Acts 14:1-4 — And it came to pass in Iconium, that they went both together into the synagogue of the Jews, and so spake, that a great multitude both of the Jews and also of the Greeks believed. But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles, and made their minds evil affected against the brethren. Long time therefore abode they speaking boldly in the Lord, which gave testimony unto the word of his grace, and granted signs and wonders to be done by their hands. But the multitude of the city was divided: and part held with the Jews, and part with the apostles.

Paul and Barnabas came to Iconium. And trouble followed. The city crowd was divided and things got nasty.
Over the centuries the story has played out time and time again. A conflict that’s hard to understand leads to violence, and blood is spilled. But we’re over all that now, right? Sadly, we know better … It’s a thirty-second internet search to see that riot, conflict and bloodshed is still endemic, worldwide.
It’s not just riot and bloodshed though, is it? One of the things that saddens me is the way people I know and like can hate each other. Oh, sometimes it’s very polite — there’s a nice surface — but the acid is lurking just below the surface. How can people be that way?
The Iconium event was typical. The unbelieving Jews — they were “nice, respectable people” yet their unbelief was the breeding ground for strife. Unable to win their argument, they set to and stirred up bitterness amongst the Gentiles. From the seeds of bitterness grew flowers of hate and the fruit of violence.
Unbelief is at the heart of all conflict. James understood it very well:

From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members? Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts. Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. (James 4:1-4)

In the end we all choose a side. Be a friend of God. Believe. Or, be a friend of the world. Cherish unbelief. But once you choose a side, conflict will follow. Maybe, if you’re lucky it will stay “civilized”. If not, there will be bloodshed. But if you’re on God’s side it’s not the physical warfare that matters, is it? “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” (Ephesians 6:12). There can be no peace.