Paul was in Corinth sharing the good news that Jesus was the Messiah. Many of the Corinthians believed and were baptised - including Crispus, an official of the synagogue. One night the Lord came to Paul in a vision to encourage him and to assure him that God was with him. The Jewish authorities brought a complaint about Paul before the Roman tribunal. They were told this was not a matter for Rome but was a matter of Jewish doctrine, so the charges against Paul were dismissed - evidence that God was true to His promise to be with Paul.

Jesus had been referring to His impending death and resurrection as He prepared the disciples for the reaction to these events. He explained that the disciples would be weeping and mourning while others would be rejoicing. But it would be like a woman in labour who suffers but forgets her suffering once the baby arrives. Jesus promised that the disciples would eventually experience everlasting joy. This is the joy we canexperience when we have a relationship with Jesus.