Hambani Ngokumoyika UYehova

“Njengoko [ibandla] lalihamba ngokoyika uYehova yaye lithuthuzeleka ngenxa yomoya oyingcwele laqhubeka lisanda.”—IZENZO 9:31, “NW.”

1, 2. (a) Yintoni eyenzekayo xa ibandla lamaKristu lathi langena kwixesha lokuba seluxolweni? (b) Nangona uYehova eyivumela intshutshiso yintoni enye ayenzayo?

UMFUNDI othile wajamelana novavanyo oluqatha. Ngaba wayeya kuyilondoloza ingqibelelo yakhe kuThixo? Ewe, kunjalo kanye! Wayehamba ngokoyika uThixo, ehlonela uMenzi wakhe, ibe wayeya kufa njengengqina elithembekileyo likaYehova.

² Loo mgcini wengqibelelo woyika uThixo yayinguStefano, “indoda ezele lukholo nanguMoya oyiNgcwele.” (IZenzo 6:5) Ukubulawa kwakhe kwaxhokonxa ukuqhambuka kwentshutshiso, kodwa kamva ibandla kulo lonke elakwaYuda, eGalili, nakwelaseSamari lafikelela kwelona thuba loxolo ibe lakheka ngokomoya. Ngaphezu koko, “laye lisanda ngentuthuzelo yoMoya oyiNgcwele.” (IZenzo 9:31) NjengamaNgqina kaYehova namhlanje, sinokuqiniseka ukuba uThixo uya kusisikelela enokuba siseluxolweni okanye siyatshutshiswa, njengoko kuboniswe kwiZenzo isahluko 6 ukuya kwese-12. Ngoko masihambe ngokumoyika okuhambisana nokumhlonela uThixo xa sitshutshiswa okanye sisebenzise naliphi ithuba elivelayo ngexesha lentshutshiso ukuze sizakhe ngokomoya yaye sinikele inkonzo yenkuthalo kuye.—Duteronomi 32:11, 12; 33:27.

Ukuthembeka Kuse Ekupheleni

3. Yiyiphi ingxaki eyathi yoyiswa eYerusalem, ibe njani?

³ Nokuba kuphakama iingxaki ngamaxesha oxolo, ukulungelelana okuhle kusenokunceda ekuzicombululeni. (6:1-7) AmaYuda athetha isiGrike eYerusalem akhalazela ukuba abahlolokazi bawo babengalungiselelwa ukutya kwemihla ngemihla kulungiselelwa kuphela amakholwa angamaYuda awayethetha isiHebhere. Le ngxaki yaconjululwa xa abapostile bamisela amadoda asixhenxe ‘ukwenzela lo msebenzi.’ Omnye wawo yayinguStefano.

4. UStefano wasabela njani kwizityholo zobuxoki?

⁴ Ngoko ke, kungekudala uStefano owoyika uThixo wajamelana novavanyo. (6:8-15) Amadoda athile asuka ema aphikisana noStefano. Wambi awo ‘ayengawasesikhungwini ekuthiwa sesabaKhululwa,’ mhlawumbi amaYuda awayebanjwe ngamaRoma nawathi kamva akhululwa okanye abantu ababeguqukele kubuYuda abakhe baba ngamakhoboka. Engenako ukumelana nobulumko nomoya uStefano awayethetha ngawo, ezi ntshaba zakhe zamsa phambi kwentlanganiso yamatyala. Apho la maNgqina obuxoki athi: ‘Lo simve esithi, uYesu uya kuyichitha le tempile aze aguqule amasiko awanikelwa nguMoses.’ Kanti, kwanaba bachasi bakhe babenokubona ukuba uStefano wayengengomenzi wobubi kodwa wayenobuso obucwengileyo obunjengobesithunywa sezulu, isithunywa sikaThixo owayeqinisekile ukuba siza kumxhasa. Hayi indlela awayahluke ngayo kubuso babo, obabuzaliswe yinkohlakalo kuba bazivumela ukuba basetyenziswe nguSathana!

5. Ngoxa uStefano wayenikela ubungqina ziziphi iingongoma awazivelisayo?

⁵ Encinwa ngumbingeleli omkhulu uKayafa, uStefano wanikela ubungqina ngokungenaloyiko. (7:1-53) Ukubakhumbuza kwakhe imbali yamaSirayeli kwabonisa ukuba uThixo wayenenjongo yokubekela bucala umthetho nenkonzo yasetempileni xa uMesiya efika. UStefano wakhankanya ukuba uMoses, umhlanguli awayesithi onke amaYuda ayamhlonela, wachaswa ngamaSirayeli, kwananjengokuba ngoku ayengamamkeli Lowo wayesizisa eyona ntlangulo inkulu. Ngokuthi uThixo wayengahlali kwizindlu ezakhiwe ngezandla, uStefano wayebonisa ukuba loo tempile nenkqubo yayo yonqulo yayiza kudlula. Kodwa ekubeni abagwebi bakhe babengamoyiki uThixo okanye bengafuni ukwazi ukuthanda kwakhe, uStefano wathi: ‘Nina bantamo zilukhuni, nihleli nibambene nomoya oyingcwele. Kubo abaprofeti nguwuphi na ongatshutshiswanga ngooyihlo? Bababulala ababexela ngenx’ engaphambili ukuza koliLungisa; enithe kalokunje naba ngabanikeli nababulali bakhe.’

6. (a) Ngaphambi kokufa kwakhe, ngawaphi amava awomelez’ ukholo uStefano awaba nawo? (b) Kwakutheni ukuze uStefano ngokufanelekileyo athi: “Nkosi Yesu, wamkele umoya wam”?

⁶ Intetho kaStefano ebonisa ukungabi naloyiko yakhokelela ekubulaweni kwakhe. (7:54-60) Abagwebi baba lugcwabevu ngumsindo bakubhencwa ngokuba netyala kwabo ngokufa kukaYesu. Kodwa hayi indlela ukholo lukaStefano olomelezwa ngayo xa ‘waqwalasela ezulwini, wabona ubuqaqawuli bukaThixo noYesu emi ngasekunene kukaThixo’! Ngoku uStefano wayenako ukujamelana neentshaba zakhe enentembelo yokuba wayekwenzile ukuthanda kukaThixo. Nangona amaNgqina kaYehova engenayo imibono, sinokubonakalisa ukuzola okufanayo xa sitshutshiswa. Ngemva kokukhuphela uStefano ngaphandle kweYerusalem, iintshaba zakhe zaqalisa ukumxuluba ngamatye, kwaye wenza esi sicelo: “Nkosi Yesu, wamkele umoya wam.” Oku kwakufanelekile ngenxa yokuba uThixo wayegunyazise uYesu ukuba avusele abantu abathile ebomini. (Yohane 5:26; 6:40; 11:25, 26) Akuba eguqe ngamadolo, uStefano wadanduluka wathi: “Nkosi, ungabamiseli esi sono.” Wandula ke wafa njengomfeli-nkolo, njengoko abalandeli bakaYesu abaninzi baye benjenjalo ukususela ngoko, kwanakumaxesha anamhlanje.

Intshutshiso Isasaza Iindaba Ezilungileyo

7. Yintoni eyaba ngumphumo wentshutshiso?

⁷ Ngokwenene ukufa kukaStefano kwaphumela ekusasazweni kweendaba ezilungileyo. (8:1-4) Intshutshiso yabatsho baziintsali bonke abafundi ngaphandle kwabapostile kulo lonke elakwaYuda nelaseSamariya. USawule, owakuqhwabel’ izandla ukubulawa kukaStefano, walidlavula ibandla okwerhamncwa, egqogqa indlu ngendlu erhola abalandeli bakaYesu ebafaka entolongweni. Njengoko abafundi ababeziintsali babeqhubeka beshumayela, icebo likaSathana lokunqumamisa abavakalisi boBukumkani aboyika uThixo ngokubatshutshisa lathi laphanza. Nanamhlanje, intshutshiso iye ngokufuthi yasasaza iindaba ezilungileyo okanye yatsalela ingqalelo kumsebenzi wokushumayela uBukumkani.

8. (a) Yintoni eyenzekayo ngenxa yokushunyayelwa okwenziwa kwalaseSamariya? (b) UPetros wasisebenzisa njani isitshixo sesibini uYesu awayemphathise sona?

⁸ Umshumayeli weendaba ezilungileyo uFilipu waya eSamariya ‘ukuya kuvakalisa uKristu.’ (8:5-25) Imincili yagubungela sonke eso sixeko njengoko iindaba ezilungileyo zazivakaliswa, imimoya engcolileyo yayikhutshwa, ibe abantu babephiliswa. Abapostile ababeseYerusalem bathumela uPetros noYohane kwelaseSamariya, ibe xa bathi bathandaza baza bazibeka izandla zabo phezu kwabo babebhaptiziwe, abafundi abatsha bamkela umoya oyingcwele. USimon owayesandul’ ukubhaptizwa nowayefudula esenza imilingo wazama ukuthenga eli gunya, kodwa uPetros wathi: ‘Isilivere yakho mayiye kutshabalala nawe; kuba intliziyo yakho ayithe tye emehlweni kaThixo.’ Akuba exelelwe ukuba aguquke aze ambongoze uYehova ukuba amxolele, wacela abapostile ukuba bamthandazele. Oku kufanele kubashukumise bonke abo boyika uYehova namhlanje ukuba bathandazele uncedo lwakhe ekulondolozeni iintliziyo zabo. (IMizekeliso 4:23) (Ngokusuka kwesi siganeko kwavela igama elithi “simony,” “ukuthenga okanye ukuthengisa ngesikhundla secawa okanye ngokunyuselwa ecaweni.”) UPetros noYohane bavakalisa iindaba ezilungileyo kwiidolophana ezininzi zaseSamariya. Ngaloo ndlela, uPetros wasebenzisa isitshixo sesibini uYesu awamnika sona ukuvula amathuba okufumana ulwazi nokungena kuBukumkani basezulwini.—Mateyu 16:19.

9. Wayengubani umTiyopiya awanikela ubungqina kuye uFilipu, ibe kungani le ndoda yaba nokubhaptizwa?

⁹ Sandula ke isithunywa sikaThixo sanika uFilipu isabelo esitsha. (8:26-40) Kwinqwelo eyayihamba ngendlela evela eYerusalem isiya eGaza kwakukhwele “ithenwa,” isikhulu sikaKandase, ukumkanikazi wamaTiyopiya. Sasingelothenwa lokoqobo, elalalelwe ukungena kwibandla lamaYuda, kodwa wayeye eYerusalem ukuya kunqula njengalowo uguqukele ebuYudeni nowalukileyo. (Duteronomi 23:1) UFilipu walifumana eli thenwa lifunda incwadi kaIsaya. Wathi akumenywa ukuba akhwele enqweleni, uFilipu waxubusha isiprofeto sikaIsaya waza “walishumayeza iindaba ezilungileyo zikaYesu.” (Isaya 53:7, 8) Kungekudala umTiyopiya wadanduluka wathi: “Nanga amanzi; kwala ntoni na ukuba ndingabhaptizwa?” Kwakungekho nto yayimthintela, ekubeni wayenolwazi ngoThixo ibe ngoku ekholelwa kuKristu. Ngoko uFilipu wambhaptiza umTiyopiya, owathi emva koko wahamba indlela yakhe evuya. Ngaba kukho nantoni na ekuthintelayo ukuba ubhaptizwe?

Umtshutshisi Uyaguquka

10, 11. Yintoni eyenzekayo kuSawule waseTarso endleleni eya eDamasko nakungekudala emva koko?

¹⁰ Ngeli thuba, uSawule wayefuna ukuba abalandeli bakaYesu balulahle ukholo lwabo ebasongela ngokubavalela okanye ukubabulala. (9:1-18a) Umbingeleli omkhulu (ngokunokwenzeka uKayafa) wamnika iincwadi eziya kwizindlu zesikhungu eDamasko zimgunyazisa ukuba eze namadoda nabafazi bebotshiwe eYerusalem awayehamba “le Ndlela,” okanye indlela yobomi eyayisekelwe kumzekelo kaKristu. Kwathi emini emaqanda ngaseDamasko, kwabakho umbane ovela ezulwini nelizwi elalibuza lisithi: “Sawule, Sawule, unditshutshiselani na?” Abo babehamba noSawule ‘baliva okunene bona ilizwi’ kodwa abazange bakuqonde oko kwakuthethwa. (Thelekisa iZenzo 22:6, 9.) Ukutyhilwa okungaphelelanga kukaYesu ozukisiweyo kwakwanele ukwenza uSawule abe yimfama. UThixo wasebenzisa umfundi uHananiya ukumenza abone kwakhona.

¹¹ Emva kokuba ebhaptiziwe, owayesakuba ngumtshutshisi naye watshutshiswa. (9:18b-25) AmaYuda aseDamasko afuna ukumbulala uSawule. Noko ke, ngobusuku, abafundi bamkhupha kwisithuba esasiseludongeni, ngokunokwenzeka ngengobozi eyayenziwe ngentambo okanye ngeminxeba ethandeleneyo. (2 Korinte 11:32, 33) Kunokwenzeka ukuba esi sithuba sasiyifestile eyayakhiwe eludongeni kwikhaya lomfundi. Yayingesosenzo sobugwala ukuphepha iintshaba ukuze aqhubeke nokushumayela.

12. (a) Kwenzeka ntoni kuSawule eYerusalem? (b) Ibandla laqhuba njani apho?

¹² EYerusalem, uBharnabhas wabanceda abafundi ukuba bamamkele uSawule njengomkhonzi onguwabo. (9:26-31) Kulapho awathi uSawule waxoxa ngokungenaloyiko namaYuda athetha isiGrike, nawo awayezama ukumbulala. Bekwazile ke oku, abazalwana bamsa eKesareya, baza bamthumela eTarso, kwidolophu yakokwabo eseKiliki. Kwandula ke kulo lonke elakwaYuda, eGalili naseSamariya ibandla ‘lanoxolo laza lakheka’ ngokomoya. Njengoko ‘lalihamba ngokoyika uYehova yaye lithuthuzeleka ngenxa yomoya oyingcwele, laqhubeka lisanda.’ Onjani wona ukuba mhle lo mzekelo kuwo onke amabandla namhlanje ukuba aza kusikelelwa nguYehova!

AbeeNtlanga Baba Ngamakholwa!

13. Yiyiphi imimangaliso uThixo awabangela ukuba uPetros ayenze eLida naseYopa?

¹³ UPetros naye wayexakekile. (9:32-43) ELida (ngoku eyiLod) kwiThafa laseSharon, waphilisa uEneya owayefe amalungu omzimba. Oku kuphiliswa kwabangela abaninzi ukuba baguqukele eNkosini. EYopa, umfundi owayethandwa kunene uTabhita (uDorkas) wagula waza wafa. Akufika uPetros, abahlolokazi ababelila bambonisa iingubo ezazenziwe nguDorkas nekusenokwenzeka ukuba babezinxibile. Wamvusa uDorkas, yaye xa iindaba ezingako oku zathi zasasazeka, abaninzi bakholwa. EYopa uPetros wahlala noSimon umsuki wezikhumba, owayenendlu ekufuphi nolwandle. Abasuki bezikhumba babezanya izikhumba zezilwanyana elwandle baze bazifake ikalika ngaphambi kokuba bazixhwithe uboya. Izikhumba zaziguqulwa zenziwe ithwathwa ngokuzisuka ngencindi yezityalo ezithile.

14. (a) Wayengubani uKorneli? (b) Yintoni eyenzekayo kwimithandazo kaKorneli?

¹⁴ Ngelo xesha (ngowama-36 C.E.), kwakusenzeka inkqubela ephawulekayo kwenye indawo. (10:1-8) EKesareya kwakukho ndoda ithile yaseziNtlangeni neyayizinikele kuThixo egama linguKorneli, umthetheli-khulu wamaRoma owayephethe amadoda amalunga nalikhulu. Wayekhokela ‘ibutho lamasoldati ekuthiwa lelaseItali,’ ngokucacileyo elalibunjwa ngamajoni awayethatyathwe kubemi baseRoma nabantu abakhululekileyo baseItali. Nangona uKorneli wayemoyika uThixo, wayengenguye owayeguqukele ebuYudeni. Embonweni, isithunywa sezulu samxelela ukuba imithandazo yakhe ‘inyukile, yaba sisikhumbuzo emehlweni kaThixo.’ Nangona uKorneli wayengazahlulelanga kuYehova ngelo xesha, waphendulwa kumthandazo wakhe. Kodwa njengoko isithunywa sezulu sayalelayo, wathumela ukuba kubizwe uPetros.

15. Kwenzeka ntoni ngoxa uPetros wayethandaza phezu kophahla lwendlu kaSimon?

¹⁵ Ngeli xesha, uPetros waba nombono ngoxa wayethandaza eseluphahleni lwendlu kaSimon. (10:9-23) Engathi usephupheni, wabona kusihla ezulwini isitya esithile ngathi yilinen enkulu sizele zizidalwa ezizinqambi ezizitho zine, izinambuzane neentaka. Akuba eyalelwe ukuba axhele adle, uPetros wathi wayengazange atye nantoni na eyinqambi. Waxelelwa oku, “Izinto uThixo azihlambululeyo, musa ukuzenza inqambi wena.” Lo mbono wamdida uPetros, kodwa walandela ulwalathiso lomoya. Ngaloo ndlela, yena nabazalwana abathandathu abangamaYuda babapheleka abathunywa bakaKorneli.—IZenzo 11:12.

16, 17. (a) UPetros wamxelela ntoni uKorneli nabo babehlanganisene endlwini yakhe? (b) Kwenzeka ntoni ngoxa uPetros wayesathetha?

¹⁶ Ngoku abokuqala beeNtlanga babeza kuva iindaba ezilungileyo. (10:24-43) Xa uPetros nezinxulumani zakhe bathi bafika eKesareya, uKorneli, izalamane zakhe nabahlobo bakhe abasenyongweni babelindile. UKorneli wawa ezinyaweni zikaPetros, kodwa umpostile ngokuthobekileyo wakwala ukuhlonelwa okunjalo. Wathetha ngendlela uYehova awamthambisa ngayo uYesu ngomoya oyingcwele namandla njengoMesiya waza wacacisa ukuba bonke abathi babe nokholo kuye bozixolelwa izono zabo.

¹⁷ UYehova ngoku wangenelela. (10:44-48) Ngoxa uPetros wayesathetha, uThixo wathulula umoya oyingcwele phezu kwezo Ntlanga zingamakholwa. Kanye ngelo xesha, bazalwa ngomoya kaThixo baza baphefumlelwa ukuba bathethe iilwimi zasemzini ibe bamdumise. Ngenxa yoko, babhaptizwa ngokufanelekileyo egameni likaYesu Kristu. Ngoko kwaba ngaloo ndlela awathi uPetros wasebenzisa isitshixo sesithathu ukuvulela iintlanga ezoyika uThixo ithuba lokufumana ulwazi nelokungena eBukumkanini bamazulu.—Mateyu 16:19.

18. Abazalwana abangamaYuda basabela njani xa uPetros wayecacisa ukuba iiNtlanga ‘zazisamkela umoya oyingcwele’?

¹⁸ Kamva, abaxhasi bolwaluko babambana noPetros eYerusalem. (11:1-18) Wathi akucacisa indlela abeeNtlanga abathi ‘babhaptizwa ngayo ngomoya oyingcwele,’ abazalwana bakhe abangamaYuda bathi cwaka baza bazukisa uThixo besithi: “Kanti na ke neentlanga ezi uThixo uziphe ukuguqukela ebomini.” Nathi ngokufanayo sifanele sibe ngabaphulaphulayo xa ukuthanda kukaThixo kucaciswa kuthi.

Ukusekwa Kwebandla LabeeNtlanga

19. Kwenzeka njani ukuba abafundi babizwe ngokuba ngamaKristu?

¹⁹ Ngoku ibandla lokuqala labeeNtlanga lalisekiwe. (11:19-26) Xa abafundi bathi baziintsali ngenxa yentshutshiso eyavela ngenxa kaStefano, bambi baya kwa-Antiyokwe, eAsiriya, eyayisaziwa ngonqulo lwayo olungacocekanga nokonakala kwayo okungokokuziphatha. Njengoko babethetha ngeendaba ezilungileyo nabantu abantetho isisiGrike apho, “saye ke isandla seNkosi sinawo,” yaye abaninzi baba ngamakholwa. UBharnabhas noSawule bafundisa apho kangangonyaka, ibe “kananjalo [ngolwalathiso lukaThixo, “NW”] abafundi baqala ukubizwa ngokuba ngamaKristu kwa-Antiyokwe.” Ngokungathandabuzekiyo uYehova wanikela ulwalathiso lokuba babizwe ngolo hlobo, ekubeni igama lesiGrike elithi khre·ma·tiʹzo lisingisele ekuthini “ngolwalathiso lukaThixo” yaye lisoloko lisetyenziswa eZibhalweni ngokunxulumene noko kuvela kuThixo.

20. Yintoni uAgabho awayixela kwangaphambili, ibe ibandla lakwa-Antiyokwe lasabela njani?

²⁰ Kwakhona abaprofeti aboyika uThixo beza kwa-Antiyokwe bevela eYerusalem. (11:27-30) Omnye wabo yayinguAgabho, owathi waqondisa “ngaye uMoya ukuba kuza kubakho indlala enkulu kulo lonke elimiweyo.” Eso siprofeto sazaliseka ebudeni bolawulo lomlawuli waseRoma uKlawudiyo (41-54 C.E.), ibe umbhali-mbali uJosephus uyathetha ngale ‘ndlala inkulu.’ (Jewish Antiquities, XX, 51 [ii, 5]; XX, 101 [v, 2]) Lishukunyiswe luthando, ibandla lakwa-Antiyokwe lathumela umnikelo kubazalwana abasweleyo belakwaYuda.—Yohane 13:35.

Intshutshiso Ayibi Nampumelelo

21. Yintoni uHerode Agripa I awayenza ngokuchasene noPetros, kodwa ngawuphi umphumo?

²¹ Ixesha lokubakho koxolo laphela xa uHerode Agripa I waqalisa ukutshutshisa abo boyika uYehova eYerusalem. (12:1-11) UHerode wambulala uYakobi ngekrele, mhlawumbi wamnqumla intloko njengompostile wokuqala ongumfeli-nkolo. Ebona ukuba oku kuyawakholisa amaYuda, uHerode wamvalela uPetros. Kuyabonakala ukuba lo mpostile wayebotshelelwe ejonini ngapha nangapha, ngoxa amabini ayelinde isisele sakhe. UHerode wayecebe ukumbulala emva kwePasika nasemva kweentsuku zezonka ezingenagwele. (NgoNisan 14-21), kodwa imithandazo yebandla eyayisenziwa ngenxa yakhe yeviwa kanye ngexesha elifanelekileyo, njengokuba neyethu ngokufuthi iviwa. Oku kwenzeka xa isithunywa sikaThixo samkhulula lo mpostile ngokungummangaliso.

22. Kwenzeka ntoni xa uPetros waya kwindlu kanina kaMarko, uMariya?

²² Kungekudala uPetros wayesendlwini kaMariya (unina kaYohane ogama limbi linguMarko) ekubonakala ukuba yayiyindawo yeentlanganiso zamaKristu. (12:12-19) Ebumnyameni, isicakakazi uRhoda salazi ilizwi likaPetros kodwa samshiya singaluvulanga ucango. Ekuqaleni abafundi kusenokuba bacinga ukuba uThixo uye wathumela isigidimi esisisithunywa sezulu ukumela uPetros ukuze sithethe ngelizwi elifana nelakhe. Noko ke, xa bathi bamngenisa endlwini uPetros, wabaxelela ukuba baye kubikela uYakobi nabazalwana (mhlawumbi abadala) ngokuhlangulwa kwakhe. Wandula ke wabashiya esimka engabonwanga ngaphandle kokuchaza apho aya khona ukuze aphephe ukubabeka engozini okanye ukuzibeka engozini xa kunokwenzeka abuzwe. Kwimizamo kaHerode yokufuna uPetros wabuya nemband’ esikhova, ibe abalindi bohlwaywa, mhlawumbi bade babulawa.

23. Ulawulo lukaHerode Agripa I lwaphela njani, ibe yintoni esinokuyifunda koku?

²³ Ngowama-44 C.E. ulawulo lukaHerode Agripa I lwaphela ngequbuliso eKesareya xa wayeneminyaka engama-54 ubudala. (12:20-25) Wayewaqumbele kakhulu amaKanan aseTire nawaseTsidon, awathi anyoba isicaka sakhe uBlasto ukuba alungiselele intlanganiso apho ayeya kuthi azicelele uxolo. “Ngemini emisiweyo” (eyayikwayeyomsitho wokuhlonelwa kukaKlawudiyo Kesare), uHerode wanxiba ingubo yakhe yasebukhosini, wahlala phantsi kwisihlalo sokugweba, waza waqalisa ukunikela intetho yakhe yesidlangalala. Xa babesabela kwintetho yakhe abaphulaphuli baduma bathi: “Lilizwi loThixo elo asilamntu.” Samthi qwaka ke kwalapho isithunywa seNkosi, “ngenxa enokuba engamzukisanga uThixo.” UHerode “wadliwa ziimpethu, waphuma umphefumlo.” Ngamana lo mzekelo osisilumkiso ungasishukumisela ukuba siqhubeke sihamba ngokoyika uYehova, siliphephe ikratshi size simzukise ngoko sikwenzayo njengabantu bakhe.

24. Inqaku lexesha elizayo liya kubonisa ntoni ngokuphathelele ulwando?

²⁴ Phezu kwako nje ukutshutshiswa nguHerode, “laye ke likhula, lisanda ilizwi likaThixo.” Enyanisweni, njengoko inqaku lexesha elizayo liza kubonisa, abafundi babenokulindela ulwando olubhekele phaya. Ngoba? Ngenxa yokuba ‘bahamba ngokumoyika uYehova.’

Unokuphendula Njani?

◻ UStefano wabonakalisa njani ukuba wayemoyika uYehova, njengoko uninzi lwabakhonzi bakaThixo belusenza ukususela ngoko?

◻ Ukufa kukaStefano kwaba nawuphi umphumo kumsebenzi wokushumayela uBukumkani, yaye ngaba oku kunokuthile okufana nako namhlanje?

◻ Kwenzeka njani ukuba umtshutshisi uSawule waseTarso abe ngulowo woyika uYehova?

◻ Zazingoobani iiNtlanga zokuqala ezaba ngamakholwa?

◻ IZenzo isahluko se-12 zibonisa njani ukuba intshutshiso ayibathinteli abo boyika uYehova?

[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 16, 17]

Kwabaneka ukhanyiso oluvela ezulwini kwaza kwavakala ilizwi elithi: “Sawule, Sawule, unditshutshiselani na?”