John Trapp on Ezra 5:3

Verſe 3. At the ſame time] So ſoone as ever they began but to build Gods houſe, they meet with oppoſition; which is ſtill Evangelii Genius, ſaith Calvin, the bad Angel that haunts the cauſe of God, and dogges it at the heeles. Satan, out of his inveterate envie and enmity, can in no wiſe brook the propagation of the Truth, and dilatation of Chriſts curtaines. No ſooner is Iſrael out of Egypt, but Pharaoh purſueth them. No ſooner had Ezekiah kept that ſolemne Paſſeover, but Sennacherib comes up againſt him. Eſau began to juſtle Jacob in the womb, that no time might be loſt: and when he ſet his face homewards, Laban followes him with one troop, Eſau meets him with another: both with hoſtile intentions. Dreame not of a delicacie in Gods wayes, but ſuffer hardſhip, as a good ſouldier of Jeſus Chriſt.

And their companions] Cum collegio ſuo, Jun. a company of caytives combined to do miſchief. See chap. 4.9. with the Note.

Who hath commanded you to build this houſe?] Their owne houſes they builded, and were never once queſtioned. All the while our Saviour lay in his fathers ſhop, and medled onely with carpenters chips, the Devil and his impes never troubled him: but when he was entering upon his Miniſtery, he is ſharply aſſaulted in the Wilderneſſe. And when he took upon him to purge the Temple, and better informe the people, preſently the Grandees came upon him as he was teaching, and ſaid, By what authority doeſt thou theſe things? and who gave thee this authority? Matth. 21.23. Like unto theſe were the queſtions put by the Papiſts to thoſe noble Reformers, Luther, Zuinglius, &c. Farellus was, at his firſt coming to Geneva, more harſhly handled, and by the Biſhop and his Clerks thus accoaſted: Quid tu, diabole nequiſſime, ad hanc civitatem perturbandam acceſſiſti? What a Divel makeſt thou here, to make this diſturbance, &c. and ſo was driven out of that City,Scultet. Anual. where afterwards he wrought a glorious Reformation.