The hatred with which the Jews had always regarded the apostles was now intensified. The conversion and baptism of Crispus had the effect of exasperating instead of convincing these stubborn opposers. They could not bring arguments to disprove Paul's preaching, and for lack of such evidence they resorted to deception and malignant attack. They blasphemed the gospel and the name of Jesus. In their blind anger no words were too bitter, no device too low, for them to use. They could not deny that Christ had worked miracles; but they declared that He had performed them through the power of Satan; and they boldly affirmed that the wonderful works wrought by Paul were accomplished through the same agency. 250

Nu forstærkedes det had, som jøderne altid havde næret overfor apostlene. Krispus omvendelse og dåb virkede ophidsende i stedet for overbevisende på disse hårdnakkede modstandere. De kunne ikke finde argumenter til at modbevise Paulus prædiken, og i mangel af den slags beviser tog de deres tilflugt til bedrag og ondsindede angreb. I deres blinde raseri var ingen ord dem for bitre, intet påfund for lavt til, at de ville benytte dem. De kunne ikke benægte, at Kristus havde gjort mirakler; men de erklærede, at han havde gjort dem ved Satans hjælp; og de hævdede med dristighed, at de undergerninger, der skete ved Paulus, blev udrettet ved hjælp af den samme magt.