Read the Bible

¹ Pete and John showed up at the main church one day for the three o'clock prayer. ² They got there at the same time a lame fellow was being helped in. People put him at the Beautiful Gate every day to beg. ³ When Pete and John came by, the fellow asked them for some money.

⁴ Pete and John stared a hole through this guy, and then Pete said, "Look at us!" ⁵ The man looked up, obviously expecting a handout. ⁶ But Pete said, "I don't have any money for you, but I'll give you something better. In the name of Jesus Christ, get up and walk."

⁷ Pete helped the guy to his feet. As the man got up, his feet and ankles became strong and were healed. ⁸ 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.

⁹ Everyone was staring at what had just happened. ¹⁰ When they realized it was that beggar by the Beautiful Gate who had been healed, they couldn't believe their eyes. ¹¹ People filed out onto Solomon's Porch to see what was happening and saw the man with his arms around Pete and John.

Pete Preaches

¹² Pete took this opportunity and said, "My friends, why are you astonished by this? Do you stare at us because you think we had something to do with it? It was not our power that healed this man, but the power of God. ¹³ The same God who Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob served has now brought honor and glory to his Son, Jesus Christ. This is the same Jesus who you had killed. The same one you shunned in front of Pilate. ¹⁴ You double-crossed God's Top Hand and chose instead to release a murderer. ¹⁵ You killed the One who spoke us into existence, but God brought him back from the grave. We saw it happen. ¹⁶ By faith in Jesus this man has been healed. See it for yourself."

¹⁷ Pete continued, "My fellow countrymen, I know you thought you were doing the right thing. I know your leaders thought the same thing. ¹⁸ But all of it had to happen because God had predicted a long time ago that the Top Hand would suffer. ¹⁹ Turn away from your sin, and turn back to God. If you do, your sins will be blown away like a feed sack in a windstorm. ²⁰ A time is comin' fast where you will get your second wind in the presence of the Lord, and God is going to send him back to gather all his cowboys up and take them home with him. ²¹ The Top Hand has to stay in heaven until that time comes just like the old prophets said. ²² Remember when Moses said, 'God's gonna send someone to help y'all, like he did me, so y'all best listen to him. ²³ Anyone who doesn't will be cut out of the herd and shipped to the killers.'

²⁴ "Samuel started it, and all the prophets have repeated him about the days to come. ²⁵ Y'all come from these men, and y'all share in the same promise they had. God said to Abraham, 'Through your kids, many generations from now, the whole world will be blessed.' ²⁶ When God sent the Top Hand, he sent him to y'all first. Turn from your wicked ways and be blessed."