Study Desk

When he got there, he beheld quite a sight. He encouraged all the new cowboys to remain true to the brand and ride for the Lord with all their hearts.

Barnabas was a good cowboy who was filled with the Holy Ghost and full of faith. He showed many people how to ride for God's outfit.

Barnabas struck a long trot for Tarsus to find Saul.

When he found him, they both went back to Antioch. For an entire year, these two cowboys met with all the cowboys in Antioch and taught them how to ride for Jesus. This was the first place the term "Christian" was used to describe a cowboy ridin' for the Lord.

The king had Pete thrown in prison with four squads of police watching him. Herod was going to wait for Passover to end and then have a public trial for Pete.

But while Pete was locked up, everyone who rode for the Lord prayed for him constantly.

Herod Agrippa ordered soldiers and police to search for him everywhere, but he couldn't be found. The king had the guards questioned and then killed them. Herod and his entourage headed off for Caesarea.

Now Herod wasn't none too happy with the towns of Tyre and Sidon. These cities sent some representatives to the king to try to make amends. These cities were very dependent on Herod for food. These reps got in good with Herod's personal assistant, Blastus.

In the meantime, the word of God continued to spread throughout the country and many people started riding for the Lord.

One day these cowboys were all fasting and praising God, and the Holy Spirit said, "Turn loose Barnabas and Saul. I got something special for them to do."

They all did more fasting and praying. Then the other cowboys laid their hands on the two men and sent them out to gather remnants for God.

This fellow rode for the local governor there, a man named Sergius Paulus. The governor was a sharp man, and he sent for these two cowboys who were gathering remnants on the island. He wanted to hear what they were telling everyone about God.

Watch what's fixing to happen to you. The Lord is fixing to show you who's boss. He's jerking the sight right out of your head, and you won't even be able to see the sun for a while." Right then, something like a dark fog enveloped him, and he couldn't see. He started screaming and feeling around for someone to help him.

Paul and the other two cowboys sailed out of Paphos for Pamphylia. They arrived in the port of Perga. When they got there, John Mark turned yellow and quit the crew and returned to Jerusalem.

Paul and Barnabas struck a long trot inland for Antioch of Pisidia. On the day of rest, they went to the local Jewish church for the services.

So Paul got up and motioned for everyone to quiet down. He said, "Listen up you cowboys from Israel and you God-fearing mavericks.

Then the people were crying out for a king and God gave 'em Saul, son of Kish. This cowboy was from the Benjamin outfit and he ruled for forty years.

Before Jesus came, the great cowboy named John preached a message of radically changing your life to ride for God and being dunked in water. He told his message to all the cowboys in Israel.

The people of Jerusalem and the head honchos of the church didn't recognize Jesus for the cowboy he really was and had him strung up and killed without cause.

and for a while he was seen by many who'd rode with him from Galilee to Jerusalem. They are the ones who give our people an eyewitness account of these great things.