The loud music next door.
Some people really are put out when their neighbours have a party. Admittedly, if it goes on late into the night and I need sleep, i do to. But when the synagogue leader Crispus went next door because the music of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ was better than the music of the lifeless traditions he used to follow, the neighbours got very upset!
Jealousy drove the people of the synagogue to attack Paul and the church again. No surprises here, as in previous chapters the Jews accuse Paul of teaching worship contrary to the law, but really just appear to be jealous of him for they have lost their leader and the following of the local gentiles and some of their own.
Paul may have anticipated this opposition as it was becoming a pattern. But we read God's assurance to Paul -
And the Lord said to Paul one night in a vision, “Do not be afraid, but go on speaking and do not be silent, for I am with you, and no one will attack you to harm you, for I have many in this city who are my people.”
His encouragement under this trial of conflict is that there are many who are God's people here. His struggle is worth the pain, discomfort and tension because of the reward. The Grace of God has come to us because of people enduring this kind of conflict to bring us the truth.
Our lives are enriched and renewed because of those proclaiming the truth. We are beneficiaries of the blood sweat and tears of the saints who toiled through these conflicts to keep bringing the grace and truth of Christ.
is Jesus Christ, her Lord;
she is his new creation
by water and the Word.
From heav'n he came and sought her
to be his holy bride;
with his own blood he bought her,
and for her life he died.
2 Elect from ev'ry nation,
yet one o'er all the earth;
her charter of salvation:
one Lord, one faith, one birth.
One holy name she blesses,
partakes one holy food,
and to one hope she presses,
with ev'ry grace endued.
3 The Church shall never perish.
Her dear Lord to defend,
to guide, sustain, and cherish,
is with her to the end.
Tho' there be those that hate her
and strive to see her fail,
against both foe and traitor
she ever shall prevail.
4 Tho' with a scornful wonder
the world sees her oppressed,
by schisms rent asunder,
by heresies distressed,
yet saints their watch are keeping;
their cry goes up, "How long?"
and soon the night of weeping
shall be the morn of song.
5 'Mid toil and tribulation
and tumult of her war
she waits the consummation
of peace forevermore
till with the vision glorious
her longing eyes are blest,
and the great Church victorious
shall be the Church at rest.
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