# brothers

Here this means fellow Christians, including both men and women.

# became imitators of the churches

The Thessalonian believers endured persecutions similar to the Judean believers. "became like the churches"

# from your own countrymen

"from other Thessalonians"

# They forbid us to speak

"They try to make us stop speaking"

# they always fill up their own sins

Paul speaks as though someone can fill a container with their own sins as with liquid. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]])

# Wrath must come on them in the end

This refers to God finally judging and punishing people for their sins.