One of the more obvious points of notice in the Passion event is the quick turnaround in the mood within the city of Jerusalem. "Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord" quickly became "Crucity Him!" in one short week. The point is restated several times over in the Bible. Elijah saw a quick turnaround in the attitudes and actions of people in one day. It is likely that Acts 14:8-20 occured in a day. The people went from treating Paul and Barnabas like gods, to treating them like scoundrels.
One problem that occurs when we speak about the crowds- herd mentality- is that it is easy to see others in the crowd but not us. But, crowds are crowds and we are caught in them at many levels. However tempting it might be to only see others in the crowd, we are often part. The defining quality that will determine whether or not we shift so quickly has less to do with whether we are in the crowd or not. It is more about the depth of our core grounding. Does our faith run deeply enough aid us in clear thinking and believing and acting when the wind of current moods change? Crowds are capricious. We are to be unmoved in some areas. There is the conflict.
I don't know an easy way to test the depth of faith without faith being tested. I don't really know another way to find out where and how deeply our core is unless we need to periodically summon up strength from that core. I don't know how firmly I believe in something unless it is challenged with a common slur by many others around. Oddly, however, the converse is often the prayer- "Lord keep us safe" or "Don't let this continue." Acts 4:29 comes on the heals of a very intense persecution and promise for more by those who hate God. To this the disciples prayed, "Now, Lord, consider their threats and . . . ." I intentionally stopped short of the sentence. Do you know where they went in their prayer from that point? It could be "and thwart their efforts." It could be "and provide us refuge."
I will refrain from giving their conclusion and leave it to your imagination or curious inquiry. But, suffice to say, it is a statement that demonstrates a very deep and very firm core. They were not rattled. They rallied. The next time you are tempted to say something disparaging about the crowd, remember that crowds are expected to be capricious. We are expected to move by a different motive. Pray for crowd challenges to the core of your faith. That is the only way you will really know where you stand- when the opposition is sizeable.