ILizwi LikaYehova Liyeyisa!

“Lenjenjalo ke ilizwi leNkosi ukwanda ngamandla nokweyisa.”—IZENZO 19:20.

1. Yintoni eza kugutyungelwa kolu fundisiso lwencwadi yeBhayibhile yeZenzo zabaPostile?

UYEHOVA wayevula ithuba lokwenziwa komsebenzi. Ngokukhethekileyo uPawulos, ‘umpostile weentlanga,’ wayeza kukhokela kuloo msebenzi. (Roma 11:13) Eneneni, kufundisiso lwethu oluqhubekayo lweZenzo zabaPostile simfumana exakekile kuhambo lwakhe oluchulumancisayo lobuvangeli basemazweni.—IZenzo 16:6–19:41.

2. (a) UPawulos waba ngumbhali ophefumlelwe nguThixo njani malunga nowama-50 C.E. ukuya kowama-56 C.E.? (b) Yintoni eyenzekayo njengoko uThixo wayebusikelela ubulungiseleli bukaPawulos nobabanye?

² UPawulos wayekwangumbhali ophefumlelwe nguThixo. Ukususela malunga nowama-50 C.E. ukuya kowama-56 C.E., eseKorinte wabhala eyoku-1 neyesi-2 kwabaseTesalonika, ekweso sixeko okanye ekwa-Antiyokhwe eSiriya wabhala eya kumaGalati, eyoku-1 kwabaseKorinte wayibhala ese-Efese, eyesi-2 kwabaseKorinte eseMakedoni, kunye neya kwabaseRoma xa wayeseKorinte. Yaye njengoko uThixo wayebusikelela ubulungiseleli bukaPawulos nobabanye, “lenjenjalo ke ilizwi leNkosi ukwanda ngamandla nokweyisa.”—IZenzo 19:20.

Ukusuka EAsiya Ukuya EYurophu

3. UPawulos namaqabane akhe bawumisela njani umzekelo omhle ngokunxulumene nolwalathiso lomoya oyingcwele?

³ UPawulos namaqabane akhe bamisela umzekelo omhle wokwamkela ulwalathiso lomoya oyingcwele. (16:6-10) Mhlawumbi ngezityhilelo ezicacileyo, ngamaphupha, okanye ngemibono, umoya wabalela ukuba bashumayele kummandla waseAsiya nakwiphondo laseBhitini, ndawo ezo ezafikelelwa kamva ngeendaba ezilungileyo. (IZenzo 18:18-21; 1 Petros 1:1, 2) Kwakutheni ukuze umoya ubathintele ekuqaleni? Abasebenzi babembalwa, yaye umoya wawubakhokelela kwintsimi enemveliso ngakumbi eYurophu. Ngoko namhlanje, ukuba ayathintelwa komnye ummandla, amaNgqina kaYehova ashumayela komnye, eqinisekile ukuba umoya kaThixo uya kuwakhokelela kubantu ababumvu.

4. Wasabela njani uPawulos kumbono wendoda yaseMakedoni eyayicela uncedo?

⁴ Wandula ke uPawulos namaqabane akhe “badlula” eMisi, ummandla okwelaseAsiya Mayina, besiya kushumayela kuwo. Noko ke, embonweni uPawulos wabona indoda yaseMakedoni icela uncedo. Ngoko ngokukhawuleza aba bavangeli basemazweni baya eMakedoni, ummandla okuSingasiqithi iBalkan. Ngokufanayo, amaNgqina amaninzi alathiswa ngumoya oyingcwele ukuba ngoku akhonze apho imfuneko yabavakalisi boBukumkani inkulu khona.

5. (a) Kutheni le nto kunokuthiwa ilizwi likaYehova leyisa eFilipi? (b) AmaNgqina amaninzi omhla wethu afana ngayiphi indlela noLidiya?

⁵ Ilizwi likaYehova leyisa eMakedoni. (16:11-15) EFilipi, eyayilithanga elalimiwe ubukhulu becala ngamaRoma, kubonakala ukuba kwakukho amaYuda ambalwa yaye indlu yesikhungu ingekho. Ngoko abazalwana baya “apho umthandazo ubusakwenziwa khona” ngasemlanjeni ngaphandle kwesixeko. Phakathi kwabo babelapho kwakukho uLidiya, ekusenokwenzeka ukuba wayeguqukele ebuYudeni engowaseTiyatira, isixeko esikwelaseAsiya Mayina esasisaziwa ngeshishini laso lokudaya impahla. Wayethengisa idayi emfusa okanye amalaphu neempahla ezimfusa. Emva kokuba uLidiya nendlu yakhe bebhaptiziwe, wafuna ukubenzela ububele aba bavangeli basemazweni kangangokuba uLuka ngokunyaniseka ubhala esithi: ‘Wasizama.’ Sinombulelo ngoodade abanjalo namhlanje.

Umgcini-mabanjwa Uyakholwa

6. Umsebenzi wobudemoni wakhokelela njani ekubanjweni kukaPawulos noSilas eFilipi?

⁶ USathana umele ukuba wacatshukiswa yinkqubela phambili engokomoya eFilipi, kuba umsebenzi wobudemon apho wakhokelela ekubanjweni kukaPawulos noSilas. (16:16-24) Kangangemihla emininzi babelandelwa yintombazana ‘eyayinomoya wemilozi’ [“idemon yokuvumisa,” NW] (ngokoqobo, “umoya wentlwathi”). Le demon kusenokuba yayizenza uPythian Apollo, uthixo ekucingelwa ukuba wabulala inyoka eyayibizwa ngokuba yipyʹthon. Le ntombazana yayizizisela iinkosi zayo inzuzo eninzi ngokuvumisa. Kaloku, isenokuba yayixelela abalimi ukuba batyale nini, iintombi ukuba zitshate nini, nabembi begolide ukuba bembe phi na! Yayisoloko ibalandela aba bazalwana yaye idanduluka isithi: “Aba bantu bangabakhonzi bakaThixo Osenyangweni, bona basazisayo indlela yosindiso.” Kusenokuba le demon yayenza ukuba ithethe oku ukuze ukuvumisa kwayo kubonakale ngokungathi kwakuphefumlelwe nguThixo, kodwa iidemon azinalungelo lokuvakalisa ngoYehova nangelungiselelo lakhe losindiso. Akudinwa koku kukhathazwa uPawulos, wayikhupha loo demon egameni likaYesu. Iinkosi zale ntombazana zibona ukuba ishishini lazo libhangisiwe, zamrhola uPawulos noSilas zeza nabo endaweni yembutho, apho babethwa ngeentswazi. (2 Korinte 11:25) Bathi ke bavalelwa entolongweni baza bakhonkxwa iinyawo ezitokisini. Ezi zitokisi zazikwazi ukumiswa ngendlela yokuba imilenze kabani ivuleke kakhulu, nto leyo eyayibangela iintlungu ezingathethekiyo.

7. Ngubani okwathi ukubanjwa kukaPawulos noSilas kwamzisela iintsikelelo yaye njani?

⁷ Oku kuvalelwa kwamzisela iintsikelelo umgcini-mabanjwa nentsapho yakhe. (16:25-40) Malunga nasezinzulwini zobusuku uPawulos noSilas babethandaza yaye bedumisa uThixo ngeengoma, beqinisekile ukuba wayenabo. (INdumiso 42:8) Ngequbuliso inyikima yabangela ukuvuleka kweengcango nokukhululeka kwamakhamandela njengoko imixokelelwane yaqhawukayo ezintsikeni okanye ezindongeni. Umgcini-mabanjwa wayesoyika ukufumana isohlwayo sokufa kuba amabanjwa akhe ebalekile. Xa kanye wayeza kuzibulala uPawulos waphakamisa izwi wathi: “Ungazenzakalisi; kuba sikho sonke apha.” Ebakhuphele phandle uPawulos noSilas, umgcini-mabanjwa wabuza ukuba wayemele enze ntoni ukuze asindiswe. Impendulo yathi, “Kholwa kuyo iNkosi uYesu.” Akuliva ilizwi likaYehova, “wabhaptizwa yena kwalapho, nabo bonke abakhe.” Olunjani lona uvuyo oko okwaluzisayo!

8. Yintoni eyenziwa ngabathetheli baseFilipi, yaye kwakunokufezwa ntoni ukuba babeyivuma ekuhleni impazamo yabo?

⁸ Ngosuku olulandelayo, abathetheli bathumela ilizwi lokuba uPawulos noBharnabhas bakhululwe. Kodwa uPawulos wathi: ‘Basityabule singagwetywanga, sibantu bangamaRoma; basiphosa entolongweni; basikhupha ngasese na? Mabeze bona ngokwabo, basikhuphe.’ Ukuba aba bathetheli babeyivume ekuhleni impazamo yabo, babenokuba mathidala ukubetha nokuvalela amanye amaKristu. Bengakwazi ukubagxotha abemi abangamaRoma, abathetheli beza babacela aba bazalwana ukuba bemke, kodwa bakwenza oko kuphela emva kokuba bewakhuthazile amakholwa angoowabo. Ngoku umdla onjalo ushukumisela amalungu eQumrhu Elilawulayo nabanye abameli abahambahambayo ukuba batyelele baze bakhuthaze abantu bakaThixo emhlabeni wonke.

Ilizwi LikaYehova Liyeyisa ETesalonika NaseBhereya

9. Kungayiphi indlela, esasetyenziswayo ngamaNgqina kaYehova, awathi ngayo uPawulos ‘wachaza ecacisa’ ukuba uMesiya wayemelwe kukuva ubunzima aze avuke kwabafileyo?

⁹ Ngokulandelayo ilizwi likaThixo leyisa eTesalonika, ikomkhulu nezibuko elikhulu laseMakedoni. (17:1-9) Apho uPawulos waqiqa namaYuda, ‘echaza ecacisa,’ (TE) ukuba uMesiya wayemelwe kukuva ubunzima aze avuke kwelabafileyo. (UPawulos wakwenza oku ngokuthelekisa iziprofeto neziganeko ezazisenzeka, njengokuba amaNgqina kaYehova esenjenjalo.) Ngaloo ndlela, amaYuda athile, inkitha yababeguqukele ebuYudeni, nabanye bakholwa. Xa amaYuda athile anomona ayila ihlokondiba kodwa akamfumana uPawulos noSilas, athabatha uYason nabanye abazalwana abasa kubaphathi besixeko aza abatyhola ngobuxoki ngokuvusa uqhushululu, nto leyo esenzekayo kubantu bakaYehova nangoku. Noko ke, aba bazalwana bakhululwa emva kokurhola “isibambiso.”

10. Kungayiphi ingqiqo awathi amaYuda aseBhereya ‘azihlolisisa ngenyameko’ iZibhalo?

¹⁰ Ngokulandelayo uPawulos noSilas baya kwisixeko saseBhereya. (17:10-15) Apho amaYuda ‘ayezihlolisisa ngenyameko,’ (NW) iZibhalo njengoko amaNgqina kaYehova ekhuthaza abantu ukuba benjenjalo namhlanje. Loo maBhereya ayengamthandabuzi uPawulos kodwa enza uhlolisiso lokungqina ukuba uYesu wayenguye uMesiya. Ngawuphi umphumo? AmaYuda amaninzi namaGrike athile (mhlawumbi awayeguqukele ebuYudeni) akholwa. Xa amaYuda avela eTesalonika azamazamisa izihlwele, abazalwana bamkhapha uPawulos bamsa ngaselunxwemeni, apho abathile beqela lakhe basenokuba bakhwela umkhombe oya ePiraeus (iPiraiévs yanamhla), idolophu enezibuko yaseAtene.

Ilizwi LikaYehova Liyeyisa EAtene

11. (a) UPawulos wabunikela njani ubungqina ngokungafihlisiyo eAtene, kodwa ngoobani abaphikisana naye? (b) Babethetha ukuthini abathile xa bathi uPawulos ‘lipholopholo’?

¹¹ NaseAtene kwanikelwa ubungqina ngokungafihlisiyo. (17:16-21) Ngenxa yamazwi awathethwa nguPawulos ngoYesu novuko, izithandi-zobulumko zaphikisana naye. Zimbi zazo zazingamaEpikure, awayekhuthaza ukuzonwabisa. Ezinye zazingamaStoyike, agxininisa ukuziqeqesha. “Bambi babuza besithi, azi lifuna ukuthini na eli pholopholo?” Ukuthi “ipholopholo” (ngokoqobo, “intaka etya ukutya okuziinkozo”) kwakuthetha ukuba uPawulos wayefana nentaka etya ukutya okuziinkozo neyabela abanye ngolwazana kodwa yona ingalumkanga. Abanye bathi: “Ngathi ngumazisi wezithixo zasemzini.” Esi yayisisityholo esinzulu, kuba uSocrates waphulukana nobomi bakhe ngenxa yesityholo esinjalo. Ngokukhawuleza uPawulos wasiwa eAreyopago (iNduli kaMars), mhlawumbi kwakulapho inkundla ephakamileyo yayihlangana khona kufutshane neAcropolis.

12. (a) Ziziphi iimpawu ezifanelekileyo zokuthetha esidlangalaleni ezibonakala kwintetho kaPawulos yaseAreyopago? (b) Ziziphi iingongoma uPawulos awaziphuhlisayo ngoThixo, yaye ngayiphi imiphumo?

¹² Intetho kaPawulos eAreyopago yayingumzekelo obalaseleyo wokuba nentshayelelo enempumelelo, ukhuliso lwengqiqo, nengxoxo eyeyisayo—njengoko oko kufundiswa kwiSikolo Sobulungiseleli Sobuthixo samaNgqina kaYehova. (17:22-34) Wathi ama-Atene ayetyekele kakhulu elunqulweni kunabanye abantu. Kaloku, ayekwanesibingelelo esibhalwe ukuthi “Kongaziwayo UThixo,” mhlawumbi ukuphepha ukudela nawuphi na uthixo! UPawulos wathetha ngoMdali ‘owenza ngagazi-nye zonke iintlanga zabantu’ waza ‘wemisa amaxesha abekwe ngenxa engaphambili, nemida yokuma kwazo,’ njengexesha lokutshabalalisa amaKanan. (Genesis 15:13-21; Daniyeli 2:21; 7:12) UPawulos wathi, lo Thixo unokufunyanwa, “kuba nathi siyinzala yakhe,” ebhekisela kwisibakala sokuba umntu edalwe nguYehova yaye ecaphula kumazwi kaAratus noCleanthes iimbongi zabo. Njengenzala kaThixo, asifanele sicinge ukuba uMdali ofezekileyo ufana nesithixo esenziwe ngumntu ongafezekanga. UThixo wayekhe wakuyeka ukungazi okunjalo kodwa ngoku wayexelela uluntu ukuba luguquke, kuba emise umhla wokugweba abantu ngeNdoda awayimiselayo. Ekubeni uPawulos ‘wayeshumayela iindaba ezilungileyo zikaYesu,’ ababemphulaphule babesazi ukuba wayethetha ukuba uKristu wayeza kuba nguloo Mgwebi. (IZenzo 17:18; Yohane 5:22, 30) Ukuthetha ngenguquko kwawacaphukisa amaEpikure, yaye izithandi zobulumko zamaGrike zazinokuyamkela intetho engokungafi kungekhona ukufa nokuvuka. Kuyabonakala ukuba, njengabaninzi abangazinanziyo iindaba ezilungileyo ngoku, abanye bathi: “Sobuye sikuve wena.” Kodwa umgwebi uDiyonisiyo nabanye bakholwa.

Ilizwi LikaThixo Liyeyisa EKorinte

13. UPawulos wazixhasa njani kubulungiseleli, yaye nguwuphi umzekelo esinawo kumhla wethu?

¹³ UPawulos waqhubeka waya eKorinte, ikomkhulu lephondo laseAkaya. (18:1-11) Apho wafumana uAkwila noPrisila, abafika apho xa uKlawudiyo Kesare wayalela amaYuda awayengengobemi baseRoma ukuba emke eRoma. Ukuze azixhase kubulungiseleli, uPawulos wayesenza iintente nesi sibini singamaKristu. (1 Korinte 16:19; 2 Korinte 11:9) Ukusika nokuthunga ilaphu elilushica elenziwe ngoboya bebhokhwe kwakungumsebenzi onzima. Ngokufanayo, amaNgqina kaYehova abonelela iintswelo zawo zokuphathekayo ngomsebenzi wengqesho, kodwa umsebenzi wawo ophambili bubulungiseleli.

14. (a) Ejamelene nenkcaso ezingisileyo yamaYuda aseKorinte, wenza ntoni uPawulos? (b) UPawulos waqinisekiswa njani ukuba wayefanele ahlale eKorinte, kodwa balufumana njani ulwalathiso abantu bakaYehova namhlanje?

¹⁴ AmaYuda aseKorinte ayengayeki ukunyelisa njengoko uPawulos wayevakalisa ukuba uYesu unguMesiya. Ngoko wavuthulula iingubo zakhe ukuzihlambulula etyaleni lawo waza waqalisa ukubamba iintlanganiso endlwini kaTito Yusto, ekusenokuba wayengumRoma. Abaninzi (kuquka nowayesakuba ngumphathi wendlu yesikhungu uKrispo nendlu yakhe) baba ngamakholwa abhaptiziweyo. Ukuba inkcaso yamaYuda yambangela ukuba uPawulos athandabuze ukuhlala eKorinte, oko kuthandabuza kwaphela xa iNkosi yamxelela oku embonweni: ‘Musa ukoyika, thetha; ngokuba mna ndinawe, kanjalo akukho namnye uya kukuphatha kakubi; ndinabantu abaninzi kulo mzi.’ Ngoko uPawulos waqhubeka efundisa ilizwi likaThixo apho ixesha elingangonyaka neenyanga ezintandathu. Nangona abantu bakaYehova ngoku bengafumani mibono, umthandazo nokwalathiswa ngumoya oyingcwele kubanceda benze izigqibo ezinjalo zobulumko nezichaphazela izilangazelelo zoBukumkani.

15. Yintoni eyenzekayo xa uPawulos wasiwa phambi kweBamba uGaliyo?

¹⁵ AmaYuda amsa uPawulos kwiBamba uJunius Galiyo. (18:12-17) Bathi uPawulos wayeguqula abantu ngokungekho mthethweni—isityholo sobuxoki abefundisi bamaGrike abasibeka amaNgqina kaYehova ngoku. UGaliyo wayesazi ukuba uPawulos wayengenatyala labutshijolo nokuba amaYuda ayengazixhalabisanga kangako ngentlalo-ntle yeRoma nomthetho wayo, ngoko wawagxotha. Xa ababukeli bambethayo uSostene, umphathi omtsha wendlu yesikhungu, uGaliyo akazange angenelele, mhlawumbi ecinga ukuba owayebonakala eyinkokeli yehlokondiba elalichase uPawulos wayefumana okumfaneleyo.

16. Kutheni le nto kwakuyinto eyamkelekileyo ngoPawulos ukucheba iinwele zakhe ngenxa yesibhambathiso?

¹⁶ UPawulos wanduluka ngomkhombe kwizibuko iAegean eKenkreya waya e-Efese, isixeko esiseAsiya Mayina. (18:18-22) Ngaphambi kolo hambo ‘wayezichebile iinwele zentloko yakhe, kuba wayenze isibhambathiso.’ Akutshiwo enoba uPawulos wayenze eso sibhambathiso ngaphambi kokuba ngumlandeli kaYesu okanye oku yayikukuqala okanye ukuphela kwexesha lesibhambathiso. AmaKristu awakho phantsi koMthetho, kodwa wona wawuvela kuThixo yaye ungcwele, yaye kwakungekho sono ekwenzeni isibhambathiso esinjalo. (Roma 6:14; 7:6, 12; Galati 5:18) E-Efese, uPawulos wayeqiqa namaYuda, ethembisa ukubuyela ukuba uThixo uyavuma. (Eso sithembiso sazalisekiswa kamva.) Ngokubuyela kwakhe kwa-Antiyokhwe eSiriya waluqukumbela ukhenketho lwakhe lwesibini lobuvangeli basemazweni.

Ilizwi LikaYehova Liyeyisa E-Efese

17. Mayela nobhaptizo, luluphi uyalelo olwalufuneka kuApolo nabanye?

¹⁷ Ngokukhawuleza uPawulos waqalisa uhambo lwakhe lwesithathu lobuvangeli basemazweni (malunga nowama-52-56 C.E.). (18:23–19:7) Ngelo thuba e-Efese, uApolo wayefundisa ngoYesu kodwa esazi kuphela ubhaptizo lukaYohane olungumfuziselo wokuguquka kwizono ezinxamnye nomnqophiso woMthetho. UPrisila noAkwila “bamtyhilela ngokucokisekileyo ngakumbi indlela kaThixo,” kusenokuba becacisa ukuba ukubhaptizwa njengoko noYesu wabhaptizwayo kwakuquka ukuntywiliselwa kukabani emanzini nokufumana umoya oyingcwele owawuthululwa. Emva kokuba kubhaptizwe ngomoya oyingcwele ngePentekoste yowama-33 C.E., nabani na owayebhaptizwe ngobhaptizo lukaYohane kwakufuneka aphinde abhaptizwe egameni likaYesu. (Mateyu 3:11, 16; IZenzo 2:38) Kamva e-Efese, malunga namadoda ali-12 angamaYuda awayebhaptizwe ngobhaptizo lukaYohane “abhaptizwa egameni leNkosi uYesu” kwisihlandlo ekukuphela kwaso esibhalwe eZibhalweni sokubhaptizwa kwakhona. Xa uPawulos wawabeka izandla, afumana umoya oyingcwele nemiqondiso emibini ebonisa ukwamkelwa kwawo ezulwini—ukuthetha ngeelwimi nokuprofeta.

18. UPawulos wabunikela phi ubungqina ngoxa wayese-Efese, yaye ngayiphi imiphumo?

¹⁸ Ngokuqinisekileyo uPawulos wahlala exakekile e-Efese, isixeko esinabemi abanokuba ngama-300 000. (19:8-10) Itempile yaso yothixokazi uArtemis yayiyenye yezinto ezisixhenxe ezazibukeka ngokumangalisayo kwihlabathi lamandulo yaye, indawo yaso yokubukela imidlalo yeqonga yayilungiselelwe ukuhlala abantu abangama-25 000. Endlwini yesikhungu, uPawulos ‘wayebeyisela’ ngokunikela iingxoxo ezeyisayo kodwa warhoxa xa abathile bayinyelisayo Loo Ndlela, okanye uhlobo lobomi obusekelwe ekukholweni kuKristu. Kangangeminyaka emibini, uPawulos wayethetha imihla ngemihla kwiholo yesikolo sikaTirano, laza “ilizwi” lasasazeka kuwo wonke loo mmandla waseAsiya.

19. Yintoni eyenzeka e-Efese eyabangela ukuba ‘ilizwi leNkosi liqhubeke lisanda yaye liseyisa’ apho?

¹⁹ UThixo wabonisa ukukholiseka kwakhe ngomsebenzi kaPawulos ngokumnika amandla okuphilisa nawokukhupha iidemon. (19:11-20) Kodwa oonyana abasixhenxe bombingeleli omkhulu uSkeva abazange bakwazi ukukhupha iidemon ngokusebenzisa igama likaYesu kuba babengameli uThixo noKristu. Bade bangxwelerhwa yiloo ndoda ineedemon! Oku kwabenza abantu boyika, laza “lenziwa likhulu igama leNkosi uYesu.” Abo babesiba ngamakholwa bakuyeka ukusebenzisa ubugqi yaye bazitshisa ekuhleni iincwadi zabo ekucaca ukuba zazibhalwe iziqalekiso neendlela zokwenza imilingo. ULuka wabhala oku, “Lenjenjalo ke ilizwi leNkosi ukwanda ngamandla nokweyisa.” Nanamhlanje, abakhonzi bakaThixo bayabanceda abantu bakhululeke kubudemon.—Duteronomi 18:10-12.

Inkcaso Engokonqulo Ayiphumeleli

20. Yintoni eyabangela ukuba abakhandi besilivere base-Efese benze isaqunge, yaye sapheliswa njani?

²⁰ Ngokufuthi amaNgqina kaYehova aye ajamelana namahlokondiba angenalusini, yaye kwakunjalo nangamaKristu e-Efese. (19:21-41) Njengokuba abakholwayo babesanda, uDemetriyo nabanye abakhandi besilivere balahlekelwa yingeniso kuba baba mbalwa abantu abathenga iitempile zesilivere zothixokazi wenzala onamabele amaninzi uArtemis ababezenza. Lixhokonxwe nguDemetriyo, ihlokondiba lathabatha amaqabane kaPawulos uGayo noAristarko labasa kwiholo yemidlalo yeqonga, kodwa abafundi abamvumelanga uPawulos ukuba angene apho. Kwanabaphathi bemibhiyozo nemidlalo abathile bamcenga ukuba angazibeki kweso sichenge. Kangangeeyure ezimbini, ihlokondiba lalinkqangaza lisithi: “Mkhulu uArtemis wabase-Efese!” Ekugqibeleni, unobhala weso sixeko (owayeyinkokeli yebhunga lesixeko) wathi loo magcisa ayenokumangala kwibamba, elalinegunya lokuwisa izigwebo, okanye lawo ityala lawo lalinokuconjululwa “kwesesikweni intlanganiso” yabemi. Kungenjalo, iRoma yayinokubamangalela abo babe kuloo ntlanganiso ingekho sikweni ngokwenza isaqunge. Ngaloo mazwi, wabagxotha.

21. UYehova wawusikelela njani umsebenzi kaPawulos, yaye uwusikelela njani owamaNgqina kaYehova namhlanje?

²¹ UThixo wamnceda uPawulos ukuba ajamelane neemvavanyo ezahlukahlukeneyo yaye wayisikelela imigudu yakhe yokunceda abantu balahle ubuxoki obungokonqulo baze bamkele inyaniso. (Thelekisa uYeremiya 1:9, 10.) Hayi indlela esinombulelo ngayo ngokuba uBawo wethu osemazulwini ngokufanayo ewusikelela umsebenzi wethu! Ngaloo ndlela, ngoku njengakwinkulungwane yokuqala, ‘ilizwi leNkosi liyanda yaye liyeyisa.’

Ubuya Kuphendula Uthini?

◻ Nguwuphi umzekelo uPawulos awawumiselayo ngokwamkela ulwalathiso lomoya oyingcwele?

◻ Yiyiphi indlela, esasetyenziswayo ngabakhonzi bakaYehova, awathi ngayo uPawulos ‘wachaza ecacisa’ imibandela?

◻ Indlela abasabela ngayo abantu kwintetho kaPawulos eAreyopago ifana njani nendlela abasabela ngayo kumaNgqina kaYehova?

◻ UPawulos wazixhasa njani kubulungiseleli, yaye kukuphi ukufana okukhoyo namhlanje?

◻ Njengoko wenzayo ngomsebenzi kaPawulos, uThixo uwusikelele njani umsebenzi wamaNgqina kaYehova namhlanje?

[Imifanekiso ekwiphepha 16, 17]

Ilizwi likaYehova leyisa

1. EFilipi

2. nowe-3. EAtene

4. nowe-6. E-Efese

5. ERoma

[Inkcazelo]

Photo No. 4: Manley Studios