When the people and tribal tax collectors heard this, they agreed that the ways of the Great Spirit were true and right, for they had received the purification ceremony of Gift of Goodwill (John).
“Now the tribal tax collector hung his head down and would not even lift his face to the spirit-world above. He beat his hands against his chest and cried out, ‘Creator! Be kind and have pity on me. I am a pitiful man, full of bad thoughts and wrongdoings!’
“Collect no more taxes than the People of Iron (Romans) permit,” he answered. “To take more is to steal from the people and dishonor the Great Spirit.”
When they heard this, the words pierced their hearts like a long knife. With troubled hearts they lifted their voices to Stands on the Rock (Peter) and all the message bearers. “Fellow Tribal Members,” they said, “tell us what we must do.”