Throughout 1524 and well into 1525 the antagonism in Zurich between those unwilling to face the consequences of an open breach with Rome and traditional beliefs, and those who were convinced that this was now unavoidable, grew in intensity. The council had indeed accepted the principle that the Bible was the sole authority by which religious affairs should be conducted, but the practical implications of this were realised rather slowly. The councillors collectively were not afraid of responsibility, but they were conscious of it. If the Bishop of Constance was to be ignored, the mass abolished and Zurich to be different from other communities in worship and belief, they must know why. Not unreasonably, it took many months for Zwingli's teaching to be assimilated and accepted.

For all Zwingli's caution, the transition to an evangelical community was neither easy nor peaceful. Those who had been, or feared to be, dispossessed– monks, friars, chantry priests, with their servants, suppliers and attendants – formed a discontented group which had friends among the aristocrats who disliked the authority of the gilds, and the simple conservatives who remained Catholic at heart.

At the other end of the scale were the enthusiasts, who had long felt that things were not moving fast enough. They had heard Zwingli's sermons, they had read the Bible, and they knew something of what was being taught at Wittenberg. They were men in a hurry.