For you, brethren,becameimitatorsof the churchesof Godin ChristJesusthat are in Judea,for you alsoenduredthe samesufferingsat the handsof your owncountrymen,evenas they [did] from the Jews,
So thenthosewho were scatteredbecauseof the persecutionthat occurredin connectionwith Stephenmade their wayto Phoeniciaand Cyprusand Antioch,speakingthe wordto no oneexceptto Jewsalone.
But the Jewsincitedthe devoutwomenof prominenceand the leading menof the city,and instigateda persecutionagainstPauland Barnabas,and drovethem out of their district.
But Jewscamefrom Antiochand Iconium,and having won overthe crowds,they stonedPauland draggedhim out of the city,supposinghim to be dead.
But the Jewswho disbelievedstirredup the mindsof the Gentilesand embitteredthem againstthe brethren.
But the peopleof the citywere divided;and somesidedwith the Jews,and somewith the apostles.
And whenan attemptwas madeby boththe Gentilesand the Jewswith their rulers,to mistreatand to stonethem,
But whenthe Jewsof Thessalonicafoundout that the wordof Godhad been proclaimedby Paulin Bereaalso,they camethere as well,agitatingand stirringup the crowds.
But while Galliowas proconsulof Achaia,the Jewswith one accordrose up againstPauland broughthim beforethe judgment seat,
Saulwas in hearty agreementwith putting him to death.And on that daya greatpersecutionbeganagainstthe churchin Jerusalem,and they were allscatteredthroughoutthe regionsof Judeaand Samaria,exceptthe apostles.
But Saul[began] ravagingthe church,enteringhouseafterhouse,and draggingoff menand women,he would putthem in prison.
NowSaul,stillbreathingthreatsand murderagainstthe disciplesof the Lord,wentto the high priest,
But Ananiasanswered,"Lord,I have heardfrom manyaboutthisman,how muchharmhe didto Your saintsat Jerusalem;
Sothe churchthroughoutallJudeaand Galileeand Samariaenjoyedpeace,being builtup; and goingon in the fearof the Lordand in the comfortof the HolySpirit,it continued to increase.
Giveno offenseeitherto Jewsorto Greeksorto the churchof God;
Only,as the Lordhas assignedto eachone,as Godhas calledeach,in thismannerlet him walk.And soI directin allthe churches.
I was [still] unknownby sightto the churchesof Judeawhich were in Christ;
Pauland Silvanusand Timothy,To the churchof the Thessaloniansin Godthe Fatherand the LordJesusChrist:Graceto you and peace.
You alsobecameimitatorsof us and of the Lord,having receivedthe wordin muchtribulationwith the joyof the HolySpirit,
For indeedwhenwe were with you, we [kept] telling you in advancethat we were goingto suffer affliction;and soit came to pass,as you know.
Pauland Silvanusand Timothy,To the churchof the Thessaloniansin Godour Fatherand the LordJesusChrist:
therefore,we ourselvesspeak proudlyof you amongthe churchesof Godfor your perseveranceand faithin the midst of allyour persecutionsand afflictionswhichyou endure.
