Sitefano—“wenze na mphanvu Ndipo ambachita kuonekeratu kuti Mulungu wenze naye”

1-3. (a)Ko ni chinthu chiponi chochitisa mantha chomwe chidachitikira Sitefano ndipo iye adachita chani? (b) Ko tikambirane mibvunzo yaponi?

SITEFANO adaima pamaso pa otonga 71 wa tiribunali ikulu ya Ayuda omwe pa ntsiku mweyi adakhala kuti amutonge. Otonga mwawo adakhala m’mipando yomwe yenze yolongedza mozungulira ninge uta mu Holo ikulu yokhuza maninge yomwe panango yenze pafupi na kachisi ku Yerusalemu. Otonga mwawa enze wanthu wa mphanvu komasoti obvekera ndipo azinji mwa iwo ambazondana na wopfunzira wa Yesu moyu ndipo ambamupasalini ulemu. Panthawe mweyi yemwe adasonkhanisa otonga mwawa wenze nkulu wantsembe Kayafa, yemwe ambatsogolera pomwe tiribunali yoweruza mweyi kuti Yesu aphewe mu minyezi yanganani kumambuyo. Ko Sitefano adabva mantha?

² Pa nthawe mweyi, nkhope ya Sitefano imbaoneka modabwisa maninge. Otonga mwawa padanyang’anisisa Sitefano, adawona kuti “nkhope yake inkuwoneka ninge ya mngelo.” (Mac. 6:15) Angelo achapereka ntontholo wochokera kwa Yahova Mulungu, ndipo ndawa ya vimwevi iwo achitalini mantha, agunduzikalini ndipo ni wantendere. Momu ni momwe Sitefano wenzere ndipo olo otonga omwe ambamuzonda maninge wale adaona vimwevi. Ndawa chani iye alibe kugunduzika?

³ Akhrisitu ntsiku zino tingapfunzire vizinji pa m’dawiro wa m’bvunzo moyu. Komasoti tifunika kudziwa ndawa yake oweruza wale adamuphata nkuyenda naye ku tiribunali. Ko iye wenze adachita vinthu viponi patsogolo powonesa chikhulupiriro chake? Ndipo isepano tingamutewedzere tani?

“Adaingizira ukali m’mitima ya wanthu wale” (Machitidwe 6:8-15)

4, 5. (a) Ndawa chani Sitefano wenze wothembeka maninge mu mpingo? (b) Ndawa chani tingalewe kuti Sitefano wenze “wodzadziwa na chifundo komasoti mphanvu”?

⁴ Takambirana kale kuti Sitefano wenze wopfunzira wothembeka maninge mu mpingo wa Chikhrisitu womwe wenze udandoyamba manjemanje. Mu msolo wapita ule tidawona kuti Sitefano wenze mu gulu ya amuna 7 odzichepesa wale omwe adathandiza atumi mofunisisa pomwe adawakumbira kuti athandize Akhrisitu anzawo. Tingaone kuti iye wenze wodzichepesa maninge tikambaganizira mphaso zizinji zomwe adapasiwa na Mulungu. Pa Machitidwe 6:8, tichawerenga kuti iye ambakwanisa kuchita “vizindikiro vodabwisa na vizindikiro vamphanvu” vomwe atumi anango angachitambo. Tiwerenga pomwe kuti iye wenze “na mphanvu ndipo ambachita kuonekeratu kuti Mulungu wenze naye.” Ko vimwevi vinkutanthauza chani?

⁵ Mawu Yachigiriki yomwe yadatsumbudzulira kuti “Mulungu ali naye” yangatsumbudzuliriwe pomwe kuti “wodzadziwa na wachifundo.” Vinkuwoneka kuti Sitefano wenze wachifundo komasoti wodekha ndipo wanthu ambamukonda ndawa ya makhalidwe yake mwaya. Iye ambayankhula mu njira yokopa wanthu azinji. Ambachita vimwevi na cholinga chakuti awathandize kudziwa kuti vomwe iye angapfunzisa ni chaivo komasoti kuti viwathandize. Mwakuti iye modzichepesa adabvuma kutsogolerewa na mzimu wa Yahova, mzimu moyu umbaphata basa mwa iye ndipo adadzadziwa na mphanvu. M’malo mwakudzikuza ndawa ya mphaso komasoti buya yomwe wenze nayo, iye adapereka ulemerero kwa Yahova ndipo adawonesa kuti angachita nkhawa na wanthu omwe angawalalikira. Ndawa ya vimwevi wanthu otsutsa wale ambamugopa maninge!

6-8. (a) Ko wanthu omwe ambatsutsa Sitefano adamuyimba mulandu wochita vinthu viwiri viponi ndipo ndawa chani? (b) Ndawa chani chitsanzo cha Sitefano ni chothandiza ntsiku zino?

⁶ Wanthu azinji adapereka umboni otsutsana na Sitefano. Koma “iwo alibe kukwanisa kutsutsana na nzeru zake komasoti mzimu uchena womwe umbamutsogolera akambayankhula.”a Koma padasowa chochita “adanyengerera” amuna anango kuti apereke umboni wa bodza olewa va nteweri wa Yesu wosaphonya moyu. Komasoti iwo “adaingizira ukali m’mitima ya wanthu wale” omwe ni akulu na alembi mwakuti adaphata Sitefano nkuyenda naye ku tiribunali ikulu ya Ayuda. (Mac. 6:9-12) Otsutsa mwawo adati anamulandu wochita vinthu viwiri, iwo adati: Sitefano adanyoza Mulungu na Mose. Ko iwo angaganiza kuti iye adachita tani vimwevi?

⁷ Mboni zonama zire zidalewa kuti Sitefano adanyoza Mulungu ndawa ambayankhula vinthu vonyoza “malo yochena,” yomwe ni kachisi waku Yerusalemu. (Mac. 6:13) Iwo adanena pomwe kuti anganyoza Mose ndawa angalewa vinthu vonyoza chilamulo cha Mose na kuchinja miyambo yomwe Mose adawapasa. Umoyu wenze mulandu ukulu maninge ndawa pa nthawe mweyi Ayuda angalemekeza maninge kachisi, mpfundo za mu chilamulo cha Mose komasoti malamulo yanango yazinji yomwe iwo adaingizira okha mu chilamulo mwechi. Ndipomwapa mulandu moyu udawonesa kuti Sitefano wenze munthu woipa wofunika kuphewa!

⁸ Ni vopasa ntsisi kuti ntsiku zinombo wanthu wa vipembedzo aphatisira basa mabodza ninge mwaya kuti ayikhe atumiki wa Mulungu m’mabvuto. Mpakana manje wanthu wa vipembedzo omwe atsutsa Mboni za Yahova nthawe zinango alimbikisa atsogoleri wa ndale kuti ambadzudze Mboni mweizi. Ko tingachite tani wanthu akambatinenera vinthu voipa panango kumbatiyimba milandu yotinamizira? Tingapfunzire vizinji kuchokera pa vomwe vidachitikira Sitefano.

Adachitira umboni molimba ntima va “Mulungu wa ulemerero” (Machitidwe 7:1-53)

9, 10. Ko wanthu onyoza ambalewa chani pa vomwe Sitefano adayankhula mu tiribunali ikulu ya Ayuda, ndipo isepano tifunika kukumbukira chani?

⁹ Ninge momwe tawonera kumayambiriro kwa nkhani mweino, pomwe Sitefano ambabvesera mulandu wake womwe adamunamizira ule alibe kugunduzika ndipo nkhope yake ingawoneka ninge ya mngelo. Pamwapo Kayafa adamunyang’ana nkulewa kuti: “Ko vimwevi ni chaivo?” (Mac. 7:1) Manje imweyi yenze nthawe yakuti Sitefano ayankhule ndipo iye adayankhuladi!

¹⁰ Wanthu anango onyoza ambalewa kuti olo kuti Sitefano wayankhula kwa nthawe itali, alibe kudawira mulandu womwe ankutongewa. Koma chaivo ni vakuti Sitefano adatisiyira chitsanzo chabwino maninge cha momwe ‘tingadawirire’ wanthu akambatsutsa ntontholo wabwino. (1 Pet. 3:15) Kumbukirani kuti wanthu angayimba Sitefano mulandu wakuti wanyoza Mulungu mwakuchita vinthu vonyoza kachisi komasoti ambamuyimba mulandu wakuti anganyoza Mose ndawa angayankhula vinthu vonyoza chilamulo. Pakudawira Sitefano adafotokoza mwachigwato mbiri ziwiri za Izirayeli ndipo adatsindika mpfundo zinango mobveka bwino. Naboni tiwone mbali zitatu zimwezi iriyose payokha.

11, 12. (a) Ko Sitefano adaphatisira basa tani chitsanzo cha Abulahamu? (b) Ndawa chani Sitefano adatomola Yosefe poyankhula na wanthu mwawo?

¹¹ Nthawe ya azibereki wakalekale. (Mac. 7:1-16) Sitefano adayamba na kuyankhula va Abulahamu yemwe Ayuda angamulemekeza maninge ndawa yachikhulupiriro chake. Poyamba kuyankhula nkhani yodekana yomwe ose angaikhulupirira, Sitefano adatsindika mpfundo yakuti choyamba Yahova “Mulungu waulemerero” adaonekera kwa Abulahamu ku Mesopotamiya. (Mac. 7:2) Ndipo Abulahamu angakhala mudziko yopolomisiwa ninge mulendo. Abulahamu wenze alibe kachisi komasoti chilamulo cha Mose. Manje ko munthu angaumirire tani mpfundo yakuti nthawe zose achadekana kupempherera mu kachisi mokha komasoti kutewedzera chilamulo cha Mose kuti akhale okhulupirika kwa Mulungu?

¹² Wanthu omwe angabvesera Sitefano angalemekeza pomwe maninge Yosefe yemwe wenze mbadwa ya Abulahamu. Koma Sitefano adawakumbusa kuti azibale wake chaiwo wa Yosefe omwe enze azibereki wa dzinza ya Aizirayeli, adadzudza munthu wolungama moyu na kumugulisa ku ukapolo. Koma Mulungu adaphatisa basa Yosefe kupulumusa Aizirayeli kuti aleke kufa na njala. Vinkuonekeratu kuti Sitefano adawoneratu kuti vomwe vidachitikira Yosefe vinkulingana na vomwe vidachitikira Yesu Khrisitu. Koma iye adapewa kulewa vimwevi na cholinga chakuti wanthu wale apitirize kumubvesera.

13. Ko vomwe Sitefano adafotokoza polewa va Mose vidadawira tani mulandu womwe ambamuimba ndipo vimwevi vidachitisa kuti afotokoze mpfundo yodekana iponi?

¹³ Nthawe ya Mose. (Mac. 7:17-43) Sitefano adalewa mpfundo zizinji polewa va Mose—adachita vinthu mwanzeru ndawa ya otonga azinji wamu tiribunali ikulu ya Asaduki. Asaduki mwawa ambabvumalini mabukhu yose ya m’Baibolo kupatulako yomwe yadanembewa na Mose. Kumbukirani pomwe kuti Sitefano adaimbiwa mulandu wonyoza Mose. Vomwe Sitefano adalewa, vidadawira mulandu mwasitiriti ndawa yakuti iye adaonesa kuti angalemekeza Mose komasoti chilamulo. (Mac. 7:38) Iye adalewa pomwe kuti Mose nayembo adalambiwa na wanthu omwe iye ambafunisisa kuwapulumusa. Mose adalambiwa pomwe wenze na magole 40 ndipo wanthu mwawo adatsutsa ntsogoleri wawo payadapita magole yoposha 40.b Ndipomwapa Sitefano adafotokoza pang’nopang’ono mpfundo yodekana maninge yakuti: Wanthu wa Mulungu akhala ankulamba mobwerezabwereza wanthu omwe Yahova awasankhula kuti awatsogolere.

14. Ko Sitefano adafotokoza mobveka bwino mpfundo zofunika ziponi pomwe adaphatisira basa chitsanzo cha Mose?

¹⁴ Sitefano adakumbusa wanthu omwe angamubvesera wale kuti mu Izirayeli mudzabule mneneri ninge Mose. Ko mneneri moyu adzakhale mbani ndipo wanthu adzamutambire tani? Sitefano alibe kudawira mibvunzo mwaya nthawe mwiyoletu. Koma adadawira kumapeto. Iye adalewa pomwe mpfundo inango yodekana maninge yakuti: Mose adapfunzira kuti Mulungu angachitise malo yaliyose kukhala yochena ninge momwe venzere pa chitsamba chogaka moto pomwe Yahova adayankhula naye. Manje, ko wanthu ambafunika kutumikira Yahova m’nyumba ibodzi yokha ninge nkachisi womwe wenze ku Yerusalemu? Naboni tione.

15, 16. (a) Ndawa chani kutomola chihema kwenze kodekana pa vomwe Sitefano angalewa? (b) Ko Sitefano adaphatisa basa tani kachisi wa Solomo pa vomwe angafotokoza?

¹⁵ Chihema komasoti kachisi. (Mac. 7:44-50) Sitefano adakumbusa wanthu mu tiribunali momu kuti kachisi aliyese akanati kumangiwa ku Yerusalemu, Mulungu adalamula Mose kuti amange chihema chomwe wanthu ambakwanisa kuchinyamula ndipo ambachiphatisira basa pakutumikira. Palibe yemwe adakalimba ntima kulewa kuti chihema chenze chosafunika maninge polinganiza na kachisi pakuti Mose ambatumikira Mulungu mu chihema mwechi.

¹⁶ Patsogolo pake Solomo padamanga kachisi ku Yerusalemu, mouziriwa adanena mpfundo yodekana maninge mu pemphero yake. Mobverana na vomwe Sitefano adanena kuti ‘wa m’dzulum’dzulu akhalalini m’nyumba yomangiwa na manja.’ (Mac. 7:48; 2 Mbiri 6:18) Yahova angaphatisire basa kachisi pokwanirisa chifuniro chake. Koma vinkutanthauzalini kuti chifuniro chake mwechi chingakwanisikelini palibe kachisi. Koma nivosabveka kuti wanthu omwe ambatumikira ambakumbukire kuti kutumikira chaiko kufunika kumbachitike pa nyumba yomangiwa na wanthu basi. Sitefano adatsindika mwamphanvu mpfundo yodekana mweyi pakuphata mawu yochokera mu bukhu ya Yesaya yakuti: “Kudzulu ni mpando wangu wachifumu ndipo dziko yapasi ni chopondapo mapazi yangu. Manje ko munganimangire nyumba yotani? Ndipo malo yomwe inepano ningapumulirepo yali kuponi? Ko ni djanjalini yangu yomwe idakonza vose vimwevi?”—Mac. 7:49, 50; Yes. 66:1, 2.

17. Ko vomwe Sitefano adayankhula: (a) vidawonesa tani kuti wanthu omwe angamubvesera enze na maganizo yophonyeka (b)  vidadawira tani mulandu omwe iwo angamuyimba?

¹⁷ Pomwe munkuganizira vomwe Sitefano adafotokoza ku tiribunali ikulu ya Ayuda, ko munkuwonalini kuti iye adawonesadi kuti wanthu omwe angamutsutsa enze na maganizo yophonyeka? Iye adawonesa kuti Yahova aumiliralini pa chinthu chibodzi na chibodzi panango miyambo ya wanthu. M’malo mwake adawonesa kuti Mulungu aboneralini kuchinja vinthu mobverana na nthawe na cholinga chakuti akwanirise chifuniro chake. Wanthu omwe ambanyang’anira maninge va kudekana kwa kachisi wokhuza wa ku Yerusalemu komasoti miyambo na chikhalidwe chomwe chidayamba ndawa ya chilamulo cha Mose, ambabvesalini cholinga chayichoyicho cha chilamulo komasoti kachisi! Mwanjira inango vomwe Sitefano adalewa vidabweresa m’bvunzo wodekana wakuti: Ko kubvera Mulungu ni njiralini yabwino maninge yolemekezera kachisi komasoti chilamulo? Shuwadi, mawu yomwe Sitefano adayankhula yadawonesa bwino maninge kuti vomwe angachita venze vabwino ndawa yakuti iye adabvera Yahova mokhulupirika.

18. Ko tingamutewedzere Sitefano mu njira ziponi?

¹⁸ Ko tingapfunzire chani pa vomwe Sitefano adayankhula? Iye ambayadziwa bwino maninge Malemba. Molingana na Sitefano, isembo tifunika kumbapfunzira Mawu ya Mulungu mwakhama kuti timbakwanise kupfunzisa na kufotokoza bwino “Mawu ya chonadi.” (2 Tim. 2:15) Tingapfunzire pomwe kukhala wanthu okoma ntima ninge Sitefano. Ni shuwadi kuti wanthu omwe ambamubvesera enze wanthu ouma ntima maninge, kwa nthawe itali, iye adayesesa kufotokoza vinthu vomwe wanthu mwawo ambabverana navo komasoti ambaviwona kuti ni vodekana maninge. Iye ambayankhula nawo mwaulemu ndipo wanthu wachikulire ambawachemera kuti “ababa wangu.” (Mac. 7:2) Isembo tikambauza wanthu chonadi cha Mawu ya Mulungu timbachite vimwevi na “ntima wodekha komasoti mwaulemu maninge.” —1 Pet. 3:15.

19. Ko Sitefano adawonesa tani kulimba ntima popereka ntontholo wa chiweruzo wa Yahova kwa otonga wa tiribunali ikulu ya Yuda?

¹⁹ Olo kuti viri teno, tilekalini kulewa chonadi cha Mawu ya Mulungu pakugopa kukalipisa wanthu ndipo tifewesalini ntontholo wa Yahova womwe ni wa chiweruzo. Sitefano adapereka chitsanzo chabwino pa nkhani mweyi. Vinkuwonekeratu kuti iye adawona kuti vose vomwe ambalewa pamaso pa tiribunali ikulu ya Yuda, viribe kuthandiza otonga ouma ntima wale kuti achinje maganizo yawo. Ndipomwapa motsogolerewa na mzimu uchena, adamaliza kuyankhula mwa kuwaonesa molimba ntima kuti iwo enze ninge azibereki wawo omwe adalamba Yosefe, Mose komasoti aneneri wose. (Mac. 7:51-53) Ndipo otonga mwawa ndiwo adapha pomwe Mesiya yemwe Mose na aneneri wose adalosera kuti adzabwere. Shuwadi, otonga mwawa adaphwanya maninge chilamulo cha Mose!

“Ambuya Yesu tambirani mzimu wangu” (Machitidwe 7:54–8:3)

20, 21. Ko otonga wa tiribunali ikulu ya Ayuda adachita chani padabva mawu ya Sitefano, ndipo Yahova adalimbikisa tani Sitefano?

²⁰ Chonadi chowonekeratu chogumanika m’mawu ya Sitefano chidakalipisa maninge otonga wale. Padabva vimwevi iwo adakalipa maninge nkuyamba kumukukutira manu Sitefano. Munthu wokhulupirika moyu panango adadziwa kuti wanthu mwawa amuchitirelini ntsisi, ndawa yakuti alibe kuchitira ntsisi Mbuya wake Yesu.

²¹ Sitefano ambafunika kulimba ntima kuti apirire mabvuto yomwe yenze pafupi kugumana nayo. Ndipo tinkukayikiralini kuti masomphenya yomwe Yahova adamuonesa mokoma ntima pa nthawe mweyo yadamulimbikisa maninge. Sitefano adawona ulemerero wa Mulungu ndipo adawona pomwe Yesu ali imirire ku djanja ya makulu ya Ababa wake. Pomwe Sitefano adafotokoza va masomphenya yale, ndipo wanthu omwe ambamutonga wale adafunga m’matu mwawo na manja. Ndawa chani adachita vimwevi? Nthawe inango kumambuyo, Yesu adauza otonga wa tiribunali mweyi kuti iye ni Mesiya komasoti kuti manjemanje akhale ku djanja ya makulu ya Ababa wake. (Maliko 14:62) Masomphenya ya Sitefano yambawonesa kuti Yesu ambalewa chaivo. Ndipo tiribunali ikulu ya Ayuda mweyi idapereka na kupha Mesiya. Pa nthawe mweyi otonga wose mwawa mobverana adathamanga nkumuphata Sitefano kuti amuphe mwa kumuthusira minyala.c

22, 23. Ko impfa ya Sitefano ilingana tani na impfa ya Ambuya wake, ndipo Akhrisitu ntsiku zino angatewedzere tani chikhulupiriro cha Sitefano?

²² Sitefano adafa molingana na momwe adafera Ambuya wake Yesu. Iye adafa na ntendere mu ntima mwake ankukhulupirira maninge Yahova komasoti adawakhululukira wanthu omwe adamupha wale. Iye adalewa kuti: “Ambuya Yesu tambirani mzimu wangu” panango ndawa yakuti wenze adakawona mwana wa munthu pabodzi na Ababa wake m’masophenya. Ni vosakayikisa kuti Sitefano ambadziwa mawu yolimbikisa ya Yesu yakuti: “Inepano ndine kumuka na moyo.” (Yoh. 11:25) Pomalizira Sitefano adapemphera mokuwa nkulewa kuti: “Yahova, ayi kuwalanga ndawa ya chimo mweyi.” Padanena vimwevi adafa.—Mac. 7:59, 60.

²³ Ndipomwapa Sitefano wenze woyamba mwa ateweri wa Khrisitu kuphewa ndawa ya chikhulupiriro chake. (Onani bokosi yakuti “Sitefano adaphewa ndawa angachitira umboni va Yesu” pa tsamba 54.) Koma vopasa ntsisi ni vakuti iye wenzelini munthu womalizira. Ntsiku zino pomwe atumiki okhulupirika wa Yahova akhala ankuphewa na wanthu wa vipembedzo, wa ndale komasoti wanthu anango omwe ni otsutsa na wankhanza. Olo kuti viri teno isepano tinavifukwa vokhalira na chikhulupiriro molingana na Sitefano. Manje Yesu ankutonga ninge Mpfumu ndipo anamphanvu zizinji zomwe Ababa wake abamupasa. Ndipomwapa palibe chinthu chirichose chomwe chidzamukangise kumukisa ateweri wake okhulupirika.—Yoh. 5:28, 29.

24. Ko Saulo adathandizira tani pa kuphewa kwa Sitefano, ndipo ko impfa ya munthu wokhulupirika moyu idathandiza tani kuti vinthu vichinje pa moyo wake?

²⁴ Mulumbwana munango wochemerewa Saulo ambaona vinthu vose vimwevi. Iye adadawikiza kuti Sitefano aphewe ndipo ambanyang’anira vovala va wanthu omwe ambathusira minyala Sitefano. Palibe kupita kanthawe Saulo adatsogolera wanthu anango pa basa yodzudza Akhrisitu mwankhanza. Koma impfa ya Sitefano idamuthandiza maninge kuti achinje vinthu vinango pa moyo wake. Sitefano adapereka chitsanzo chomwe chidalimbikisa Akhrisitu anango kuti apitirize kukhala okhulupirika ninge momwe iye adachitira. Komasoti Saulo yemwe patsogolo pake adayamba kuchemewera kuti Paulo vimbamuwawa muntima akakumbukira vomwe adachita pakudawikiza kuphewa kwa Sitefano. (Mac. 22:20) Saulo adathandizira pa kuphewa kwa Sitefano, koma patsogolo pake adazindikira kuti iye wenze munthu “wonyoza Mulungu, wodzudza wanthu wake komasoti wachipiringu.” (1 Tim. 1:13) Vinkuonekeratu kuti Paulo alibe kumuyebwa Sitefano komasoti mawu yake yamphanvu yomwe adayankhula pa ntsiku mweyo. Ndipo Paulo adayankhula na kunemba mpfundo zinango zomwe Sitefano adayankhula mu tiribunali mule. (Mac. 7:48; 17:24; Aheb. 9:24) Paidapita nthawe, Paulo adapfunzira bwino maninge kutewedzera chikhulupiriro komasoti kulimba ntima kwa Sitefano yemwe wenze mwamuna “wenze na mphanvu ndipo ambachita kuonekeratu kuti Mulungu wenze naye.” Manje mbvunzo ni wakuti, ko isembo tingamutewedzere tani Sitefano?