Study Desk

Now many people did believe in him, including some of the Jewish leaders. But these fellows kept their beliefs to themselves for fear that they would be run out of the church.

Judas led the way to the olive grove. He brought with him some church mercenaries and church leaders. There were even a few Pharisees who tagged along. A long line of torches, swords, and lanterns made their way through the trees.

So the mercenaries, their commanding officer, and the church police arrested Jesus and handcuffed him.

Jesus said, "I don't need to repeat myself. Y'all have heard everything I've said in the churches and the main church courtyard where all the Jews hang out. I haven't been secretive about one thing.

Pete and John showed up at the main church one day for the three o'clock prayer.

The man jumped up and began to walk around. Once he got used to the sensation, he started jumpin' around like a young foal turned out to pasture. He went around praising God, and then went into the Church with Pete and John.

While Pete and John were talking to the people, they were accosted by some preachers, church police, and some of the Sadducees.

The next day, all the church decision makers met in Jerusalem.

Word spread quickly that the new church wasn't one to be trifled with. No longer could you say one thing and do another. God was to be respected.

The cowboys were healing folks right and left. They performed miracles and other great things that many people saw. Everyone who believed in what the cowboys said met on the porch at the main church. This porch was named after Solomon.

"Go to the main church and give people the good news about the new life that is available to all."

The cowboys rode through the gates of the main church at daylight and spoke loud and clear for all to hear.When the head preacher and his cronies arrived at work that day, they called for an emergency meeting of all the bigwig rulers of Israel. They told the guards to bring the cowboys in for a hearing.

But when the church police went to get them, they found the guards still there and all the doors locked, but no one was inside. They ran back to the meeting and said,

Then someone busted in and said, "Look out the window! Those cowboys we arrested are out there in front of the main church teaching again."

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.

But one day some fellows from the Freed-Slave Church started a fight with him. They were Jews from Cyrene, Alexandria, Cicilia, and Asia.

The liars said, "This man is always talking crap about Moses and those in the church.

We heard him say Jesus of Nazareth was going to tear the church down and change the Code Moses gave us."

God didn't let David build it, but he did let his son Solomon complete the church.

Saul smiled as Steve was killed.The day Steve was killed began a great day of persecution in the early church. It swept through the believers in Jerusalem and most of them, except for the twelve cowboys, were scattered throughout the region.