Study Desk

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.

So we boarded a ship to leave for Macedonia right away. We knew this was God telling us to take the good news to new places.

We saddled up there and rode for the big town of Philippi. It was a Roman colony, and we stayed there for several days.

On the day of rest, we trotted out to a river where we thought some people might be meeting for prayer. Sure enough, there was a group of ladies there, and we walked up and introduced ourselves.

She was baptized along with her whole household. Then she insisted we stay at her ranchito. She said, "If you believe I am a believer like y'all, then you must be my guests." This little lady wouldn't take no for an answer.

She followed along behind us and shouted, "These men are cowboys who gather for the Most High God. They are here to tell you how to be saved!"

So the city officials all went to the jailhouse and apologized for what had happened. They led Paul and Silas outside and begged them to saddle up and leave the city.

The two cowboys didn't say anything but headed straight for Lady Lydia's house. They met with everyone who had believed in Jesus and encouraged them to never give up the faith. Then they saddled up and rode away.

Like he did all the time, Paul went to the church to preach on the day of rest for three weeks. He used the Good Book to reason with people.

But there were those hard-hearted Jews who wouldn't believe. They became so jealous of Paul that they rounded up some shady characters and convinced them to run through town and shoot out the lights and windows. These fellows tore up the town and then headed toward the home of Jason. They kicked the door down looking for Paul and Silas in order to lynch them.

The good-hearted believers traveled with Paul all the way to Athens and then rode back with instructions for Silas and Timothy to join him there.

Now Greece was known for its philosophers, and Paul talked at length with them; ones who followed the Epicurean style as well as the Stoic ones. Some of them rolled their eyes at him, and others acted all high and mighty, saying, "Let us listen to him. He is teaching us about some foreign gods."

As a matter of fact, he doesn't need us for anything. But here's the cool part, he doesn't need anything from us, yet he gives us the air we breathe and the heart that beats in our chest.

"The only thing God wants is for all cowboys to find the trail that leads to him and follow it. It ain't a hard trail to follow if a cowboy has the right heart.

"But man can be pretty ignorant sometimes and choose things like idols over the real God. He let y'all get away with this for a while, but he's finally said enough is enough. He is telling you right now to turn from your sorry ways and set your eyes on him and only him.

but some folks saddled up to ride for Jesus. Among these new cowboys were Dionysius (a fellow with some clout in the city), a lady named Damaris, and a few others.

Paul saddled up, left Athens, and headed for Corinth.

But on the day of rest, Paul could be found down at the Jewish church in town. He did everything he could to recruit riders for Jesus's outfit.

Most folks would listen for a spell and then make fun of him or just argue. Paul would then shrug his shoulders and say, "Y'all go ahead and try to save yourselves. Your deaths will be long, hard, and your fault. I'm headed out to gather the unbranded mavericks. At least they'll listen."

I'm behind you so speak out boldly. No one's going to lay a finger on ya. There's more folks who ride for me here than you know about."