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¹ While Paul and Barnabas were still in Antioch in Syria, some cowboys showed up from the country around Jerusalem. These cowboys began giving clinics on how to ride for God, but they were telling people, "You've got to have the tip of your pickle clipped like the code of Moses says if you want to be saved. If you ain't got a clipped pickle, then you ain't saved." ² Paul and Barnabas lit into them and argued sternly with 'em. Finally, the local outfit decided to send Paul and Barnabas, along with a few other cowboys, to Jerusalem to see what the cowboys who rode with Jesus had to say about it. ³ The cowboys saddled up and headed for Jerusalem. They stopped in Phoenicia and Samaria to visit those who had previously been gathered and were now cowboying for God's outfit. They told them, much to everyone gladness, the unbranded mavericks were also being allowed to ride for God and were being saved.

⁴ When they got to Jerusalem, they were warmly welcomed by the whole outfit there. The jigger bosses and cowboys who personally rode with Jesus also showed up to welcome them. The cowboys from Antioch excitedly told all the Jerusalem outfit what had been happening. ⁵ But then some Pharisees, who believed in Jesus while also wanting to follow the code of Moses, stood up and said, "The Gentiles, or mavericks as you call them, must be circumcised and follow the code of Moses if they want to be saved."

⁶ So the jigger bosses, along with Jesus's handpicked cowboys, met together to come up with a decision on the matter. ⁷ Everyone spoke for a long time and then Pete stood up and said, "Brothers, you all know God chose me a long time ago to go out and gather the unbranded Gentiles. He was pulling them into his herd, and they believed in him. ⁸ God knows all people's hearts, and he branded these mavericks with the Holy Spirit just like he did us. ⁹ He didn't check their pickles, just their faith . . . and he washed 'em clean of their sins. ¹⁰ So here's my question, cowboys. Why are y'all now bucking the way God does things and putting a load on the new cowboys' backs that we couldn't carry ourselves? We couldn't follow the code of Moses either, but you want these new cowboys to do what can't be done? That's insane! ¹¹ We are saved by what Jesus did, not by what we do. That's the grace of God. And we are all saved the same way."

¹² You could have heard a pin drop as Paul and Barnabas talked about the miracles God had performed while they were gathering mavericks up north.

¹³ When they were done, Jesus's brother James stood up and said, "Listen to me, boys. ¹⁴ Pete talked to you about how God first decided he was going to bring the unbranded mavericks into his herd for himself.¹⁵ Gathering and branding these unbranded mavericks is exactly what the Good Book predicted when it said, ¹⁶ 'After this I'm going to come back and rebuild the ranch David started. I'll fix the fences and get the windmills going. ¹⁷ That way, all of mankind will have a place, even the unbranded mavericks who will now be part of the herd. Everyone will have a place who wants it,' says the Lord, who knows all and does all ¹⁸ things like he knew he would."

¹⁹ James continued, "This is what we're going to do. We ain't gonna make it hard for the mavericks to be a part of God's outfit. ²⁰ We're just gonna tell them they should not eat meat that has been sacrificed to false gods. They should keep away from all sexual perversions. They should also avoid eating meat from strangled animals, and never consume blood. ²¹ This is all wisdom from Moses that has been taught for centuries. It would be harder to change it than follow it. And following these doesn't hurt anyone."

The Letter to the Mavericks

²² Then Jesus's handpicked cowboys and the church jigger bosses, as well as the rest of the outfit, chose some cowboys to represent them and sent them back to Antioch in Syria with a letter about their decision. They all traveled back with Paul and Barnabas. The two cowboys chosen as representatives were a couple of the church bosses, Judas (called Barsabbas) and Silas.

²³ The letter said, "This letter is from Jesus's handpicked cowboys and jigger bosses from the church in Jerusalem. It is written to the maverick believers in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia. Howdy, boys! ²⁴ We heard some cowboys from Jerusalem have been saying some troubling things to y'all. They've been teaching some wrong stuff, but understand that we did not send them to you. ²⁵ We've all got together and came up with a decision about what they were teaching. We've sent some representatives back with Paul and Barnabas, ²⁶ who have risked their lives for Jesus Christ, so you will know this is from us. ²⁷ Judas and Silas will confirm what we've come up with regarding those other fellow's wrong teachings. ²⁸ It seemed like the right things to do, and we believe the Holy Spirit agrees we should not make y'all do anything burdensome besides these few things, ²⁹ Don't eat meat from sacrificed animals. Don't consume blood or the meat of strangled animals. And stay away from sexual perversions. If you do this, you will be riding good. Adios, amigos!"

³⁰ The messengers struck a long trot toward Antioch with the letter. As soon as they arrived, they gathered in all the cowboys who were riding for God and read them the letter. ³¹ People were whooping and hollering and waving their hats in the air at the good news.

³² Then Judas and Silas, both being top hands, talked with all the cowboys. They encouraged them and told them to be strong and keep the faith. ³³ These two top hands stuck around for a while and then they headed back to Jerusalem with a blessing of peace riding with 'em.

³⁵ Paul and Barnabas stayed in Antioch and taught folks how to ride for the Lord.

Paul and Barnabas Split Ways

³⁶ After quite a while, Paul told Barnabas, "Let's head back to all those churches we started and see how them outfits are doing." ³⁷ Barnabas totally agreed and wanted to take John Mark with them again, ³⁸ but Paul didn't want to have anything to do with him after he'd turned his back on them the last time. ³⁹ They argued fiercely and they decided to go different ways. Barnabas took John Mark and went to Cyprus. ⁴⁰ Paul chose Silas, and with the blessing of the outfit there in Syria, ⁴¹ they headed out through Syria and Cilicia. They strengthened all the outfits they went through that were riding and gathering for the Lord.