Study Desk

The church police captain went out there and asked them nicely to come talk to the bigwigs. The captain didn't cause a scene and asked nicely because he was afraid of all the people. The last thing he wanted was to get stoned to death.

No one said a word because they were all looking at Steve, whose face was shining as bright as an angel's.

"But God didn't give him the land. Not even a small water lot to keep his horses. But God did say he would give all the land to Abe's descendants. This was ironic because Abe and his wife couldn't have kids.

Because of this, God turned his back on all those folks. He let them worship the sun, the moon, and the stars. But these things couldn't do anything for them. This is why the Good Book said, 'Did y'all bring me offerings and sacrifices during the forty years in the wilderness?

Now just because the believers were scattered didn't mean they weren't preaching wherever they went.

They had great admiration for Simon because of his magic.

The Holy Spirit hadn't yet come on any of them because they'd only been baptized in the name of Jesus.

You can't buy your way onto God's outfit like it was a carnival ride. You'll never have a spot on his outfit because your heart is not right.

But Barnabas helped him out and took him to the cowboys. He told the men how Saul had come face to face with Jesus on the road to Damascus and he'd had to escape the city in secret because of his preaching about Jesus being the Top Hand. Barnabas told them about Saul's fearlessness in preaching.

During this time, God's outfit grew in number because folks lived in fear of the Lord and they were all being led by the Holy Ghost.

'All y'all who made fun of me, the true God, better look out because you're being loaded on the kill truck. I am doing things that are amazing, and most people wouldn't even believe it if someone told them it was happening.'"

Paul saw something in the young man too and invited Timothy to saddle up and ride with them. Paul took Timothy aside and told him they would be around a lot of Jews, and it would probably be better if Timothy had his pickle clipped. This wasn't for salvation, but to be able to reach more people who might be narrow-minded at first because of his daddy being Greek.

The jailer invited them into his house, which was part of the jail, and laid before them a fine feast of a meal. This was the best day of the man's life because he and his whole family were now saved and believed in God.

Paul stayed with them in Athens and helped them make cowboy tents, because that was his trade.

He was really good at gathering folks to ride for the brand of Jesus. But he only went as far as the baptism of John because that's all he knew.

Because of this, God's message spread to the far corners of every pasture around there.

Because if we don't, then Rome is going to think we are rioting and we'll be in a real mess then."

Paul wanted to bypass Ephesus this time because he wanted to get to Jerusalem by Pentecost.

Take care of yourselves and watch over the herd God put you in charge of. Be good cowboys who watch over God's herd day and night. Take your jobs seriously because he bought that herd with his own blood.

Y'all know this because I've provided for myself and my cowboys with my own two hands.