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¹ While Pete and John were talking to the people, they were accosted by some preachers, church police, and some of the Sadducees. ² They were fit to be tied because these two cowboys were telling people that everyone can be raised from the dead through faith in Jesus. ³ They grabbed the cowboys and threw them in jail overnight. ⁴ That didn't stop the number of believers from growing to about five thousand.

⁵ The next day, all the church decision makers met in Jerusalem. ⁶ Annas, the Head Preacher, was in attendance as well as Caiaphas, John, Alex, and others of the Head Preacher's family. ⁷ They brought Pete and John into the meeting and asked them, "How did you do this? What name did you call down from heaven?"

⁸ Pete, who was filled with the Holy Spirit, said, "Y'all head honchos listen up! ⁹ If y'all are here today to punish us for committing a great act of kindness on a fellow who was lame, and you want to know how he was healed, ¹⁰ then you need to understand one thing first. The power and the name are from Jesus Christ of Nazareth. Y'all remember him don't you—the one you killed, but God brought him back from the grave? It is because of him that the fellow was healed. ¹¹ Jesus even said, 'The bull the ranchers sorted out has now become the sire bull.' ¹² You can't be saved and get to heaven by no other means than faith in Jesus Christ. There is no other name or method that can do that job."

¹³ Pete and John's courage amazed the decision makers. These two cowboys were obviously uneducated and crude, but there was no doubt they had ridden with Jesus. ¹⁴ The decision makers wanted to do a lot of things, but the fact that the man who'd once been lame was standing right there was hard to argue with. ¹⁵ They told the police to escort the cowboys out of the room, and then they conferred with each other saying, ¹⁶ "What are we going to do? We can't hide what they've done. Everyone has seen it. ¹⁷ Let's just tell them they can't do it anymore and see if that works."

¹⁸ So they called the cowboys back in and told them not to do anything like that ever again. They commanded Pete and John not to preach about Jesus or even say anything about him. ¹⁹ But the two cowboys asked, "Which should we do—obey the Boss, or you? What do y'all think is the right answer? ²⁰ As for us, you couldn't shut us up if you tried."

²¹ A few more threats were made and then they cowboys were let go. The decision makers couldn't have them punished because everyone was celebrating the miracle the cowboys had done. ²² Everyone was praising God that a man who had been lame for over forty years had been healed.

Courage for the Cowboys

²³ As soon as they were bonded out, Pete and John went back and told all the other riders what the preachers and elders had said. ²⁴ When they'd heard what happened, everyone began to pray, "Our Mighty Master, the One who made it all, ²⁵ you used the Holy Spirit to talk to David, your cowboy, saying, 'Why is everyone so angry? Why do they think their plans will work? ²⁶ The cattle barons of the earth prepare for war, and the governors gather to fight the Lord and his Top Hand.'

²⁷ "Truth is, this has already happened. Right here in Jerusalem. Herod Antipas, Pilate, and all the folks in Israel plotted against Jesus, your holy cowboy, who you set apart to save us all. ²⁸ But you knew all of that would happen. ²⁹ And now, Boss, give us courage in the face of these threats. Give us boldness to preach your word. ³⁰ Give us a hand with your healing power so we can do great things in the name of your holy cowboy Jesus."

³¹ When they said, "Amen," the place shook violently, and all who were there praying were filled with the Holy Spirit. They all went out and preached with courage and conviction in the face of imminent danger.

Everyone Lends a Hand

³² All the cowboys and riders for the brand were together with one heart and one mind. No one looked at their possessions as their own. If someone needed something, someone gave it to them. ³³ The cowboys talked all the time about how Jesus had ridden back from the dead and God blessed everyone who listened. ³⁴ There was no one there who did without. If someone had some land or a house, they sold it to help others. ³⁵ The money would be brought to the cowboys to give out to those in need.

³⁶ For example, there was this rider named Joseph, who the cowboys nicknamed Barney (meaning "Encourager"). He was from Levi's clan and came from Cyprus. ³⁷ He sold a ranch he had and brought all the money to the cowboys.