## became imitators of the churches... ##

They experienced similar hostility from other Thessalonians just as the first believers experienced persecution from the Jewish leaders. Alternate translation: "became like the churches..."

## from your own countrymen ##

"from other Thessalonians"

## They forbid us to speak ##

"They seek to make us stop speaking"

## to always fill up their sins ##

"to continue to sin"

## Wrath has come on them  ##

"God's punishment has come on them" or God's anger has come on them"