo. Bzikuwonekeratu kuti Paulo akhacita thupo kwene-kwene na moyo wa winango ninga momwe timbawonera m’mafala yace yakuti: “Ndine wakucena pa mulandu wa mulopa wa wanthu wentse.” (Mab. 20:26) Mbatiwoneni momwe ciratizo ca Paulo cingatithandizire.

“Iye Adayamba Ulendo Bwace Bwakuyenda ku Masedoniya” (Mabasa 20:1, 2)

4. Kodi ni mayezo makulu yaponi yomwe Paulo adagumana nayo?

⁴ Ninga momwe tawonera mu msolo wamalayu, Paulo adagumana na mayezo makulu. Utumiki bwace ku Efezo budayambisa phiringu likulu. Wanthu omwe akhagumana kobiri mwakukonza bzifanikiso bza prata bzomwe bzikhaphatisidwa basa pa kunamata mulungu wacikazi Artemi, ndiwo adayambisa phiringulo. Pa Mabasa 20:1 pambati: “Pomwe phiringulo lidamala, Paulo adacemeresa anyakupfunza ndipo pomwe iwo adabwera, iye adawalimbikisa. Pomwe adamala kugonekana nawo, iye adayamba ulendo bwace bwakuyenda ku Masedoniya.”

5, 6. (a) Kodi pinango Paulo adamala nthawe zingasi ku Masedoniya, ndipo n’ciyani comwe iye adacitira abale kumweko? (b) Kodi Paulo akhawawona tani abale wace wacikristau?

⁵ Pomwe akhayenda ku Masedoniya, Paulo adaima pa mbuto yakuimisira naviyo ku Trowa ndipo adakhala kumweko kwa kanthawe. Paulo akhakumbuka kuti angadagumana na Tito kumweko, omwe akhadatumizidwa ku Kolinto. (2 Ako. 2:12, 13) Tsono, pomwe Paulo adazindikira kuti Tito angadabwera lini, iye adapitiriza na ulendo bwace mpaka ku Masedoniya. Pinango iye adakhala kumweko pafupi-fupi gole libodzi, “acimbauza anyakupfunza mafala mazinji yakulimbikisa.”a (Mab. 20:2) Pakumalizira pace, Tito adagumana na Paulo ku Masedoniya ndipo adamufotokozera bzomwe Akristau wa ku Kolinto adacita pomwe adatambira tsamba lace lakuyamba. (2 Ako. 7:5-7) Bzimwebzi bzidacitisa Paulo kunemba pomwe tsamba linango, lomwe ntsiku zino limbadziwika na 2 Akolinto.

⁶ Luka adaphatisa basa mafala yakuti “kuwalimbikisa” na “kulimbikisa” pakufotokoza bzomwe Paulo adacita pomwe adazungira abale ku Efezo na ku Masedoniya. Bzimwebzi bzikulatiza kuti Paulo akhafuna kwene-kwene abale na mpfumakazi zace. Mwakusiyana na Afarizeu omwe akhanyoza winango, Paulo akhawona mabira ya Mulungu ninga anyabasa anzace. (Juw. 7:47-49; 1 Ako. 3:9) Iye akhabziwona lini kuti ngwakufunika kwene-kwene napo akakhala akufuna kupereka malango ya mphanvu. — 2 Ako. 2:4.

7. Kodi anyakunyang’anira wacikristau ntsiku zino angatewezere tani ciratizo ca Paulo?

⁷ Ntsiku zino, akulu wa m’gwere pabodzi na anyakunyang’anira dera ambacita nyongo ya kutewezera ciratizo ca Paulo. Napo akatsimula wanthu, cakulinga cawo cimbakhala kulimbikisa omwe akufunikira thandizo. Anyakunyang’anira ambacita ciri-centse kuti alimbikise abale, m’mbuto mwa kuwatonga. Nyakunyang’anira dera munango omwe akutumikira kwa magole mazinji adalewa kuti: “Abale azinji na mpfumakazi ambafunisisa kucita bzabwino, koma kazinji-kazinji ambatazira thangwe ra mantha, kusunama ndipo ambabziwona ninga kuti angakwanise lini kucita bwino bzinthu.” Tenepo anyakunyang’anira an’funika kulimbikisa abale ninga amwewa. — Aheb. 12:12,13.

‘Akhafuna Kumupha’ (Mabasa 20:3, 4)

8, 9. (a) Kodi n’ciyani comwe cidacitisa Paulo kucinja makumbukidwe yace yakuyenda ku Siriya? (b) Thangwe ranyi Adjuda akhawenga kwene-kwene Paulo?

⁸ Paulo adacoka ku Masedoniya aciyenda ku Kolinto.b Pomwe adamala minyezi mitatu kumweko, iye akhafunisisa kuyenda ku Senkereya, komwe angadakapakira barko kuti ayende ku Siriya. Kucokera kumweko, iye angadakwanisa kuyenda ku Jeruzalemu kukapereka mphaso kwa abale omwe akhafunikira thandizo.c (Mab. 24:17; Aro. 15:25, 26) Tsono mwadzidzidzi, padacitika bzinthu bzinango bzomwe bzidacitisa kuti Paulo acinje makumbukidwe yace. Pa Mabasa 20:3 pambati: ‘Adazindikira kuti Adjuda akhafuna kumupha.’

⁹ Mpsakudabwisa lini Adjuda kuwenga kwene-kwene Paulo, thangwe akhamuwona ninga nyakupanduka. Upalizi bwa Paulo m’mbuyomo, budacitisa kuti Krispo omwe akhanyang’anira nyumba yakunamatira ya Adjuda ku Kolinto akhale Mkristau. (Mab. 18:7, 8; 1 Ako. 1:14) Pa nthawe inango, Adjuda wa ku Kolinto adanamizira Paulo ndipo adamuyendesa kwa Galiyo omwe akhali mtongi wacigawo ca Akaya. Tsono Galiyo adauza Adjudawo kuti Paulo akhalibe mulandu uli-wentse ndipo bzimwebzi bzidakalipisa kwene-kwene anyamadulanthaka wa Pauloyo. (Mab. 18:12-17) Adjuda wa ku Kolinto pinango-pentse adadziwa kuti Paulo akuyenda ku Senkereya kuti akapakire barko, ndipopa iwo adacita makonzedwe yakumukhalilira kumweko kuti akandofika amupheretu. Kodi n’ciyani comwe Paulo angadacita?

10. Kodi n’ciyani comwe cidacitisa Paulo kuleka kuyenda ku Senkereya? Fotokozani.

¹⁰ Pakufuna kukhotcerera moyo wace na mphaso zomwe akhadanyamula, Paulo adacinja makumbukidwe yace ndipo alibe kudzayenda ku Senkereya koma adabwerera ku Masedoniya. Tsono ulendo bwakufamba na minyendo bukhalimbo bwakugopswa. Mu nthawe imweyire, akambowa akhambakhalirira wanthu m’miseu. Napo mbuto zakufikira alendo zikhali lini zakukhotcerereka. Tsono, Paulo adasankhula kucita ulendo na minyendo napo kuti bukhali bwakugopswa, pakuthawa bzomwe bzingadamucitikira ku Senkereya. Mpsakukondwesa kuti Paulo akhacita lini yekha ulendobo. Pa nthawe imweyi, wanthu omwe akhamuperekeza paulendo bwace bwa umisiyonario akhali Aristako, Gayo, Sekundu, Sopateri, Timotiyo, Tikiko na Trofimo. — Mab. 20:3, 4.

11. Kodi Akristau ambayezera tani kubzikhotcerera ntsiku zino ndipo n’ciratizo ciponi comwe Jezu adasiya?

¹¹ Ninga Paulo, Akristau ntsiku zino ambacita ciri-centse kuti abzikhotcerere akakhala akupalizira. Ku mbuto zinango pakuyenda kukapalizira, ambafamba tumathimu ayai awiri-awiri m’mbuto mwa kuyenda munthu m’bodzi. Kodi iwo angabzikhotcerere tani akazunzidwa? Akristau ambadziwa kuti angatcenkhe lini kuzunzidwa. (Juw. 15:20; 2 Tim. 3:12) Tsono bzimwebzi bzin’funa lini kulewa kuti iwo an’funika kuikha moyo wawo pa ngozi utowa. Onani ciratizo ca Jezu. Pa nthawe inango pomwe anyakutsutsa ku Jeruzalemu adayamba kulokota minyala kuti amubome, “Jezu adabisalika, acicoka mu templomo.” (Juw. 8:59) Patsogolo pace, pomwe Adjuda adakumbuka bza kumupha, “Jezu akhafamba lini padeca pakati pa Adjuda. Koma adacoka kumweko, aciyenda kufupi na ku dambo”. (Juw. 11:54) Jezu adacita bzomwe angadakwanisa kuti abzikhotcerere bzikakhala kuti bzikupitana lini na bzomwe Mulungu akhafuna. Ntsiku zino Akristau ambacitambo bzibodzi-bodzibzi. — Mat. 10:16.

Iwo ‘Adakomedwa Kwene-kwene’ (Mabasa 20:5-12)

12, 13. (a) Kodi abale adabva tani na kulamusidwa kwa Eutiko? (b) N’cidikhiro ciponi ca m’Bibliya comwe cimbatsangalaza wale omwe afedwa?

¹² Paulo na anzace akhali pabodzi pa ulendo bwakuyenda ku Masedoniya ndipo bzikuwoneka kuti adadzasiyana. Tsono patsogolo pace adadzagumana pomwe ku Trowa.d Nkhaniyi imbalewa kuti: “Pomwe zidapita ntsiku zixanu, ifepano tidagumana nawo ku Trowa.”e (Mab. 20:6) Mulumbwana Eutiko omwe tamufotokoza kumayambiriro kwa msoloyu, adalamusidwa mu mzinda umweyu. Ndokumbukirani momwe abale adabvera kuwona xamwali wawo Eutiko akukhala pomwe na moyo. Ninga momwe nkhaniyi imbalewera, iwo ‘adakomedwa kwene-kwene.’ — Mab. 20:12.

¹³ N’cadidi kuti ntsiku zino kumbacitika lini bzakudabwisa ninga bzimwebzi. Napo bziri tenepo, wale omwe adafedwa wanthu omwe ambawafuna, ambatsangalazidwa thangwe ra cidikhiro ca m’Bibliya ca kulamusidwa kwa anyakufa. (Juw. 5:28, 29) Kumbukirani ibzi: Pakuti Eutiko akhali wakuperewera, iye adadzafa pomwe. (Aro. 6:23) Koma omwe an’dzalamusidwa mu dziko lipsa la Mulungu, an’dzakhala kwa muyaya! Kuthumizira bzimwebzi, omwe ambalamusidwa kuti akatonge pabodzi na Jezu kudzulu ambakhala na thupi lakusaya kufa. (1 Ako. 15:51-53) Ntsiku zino, Akristau wakudzozedwa ayai wa “mabira manango” ana mathangwe yabwino yakukhalira wakutsangalazidwa. — Juw. 10:16.

Kupfunzisa “Padeca Napo Nyumba na Nyumba” (Mabasa 20:13-24)

14. Kodi Paulo adauza ciyani akulu wa ku Efezo pomwe adagumana nawo ku Mileto?

¹⁴ Paulo pabodzi na anzace wale adacoka ku Trowa mpaka ku Aso ndipo patsogolo pace, adayenda ku Mitilene, ku Kiyo, ku Samo na ku Mileto. Cakulinga ca Paulo cikhali kufika ku Jeruzalemu na nthawe kuti akagumanike pa phwando la Pentekoste; bzimwebzi bzikutithandiza kubvesesa thangwe ranyi iye adasankhula naviyo yomwe ingadaima lini ku Efezo pakubwerera ku Jeruzalemuko. Tsono, pakuti Paulo akhafuna kuceza na akulu wa ku Efezo, iye adawakumbira kuti akagumane nawo ku Mileto. (Mab. 20:13-17) Pomwe akuluwo adafika, Paulo adawauza kuti: “Imwepo mukudziwa bwino momwe inepano ndidacitira bzinthu pakati panu, kuyambira ntsiku yakuyamba yomwe inepano ndidaponda m’cigawo ca Aziya. Ndidatumikira Mbuya ninga kapolo, mwakubzicepesa kukulu na misozi pabodzi na mayezo yomwe yadabwera thangwe ra bzinthu bzakuipa bzomwe Adjuda akhandicitira, ndipo ndiribe kusiya kukuuzani bzinthu bzomwe mpsakufunika, ne ndiribe kusiya kukupfunzisani padeca napo nyumba na nyumba. Koma ndapereka umboni bwakukwanira kwa Adjuda na kwa Agerego, bwakuti iwo an’funika kukungula acitendeukira kwa Mulungu, nakuti an’funikambo kukhulupira Mbuya wathu Jezu.” — Mab. 20:18-21.

15. Kodi kupalizira nyumba na nyumba kuna phindu liponi?

¹⁵ Ntsiku zino pana njira zizinji zakupalizirira mafala yabwino kwa wanthu azinji. Ninga Paulo, ifepano timbacitambo nyongo ya kumbayenda ku mbuto komwe kumbagumanika wanthu azinji, ninga mbuto za kuimira makaro, m’miseu yomwe imbapita wanthu azinji ayai m’maloja. Koma kuyenda ku nyumba na nyumba, ikupitiriza kukhala njira ikulu yomwe Mboni za Yahova zikuphatisa basa. Thangwe ranyi? Thangwe lakuyamba ndakuti njira imweyi imbacitisa kuti wanthu azinji abve mafala yabwino ya Umambo ndipo bzimwebzi bzimbalatiza kuti Mulungu alibe tsankhulo. Thangwe linango ndakuti timbakwanisa kuthandiza munthu ali-wentse payekha kudziwa Mulungu mwakubverana na momwe aliri. Kuthumizira bzimwebzi, wanthu omwe ambapalizira ku nyumba na nyumba ambalimbisa cikhulupiro cawo ndipo ambapfunza kukhala wakupirira. Ntsiku zino, wanthu ambatidziwa kuti ndife Akristau wacadidi mwakucita nyongo yakupalizira “padeca napo nyumba na nyumba.”

16, 17. Kodi Paulo adalatiza tani kuti akhali wakukhwimika, ndipo Akristau ntsiku zino ambatewezera tani ciratizo cace?

¹⁶ Paulo adafotokozera akulu wa ku Efezo kuti iye akhadziwa lini mabvuto yomwe angadagumana nayo akabwerera ku Jeruzalemu. Iye adawauza kuti: “Na tenepo nimbawona lini moyo wangu kukhala cinthu cakufunika kwa inepano, tsono comwe ndikufuna, ni kumaliza kuthamanga kwangu pabodzi na utumiki bomwe ndidatambira kwa Mbuya Jezu. Utumiki bumwebu, ni kupalizira mwakukwanira mafala yabwino ya kudeka mtima kukulu kwa Mulungu.” (Mab. 20:24) Mwakukhwimika, Paulo alibe kubvuma kuti cinthu ciri-centse kuphatanidzambo matenda ayai kuzunzidwa kumutazise kukwanirisa utumiki bwace.

¹⁷ Ntsiku zino Akristau akugumanambo na mabvuto mazinji. Winango ambakhala mu dziko lomwe basa lathu ndakuletsedwa ndipo akuzunzidwa. Tsono winango akubonera na matenda makulu ayai m’makumbukidwe. Maswaka yambangingimizidwa na anzawo ku xikola kuti yacite bzinthu bzakuipa. Ninga Paulo, ifepano ndife wakutsimikiza kusaya kulekerera kuti cinthu ciri-centse cititazise “kucitira umboni mwakukwanira bza mafala yabwino.”

“Khalani Tceru na Imwe Mwekha Ndipo Khalanimbo Tceru na Mabira Yentse” (Mabasa 20:25-38)

18. Kodi Paulo adapitiriza tani kukhala wakusaya mulandu wa mulopa ndipo akulu wa ku Efezo angadatewezera tani ciratizo cace?

¹⁸ Patsogolo pace, Paulo adapereka malango yamphanvu kuna akulu wa ku Efezo mwakuphatisa basa ciratizo cace. Cakuyamba adawauza kuti pinango angadadzawonana lini pomwe. Tenepo iye adawauza kuti: “Ndine wakucena pa mulandu wa mulopa wa wanthu wentse, pakuti ndiribe kuleka kukuuzani bzomwe Mulungu an’funa kudzacitira wanthu.” Kodi akulu wa ku Efezo angadatewezera tani Paulo kuti aleke kukhalambo na mulandu wa mulopa? Paulo adawauza kuti: “Khalani tceru na imwe mwekha ndipo khalanimbo tceru na mabira yentse yomwe mzimu wakucena udakupasani ninga anyakunyang’anira, kuti muuse gwere la Mulungu lomwe iye adaligula na mulopa wa Mwana wace caiye.” (Mab. 20:26-28) Paulo adawacenjeza kuti “mbwaya za m’thengo” zingadadzapita pa thimu la mabira ndipo ‘zingadadzalewa bzinthu bzakuphonyeka kuti zipumpse anyakupfunza kuti akhale ku mbali yawo’. Kodi n’ciyani comwe akulu akhafunika kucita? Paulo adawauza kuti: “Khalani mudapenya ndipo kumbukirani kuti kwa magole matatu, usiku na masikati, ndiribe kusiya kucenjeza m’bodzi na m’bodzi wa imwepo na misozi.”. — Mab. 20:29-31.

19. N’ciyani comwe cidacitika kuphampha kwa magole 100, ndipo n’ciyani comwe cidacitika patsogolo pace?

¹⁹ “Mbwaya za m’thengo” zire, zidawonekera kuphampha kwa magole 100 yakuyambirira. M’magole ya 98 EC, mpostolo Juwau adanemba kuti: “Tsapano, alipo azinji anyakulamba Kristu. . . . Iwo adacoka pakati pathu thangwe akhali lini m’thimu lathu. Pakuti angadakhala kuti akhali m’thimu lathu, iwo angadapitiriza kukhala nafe.” (1 Juw. 2:18, 19) Pomwe padapita magole 200, kucokera pomwe Jezu akhadafa, atsogoleri wa thimu la apanduki akhabziti mbakupambulika ndipo akhabziwona kuti mbakufunika kwene-kwene kuposa wentse mu gwere. Patsogolo pace, pomwe padapita magole 300, kucokera pomwe Jezu akhadafa, Mambo Kostantino wa ku Roma adayamba kuthandizira Akristau wakunama omwe akhali apandukiwo. Anyakupandukawo akhambalewa ‘bzinthu bzakuphonyeka’ thangwe akhasanganiza bzipfunziso bza m’Bibliya na miyambo yacikunja acimbawoneka ninga Akristau. Magereja mazinji ntsiku zino yambacitambo bzibodzi-bodzibzi.

20, 21. Kodi Paulo adalatiza tani kuti akhafunisisa kuthandiza abale, ndipo akulu wacikristau ntsiku zino angamutewezere tani?

²⁰ Paulo akhali wakusiyana kwene-kwene na apandukiwo. Iwo akhaphatisa basa gwere kuti agumane phindu. Tsono Paulo akhaphata basa kuti abzisamalire nakuti aleke kukhala mtolo kwa gwere. Nyongo yomwe Paulo adacita kuti athandize abale ikhali lini kuti agumane cuma. Ndipopa Paulo adalimbikisa akulu wa ku Efezo kuti ambatumikire abale, m’mbuto mwa kumbacita bzakufuna bzawo bzokha. Iye adawauza kuti: “Mun’funika kuthandiza wale omwe mbakutepa mucimbakumbukira mafala ya Mbuya Jezu yakuti: ‘Kupasa kumbabweresa cikondweso cikulu kuposa kutambira.’” — Mab. 20:35.

²¹ Ninga Paulo, akulu wacikristau ntsiku zino ambacita nyongo ya kuthandiza winango. Mwakusiyana na atsogoleri wa magereja omwe ambagumana phindu kucokera kwa wanthu wawo, akulu omwe adapasidwa udindo bwa kuusa ‘gwere la Mulungu’ ambakwanirisa udindo bwawobo mwakusaya kugumana phindu kucokera m’gwere. Akristau m’gwere an’funika lini kukhala wakusamwa ayai wakubzikuza thangwe munthu omwe ‘ambabzipasa yekha ulemu’ bzinthu bzimbamumalira kuipa. (Mim. 25:27) Kubzikuza kumbabweresa manyazi. — Mim. 11:2.

22. Thangwe ranyi akulu wa ku Efezo akhafuna kwene-kwene Paulo?

²² Paulo akhafunidwa kwene-kwene na abale thangwe ra lufoyi lomwe iye akhawalatiza. Kulewa cadidi, pomwe Paulo akhafuna kuyenda, “wentse adayamba kulira kwene-kwene ndipo adakumbatira Paulo acimumpsompsona mwa lufoyi.” (Mab. 20:37, 38) Akristau ambalemekeza ndipo ambafuna kwene-kwene wale omwe ambabzipereka ninga Paulo kuti athandize mabira. Pambuyo pakucezerana ciratizo ca Paulo, kodi mukutawiriza lini kuti iye akhabzitumbiza lini pakulewa kuti: “Ndine wakucena pa mulandu wa mulopa wa wanthu wentse”? — Mab. 20:26.