38—Upawulos Umbanjwa

[Esi sahluko sisekwe kwiZenzo 21:17-40; Zenzo 22; Zenzo 23:1-35]

“Ke kaloku, sakufika eYerusalem, basamkela ngovuyo abazalwana. Ngengomso ke, uPawulos wangena kunye nathi kuYakobi, ayekho namadoda amakhulu onke.”IZ 399.1

Kwesi isiganeko, uPawulos namaqabane akhe banika ngokusemthethweni iinkokeli zomsebenzi eYerusalem iminikelo eyayiphume kumabandla abeeNtlanga yokuxhasa amahlwempu aphakathi kwabazalwana abangamaYuda. Ukuqokelelwa kwale minikelo kwabadla abapostile nabanye abasebenzi ixesha elininzi, ingcinga enoxinzelelo, nomsebenzi odinisa kakhulu. Uwonke, phofu udlula ngaphaya koko kwakulindelwe ngabadala eYerusalem, wawumele ukuzincama kunye neentlupheko zamakholwa eeNtlanga.IZ 399.2

Le minikelo yokuzithandela yayiluphawu lokunyaniseka kwabaguqukileyo beeNtlanga kumsebenzi omiselweyo kaThixo kulo lonke ihlabathi, kwaye kwakufuneka wamkelwe ngabo bonke ngombulelo owuvumayo, kanti ke, kwacaca kuPawulos nakumaqabane akhe ukuba, kanye kwabo babemi phambi kwabo, bakho ababengakwazi ukuwuxabisa umoya wothando lobuzalwana olwenza ukuba kunikelwe ngolo hlobo.IZ 399.3

Kwiminyaka engaphambili yomsebenzi weendaba ezilungileyo phakathi kweeNtlanga, abanye babazalwana abakhokelayo eYerusalem, besabambelele kwiingcinga zangaphambili zokugweba bengazi kwakunye nemikhwa [yabo], babengasebenzisani ngovuyo noPawulos kunye namaqabane akhe. Kwixhala labo lokukhusela imo [yonqulo] neenkonzo, balahlekwa ngumbono wentsikelelo eyayiya kubazela bona kunye nomsebenzi ababewuthanda, ngelinge lokumanya zonke iinkalo zomsebenzi weNkosi. Nangona babenolangazelelo lokukhusela konke okuhle kwebandla lobuKristu, basilela ukuhamba kunye nenkqubela yolungiselelo lukaThixo, baza kubulumko babo bobuntu, bazama ukubabiyela abasebenzi ngemiqathango emininzi engafuneki nganto. Kwabakho, ke ngoko, iqela labantu abangaqhelananga neemeko eziguqukayo kunye neemfuno ezizodwa abahlangana nazo abasebenzi kwiindawo ezikude, ukanti babemile [aba bantu] kwelokuba, banegunya lokuxelela abazalwana babo abakwezi ndawo ukuba balandele iindlela ezimisiweyo zokusebenza. Kubo, yayingathi, ukuhanjiselwa phambili komsebenzi kufuneka kuhambelane neembono zabo.IZ 400.1

Kwakuse kuyiminyaka seloko abazalwana eYerusalem, kunye nabameli abaphuma kwamanye amabandla, banika ingqwalasela kwimibuzo eyayikho ngeendlea ezilandelwa ngabo babesebenzela iiNtlanga. Ngokwesiphumo sale intlanganiso, abazalwana benza izincomo eziqinisekileyo emabandleni ngeenkonzo namasiko athile, aquka ulwaluko. Kwakukule ntlanganiso yomntu wonke apho abazalwana bamanyanayo ukuba bathumele emabandleni obuKristu uBharnabhas noPawulos njengabasebenzi abafanele ukuthenjwa ngokupheleleyo ngawo onke amakholwa.IZ 400.2

Phakathi kwabo babekho kule ntlanganiso, kwakukho abathile ababezigxeke kakhulu iindlela zokusebenza ezazilandelwa ngabapostile ekwakukho phezu kwabo umthwalo omkhulu wokusa iindaba ezilungileyo elizweni leeNtlanga. Apha entlanganisweni, iimbono zabo zavuleka banzi, baza bamanyana nabazalwana babo ekwenzeni izigqibo ezilumkileyo, ezenza ukuba kubekho ukumanyana kwawo wonke umzimba wamakholwa.IZ 401.1

Emva koko, kwathi kwakucaca ukuba anda ngokukhawuleza amakholwa phakathi kweentlanga, kwabakho abambalwa kubazalwana abakhokelayo eYerusalem abaqala ukuvuselela ukuhlasela kwabo kwangaphambili iindlela zikaPawulos namaqabane akhe. Olu hlaselo lwaya luqina ngokuhamba kweminyaka, zada ezinye iinkokeli zagqiba kwelokuba ukushunyayelwa kweendaba ezilungileyo, ukususela ngelo xesha, kufuneka kwenziwe ngokweembono zazo. Ukuba uPawulos wayenokwenza ukuba iindlela zakhe zihambelane nemithetho ababeyibeka, babeya kuwamkela bawuxhase umsebenzi wakhe; kungenjalo abasayi kuwujonga ngokuwuthanda okanye bawunike inkxaso yabo.IZ 401.2

La madoda ayelahlekwe ngumbono wokuba uThixo uyititshala yabantu baKhe; nokuba wonke umsebenzi emsebenzini waKhe [Yena Thixo], kufuneka abe nawakhe amava ekulandeleni uMkhokeli ongcwele, angakhangeli emntwini ngenkokhelo ethe ngqo; nokuba abasebenzi baKhe, kufuneka babunjwe benziwe ngokomfanekiso wezulu, hayi ngokweembono zomntu.IZ 401.3

Kulungiselelo lwakhe umpostile uPawulos wabafundisa abantu “kungengamazwi oyisa ngabulumko babantu; bekungokuqondakalisa koMoya nokwamandla.” Iinyaniso awayezivakalisa zazityhilwe kuye nguMoya Oyingcwele, “Kuba uMoya uphengulula zonke izinto, neenzulu zikaThixo. Kuba nguwuphi na kubantu ozaziyo izinto zomntu, ingenguwo umoya womntu okuye? Ngokunjalo nezinto zikaThixo akukho namnye uzaziyo, ingenguye uMoya kaThixo. . . .” Uqhubeka athi, “esizithethayo nokuzithetha, kungengamazwi anokufundiswa bubulumko babantu, kungawo uMoya Oyingcwele: izinto ezizezomoya sizilungelelanisa namazwi la angawomoya.” 1 Korinte 2:4, 10-13.IZ 402.1

Kuwo wonke umsebenzi wakhe wolungiselelo, uPawulos wayekhangele inkokhelo ethe ngqo kuThixo. Kwangelo xesha linye, wayekunonophele ukusebenzisana nezigqibo zequmrhu eliseYerusalem, kwaza ngenxa yaloo nto, amabandla “ayezimaseka . . . elukholweni, esanda ngenani imihla ngemihla.” Zenzo 16:5. Ngoku, nangona lwalungekho uvelwano alufumanayo kwabanye, wafumana intuthuzelo ekwazini ukuba uwenzile umsebenzi wokukhuthaza abaguqukileyo emoyeni wokunyaniseka, owobubele, nobothando lobuzalwana, njengoko kutyhileke kwesi siganeko seminikelo yobubele awakwazi ukuyibeka phambi kwamadoda amakhulu amaYuda.IZ 402.2

Emva kokunikela ngezipho, uPawulos “wamana ebacacisela zonke ngazinye izinto awazenzayo uThixo phakathi kweentlanga, ngalo ulungiselelo lwakhe.” Ucengcelezo lwezi nyaniso lwazisa kwiintliziyo zabo bonke, nakwabo babenentandabuzo, ingqiniseko yokuba intsikelelo yezulu iyayikhapha imisebenzi yakhe.“Bathe ke bona bakukuva oko, bayizukisa iNkosi.” Beva ngathi, iindlela ezilandelwa ngumpostile ekusebenzeni kwakhe zinesiqinisekiso seZulu. Iminikelo yobubele eyayiphambi kwabo yongeza kwisisindo sobungqina babapostile ngokunyaniseka kwamabandla amatsha amiselwe phakathi kweeNtlanga. Amadoda awathi, nangona ayephakathi kwabo babephethe umsebenzi eYerusalem, kodwa akhuthaza ukuba kumiselwe imiqathango ethandwa ngawo, akubona ukulungiselela kukaPawulos ngokunye ukukhanya, aza oyisakala ukuba eyawo indlela ibingalunganga, nokuba ayebanjwe ebukhobokeni bamasiko nezithethe zobuYuda, nokuba umsebenzi weendaba ezilungileyo ubuthintelwe kakhulu kukusilela kwawo ukuqonda ukuba udonga lokwahlula phakathi kwamaYuda nabeeNtlanga lwawiswa phantsi kukufa kukaKristu.IZ 402.3

Yayilithuba elihle eli lokuba bonke abazalwana abakhokelayo bakuvume ngokuphandle oko uThixo akusebenza ngoPawulos, nokuba, ngamaxesha athile babesona ukuvumela iingxelo zeentshaba ukuba zivuse umona nentiyo yabo. Sekunjalo, endaweni yokumanyana kwilinge lokwenza ubulungisa kulowo wayoniwe, basuka bamnika ingcebiso eyabonisa ukuba babesenayo into ethi uPawulos waba negalelo elikhulukwingxaki yentiyo yabo. Abazange bame ngesidima ekumkhuseleni, bazame ukubonisa abo banenkcaso ukuba babephosisile, basuka bafuna ukubathomalalisa ngokuyala yena ukuba alandele ikhondo, ngokwabo ukubona, elaliya kususa wonke unobangela wokungaqondani kakuhle.IZ 403.1

“Uyabona, mzalwana,” batsho, ukuphendula kwabo kubungqina bakhe, “oko angakoamawakawakaamaYuda akholiweyo;abe ke onke ewuzondelele umthetho. Atyelwe ke ngawe, ukuba uyawafundisa onke amaYuda aphakathi kweentlanga, ukuba ahlukane noMoses, usithi, makangabalusi abantwana bawo, angahambi ngawo amasiko. Kuthiweni na ke? Kakade kuya kuhlanganisana inkitha; kuba aya kuva ukuba ufikile. Ngoko yenza lento sikuxelela yona: kukho kuthi apha amadoda amane, anesibambiso azibophe ngaso; wathabathe ke, uzenze nyulu kunye nawo, ube nokudleka ngenxa yawo, ukuze agugule iintloko; bazi bonke ukuba ezo nto bazityelweyo ngawe azilutho, nawe ngokwakho uhambe uwugcinile umthetho. Kodwa ngazo iintlanga ezikholiweyo, sabhala sagqiba kwelokuba zingabambi nto injalo; kuphela ibe kukuzigcina entweni ebingelelwe izithixo, nasegazini, nasentweni ekrwitshiweyo, nasembulweni.”IZ 403.2

Abazalwana babethembe ukuba uPawulos, ngokulandela indlela ecetyisiweyo, uya kunika ukuchasana okucacileyo neengxelo ezingaye. Bamqinisekisa ukuba isigqibo sentlanganiso yangaphambili ngokubhekiselele kwabaguqukileyo beeNtlanga kunye nomthetho wamadini, zizinto ezisalungileyo. Ngoko ke, icebiso elinikiweyo ngoku lalingahambelani neso sigqibo. UMoya kaThixo awuzange uwutyale lo myalelo; koko wawusisiqhamo sobugwala. Iinkokeli zebandla laseYerusalem zazisazi ukuba, ngokungahambelani nomthetho wamadini, amaKristu ayeya kuzizisela ukuthiywa ngamaYuda azibeke esichengeni sentshutshiso. ISanhedrin yayisenza konke enako ukuthintela ukuhambela phambili kweendaba ezilungileyo. Kwanyulwa amadoda leli qumrhu ukuba alandele abapostile, ngakumbi uPawulos, aze athi, ngayo yonke indlela anokwenza ngayo, awuchase umsebenzi wakhe. Ukuba amaKristu angafunyanwa phambi kweSanhedrin njengabaphuli bomthetho, ayeya kunikwa isohlwayo esikhawulezileyo nesikhulu njengabakreqi kwinkolo yobuYuda.IZ 404.1

Abaninzi kumaYuda awayezamkele iindaba ezilungileyo babesakuthanda ukuxabisa umthetho wamadini kwaye benentumekelelo enkulu ukwenza uyekelelo olungalumkileyo, bethemba ukuba ngokwenza njalo baya kuzuza ukuthenjwa ngamawabo, nokususa ugwebo olungenasihlahla, nokuboyisela ekukholelweni kuKristu njengoMhlanguli wehlabathi. UPawulos waqonda ukuba, lo gama amalungu akhokelayo ebandla laseYerusalem eqhubeka nokuba nentiyo ngakuye, aya kuhlala esebenzela ukuyithintela impembelelo yakhe. Wabona ngathi, ukuba anganendawana ayivumayo angabazuzela enyanisweni, uya kuba ususe umqobo omkhulu kwimpumelelo yeendaba ezilungileyo kwezinye iindawo. Noko ke, wayenganikwanga gunya nguThixo ukuba avume njengoko babemcela.IZ 405.1

Xa sicinga ngolangazelelo olukhulu lukaPawulos ukuba asebenzisane nabazalwana bakhe, ukuthantamisa kwakhe ababuthakathaka enkolweni, ukuhlonipha kwakhe abapostile ababekunye noKristu, nangoYakobi, umzalwana kaYesu, nenjongo yakhe yokuba zizinto zonke kubantu bonke kangangoko anako ngaphandle kokubeka ecaleni umthetho-siseko—xa sicinga ngako konke oku, akumangalisi ukuba anyanzeleke ukuba akhe athi cebu kwindlela ethe nkqi, negqityiweyo abesoloko eyilandela ukuza kufika ngoku. Eyona nto, endaweni yokuzuza oko ebekulangazelela, imizamo yakhe yokuxolelanisa yasuka yayiqhubela phambili ngamandla ingxaki, yakhawulezisa kuphatheka kakubi, Yaphumela ekumahluleni kubazalwana bakhe, yahlutha ibandla enye yezona ntsika zomeleleyo, ngokuzisa usizi kwiintliziyo zamaKristu kwiindawo zonke.IZ 405.2

Ngemini elandelayo, waqala uPawulos ukulandela icebo labadala. Amadoda amane awayezibophe ngesifungo samaNazarete (Numeri 6), elaliseliphela ixesha laso, waya wawangenisa etempileni uPawulos, “eqondisa inzaliseko yeentsuku zokwenza nyulu, ude usondezwe umnikelo ngenxa yabo bonke ngabanye.” Kwakusafuneka kwenziwe imibingelelo yexabiso yentlambululo.IZ 406.1

Abo babemcebisa uPawulos ukuba athabathe eli nyathelo, abazange bayiqwalasele ngokupheleleyo ingozi enkulu awayeya kujongana nayo. Ngeli xesha, iYerusalem yayizele ngabantu abanqulayo ababephuma kwimimandla emininzi. Kanye, ngokokuzaliseka komyalelo awayewunikwe nguThixo, uPawulos wayezise eziNtlangeni iindaba ezilungileyo, wathi, kuba ehambele kwizixeko ezininzi nezikhulu zehlabathi, waziwa kakhulu ngamawaka avela kwiindawo ezingaphandle kweYerusalem aze esidlweni. Phakathi kwabo, kwakukho amadoda antliziyo zawo zazizaliswe yintiyo ngakuPawulos, kwaza ukungena kwakhe etempileni ngesiganeko sikawonke wonke kwaba kukubeka ubomi bakhe esichengeni. Kwaba ziintsuku ezininzi ephuma engena phakathi kwabanquli, ingathi engaqatshelwanga; kodwa phambi kokuba kuphele ixesha elimiselweyo, esathetha nombingeleli ngemibingelelo ekufuneka inikelwe, waqatshelwa ngamanye amaYuda avela e-Asiya.IZ 406.2

Bathi, benengqumbo yeedemon, bamwela bekhala, “Madoda, maIsrayeli, sizani. Nanku lo mntu ufundisa bonke ezindaweni zonkeokuchasene nabantu,nomthetho,nale ndawo.”Bathi bakusabela abantu kubizo loncedo, kongezwa esinye isityholo—“othe ngaphezu koko wawangenisa amaGrike etempileni, wayenza inqambi le ndawo ingcwele.”IZ 406.3

Ngokomthetho wamaYuda, yayikukwaphulwa komthetho okugwetywa ngokubulawa into yokuba umntu ongalukileyo angene kwiinkundla ezingaphakathi kwesakhiwo esingcwele. UPawulos wayebonwe esixekweni enoTrofimo, umEfese, kwaza kwagqitywa kwelokuba ebemzise wamngenisa etempileni. Akazange wayenza loo nto; kwaye, kuye, njengomYuda,ukungena kwakhe etempileni kwakungekuko ukwaphula umthetho. Nangona isityholo sasibubuxoki ngokupheleleyo, sakwazi ukuvusa ukumgweba kubantu jikelele. Sathi sakuqala isikhalo, senjenjeya ukuya kuzo zonke iinkundla zetempile, inkitha eyayibuthene apho yangenelwa yimpambano. Iindaba zakhawuleza ukusasazeka kuyo yonke iYerusalem, “washukuma umzi uphela, babalekela ndawonye abantu.”IZ 407.1

Into yokuba umkreqi kwaIsrayeli asuke azokungcolisa itempile kanye ngeli xesha amawaka esuka kulo lonke ilizwe azokunqula, yavusa ezona zimvo zoyikekayo esihlweleni. “Bamthabatha uPawulos, bamrholela ngaphandle kwetempile; zavalwa kwa-oko iingcango.”IZ 407.2

“Ke kaloku, xa babeza kumbulala, lwafika udaba kumthetheli-waka webutho, lokuba iYerusalem iphela idubadubekile.” UKlawudiyo Lisiya wayesazi kakuhle isiphithiphithi awayeza kujongana naso, wathi “kwangelo lixa wathabatha amasoldati nabathetheli-khulu, wabaleka, wehla waya kubo. Bakumbona ke umthetheli-waka namasoldati, bayeka ukumbetha uPawulos.” Wathi engazi ukuba isidubedube sibangwa yintoni, kodwa ebona ukuba umsindo wesihlwele ubhekiswe kuPawulos, umphathi womRoma wagqiba kwelokuba unokuba ungumYiputa othile owayengumvukeli awaka weva ngaye, nowayesanda kuqhwesha ekubanjweni. Ngenxa yoko “wambamba, wathi makakhonkxwe ngemixokelelwane emibini; wayebuza ukuba angaba ungubani na, nokuthi wenze ntoni na.” Kwangoko kwenyuka amazwi amaninzi edanduluka ngesityholo enomsindo: “abanye ke phakathi kwesihlwele babhomboloza enye into, abanye enye. Akuba engenako ke ukuyazi inyaniso ngenxa yesiphithiphithi, wathi makasiwe enqabeni yomkhosi. Xeshikweni wafikayo ke kumatye okunyuka, usuke wathwalwa ngamasoldati, ngenxa yamandla esihlwele; kuba yayilandela inkitha yabantu, inkqangaza isithi, Msuseni.”IZ 407.3

Phakathi kweso sidubedube, umpostile wayezolile ezibambile. Ingqondo yakhe yayigxile kuThixo, esazi ukuba iingelosi zezulu zimngqongile. Waziva engenayo intumekelelo yokuyishiya itempile engenzanga nzame yokuyibeka inyaniso phambi kwabantu bezwe lakhe. Wathi xa eza kukhokelelwa enqabeni, wathi kumphathi-mkhosi, “Kuvumelekile na ukuba ndithethe into kuwe?” Waphendula uLisiya wathi, “Uyasazi na isiGrike? Akunguye na kanene laa mYiputa, wathi phambi kwale mihla wenza isaqunge, wakhukulisela entlango laa madoda angamawaka amane azizigebenga?” Waphendula wathi uPawulos, “Mna ndingumntu ongumYuda waseTarso, umntu okowabo lingumzi ongadume ngako welaseKiliki; ndiyakucela ke, ndivumele ndikhe ndithethe kubo abantu.”IZ 408.1

Isicelo samkeleka, waza “wema uPawulos ematyeni okunyuka, wawangawangisa ngesandla kubo abantu.” Eso senzo sabenza batsalekaingqondoabantu,ngeli lixa ukuziphathakwakhekwakunyanzelisa ukuba anikwe imbeko. Bobawo, kuphulaphuleni ukuziphendulela kwam kuni.” Bathi bakuva intetho eqhelekileyo yesiHebhere, “bazola okunye,” kwathi kwakuba kuthe nzwanga, waqhubeka:IZ 408.2

“Mna ndiyindoda engumYuda; ndizalelwe okunene eTarso yelaseKiliki, kodwa ndondlelwe kulo mzi ezinyaweni zikaGamaliyeli; ndiqeqeshwe ngohlobo olucokisekileyo lomthetho woobawo, ndizondelela uThixo, njengokuba ninjalo nani nonke namhlanje.” Akukho mntu wayenokuyiphika intetho kampostile, njengoko iinyaniso zazisaziwa ngabo bonke ababehlala eYerusalem. Wabuya wathetha ngenzondelelo yakhe yangaphambili ekutshutshiseni abafundi bakaKristu, kude kuse ekufeni; wazichaza iimeko zokuguquka kwakhe, ebaxelela abaphulaphuli bakhe nendlela intliziyo yakhe eyayinempakamo eyakhokelelwa ukuba iguqe kumNazarete owabethelelwayo. Ukuba wayezame ukungena engxoxweni nabachasi bakhe, ngebala ngenkani ukuwamamela amazwi akhe; kodwa inkcazo yamava akhe yayikhatshwa ngamandla awoyisayo awenza ukuba okwexeshana zibe ngathi ziyathamba ziyathoba iintliziyo zabo.IZ 409.1

Wazama ukubonisa ukuba umsebenzi wakhe phakathi kweeNtlanga awuzange uqalwe ngokuzikhethela. Wayelangazelele ukusebenzela esakhe isizwe; kodwa, kuyo yona loo tempile, ilizwi likaThixo lathetha naye embonweni ongcwele, limyalela ngomsebenzi wakhe “kude kwiiNtlanga.”IZ 409.2

Ukuza kuthi ga kule ndawo, abantu babemphulaphule ngomdla uPawulos, kodwa wathi akufikelela kwindawo kwibali lakhe ethi wanyulwa nguKristu njengommeli waKhe eziNtlangeni, waqala phantsi umsindo wabo. Kuba beqhele ukuzibona njengabantu ekuphela kwabo abathandwa nguThixo, babengenayo intumekelelo yokuvumela iiNtlanga ezidelekileyo amalungelo awayethatyathwa ngokuba ngawabo kuphela kude kube ngoko. Bawaphakamisa amazwi abo, bamgqumelela othethayo, bekhwaza besithi, “Msuseni emhlabeni umntu onje; kuba akufanelekile ukuba adle ubomi.”IZ 409.3

“Ke kaloku, bakubon’ ukuba bayankqangaza, belahla iingubo zabo, bephosa uthuli esibhakabhakeni, wathi umthetheli-waka, makangeniswe enqabeni yomkhosi; wathi makancinwe ngekatsi, ukuze azi ukuba kungathuba lini na ukuba benjenje ukunkqangaza ngaye.IZ 410.1

“Ke kaloku, xa bamolulayo ngeentambo, wathi uPawulos kumthetheli-mkhulu obemi khona, Kuvumelekile na, ukuba nimtyakatye umntu ongumRoma, engagwetywanga nokugwetywa? Evile ke umthetheli-khulu, waya wabika kumthetheli-waka, esithi, Yilumkele into oza kuyenza; kuba lo mntu ungumRoma. Weza ke umthetheli-waka wathi kuye, Ndixelele, ungumRoma na? Wathi ke yena, Ewe. Waphendula umthetheli-waka wathi, Mna ukungeniswa kwam kulo mzi waseRoma ndakuzuza ngenani elikhulu. Wathi ke uPawulos, Ke mna ndizelwe ndinako. Basuka kuye kwaoko ngoko abo babeza kumncina; woyika ke nomthetheli-waka akuqonda ukuba ungumRoma, nangenxa yokuba ebembophile.IZ 410.2

“Ke kaloku ngengomso, enga angayazi inyaniso yento amangalelwe ngayo ngamaYuda, wamkhulula ezintanjeni, wathi mabeze ababingeleli abakhulu, nayo yonke intlanganiso yabo yamatyala; waza wamhlisa uPawulos, wammisa phakathi kwabo.”IZ 410.3

Umpostile ngoku wayeza kuvavanywa kwayilaa nkundla awayelilungu kuyo yena phambi kokuguquka kwakhe. Ngexesha emi phambi kwabalawuli bamaYuda, ukuziphatha kwakhe kwakuzolile, inkangeleko yakhe ityhila uxolo lukaKristu. “Waqwalasela ke uPawulos entlanganisweni yamatyala, wathi, Madoda, bazalwana, mna ndahlala ngokwalowo ungowakwaThixo, ndinesazela esilungileyo, kwada kwayile mini.” Bathi bakuwava la mazwi intiyo yabo yaqala phantsi ukuvutha; “umbingeleli omkhulu, uHananiya, wathi kwabo babemi ngakuye, mabambethe emlonyeni.” Lo myalelo ukhohlakeleyo wawuphendula uPawulos ngokuthi, “Uza kukubetha uThixo, ludongandini luqatyiweyo. Uthi uhlalele ukuba uthethe ityala lam ngokomthetho, ubuye waphule umthetho, uthi mandibethwe?” “Bona ke ababemi khona bathi, Uyamthuka na umbingeleli omkhulu kaThixo?” UPawulos waphendula ngembeko yakhe eqhelekileyo, “Bendingazi, bazalwana, ukuba ungumbingeleli omkhulu; kuba kubhaliwe kwathiwa, Uze ungathethi kakubi ngomphathi wabantu bakowenu.IZ 411.1

“Ke kaloku uPawulos, esazi ukuba elinye icala lelabaSadusi, elinye ke lelabaFarisi, wadanduluka entlanganisweni yamatyala esithi, Madoda, bazalwana, mna ndingumFarisi, ndingowomFarisi; ndimangalelwe mna ngalo ithemba nangovuko lwabafileyo.IZ 411.2

“Uthe ke akukuthetha oko, kwabakho impambano phakathi kwabaFarisi nabaSadusi, yahlulelana inkitha leyo; kuba okunene abaSadusi babesithi, akukho luvuko, nasithunywa sazulu, namoya; kodwa abaFarisi bazivuma zombini ezo ndawo.” La maqela mabini aqala ukuxambulisana phakathi kwawo, aba ayophuka amandla enkcaso ngakuPawulos. Baye “ababhali becala labaFarisi balwa kakhulu, besithi, Asifumani nanye into embi kulo mntu: ke ukuba kuthethe umoya kuye, nokuba sisithunywa sezulu, masingalwi noThixo thina.”IZ 411.3

Kwisiphithiphithi esaya salandela, abaSadusi babefuna ngamandla ukuba umpostile abe kubo, ukuze bakwazi ukumbulala; abaFarisi bona, kwangaloo mandla afanayo, babezamela ukumkhusela. “Wathi umthetheli-waka, esoyikela ukuba uPawulos angaqwengwa ngabo, wathi mawuhle umkhosi, umxwile phakathi kwabo, umzise enqabeni yawo.”IZ 412.1

Kamva, xa ecinga ngamava akhathazayo emini, uPawuloswaqala ukukhathazeka esithi, mhlawumbi indlela yakhe ayimkholisanga uThixo. Ingaba mhlawumbi wenza impazamo ngokutyelela eYerusalem? Ingaba ulangazelelo lwakhe olukhulu lokuba amanyane nabazalwana bakhe lulo olwakhokelela kule ntlekele yesiphumo?IZ 412.2

Indawo awayekuyo amaYuda, njengabantu abazibiza ngoThixo, phambi kwehlabathi elingakholwayo, yambangela unxunguphalo olukhulu emoyeni. La magosa angabahedeni ayeya kubakhangela njani?—bathi banqula uYehova, bakwisikhundla esingcwele, ukanti bazinikela kulawulo lomsindo ongaboniyo nongacingiyo, ofuna ukutshabalalisa nkqu abazalwana babo abangavumelaniyo nabo ngenkolo, baliguqule iqumrhu labo lokuxoxa elingcwele libe ngumboniso wembuqe yembambano nesiphithiphithi. Kwaba ngathi kuPawulos igama likaThixo lihlazisekile phambi kwamehlo abahedeni.IZ 412.3

Ngoku ke wayesentolongweni, kwaye wayesazi ukuba iintshaba zakhe, kwintiyo yazo ebikwiqondo lokugqibela, zingabhenela nakweyiphi indlela yokumbulala. Ingaba kunokwenzeka ukuba umsebenzi wakhe emabandleni uphelile ngoko ke kumele kungene iingcuka eziqwengayo ngoku? Umsebenzi kaThixo wawuhleli ngaphakathi entliziyweni kaPawulos, kwaye wayenexhala elikhulungokucingaiingozi athe saa phakathi kwazo amabandla, esesichengeni seentshutshiso ngamadoda afana kanye nala wayehlangene nawo kwiSanhedrin. Wathi esekuxinzelekeni nasekutyhafeni wakhala wathandaza.IZ 412.4

Ngeli lixa limnyama, iNkosi yayingamlibalanga umkhonzi waYo. Yayimkhusele kwizihlwele zababulali kwiinkunda zasetempileni; yayikunye naye phambi kwequmrhu iSanhedrin; yayinaye enqabeni; yakwazityhila kwingqina laYo elithembekileyo ukuphendula imithandazo enyanisekileyo yokufuna ukukhokelwa kompostile. “Ke kaloku ngobo busuku iNkosi yema ngakuye, yathi, Yomelela, Pawulos; kuba njengokuba waqononondisa izinto ngam eYerusalem, kwangokunjalo umelwe kukuthi ungqine naseRoma.”IZ 413.1

Kwakukade uPawulos ekhangele ekutyeleleni eRoma; wayelangazelela ukuya kungqina ngoKristu khona apho, kodwa ngokwakuye, iinjongo zakhe zaziphazanyiswa yintiyo yamaYuda. Akazange ayicinge nangoku into yokuba, uya kuba elibanjwa xa esiya.IZ 413.2

Ngexesha iNkosi yayikhuthaza isicaka saYo, iintshaba zikaPawulos zazixakeke kukuceba ukumtshabalalisa. “Ke kaloku kwakusa, abathile kumaYuda bathuthelana bazibopha ngesiqalekiso, besithi abayi kudla, abayi kusela nokusela, bade bambulale uPawulos. Baye ke bengaphezu kwamashumi omane ababefungele ukuyenza loo nto.” Olu yayiluzilo awayeluhlasele uYehova ngo-Isaya—[esithi] “nizilela ukubambana, niphikisane, nibethane ngenqindi lokungendawo.” Isaya 58:4.IZ 413.3

Abenzi beyelenqe “beza kubabingeleli abakhulu nakumadoda amakhulu,bathi, Sizibophile ngesiqalekisoesikhulu,ukubasingafaki nto emlonyeni, side simbulale uPawulos; ke ngoku nina bhekisani kuMthetheli-waka kunye nentlanganiso yamatyala, ukuba amhlise, eze naye kuni ngomso, ngokungathi niza kuziqiqa ngokukhona kucokisekileyo iindawo ezithethwa ngaye; size ke thina, engekasondeli, sesilungiselele ukumbulala.”IZ 413.4

Endaweni yokulikhalimela eli qhinga likhohlakeleyo, ababingeleli nabaphathi bavumelana nalo ngomdla. UPawulos wayethethe inyaniso xa wayefanisa uHananiya nengcwaba eliqatyiweyo.IZ 414.1

UThixo wangenelela ukusindisa ubomi bomkhonzi waKhe. Unyana wodade boPawulos, ekuvile “ukulalela” kwababulali, “wangena enqabeni yomkhosi, wambikela uPawulos. UPawulos ubizele ke kuye omnye wakubathetheli-khulu, wathi, Yisa le ndodana kumthetheli-waka; kuba inento eza kuyibika kuye. Uyithabathile ke yena, wayizisa kumthetheli-waka, wathi, uPawulos, umbanjwa undibizele kuye, wacela ukuba ndizise le ndodana kuwe; inento eza kuyithetha kuwe.”IZ 414.2

UKlawudiyo Lisiya wayamkela ngobubele indodana, wayibizela ecaleni, wabuza, “Unantoni na oza kuyibika kum?” Yaphendula indodana yathi: “AmaYuda avumelene ukukucela ukuba mhlise uPawulos, umse ngomso entlanganisweni yamatyala, ngokungathi aza kubuza ngokukhona kucokisekileyo into ngaye. Ke wena uze ungoyisakali ngawo; kuba kuwo apho ulalelwe ngamadoda angaphezu kwamashumi amane, azibophileyo ngeziqalekiso, ukuba angadli angaseli ade ambulale; nangoku aselungile, elinde idinga elivela kuwe.”IZ 414.3

“Umthetheli-waka wayindulula ke indodana leyo, akuba eyithethele ngelithi, mayingaxeleli bani, ukuba izibonakalalisile kuye ezo ndawo.”IZ 414.4

ULisiya wagqiba kwangoko ukuba amsuse uPawulos kwisithili esiphantsi kolawulo lwakhe amthumele kuFelikis, irhuluneli. Njengabantu, amaYuda ayekwimo yokuvukela nokukhathazeka, zaye zazisenzeka rhoqo izixholoxholo. Ukuhlala ekho umpostile eYerusalem kwakunokukhokelela kwiziphumo eziyingozi esixekweni nakumphathi womkhosi ngokwakhe. Ngeso sizathu, waya “[wabizela] kuye abathetheli-khulu abathile ababini, wathi, Lungisani amasoldati abe makhulu mabini, ukuba aye eKesareya, nabamahashe babe mashumi asixhenxe, nababinzi babe makhulu mabini, ngelesithathu ilixa lobusuku; nilungise namaqegu, ukuze bamkhwelise uPawaulos, bamse kuFelikis irhuluneli, asinde.”IZ 415.1

Kwakungafuneki kulityaziswe ukuhanjiswa kukaPawulos. “Amasoldati ke amthabatha uPawulos, njengoko amiselwe ngako, amsa kwa-Antipatri ebusuku.” Ukusuka kuloo ndawo abamahashe bahamba nombanjwa ukusinga eKesareya, lo gama amakhulu amane amasoldati abuyela eYerusalem.IZ 415.2

Igosa elalijongene nebutho lamthumela kuFelikis umbanjwa, likwahambisa neleta awayeyinikwe ngumphathi oyintloko:IZ 415.3

“UKlawudiyo Lisiya uyabulisa kuFelikis, irhuluneli edume Kunene. Le ndoda yayibanjwe ngamaYuda, iza kubulawa ngawo; koko ndathi gaxa kuwo ndinomkhosi, ndayihlangula, ndakuqonda ukuba ingumRoma. Ndakuba ke ndingalazi ityala abeyimangalela ngalo, ndayihlisa, ndayisa entlanganisweni yawo yamatyala; ndayifumana imangalelwe ngeembuzwano zomthetho wawo, kodwa ingenalo nalinye ityala elilingene ukufa, nokufakwa iintambo. Ke kaloku, kwakubon’ ukuba ndilihletyelwe iyelenqe ebeliza kwenziwa ngayo le ndoda ngamaYuda, ndithumele kuwe kwangelo lixa, ndathi nakubamangaleli bayo, mabazithethe kuwe iindawo abanazo ngakuyo. Hlala kakuhle.”IZ 415.4

Emva kokufunda imbalelwano, uFelikis wabuza ukuba umbanjwa ungowesiphi na isithili, wathi akuxelelwa ukuba ungowaseKiliki, wathi: “Ndokuva kakuhle, xa bathe bafika nabamangaleli bakho; yatsho yathi, makagcinwe endlwini yerhuluneli ebiyekaHerode.”IZ 416.1

Imeko kaPawulos yayingeyiyo eyokuqala apho umkhonzikaThixo waya wafumana inkuseleko, phakathi kwabahedeni, kwinkohlakalo yabantu abazibiza ngoYehova. Kwingqumbo awayenayo ngakuPawulos, amaYuda ongeza olunye ulwaphulo-mthetho kwikhasi elimnyama elaliphawula imbali yawo. Azenza lukhuni ngakumbi iintliziyo zawo ngakuyo inyaniso asiqinisekisa isiphelo sawo esiyintshabalalo.IZ 416.2

Bambalwa abayiqondayo intsingiselo epheleleyo yamazwi awathethwa nguYesu, endlwini yesikhungu eNazarete, xa wayezixela ukuba Yena unguLowo uThanjisiweyo. Waxela ngomsebenzi waKhe wokuthuthuzela, ukusikelela nokusindisa [abantu] abaselusizini nabangaboni; waza wathi, ebona ikratshi nokungakholwa okwakulawula iintliziyo zabo babemmamele, wabakhumbuza ukuba, ngexesha eladlulayo uThixo wabashiya abantu baKhe abanyuliweyo ngenxa yokungakholwa kwabo novukelo lwabo, wazibonakalisa kwabo babekwimimandla yobuhedeni abangazange bakwale ukukhanya kwezulu. Umhlolokazi waseSarepta noNahaman umSiriya baphila kuko konke ukukhanya ababenako; ngenxa yoko babalelwa ukuba balunge ngaphezu kwabantu abanyuliweyo bakaThixo abahlehlayo kuYe babingelela nomthetho-siseko ekulungelweni kwabo nakuzuko lwehlabathi.IZ 416.3

UKristu wawaxelela amaYuda eNazarete inyaniso eyoyikekayo xa wayesithi, kuIsrayeli ogwilikileyo akukho ukukhuseleka komthunywa kaThixo othembekileyo. Awasayi kulazi ixabiso lakhe okanye awuxabise umsebenzi wakhe. Lo gama iinkokeli zobuYuda zibanga ukuba nenzondelelo enkulu ngokuzukiswa kukaThixo kunye nokulungelwa kukaIsrayeli, zazizintshaba zako kokubini oko. Ngomthetho nangomzekelo zazibakhokelela kude kakhulu abantu ekumthobeleni uThixo—zibakhokelela apho angenako ukuba ngumkhuseli wabo ngemini yembandezelo.IZ 417.1

Amazwi oMsindisi okukhalima kubantu baseNazarete awasebenzi, ngokwemeko kaPawulos, kuphela kumaYuda angakholwayo, kodwa nakubazalwana bakhe [uPawulos] enkolweni. Ukuba iinkokeli ebandleni zazizinikele ngokupheleleyo izimvo zazo zobukrakra [bomoya] ngakumpostile, zamamkela njengobizwe ngendlela eyodwa nguThixo ukuba ase iindaba ezilungileyo eziNtlangeni, iNkosi ngeyayimgcinele zona. UThixo wayengamthambiselanga uPawulos ukuze ukusebenza kwakhe kuphele msinyane kangako, kodwa ayizange [iNkosi] yenze mmangaliso ukunqanda uthotho lweemeko, ezaya iinkokeli zebandla eYerusalem zanegalelo ekuziqaleni.IZ 417.2

Kwalo moya mnye usakhokelela kwiziphumo ezinye. Ukutyeshela ukuxabisa nokukhulisa imisindleko yobabalo olungcwele kulivimbe iintsikelelo ezininzi ibandla. Kukangaphi apho iNkosi ngeyilandisile ixesha lokusebenza kwabanye abalungiseleli abanyanisekileyo, ukuba ibixatyisiwe imisebenzi yabo! Ukuba ibandla livumela utshaba lwemiphefumlo ukuba liyigqwethe ingqiqo, ukuze bawamise ngandlela yimbi, bawaguqule ngolunye uhlobo amazwi nezenzo zomkhonzi kaKristu; ukuba bavumela ukuba bona bame endleleni yakhe bakuphazamise ukubaluluthokwakhe, iNkosi ngamanye amaxesha iyayisusa kubo intsikelelo ebibanikile.IZ 417.3

USathana uzingisile ukusebenza ngabathunywa bakhe ukutyhafisa atshabalalise abo uThixo abanyulileyo ukuba bafeze umsebenzi omkhulu nolungileyo. Bakulungele ukunikela nobomi babo ukuhambisela phambili umsebenzi kaKristu, kanti umkhohlisi omkhulu usuka afake kubazalwana babo intandabuzo ethi, ukuba yamkelwe, ikuthobe ukuthembeka kobuhle besimilo sabo, ukuze ikuqhwalelise ukuba lulutho kwabo. Amaxesha amaninzi uyaphumelela ukuzisa kubo [abanyuliweyo], ngabazalwana babo, usizi entliziyweni kangangoku ade uThixo angenelele ngokubanika ukuphumla abakhonzi baKhe abatshutshiswayo. Emva kokuba zisongiwe izandla phezu kwesifuba esingasashukumiyo, xa ilizwi lokulumkisanokukhuthaza lithe cwaka, kuye kuqale ukuphaphama ukuqaqadeka ukuzibona iintsikelelo okuye kwazilahlela kudekubo [abatshutshisi]. Ukufa kwabo [abanyuliweyo] kunokufeza oko ubomi babo buye basilela ukukwenza.IZ 418.1